5 Smart Investments to Grow Your Money in 2026
If you’re looking to grow your money in 2026—beyond what CDs and traditional bonds can offer—you’re going to need to accept some level of market volatility. Historically, meaningful long-term growth has required exposure to stocks. The key is doing it intentionally, with a plan that balances growth, diversification, and risk management.
In this article, we’ll break down five exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that can play a powerful role in a growth-oriented portfolio in 2026 and beyond. These are the same types of investments I use with clients and in my own portfolio.
Growth Investing Starts With a Plan
Before diving into specific investments, it’s important to step back and consider risk tolerance and time horizon. For retirees and pre-retirees, my goal is always to build a portfolio that produces income that outpaces inflation over time.
Historically, that has meant allocating 50%–70% of a portfolio to equities, while keeping roughly five years of expected withdrawals in more conservative investments (such as bonds or cash alternatives). That safety bucket helps reduce the need to sell growth assets during market downturns.
If you don’t yet have a retirement plan, now is the time to create one. A clear plan drives smarter investment decisions.
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Why ETFs Are Ideal for Long-Term Growth
All five investments discussed here are stock-based ETFs. ETFs are similar to mutual funds but offer several distinct advantages:
1. Low Costs
ETFs typically have much lower expense ratios than actively managed mutual funds. Many of the funds below cost less than 0.10% annually, meaning more of your money stays invested and working for you.
2. Competitive Performance
Most actively managed funds struggle to outperform simple market indexes over long periods. ETFs that track indexes often deliver better results precisely because of their low costs.
3. Transparency
ETFs disclose their holdings daily, so you always know what you own. Traditional mutual funds may only report holdings twice per year.
4. Liquidity
ETFs trade throughout the day like stocks. You can buy or sell them while markets are open, unlike mutual funds which only transact at the market close.
Listen to this week’s episode on: Can I Contribute to My 401(k) and a Traditional IRA in the Same Tax Year?
The 5 Best Investments to Grow Your Money in 2026
1. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPYM)
Best for: Core U.S. stock exposure
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (ticker: SPYM) tracks the S&P 500 Index, widely considered the benchmark for the U.S. stock market.
Expense ratio: 0.02%
Assets under management: ~$103 billion
Holdings: 500+ large U.S. companies
Top holdings include Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet. The fund is heavily weighted toward technology, followed by financials, consumer discretionary, healthcare, and industrials.
Over the past several years, the S&P 500 has delivered strong returns. However, there have been extended periods—such as 2000–2009—where returns were flat or negative. That’s why diversification matters.
Bottom line: SPYM is an excellent long-term core holding for growth-oriented investors.
2. SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF (SPYG)
Best for: Enhanced U.S. growth exposure
The SPDR S&P 500 Growth ETF (ticker: SPYG) focuses on companies within the S&P 500 that exhibit strong growth characteristics, such as revenue growth, earnings momentum, and price performance.
Expense ratio: 0.04%
Assets under management: ~$45 billion
Holdings: ~216 growth-focused stocks
The fund is heavily weighted toward technology and communication services, with large positions in Nvidia, Microsoft, Apple, and Meta.
Growth stocks can be more volatile, but they also offer higher long-term upside potential.
Bottom line: SPYG can complement a core S&P 500 position for investors seeking higher growth.
3. SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap ETF
Best for: Broad U.S. diversification and long-term upside
This ETF tracks the S&P 600 Index, which represents small-cap U.S. companies. Small caps often outperform large caps over certain market cycles.
Expense ratio: 0.03%
Holdings: ~600 profitable small-cap companies
Unlike the Russell 2000, the S&P 600 only includes profitable businesses, which improves overall quality.
While small caps have lagged large caps recently, history shows periods where they significantly outperform—particularly during economic recoveries.
Bottom line: A small-cap ETF helps diversify beyond large companies and positions your portfolio for future growth cycles.
4. SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex‑US ETF (SPDW)
Best for: International diversification
The SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex‑US ETF (ticker: SPDW) invests in developed international markets outside the United States.
Expense ratio: 0.03%
Assets under management: ~$34 billion
Holdings: ~2,400 international stocks
Top countries include Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and Germany. Key sectors include financials, industrials, technology, and healthcare.
U.S. stocks have outperformed international stocks for many years, but market leadership can change.
Bottom line: SPDW provides low-cost exposure to global growth opportunities outside the U.S.
5. SPDR Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM)
Best for: Long-term global growth potential
The SPDR Emerging Markets ETF (ticker: SPEM) invests in emerging economies with higher long-term growth potential.
Expense ratio: 0.07%
Assets under management: ~$16 billion
Holdings: ~3,000 stocks
Top countries include China, Taiwan, India, Brazil, and South Africa. Major holdings include Taiwan Semiconductor, Tencent, and Alibaba.
Emerging markets can be volatile and politically complex, but they also offer exposure to faster GDP growth and expanding middle classes.
Bottom line: SPEM can add growth potential, but allocations should be modest and aligned with your risk tolerance.
How Much Should You Allocate?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Portfolio allocation depends on:
Your retirement timeline
Income needs
Risk tolerance
Other assets you own
That’s where a personalized retirement plan makes all the difference.
Build Your Retirement Plan With Confidence
If you want help deciding how to allocate these investments, I walk through sample portfolios, allocation strategies, and real-world planning considerations in my Retirement Readiness On Demand course.
For a limited time, you can enroll for $99 (normally $297) using code RETIRE99 at:
retirewithryan.com → Courses → Retirement Readiness On Demand
This discount expires at the end of January.
Final Thoughts
These five ETFs offer a low-cost, diversified way to position your portfolio for growth in 2026 and beyond. While no investment is guaranteed, building a disciplined strategy around quality, diversification, and cost efficiency gives you the best chance of long-term success.
If you have a question you’d like answered on the podcast, visit retirewithryan.com and click Ask a Question.
Have a great week—and I’ll talk to you next Tuesday.
Written by Ryan Morrissey CFP®, CLU®, CHFC®, CMFC
Founder & Principal Advisor of Morrissey Wealth Management
Host of the Retire with Ryan Podcast