Major Index ETFs

If you’re not sure what exchange-traded funds are all about, you can find detailed discussions of them at ETFdatabase.  Ask has a shorter explanation.

The website ETFdb maintains 40+ ETF portfolios that serve savvy do-it-yourself all-ETF portfolio advisors as benchmarks.

That same website has a section devoted to MLP (master limited partnership) ETFs. I’d say it’s of special interest to DIY portfolio managers looking for income flow.

Among other online discount brokers, Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Scottrade, and TD Ameritrade offer free ETF trades as well as coaching on ETF investing.For all I know, others may, too.

For ease of comparison, I’ve set up a technical chart that tracks the progress of the five major-index ETFs at Yahoo. Also, the same chart tracks GRZZX, my favorite no-load bear (inverse) fund. It gained more than 70% in terrible 2008.  Its list of stockholdings may be of special interest to DIY managers looking for bear-market ideas among stocks.

Here’s research on each of the five major-index funds: DIA, IWM, QQQ, SPY, VTI. You’ll find your way to many other index ETFs on WikiWealth.