Minimizing the US cluster risk is currently a major topic for investors. It is perhaps even THE topic since the second Trump administration has been throwing tariffs and isolationist positions around.

As part of an incipient reallocation in the portfolio $DFEN (+1,01%) and $ASWC (+1,46%) recently, but was bothered by the high proportion of US shares and the heavy weighting of Blackbox $PLTR (+4,68%) among others.

Today I stumbled across the recently launched ETF from WisdomTree, which compiles purely European defense companies: $IE0002Y8CX98 (+0,25%)

Some quick raw data:

Listed for the first time on 3/4/2025

TER: 0.4% p.a.

Physical

Accumulating

WKN: A40Y9K

IE0002Y8CX98

Largest positions:

Rheinmetall (approx. 20%) $RHM (+0,16%) 🇩🇪

Leonardo (approx. 15%) $LDO (+0,48%) 🇮🇹

Saab (approx. 10%) $SAAB B (+1,36%) 🇸🇪

BAE (approx. 10%) $BAE (+0%) 🇬🇧

Thales (approx. 9%) $THALES (+0,01%) 🇫🇷

This investor will reallocate a little. He is not giving investment advice, but rather enjoying the diversity of Europe. 🇪🇺

Sources:

https://www.wisdomtree.eu/en-gb/etfs/thematic/wdef---wisdomtree-europe-defence-ucits-etf---eur-acc

https://www.wisdomtree.eu/en-gb/strategies/european-defence

https://www.justetf.com/de/etf-profile.html?isin=IE0002Y8CX98#chart

https://www.computerbild.de/artikel/cb-News-Finanzen-Erster-ETF-fuer-europaeische-Verteidigung-39553857.html

Hello everyone,

My name is Antonio, I'm almost 27 years old and I'm from Bremen. I currently work as a train manager at Deutsche Bahn. Anyone who knows the job knows that chaos is almost guaranteed here. If a train is on time, everyone wonders what's going wrong. Delays, strikes, unforeseen events - you get used to the fact that nothing goes as expected. And that's exactly how I felt on the stock market: constantly chasing hypes, always on the lookout for quick profits, and in the end I never knew whether the train was still on the right track. I experienced just as much chaos on the markets as I did in my day-to-day work - but fortunately I've learned from it and am now looking for a fresh start where everything is a bit more orderly and predictable.

I've made a lot of mistakes on the stock market in the past. And not too few - unfortunately. Like many of you, I had the idea that the stock market would make me a quick buck. I let myself be led by hypes, trends and the desire for immediate results. I wasn't interested in investing for the long term or building a solid foundation for the future, I was only ever interested in making a quick profit. Leveraged products, knock-out certificates - it was all there. It felt like a casino where the loss was usually the only "win". And so it came as it had to: I not only lost money, but also confidence in my own decisions and the markets.

But today, in 2025, I have realized that it is time for a fresh start. I have learned from my mistakes. It's been a long road and I've thought a lot about why I was so quick to go for the quick buck instead of investing patiently and focusing on long-term success. I learned the lessons I needed to become a better investor. Patience, diversification and a long-term perspective are now my principles. I want to create something tangible, not just a portfolio full of numbers, but also a solid, long-term strategy that will help me to continuously build my wealth.

My portfolio: A solid foundation

The portfolio I have now built up is a mix of different asset classes and asset classes. My aim is to diversify broadly and not miss out on potential growth opportunities, while spreading risk across different sectors and regions. Here is an overview of what my investment strategy looks like:

ETFs (€1000/month)

I have deliberately opted for a broad diversification and invested in different geographical regions and markets. This diversification should ensure that my capital benefits from the markets that have the greatest potential in the coming decades.

