Mayflower's Strategic ETF Buys
Mayflower Financial Advisors Significantly Boosts Holdings in Diverse ETFs During First Quarter
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In addition to Mayflower's activity, other institutions increased or opened positions in Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) during the period, including Lloyd Advisory Services LLC opening a new position in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000; PayPay Securities Corp raised its VYM stake by 75.8% in the 1st quarter to 174 shares worth approximately $27,000; and LRI Investments LLC boosted its stake by 400.0% in the 4th quarter to 250 shares worth about $36,000.
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Goldman Sachs Group Inc purchased a new stake in JPMorgan Equity Focus ETF (JPEF) during the first quarter, with Mayflower’s newly acquired stake totaling 18,183 shares valued at about $1.31 million.
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Bank of America Corp DE grew its stake in Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF (JAAA) by 0.9% in the third quarter, and Allianz SE acquired a new stake in JAAA in the fourth quarter, broadening the investor base for the ETF.
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VXUS attracted sizable moves from major institutions beyond Mayflower, with Vanguard Group Inc. increasing its stake by 3.6% in the fourth quarter and Morgan Stanley lifting its stake by 39.3% in the same period.
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In Global X Defense Tech ETF (SHLD), Triad Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake by 112.9% in the first quarter to 214,036 shares (about $15.16 million), while Fortem Financial Group LLC increased its position by 1,664.5% to 75,873 shares (about $5.38 million).
Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC made sweeping moves across five ETFs in the first quarter, deploying more than $12.5 million into funds spanning dividend stocks, international equities, defense technology, and high-grade debt. The firm's biggest bet was a more-than-eightfold increase in its Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF (JAAA) stake, bringing its position to 57,489 shares worth roughly $2.90 million, according to Watchlist News.
The moves reflect what analysts describe as a "barbell" strategy — pairing safe, floating-rate debt with aggressive exposure to defense tech and overseas markets. Peer institutions including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley made parallel moves in several of the same funds during the same period.
Massive JAAA Surge Anchors Mayflower's Safety Play
The standout move was Mayflower's 800% increase in JAAA, a fund that holds AAA-rated Collateralized Loan Obligations, or CLOs. CLOs are bundles of senior-secured corporate loans. They carry the highest credit rating and pay floating interest rates. That means their yield rises when interest rates go up. Bank of America grew its own JAAA stake by 0.9% in the third quarter, and Allianz opened a new position in the fourth quarter, according to Watchlist News.
Mayflower also lifted its Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) stake by 57%, reaching 11,922 shares worth $1.77 million. Smaller firms moved in the same direction. PayPay Securities Corp raised its VYM stake by 75.8% to 174 shares in the first quarter. LRI Investments LLC boosted its position by 400% in the fourth quarter to 250 shares worth about $36,000.
Defense Tech Bets Signal Geopolitical Hedging Trend
Mayflower built a stake of 48,093 shares in Global X Defense Tech ETF (SHLD), valued at roughly $3.41 million. SHLD focuses on cybersecurity, autonomous systems, and AI-driven military technology — not traditional aerospace. Other firms moved even harder. Triad Wealth Partners LLC grew its SHLD stake by 112.9% in the first quarter to 214,036 shares worth about $15.16 million.
The most dramatic SHLD move came from Fortem Financial Group LLC, which increased its position by 1,664.5% to 75,873 shares worth about $5.38 million. That kind of surge reflects what analysts call "geopolitical hedging" — buying defense exposure as global military spending shifts from emergency aid to long-term procurement contracts.
Goldman Sachs Joins Mayflower in New Active ETF Bet
Mayflower opened a brand-new position in JPMorgan Equity Focus ETF (JPEF), picking up 18,183 shares worth about $1.31 million. JPEF is an actively managed fund. It holds just 30 to 40 stocks chosen by JPMorgan's managers — unlike a passive index fund that tracks hundreds of companies. Goldman Sachs also opened a new JPEF position in the same quarter, according to Watchlist News.
Analysts see the two firms entering JPEF together as a vote for active stock-picking over index tracking. The idea is that in a market where broad index gains are harder to find, a tighter, high-conviction portfolio may have an edge.
International Stock Push Bets on Non-US Value
Mayflower expanded its Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) stake to 40,267 shares worth about $3.11 million. VXUS tracks stocks across Europe, Asia, and emerging markets. Vanguard Group itself increased its VXUS stake by 3.6% in the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley went further, lifting its stake by 39.3% in the same period, according to Watchlist News.
The pattern suggests a shared view among large institutions: U.S. stock prices are stretched, and international markets offer lower valuations and fresh upside. Combined with the dividend and CLO positions, Mayflower's full Q1 portfolio shift points toward preparing for a slower, more volatile U.S. market over the next year.
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