For years, investing felt straightforward. Buy a low-cost ETF, stay invested, and let long-term market growth do the heavy lifting. The “ETF and chill” strategy became popular because it worked—passive exchange-traded funds offered broad diversification, low fees, and reliable participation in rising markets. But the investing landscape is changing. In a recent op-ed Ritesh Ganeriwal, Managing Director and Head of Investment Advisory at Syfe, wrote for The Business Times, he outlines how as we move deeper into 2026, investors are facing a more fragmented market environment shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, elevated interest rates, artificial intelligence-driven disruption, and widening performance gaps between sectors and companies. In this environment, simply owning “the market” may no longer be enough to achieve specific financial goals. Today’s investors are increasingly asking “What outcome am I investing for?” instead of just “How should I invest?” The ETF Market Is Entering a New Phase Passive ETFs remain one of the most efficient investment tools ever created. They continue to provide:...