CNBS Portfolio Manager Tim Seymour shares his thoughts on cannabis trends of the USA market in the CNBS 1st quarter report of 2022. Learn more about Amplify Seymour Cannabis ETF (CNBS), including the top 10 holdings, region allocations, and market segments.

Staying Up-to-date with the Rapidly Evolving Blockchain and Crypto Ecosystem (May 2022)

With Facebook’s recent name change, nearly everyone has heard of the metaverse, but what is it really? Is it virtual and augmented reality? Is it Fortnite? Is it purchasing digital assets with actual analog money? Yes but no – the metaverse is not so much new technology but how we interact with it. The idea of the metaverse is fairly new (first mentioned in the science fiction novel Snow Crash published in 1992), and like the internet of the 1990s and early 2000s, it is still developing. However, even at this early stage, it is becoming clear that blockchain technology is an essential cog in this machine and will be critical to its future growth.

Perhaps nothing summarizes the investor experience better than the old quote that “nothing worth doing is easy.” The current market environment, as uncomfortable as it may be, serves as a reminder that staying invested is difficult. The very definition of investing involves sacrificing what we could buy and consume today in order to achieve more tomorrow. Over long periods, when combined with long-term trends and attractive investment themes, this is how investors can transform hard-earned savings into true wealth and financial freedom. What can all investors do to focus on the long run when the daily headlines and market swings can be alarming?

Global growth predictions for what some industry visionaries have called the 3D internet are so off the charts (ex. $50 billion to $800 billion in two years1) they don’t seem real. But don’t tell that to Microsoft, Google, Meta (formerly Facebook), Qualcomm, or the long list of other companies committing huge sums to obtain an early advantage in this market. Given the stratospheric growth forecasts and the early strategic deployment of “smart money” into the space, how can investors participate? One option is blockchain-related companies – this technology is the foundation that makes the metaverse possible.

The question at the forefront of investors’ minds is whether the economy can achieve a so-called “soft landing” in the face of high inflation, rising interest rates, Fed rate hikes, geopolitical conflicts, and other challenges. A soft landing would require the economy to slow gradually without creating a downward spiral in consumer demand and business investment. While the market correction this year has created a challenging investment environment, a recession is possible but not inevitable. What market and economic measures should long-term investors focus on in the coming months?

Staying Up-to-date with the Rapidly Evolving Blockchain and Crypto Ecosystem (June 2022)

Ordering dinner, household supplies, or just about anything has never been easier – just click and it appears on your computer or arrives on your doorstep. Some e-commerce names are well established, but for others, growth trajectories are just beginning. E-commerce is still in its adolescence (Amazon sold its first book in 1995), and experts agree decades of solid growth lie ahead. The pandemic accelerated what we already knew – for billions worldwide, shopping online is a must.

As we enter the second half of the year, investors continue to grapple with inflation, higher interest rates, the Fed, and the prospect of a recession. If historical bear markets are any indication, the decisions investors make during this period will have long-lasting effects on their portfolios.

Staying Up-to-date with the Rapidly Evolving Blockchain and Crypto Ecosystem (July 2022)