- IE00BMTX1Y45 ( $I500) (+0,73%)

- LU0908500753 ( $MEUD (+0,54%) )

- IE00BYXVGY31 ( $FUSA (+0,26%) )

- IE00BD1F4M44 ( $IUVF (-0,51%) )

- IE00BKM4GZ66 ( $EIMI (+0,13%) )

- LU1681041973 ( $CD9 (-0,07%) )

- LU0486851024 ( $D5BL (+0,99%) )

- IE00BYQCZN58 ( $DXJZ (+0,12%) )

- IE00BF4RFH31 ( $WSML (+0,49%) )

- IE00BG0SKF03 ( $5MVL (-0,19%) )

- IE00B652H904 ( $SEDY (-0,06%) )

- LU2089238385 ( $PRAJ (+0,36%) )

- DE000A0H0744 ( $EXXW (+0,17%) )

- IE00BFXR5W90 ( $LGAG (-0,33%) )

- LU0779800910 ( $XCHA (-0,41%) )

- HANetf Future of Defense UCITS ETF ($ASWC (+1,46%) )

So many ETFs? Does he still have all his wits about him?

Some people will think exactly that when they look at my ETF list. And yes, I admit that the portfolio is pretty broadly based - perhaps too broad for some. But that's exactly my goal. I don't want to catch the one sector or the one region that is going through the roof. I want to have everything! If a market explodes somewhere in the world, then I want to be there. Be it through large caps, small caps, growth, value, technology or emerging markets, my approach is not to miss out on potential opportunities and at the same time not to put all my eggs in one basket. Some call it overdiversification, I call it my personal "all-world approach"

The idea behind the selection of these ETFs is that I want to focus on global markets and growth regions without missing out on important sectors such as technology, healthcare and energy. The USA (with over 55% of my portfolio) remains the central component due to its economic importance and innovative strength. At the same time, I am also focusing on Europe, Asia, China and emerging markets, which are increasingly among the growth markets of the future. Small caps also play a key role for me, as they often have the potential to grow faster and offer opportunities that are often overlooked by the large institutions.

Cryptocurrencies (€100/month in Bitcoin ( $BTC (-0,25%) ) €50/month in Ethereum ($ETH) (+0,98%)

I also invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum as I am convinced of the future of these digital currencies. Even if the volatility is high, I see the long-term potential of these technologies. For me, it is an opportunity to participate in the development of a new financial world.

Gold (50 €/month EUWAX Gold ($DE000EWG0LD1 (-1,13%) )

In uncertain times, I have realized how important it is to have conservative assets such as gold. The last few years of inflation and economic fluctuations have made me realize that gold can have a stabilizing effect, especially in times of crisis.

Individual stocks - My dividend strategy

I have also selected a few individual stocks that should not only offer me security, but also regular income through dividends. The reason for this is simple: I need something tangible, something visible. It's not just the pleasure of seeing the portfolio grow, but also the dividend that gives me the feeling of actively participating in the companies and benefiting from their success.

- 3M Co ($MMM (-0,72%) )

- Allianz ($ALV (+0,85%) )

- BioNTech ($BNTX (-14,01%) )

- Booking Holdings( $BKNG (+0,21%) )

- Coca-Cola ($KO (-0,72%) )

- LVMH ($MC (+0,33%) )

- MSCI Inc ($MSCI (+1,01%) )

- NextEra Energy($NEE (+0,17%) )

- Philip Morris ($PM (+0,52%) )

- Realty Income($O (-0,52%) )

BioNTech in particular, as a company that has promising potential not only during the pandemic but also beyond, is a long-term winner for me. Likewise NextEra Energy, which plays a key role in the renewable energy sector, and Booking Holdings, which should benefit from the global tourism trend. These companies not only pay dividends, but also show that you can benefit from a company's success with a long-term perspective.

Pension fund

I also invest in the DEVK pension fund (DE000A2PT1X3) through my employer $DE000A2PT1X3 . This fund is particularly important to me because of the generous contributions made by my employer and the solid returns. Even though the costs are somewhat higher, I see it as a long-term addition to my strategy.

Why this portfolio?

I built my portfolio this way because I believe in the potential of long-term global diversification. Rather than chasing short-term gains, I am looking for continuous value growth over many years. I want to support the right companies, benefit from promising markets and at the same time have a regular source of income through dividends.

