The one piece of advice I can offer to investors that is most likely to make you the most money is this: You don’t know the future.

I spend my days writhing in pain as I watch investors tout their amazing skill by showcasing how they CHASE PAST PERFORMANCE. Oh, Gold is up 56% this year? I have a great idea: Invest in gold! BRO. That would have been good information a YEAR ago. Buying what went a lot in the past is NOT a good way to own what’s going to go up a lot in the future.

Do you know what everyone was talking about last December? BITCOIN. It was up 121% last year. But if you bought bitcoin at the beginning of the year, you’re DOWN year-to-date when buying almost ANYTHING ELSE would have resulted in a great return. THAT is the danger of chasing past performance.

So what is the “Best ETFs of 2026 list going look like”. I’m 100% confident in the answer I’m about to give you: I have no clue. Nobody else does either. Everyone who says they know is full of 💩 and trying to sound smart to get clicks. But I AM pretty sure it won’t look anything like this list. So I wouldn’t go buying what’s at the top today, expecting it to happen again next year. It probably won’t.

So what DO you do? These things:

1.) Buy a SIMPLE portfolio of 2-3 ETFs that track broad global stock and bond indexes. A fantastic portfolio could consist of VTI, VXUS, and BND
2.) Hold more stocks when you’re younger and far from retirement, slowly transition towards bonds as you age
3.) Aside from the above, spend no energy on your investment strategy. Spend your energy on buying more shares.
4.) When faced with economic uncertainty, a hot stock tip at Thanksgiving, a scary sounding headline, or a college roommate telling you you’re dumb for missing out on the next big thing, do this: Nothing. Instead, keep doing things 1-3 above.

As always, reminding you to build wealth by following the two PFC rules: 1.) Live below your means and 2.) Invest early and often.

-Jeremy