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I am not a big fan of stocks at their current prices, but I am boosting equity exposure again with the reintroduction of ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL), which I exited on August 19th. I am still underweight equities after this elimination of Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securiries ETF (VTIP), which I and my wife own still, and reduction in iShares TIPS Bond ETF (TIP). The trades: Sell all (40 shares) VTIP at $49.34 Sell 20 TIP at $105.51 Buy 60 N

I remain bearish, but I am trimming Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP) to add to ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF (SMDV). The trades: Sell 30 VTIP at $49.34 Buy 20 SMDV at $73.68 The updated model portfolio:

I am extending from Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP) to PIMCO 15+ Year US TIPS ETF (LTPZ) and iShares TIPS Bond ETF (TIP). The trades: Sell 70 VTIP at $49.34 Buy 25 LTPZ at $47.09 Buy 25 TIP at $105.40 The updated model portfolio:

Yesterday, a day ahead of the FOMC meeting, I added to ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats (REGL) and sold some Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP). Today, I am trimming REGL slightly, and also reducing PIMCO 15+ Year US TIPS ETF (LTPZ), which gapped up today but is cheap and adding to VTIP. The trades: Sell 25 LTPZ at $47.34 Sell 10 REGL at $90.84 Buy 40 VTIP at $49.52 The updated model portfolio:

I did this yesterday, and I am doing it again at a better price, remaining very underweight stocks and very overweight TIPS. I am reducing Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP) and adding to ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats (REGL) again. The trades: Sell 75 VTIP at $49.49 Buy 45 REGL at $90.52 The updated model portfolio:

I wrote about how cheap TIPS are this weekend, saying that they are not working. Why, then, am I selling? Well, I am reducing the very short-dated ones, which are a surrogate for cash, and I still own a lot. I am reducing Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP) and adding to ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats (REGL) again. The trades: Sell 50 VTIP at $49.54 Buy 25 REGL at $91.07 The updated model portfolio:

Earlier today, I added to ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Aristocrates ETF (SMDV) and trimmed Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Index ETF (VTIP) again to fund it. I am doing it again. The trades: Sell 50 VTIP at $49.67 Buy 30 SMDV at $74.91 The updated model portfolio:

Yesterday, I boosted REGL, but today I am adding to ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Aristocrates ETF (SMDV) and trimming Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Index ETF (VTIP) again to fund it. The trades: Sell 50 VTIP at $49.66 Buy 40 SMDV at $75.00 The updated model portfolio:

I did this trade earlier today as well as late last week, but I am open to it again at a better price. I remain very underweight equities in the model portfolio. I am adding to ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats (REGL) and reducing Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP). The trades: Sell 50 VTIP at $49.72 Buy 25 REGL at $91.29 The updated model portfolio:

Stocks are likely to drop, but I am adding to S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats (REGL) and funding it with the sale of more Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP). These are better prices than the last time. The trades: Sell 50 VTIP at $49.76 Buy 25 REGL at $91.67 The updated model portfolio:

It's up today, but ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats (REGL) has dropped a lot over thepast few weeks and I am adding to it. I am funding it with another reduction of Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP). The trades: Sell 50 VTIP at $49.69 (changed to correct from 48.69) Buy 30 REGL at $92.70 The updated model portfolio:

Buy the dip is not really my idea of the way to play, but I am adding to ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Aristocrates ETF (SMDV) and trimming Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Index ETF (VTIP) to fund it. The trades: Sell 50 VTIP at $48.69 Buy 30 SMDV at $75.35 The updated model portfolio:

Last week, I boosted equity exposure in my model portfolio, and I am doing it again today. The exposure is still very low. The sale this time will be some Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP), and I will boost the recently trimmed ProShares S&P 400 Mid-Cap 400 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (REGL), which did fill a gap today that was below the trading level. The trades: Sell 25 VTIP at $49.66 Buy 20 REGL at $93.01 The updated model portfolio:

I have a lot of TIPS, but I am buying more as inflation concerns pick up. I am exiting Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index ETF (VGSH) and boosting shorter-duration TIPS VTIP and also iShares TIPS Bond ETF (TIP). The trades: Sell all (150 shares) VGSH at $58.13 Buy 50 VTIP at $49.79 Buy 50 TIP at $107.36 The updated model portfolio:

I am selling the rest of iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF at a profit. It's not in the index I aim to beat, but it may keep rallying. I am taking the proceeds and boosting iShares TIPS Bond ETF and also Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP) again. The trades: Sell all (100 shares) IBIT $36.67 Buy 25 TIP at $107.96 Buy 10 VTIP at $49.59 The updated model portfolio:

I trimmed Bitcoin exposure, which I have in the model portfolio to protect against inflation potentially, and I am using that cash to boost Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP). The trade: Buy 30 VTIP at $49.62 The updated model portfolio:

What a strange week! A Friday holiday, which is rare and not even the day (the 4th of July is tomorrow, but the stock market is closed today), a big wedding (I wasn't invited, lol) and a 250th birthday celebration of the USA. I still remember very well the 200th, when I was 11 years old. Last week, I discussed the changes ahead with my coverage of the ETFs, and I did detail those changes in the June Review. A Look at the Market The State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) advanced

On June 11th, I extended from Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP) to PIMCO 15+ Year US TIPS Index ETF (LTPZ) in my model portfolio. Today, I am trimming LTPZ and also reducing Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Index ETF (VGSH) to add to VTIP. The trades: Sell 35 LTPZ at $51.06 Sell 40 VGSH at $58.16 Buy 85 VTIP at $50.11 The updated model portfolio:

I added State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) recently, and it is rated by me at Hold. I don't really like it that much, but I have very low exposure to equities in the model portfolio. I am trimming it, and adding to Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP). The trades: Sell 45 XLU at $45.22 Buy 40 VTIP at $50.36 The updated model portfolio:

I had recently reversed a trade from 5/26, adding to PIMCO 15+ Year US TIPS Index ETF (LTPZ) after reducing Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities Index ETF (VTIP). I am doing it again at slightly better prices. The trades: Sell 50 VTIP at $50.34 Buy 50 LTPZ at $50.47 The updated model portfolio: