Happy New Year to ETF Investors! What Should We Expect In 2026?

We kicked off 2026 with a timely conversation that ETF investors should pay attention to. In the latest episode of Bangers Only, I sat down with Mike Akins of ETF Action to break down what ETF flows, asset trends, and market structure are telling us as we move into the year ahead.

Here’s what we cover:

• Will ETF AUM catch mutual funds?

  The structural advantages that continue to push assets toward ETFs — and how close we are to a crossover moment.
  

• What are the inflows telling us?

  Where capital has been moving, and what those allocations reveal about investor positioning.
  

• International and gold outperformance

  Why non-U.S. equities and gold ETFs have shown relative strength, and what that may signal going forward.
  

• What happens to cash in money markets?

  With trillions still parked on the sidelines, we discuss where that money could rotate next.
  

• Synthetic income

  A growing area of innovation in ETFs, and what investors should understand about these strategies.
  

• Themes to watch in 2026

  The key ideas, sectors, and market dynamics likely to shape the year ahead.
  

Markets talk through flows.

This episode breaks down where money is going, what it’s avoiding, and why that matters for ETF investors heading into 2026.

Tune in today!

Connect with Mike Akins

ETF Action Webpage

Timestamps

(0:00) Welcome Mike Akins

(0:50) Happy New Year to ETF Investors

(2:22) Will ETF AUM Catch Mutual Funds?

(4:17) What Are The Inflows Telling Us?

(6:16) International + Gold ETF Outperformance

(8:47) What Happens To Cash In Money Markets?

(10:56) Synthetic Income

(16:09) Themes to Watch in 2026