Is It Stupid to Keep It Simple With ETFs?

[ETF Trends]

ETF Trends - Keeping a Grip on Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)

The exchange traded fund (ETF) industry is currently brimming with excitement over a couple of new all-world funds.
But can keeping it too simple be a wise strategy? Gary Gordon for ETF Expert doesn't think so.
An obvious pro to an all-world fund is simplicity of it all. Plus, there are fewer fees and fewer numbers to keep track of. This way you avoid higher fees and the increasing complexity of too many ETFs. Plus, with ETFs you get total flexibility and transparency.
On the flip side, there is the fact that just one ETF is not great for a buy-and-hold investor. Portfolios have to be more dynamic than what one fund can offer and equity investors should not stay handcuffed to one type of index.
Penelope Wang for Money Magazine points out that some of the newer and more narrowly focused ETFs may not be actually investing in an index, but using a strategy. While ETFs are made to track an index, providers may have to optimize the ETF when, for any number of reasons, replication is not possible.
All ETFs may not be right for all investors, but the opportunity and choice is there. Being an educated investor is also important. When it comes to your portfolios core, everyone has suggestions. Keep in mind everyone has their own financial goals and strategy to reach them.
Take a look at Money Magazine's:

• Vanguard Total Stock Market (VTI), 30%
• Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-U.S. (VEU),20%
• Vanguard Total Bond Market (BND),30%
• Vanguard Real Estate Inv Trust (VNQ),10%
• iShares Lehman TIPS Bond Fund (TIP),10%

Gordon would rather see something a bit more diversified, with some exposure to small- and mid-size companies both domestically and globally:

• SPDR S&P 500 Trust (SPY),15%
• iShares Small Value (IWN),15%
• Vanguard FTSE All-World excl U.S. (VEU),15%
• WisdomTree International Small Cap Dividend (DLS),15%
• Vanguard Total Bond Market (BND),10%
• SPDR Lehman International Treasury Bond (BWX),10%
• Dow Jones AIG Total Commodity Index (DJP),10%
• Vanguard Real Estate Inv Trust (VNQ),5%
• iShares Lehman TIPS Bond Fund (TIP),5%

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