And what a year it’s been. At this moment, a somewhat surprisingly steady jobs market and an earnings season that beat all expectations seem to paint a rosy picture about economic growth that has the S&P 500 flirting with record highs. That stands in contrast to the sticky inflation and concerns about geopolitical risk helping pressure consumer sentiment to record lows.  Appetite for high growth opportunities such as AI, space, and defense-related themes continue to find traction. At the same time, diversification, income generation and a focus on risk management picks up steam.  As we head into what’s expected to be a blockbuster SpaceX IPO and the next Federal Reserve meeting (June 16-17) under new leadership, we find that growth optimism is tempered by caution and a keen eye for strategic opportunities, many expressed through ETFs. (The ETF market is on pace for a $2-trillion-inflow year with nearly $900 billion already in the books.)  Consider the insights we’ve gathered from advisors and retail investors in the past month, through several polling surveys.