Mid-year reality check: the “ETF and chill” era is over
Your mid-year portfolio wake-up call is here. The S&P 500 isn't the only game anymore. Less FOMO, more discipline.
Buying a low-cost index fund, staying invested and letting the market do the heavy lifting. For years that strategy worked beautifully. But halfway through 2026, with a Middle East conflict, spiking oil prices, a concentrated S&P 500 and a global leadership rotation that is very much underway, just owning the market may no longer be enough.
In this episode of Money Hacks, a podcast by The Business Times, Howie Lim is joined by Ritesh Ganeriwal, managing director and head of investment advisory at Syfe, and Oriano Lizza, sales trader at CMC Markets, for a mid-year portfolio check-in that is more honest than most. Both guests have been watching what investors are actually doing, not just what they say they will do, and the picture is more interesting than the headlines suggest.
Why listen
- Why the case for investing outside the US stopped being theoretical The S&P 500 was the weakest major market last year. Emerging markets returned 34 per cent. Ganeriwal explains what that shift means for how you should be thinking about your portfolio right now.
- Why chasing hot sectors like chips, crypto and commodities is a satellite bet Gold lost 10 per cent in a few months. Bitcoin fell below US$70,000 with over a billion dollars pulled from crypto funds. Ganeriwal explains where these bets belong in a portfolio and how big they should actually be.
- What a truly resilient portfolio looks like in practice It is not a cash-heavy defensive play. Both guests are specific about what the right mix of global exposure, bonds, commodities and Singapore names actually looks like.
- The single biggest mistake investors made in the first half of 2026 Lizza names it plainly. FOMO-driven over-concentration in a single asset class left too many people unable to pivot when markets shifted.
Being boringly disciplined will always beat trying to play genius. This episode makes the case for why. Listen now.
Discover more episodes at bt.sg/podcasts. Got feedback? Email us at btpodcasts@sph.com.sg.
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Written and hosted by: Howie Lim (howielim@sph.com.sg)
With Ritesh Ganeriwal, managing director and head of investment advisory at Syfe and Oriano Lizza, sales trader at CMC Markets
Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro
Produced by: Howie Lim & Chai Pei Chieh
A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media
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Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.
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ABOUT THE PODCAST
Money Hacks is a crisp, weekly podcast hosted by Howie Lim. Every Monday, it unpacks personal finance strategies and investing insights through conversations with expert guests. Whether it’s navigating employee perks, finding resilient sectors, or exploring value-based investing, listeners get actionable financial wisdom without the waffle.
