Exchange-traded funds offer a convenient way to invest in sectors or niches that interest you — and also to invest in the overall market. If you expect that the world's economies will grow over time, boosting the value of the world's public companies, the Vanguard Total World Stock Market Index ETF
The basics
ETFs often sport lower expense ratios than their mutual fund cousins. The Vanguard ETF's expense ratio — its annual fee — is a very low 0.25%.
It's a bit silly to compare this ETF's performance to the market, since it is the market. Instead, you might compare your alternative investments to it and see which has fared better. Remember, too, that as with most investments, we can't expect outstanding performances in every quarter or year; Investors with conviction need to wait for their holdings to deliver.
And with a very low turnover rate of 7%, this fund isn't frantically and frequently rejiggering its holdings, as many funds do.
What's in it?
As you'd expect in any market, some stocks did well while others did poorly. Philip Morris International
Intel
U.K.-based telecom giant Vodafone
Other companies didn't add as much to the ETF's returns last year; however, they could have an effect in the years to come. General Electric
The big picture
A well-chosen ETF can grant you instant diversification across any industry or group of companies, as well as make investing in and profiting from it that much easier.