I am no longer interested in making a quick buck. I have learned that true success in wealth accumulation lies in patience. And that's what it's all about: I want to create a solid foundation for the future - for myself, for my pension and perhaps for a house in a few years' time.

What do you think?

I'm really looking forward to hearing from you. What do you think of my strategy? Do you see any areas where I could diversify even more? Are there any asset classes or ETFs missing from my portfolio that would make sense for me? I am very keen to hear your opinions and advice.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and strategy! I look forward to your feedback.

Best regards,

Antonio

Sodala, I've narrowed down my portfolio a bit and tidied up the savings plans.

Biggest shifts in the last few weeks:

MSCI World -> FTSE All World

AI & Big Data -> Nasdaq100

Random Ass Gold ETC -> Euwax Gold 2

Altcoins/Shitcoins -> Bitcoin

Larger multiplier for TR Saveback

I'm out of the "Poah, the theme ETF sounds cool, savings plan 50€ IMMEDIATELY" phase and I have to say, such a narrower portfolio somehow looks nicer too lol. I only kept a classic sector ETF savings plan, I just like it. The savings rate isn't really high either, you can just see what happens.

Here are the updated savings plans, feel free to add your comments. I like mustard

Monthly savings plans:

1.Nasdaq 100 $XNAS (+1,23%)
(Acc): 305 €

2.FTSE All World $VWCE (+0,57%)
(Acc): 100 €

3.Future of Defense ETF $ASWC (+1,46%)
(Acc): 75 €

4.Gold: 50 € $EWG2 (-0,94%)

5.Crypto:

-$BTC (-0,25%) : 100 €

Reasons for Nasdaq100 as the largest savings plan:

1: I'm 20 and still have plenty of time to take a calculated risk and generate an excess return over the All World in the long term.

2: Falls harder (especially at the moment) than the FTSE,

Savings plans currently mean cheap, relaxed buying. Conversely, of course, the reverse is also true, but my long-term confidence in the (US) tech sector is so high that I don't see any problems in the distant future.

A lot of time has passed since my introduction over a month ago and the one or other post. I was not satisfied with my smorgasbord and have once again taken a serious and intensive look at the subject of the stock market.

Thoughts, suggestions from some nice people here on GQ and also posts https://getqu.in/WB1phr/ have really helped me here.

Thank you for that. @DonkeyInvestor , @Mister_ultra , @Epi , @Ph1l1pp , @ShrimpTheGimp , @MoneyISnotREAL , @Staatsmann

After the introductory words, now to the presentation of my portfolio.

I have finally decided on a strategy that I find suitable for me. The core-satellite strategy. Investment period 20 years.

I will gradually reallocate my previous investments and save an additional 600 euros per month in the portfolio.

For me, the decisive point here was that I continuously build up the "core" and use the satellites to pursue my "ideas" and also generate dividend income.

The percentage allocation of the investments to my individual satellites was based on the average return over the last 10 years.

Core (60%)

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HSBC MSCI World UCITS ETF - $HMWS (+0,65%) - Share 60.0%

Satellites (40%)

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HSBC MSCI Taiwan Capped UCITS ETF - $HTWN (+0,3%) - Share 4.9%

Xtrackers Euro Stoxx 50 UCITS ETF - $XESX (+0,96%) - Share 2.4%

Invesco Technology S&P US Select Sector UCITS ETF - $XLKS (+1,76%) - Share 7.8%

Xtrackers Artificial Intelligence and Big Data UCITS ETF - $XAIX (+1,42%) - 7,0%

iShares MSCI World Energy Sector ETF - $WENS (+0,36%) - Share 4.2%

Global X Defense Tech UCITS ETF - $ARMG (+0,32%) - Share 3.6%

EUWAX Gold II - $EWG2 (-0,94%) - Share 3.0%

Bitwise MSCI Digital Assets Select 20 ETP - $DA20 (+1,35%) - Share 7.0%

Notes on the satellites:

An MSCI Emerging Markets would be a suitable addition to the core MSCI World. As most emerging markets ETFs rate China quite highly, but I am not convinced of this, I have picked Taiwan and chosen the MSCI index there. $HTWN (+0,3%)

Technology $XLKS (+1,76%) and AI $XAIX (+1,42%) are still markets which, in my opinion, have a lot of potential. These two areas are also the reason why I invest in energy $WENS (+0,36%) because the energy demand for AI, cloud, etc. is high.

