Core Insights - The article discusses the variety of investment funds available through BlackRock iShares, particularly focusing on UCITS funds, which provide a wide range of options for investors to create tax-efficient portfolios [1][2][4] Fund Categories - A total of approximately 250 funds are available for screening, primarily in USD, which allows for the construction of a low-cost, tax-efficient portfolio [2] - The ideal portfolio should reflect the investor's unique investment philosophy, whether it is value-oriented, momentum-focused, or geographically specific [3][15] Fund Characteristics - All funds discussed are equity funds, denominated in USD, listed on the London Stock Exchange, and domiciled in Ireland, thus exempt from estate taxes for non-residents [6] - The withholding tax on dividends from US corporations to these ETFs is reduced to 15% due to a dual taxation treaty between Ireland and the US [7] Index Providers - The main index providers for these funds include MSCI, S&P, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, FTSE, and STOXX, with a notable emphasis on STOXX for newer implementations [9] Performance Metrics - Key performance metrics for various funds include annualized returns over 5 and 10 years, total expense ratios (TER), and price-to-earnings (PE) ratios, which help investors gauge fund performance and value [12][14] Specific Fund Examples - Core regional funds include the S&P 500 with a 5-year annualized return of 15.0% and a TER of 0.07%, and emerging markets funds with lower returns but varying expense ratios [14] - Single country funds such as the Nasdaq 100 show a 5-year annualized return of 16.1% with a TER of 0.30%, indicating strong performance in specific markets [16] Thematic and Sector Funds - Thematic funds, including those focused on technology and healthcare, are available but are considered more speculative and less useful for traditional portfolio construction [28] - Equal-weighted funds are highlighted for potentially better performance compared to capitalization-weighted funds, as they give smaller companies more weight in the index [22][26] Islamic and ESG Funds - There are funds that adhere to Islamic investment principles and those that focus on ESG criteria, catering to specific investor preferences [20][27] Conclusion - The breadth of funds available through BlackRock iShares allows investors to tailor their portfolios according to their investment philosophies, risk tolerance, and market preferences, making it a valuable resource for portfolio construction [1][4][15]