Exchange-traded funds offer a convenient way to invest in sectors or niches that interest you. If you'd like to add dividends and international stocks to your portfolio, the WisdomTree DEFA ETF
The basics
ETFs often sport lower expense ratios than their mutual fund cousins. The WisdomTree ETF's expense ratio -- its annual fee -- is a relatively low 0.48%.
This ETF has roughly kept pace with its benchmark over the past three and five years. 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 turnover rate of 30%, this fund isn't frantically and frequently rejiggering its holdings, as many funds do.
What's in it?
Plenty of large, global, dividend payers performed well over the past year. GlaxoSmithKline
U.K.-based telecom giant Vodafone
Other companies didn't do as well last year, but could see their fortunes change in the coming years. Spanish telecom giant Telefonica
France Telecom
The big picture
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.
If you're drawn to the rapidly growing mobile telecom sector, check out our special free report, "The Next Trillion Dollar Revolution," which will introduce you to a compelling candidate for your portfolio.