I still see defense as a trend and have finally opted for the Global X Defense Tech $ARMG (+0,32%) final decision. In my previous post on this, I was more interested in the HANetf Future of Defense $ASWC (+1,46%) . As the European investment volume of the two ETFs (HanETF = 29.38%, Global X = 28.08%) is almost the same, but the Global X $ARMG (+0,32%) invests more in the market leaders (Lockheed $LMT (+2,98%) Northrop $NOC (+2,23%)General Dynamics $GD (+0,48%) etc.), it has now been included in the final selection.

I cover the currency sector with EUWAX Gold II $EWG2 (-0,94%) and Bitwise MSCI Digital Assets Select 20 $DA20 (+1,35%) . As you have seen from my previous posts, I am reluctant to invest in crypto. That's why it's "only" the Bitwise MSCI Digital Assets Select 20 ETP. This ETP tracks the 20 leading investable crypto assets and is therefore effectively the "MSCI World" for the crypto market.

PS: I have adjusted the crypto ETP slightly downwards in the percentage distribution with a minus of 50%.

downwards. If anyone actually looks at the table, -50% in 2022 is inserted by MIR for regulatory purposes 😉

I look forward to your feedback.

Best regards

Daniel

@Mister_ultra and I were just discussing defense ETFs in another thread. Unfortunately, I don't know how else to present the comparison (Excel) here, so here it is as an image.

I have listed all the positions of the individual ETFs, but have manually selected the companies that we (I) have defined in detail as real defense companies. I have not evaluated tech/software/cybersecurity here.

The comparison concerns the $ASWC (+1,46%) and the $ARMG (+0,32%) .

My conclusion is that both are almost equal when all positions of the two ETFs are compared. In this particular comparison, the $ARMG (+0,32%) is more US-heavy, but this is also due to the fact that the TOP defense companies (Lockheed, RTX, Northrop) simply come from the USA.

The $ASWC (+1,46%) is moving a little more in the EU direction. This is where I see the potential, as NATO really needs to catch up here. The return on investment could be $ARMG (+0,32%) higher, as the NATO countries will certainly also buy from US companies.

I just wanted to share my research with you.

Best regards

Daniel

I invest €150 in FoD every month, what do you think of the ETF? There was definitely a big upward movement due to the Trump victory.

What do you think, great as a savings plan?

Hello everyone,

I am considering adding a new ETF to my portfolio and would like to ask you for your opinion. I have two ETFs to choose from: the Listed Private Equity USD (Dist) $IPRV (+0,3%) and the Future of Defense USD (Acc) $ASWC (+1,46%) . Here is a brief introduction and the reasons for my choice, as well as why I am not taking another MSCI World ETF. Although I know that ETFs specified here are not very popular, I still find these two very interesting.

The Listed Private Equity USD (Dist) $IPRV (+0,3%) aims to track the performance of an index of listed private equity companies that invest in unlisted companies. This ETF provides access to another asset class that is missing from MSCI World ETFs and invests in high-growth private companies with high potential returns.

The Future of Defense USD (Acc) $ASWC (+1,46%) invests in companies in the defense and security sector. This ETF benefits from technological innovation and government spending, leveraging rising defense spending and geopolitical tensions for long-term gains.

I do not use another MSCI World ETF to avoid redundancy as it would not significantly diversify the portfolio. The two ETFs cover specific and promising sectors, which leads to targeted diversification and a broader spread of risk. In addition, I have only minimally covered the financial sector so far and have not covered the defense sector at all. (I also already have a large proportion of my portfolio in an MSCI World ETF)

I look forward to your opinions on these two ETFs, and thank you in advance!