ETF Central (2024)

FAQs

How many ETFs should I own in retirement? ›

Experts agree that for most personal investors, a portfolio comprising 5 to 10 ETFs is perfect in terms of diversification.

How many ETFs are enough? The answer depends on several factors when deciding how many ETFs you should own. Generally speaking, fewer than 10 ETFs are likely enough to diversify your portfolio, but this will vary depending on your financial goals, ranging from retirement savings to income generation.

Disadvantages of ETF investing

Since ETF fund managers cannot use their discretion to choose portfolio securities or deviate from the index weightage, investors cannot expect an outperformance or alpha generation from their ETF investments.

The 4% rule says people should withdraw 4% of their retirement funds in the first year after retiring and take that dollar amount, adjusted for inflation, every year after. The rule seeks to establish a steady and safe income stream that will meet a retiree's current and future financial needs.

In your later years, a conservative allocation of 30% cash, 20% bonds and 50% stocks might be appropriate. Diversified portfolios typically include a core of at least 50% stocks in part because equities alone offer the potential to generate long-term returns exceeding inflation.

If you hit a good sequence of returns, you'll end up with much more than $1 million. A poor sequence of returns results in less than $1 million. If you need a million dollars to retire, it's best to update your plan periodically based on how your portfolio performed so far.

What is the 30 day rule on ETFs? ›

If you sell a security at a loss and buy the same or a substantially identical security within 30 calendar days before or after the sale, you won't be able to take a loss for that security on your current-year tax return.

While the two ETFs follow the same strategy, they earn different ratings. VOO earns a top rating of Gold, while SPY earns the next best rating of Silver. Almahasneh says the reason is fees and inefficiencies of the unit investment trust structure.

ETFs are subject to market fluctuation and the risks of their underlying investments. ETFs are subject to management fees and other expenses.

Indexed ETFs, tracking specific indexes like the S&P 500, are generally safe and tend to gain value over time. Leveraged ETFs can be used to amplify returns, but they can be riskier due to increased volatility.

Market risk is the most important risk when investing in ETFs. But there are others worth mentioning, although they play a smaller role. And sometimes it's possible to eliminate them: Currency risk: If you're investing in an ETF that tracks foreign markets, you will be exposed to currency risk.

ETFs offer portfolio diversification, but not every investor needs multiple ETFs. A single ETF can move you closer to your financial goals and can complement a portfolio of individual stocks. Knowing your long-term goals and what you need now can help you decide on the right ETF and stocks for your portfolio.

With the power of diversification and flexibility, ETFs can help you effectively manage risk in your retirement plan while aiming for growth and income.

"You can get broad-based diversification with one ETF, commonly referred to as diversified ETFs, or you can build a portfolio of five to 10 ETFs that would offer good diversification," he says. The choice you make on the above depends on your investment goals and risk appetite, like any investment.

A commonly cited rule of thumb is to own between 10 and 20 mutual funds, but the actual number will vary depending on your individual circ*mstances. Too many funds can lead to unnecessary over-diversification and overlap. There's really no point in owning, say, two index funds that invest in the same index.