Melbourne Food and Wine Festival

The backbone of the U.S. economy isn’t Wall Street – it’s the 200,000-plus middle market companies quietly driving one-third of American jobs and 40% of its GDP. These businesses form the engine room of American growth, and now investors can tap directly into their momentum.

Most assume their existing super fund will take care of everything, and for many, that’s exactly what happens. They leave their money where it is. But is that the best strategy for reliable income and risk-adjusted returns in retirement? Evidence suggests otherwise.

Investors step into 2026 facing one of the most complex macro backdrops in more than a decade. Warning lights are flashing across global markets: from slowing economic growth to soaring gold prices, from historically high equity valuations to rising long‑term bond yields in markets traditionally viewed as stable. Uncertainty is not only elevated, but also already influencing market pricing, investor sentiment, and capital flows.