Should I invest in multiple ETFs or just one?
Experts agree that for most personal investors, a portfolio comprising 5 to 10 ETFs is perfect in terms of diversification.
You only need one S&P 500 ETF
You could be tempted to buy all three ETFs, but just one will do the trick. You won't get any additional diversification benefits (meaning the mix of various assets) because all three funds track the same 500 companies.
Our principles for good investing highlight the importance of diversification. It's impossible to know which asset class, country, continent, or industry sector will perform best or worst in any given year, so it may be better to hold a mix of investments - also known as a diversified portfolio.
This investment strategy seeks total return through exposure to a diversified portfolio of primarily equity, and to a lesser extent, fixed income asset classes with a target allocation of 70% equities and 30% fixed income. Target allocations can vary +/-5%.
Advisors are wary of recommending single-stock ETFs because of their risky nature. "These types of instruments, they're not for the faint of heart," says Frank Paré, an Oakland, California-based certified financial planner with PF Wealth Management and a former president of the Financial Planning Association.
Aim for around 10 to 20 diversified ETFs that align with your goals and risk tolerance. There is no fixed number of ETFs that can be classified as “too many” as it ultimately depends on an investor's individual goals, risk tolerance, and investment strategy.
For most personal investors, an optimal number of ETFs to hold would be 5 to 10 across asset classes, geographies, and other characteristics.
ETFs can provide an easy way to be diversified and as such, the investor may want to have 75% or more of the portfolio in ETFs." To that end, Conzo says a more sophisticated investor may have additional needs.
So, what's the magic number? There isn't a strict rule, but between five and 10 funds is usually a good idea. That lets you allocate money to different types of funds and markets without doubling up too much. It's also a manageable number to monitor and won't cost you too much in trading fees.
An ideal diversified portfolio would include companies from various industries, those in different stages of their growth cycle (e.g., early stage and mature), some companies from foreign countries, and companies across a range of market capitalizations (small, mid, and large).
Is 20 ETFs too much?
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.
Specifically, a fund is prohibited from: acquiring more than 3% of a registered investment company's shares (the “3% Limit”); investing more than 5% of its assets in a single registered investment company (the “5% Limit”); or. investing more than 10% of its assets in registered investment companies (the “10% Limit”).
Use a robo-advisor
There are plenty of robo-advisors to choose from. Most of them have little to no initial deposit minimum ($1,000 is more than enough to get started). After you answer some questions, the robo-advisor will choose a basket of funds or ETFs tailored to your long-term goals.
ETFs are subject to market fluctuation and the risks of their underlying investments. ETFs are subject to management fees and other expenses. Unlike mutual funds, ETF shares are bought and sold at market price, which may be higher or lower than their NAV, and are not individually redeemed from the fund.
ETFs don't have minimum investment requirements -- at least not in the same sense that mutual funds do. However, ETFs trade on a per-share basis, so unless your broker offers the ability to buy fractional shares of stock, you'll need at least the current price of one share to get started.
You expose your portfolio to much higher risk with sector ETFs, so you should use them sparingly, but investing 5% to 10% of your total portfolio assets may be appropriate. If you want to be highly conservative, don't use these at all.
Known as the 4% rule, Bengen argued that investors could safely set their annual withdrawal rate to 4% of their initial retirement pot and adjust it for inflation without running out of money over a 30-year time horizon.
VOO is a broader and more diversified index fund of 500 stocks. QQQ has historically outperformed VOO by a significant margin but has higher concentration risk and volatility (measured by beta). Both funds are excellent, low-fee stock index fund options for your portfolio.
A leveraged ETF uses derivative contracts to magnify the daily gains of an index or benchmark. These funds can offer high returns, but they also come with high risk and expenses. Funds that offer 3x leverage are particularly risky because they require higher leverage to achieve their returns.
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, VOO is a great option for investors seeking exposure to the Style Box - Large Cap Blend segment of the market.
What percentage of portfolio should be S&P 500?
The greater a portfolio's exposure to the S&P 500 index, the more the ups and downs of that index will affect its balance. That is why experts generally recommend a 60/40 split between stocks and bonds. That may be extended to 70/30 or even 80/20 if an investor's time horizon allows for more risk.
The S&P 500 is considered well-diversified by sector, which means it includes stocks in all major areas, including technology and consumer discretionary—meaning declines in some sectors may be offset by gains in other sectors.
Diversification: A well-diversified portfolio should include ETFs that cover different asset classes (stocks, bonds, commodities, etc.), sectors, industries, and geographical regions. This spreads risk and reduces the impact of any single investment on the overall performance.
One way to think about it is every three months taking whatever excess income you can afford to invest – money that you will never need to touch again – and buy ETFs! Buy ETFs when the market is up. Buy ETFs when the market is down.
There are many ways an ETF can stray from its intended index. That tracking error can be a cost to investors. Indexes do not hold cash but ETFs do, so a certain amount of tracking error in an ETF is expected. Fund managers generally hold some cash in a fund to pay administrative expenses and management fees.
