Exchange-traded funds offer a convenient way to invest in sectors or niches that interest you. If you expect banks and financial services companies to get their acts together and thrive in the years ahead, the Vanguard Financials ETF
The basics
ETFs often sport lower expense ratios than their mutual fund cousins. The financial ETF's expense ratio -- its annual fee -- is a low 0.27%.
This ETF has performed, well, dismally in recent years, lagging the S&P 500 considerably over the past five years. But it's still relatively young, and the future matters more than the past. As with most investments, of course, we can't expect outstanding performances in every quarter or year. Investors with conviction need to wait for their holdings to deliver.
With a low turnover rate of 10%, this fund isn't frantically and frequently rejiggering its holdings, as many funds do.
What's in it?
Few of this ETF's components have made strong contributions to its performance so far this year, but Annaly Capital Management
Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway
Other companies truly hurt the ETF's 2011 returns. Aflac
The big picture
Demand for financial services isn't going away anytime soon. A well-chosen ETF can grant you instant diversification across any industry or group of companies -- and make investing in and profiting from it that much easier.
Learn about the best dividend ETFs. And if you're looking for some great investments beyond ETFs, consider these 10 Stocks for Your Retirement Portfolio.