Wealth Management
Cybersecurity stocks have surged in 2025, fueled by rising global hacking incidents and enthusiasm for AI-driven protection tools. Firms like Zscaler, Cloudflare, and CrowdStrike have gained between 50% and 77% this year, far outpacing broader software benchmarks such as the iShares Expanded Tech-Software ETF.
The sector’s strength is being reinforced by record corporate spending, highlighted by Alphabet’s $32 billion acquisition of Wiz and growing demand for cloud-based security solutions.
Despite heightened competition from tech giants like Microsoft and Google, cybersecurity remains a top enterprise priority, with identity and cloud security expected to drive double-digit growth for years. Investors see continued consolidation and platform integration as key to sustaining momentum across the sector.
Finsum: Both attackers and defenders are increasingly using generative AI, creating new markets for firms specializing in identity and AI security like CyberArk and Okta.
Although the term “ESG” has become controversial and sometimes viewed as a marketing label, about 69% of institutional asset owners still report using it—primarily for consistency. Many prefer alternative labels: 57% use “sustainable investment,” 53% “sustainability,” and 52% “responsible investment.”
ESG considerations now apply to an average of 44% of asset owners’ AUM globally, up from 42% last year. In 2025, 20% of respondents said they apply ESG to more than 75% of their portfolios, and 10% said ESG applies to 100% of their assets.
Asset owners increasingly see ESG as aligned with fiduciary duty: 61% agree ESG supports that role, up from 53% in 2024.
Finsum: The biggest barrier to broader ESG adoption is concern over impacts on investment returns or a lack of standardized data and reporting.
IsoEnergy’s merger with Toro Energy adds the fully owned Wiluna uranium project in Western Australia to its portfolio, expanding its global footprint and resource base. The combined company will hold an estimated 55.2 million pounds of measured and indicated uranium resources, along with 4.9 million pounds inferred.
IsoEnergy CEO Philip Williams said the acquisition enhances the company’s position with a large, permitted project in a top uranium-producing region amid surging global nuclear demand. Toro shareholders will own about 7.1% of the new entity and gain exposure to IsoEnergy’s assets in Canada and the U.S., including the high-grade Hurricane deposit and Utah-based mines.
The merger arrives as uranium markets strengthen, with global demand projected to rise roughly 30% by 2030 and double by 2040.
Finsum: This merger could be a good opportunity for those looking to invest in nuclear energy or uranium.
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At large brokerage firms, many financial advisors are realizing they don’t truly own their client relationships, limiting their autonomy and ability to serve clients freely. Over time, firms have tightened control through reduced payouts, restrictive policies, and the withdrawal of major players which once made advisor transitions easier.
The traditional model has grown more corporate and centralized, leaving advisors to shoulder rising complexity while firms capture more of the value their clients generate.
Meanwhile, the independent RIA space now offers the infrastructure, technology, and compliance support that used to be available only at large firms — but with far greater flexibility and ownership. Modern platforms and advanced tech stacks empower independent advisors to scale efficiently and serve clients on their own terms.
Finsum: With clients increasingly loyal to their advisors rather than the firms themselves, independence no longer seems as risky.
Demand for derivative income ETFs is unlikely to slow anytime soon, as these funds continue to provide consistent income and equity exposure amid a cloudy economic backdrop.
The Federal Reserve’s evolving rate-cut path has also complicated duration positioning in fixed income portfolios, making alternative income strategies more attractive. The Calamos Autocallable Income ETF (CAIE) stands out for its innovative structure, which ladders autocallable yield notes linked to the MerQube US Large-Cap Vol. Advantage Index.
As long as the reference index stays above the -40% barrier, CAIE generates monthly income, offering resilience even in uneven markets. With a 14.36% distribution rate as of September 30, 2025, CAIE might be a derivative income strategies that could deliver strong yields while maintaining disciplined risk management.
Finsum: With uncertainty surrounding the U.S. outlook, from potential recession to stagflation, the downside protection these ETFs offer remains highly valuable.
The most successful macro investors don’t rely on predictions, they rely on true diversification. Rather than attempting to forecast markets, they construct portfolios of uncorrelated or negatively correlated assets that improve returns without adding risk.
When multiple asset classes move independently, investors can use modest leverage to amplify gains while maintaining controlled volatility. This approach allows a portfolio with the same 5% volatility to generate higher expected returns simply by expanding exposure across uncorrelated assets.
However, the strategy requires vigilance, as correlations can shift suddenly, undermining diversification’s benefits.
Finsum: The foundation of long-term macro success lies in true diversification, careful leverage, and disciplined risk management.