Key Points Vanguard is a respected money manager, with loads of ETFs to choose from. Whether you're seeking growth, income, or both, here are some ETFs for you. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › In 1990, the year that Germany reunified and Nelson Mandela was released from prison in South Africa, a certain financial instrument was introduced in Canada -- and it debuted in the U.S. in 1993. I'm referring to exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which are mutual-fund-like investments ...

Key Points VNQ charges a lower expense ratio and offers a higher dividend yield than ICF. VNQ holds over five times as many positions, with more diversified sector exposure compared to ICF’s concentrated REIT lineup. Both funds saw similar five-year drawdowns, but ICF slightly outperformed on cumulative growth over that period. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › The most notable differences between iShares Select U.S. REIT ETF (NYSEMKT:ICF) and Vanguard Real Estate ETF (N ...

At the end of every year, I find that it is important to review the total returns of five major investment categories. Stocks have delivered an 87.11% total return, leading the major asset classes. However, precious metals have outperformed, driven by record commodity performance. Bonds and cryptocurrency have been negative. What will the new year bring? Every year at this time, I like to look back and see what the long-term, 5-year investment return was for the five major investment categories: ...

Core Insights - Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) is distinguished by its lower expense ratio, broader mix of holdings, and significantly larger assets under management compared to State Street SPDR Dow Jones REIT ETF (RWR) [2][4] - Both VNQ and RWR aim to provide investors with access to U.S. real estate investment trusts (REITs), but they differ in cost structure, portfolio breadth, and liquidity [3] Cost & Size Comparison - VNQ has an expense ratio of 0.13%, while RWR has a higher expense ratio of 0.25% - As of December 18, 2025, VNQ has $65.4 billion in assets under management (AUM), compared to RWR's $1.71 billion [4][5] Performance & Risk Analysis - Over the past five years, RWR experienced a maximum drawdown of 32.58%, while VNQ had a drawdown of 34.48% - A $1,000 investment in RWR would have grown to $1,151, whereas the same investment in VNQ would have grown to $1,047 [6] Portfolio Composition - VNQ holds 158 stocks, with 98% in real estate, 1% in communication services, and 1% in cash or other assets, including top positions like Welltower, Prologis, and American Tower [7] - RWR is more narrowly focused with 102 companies, all classified as real estate, including similar top holdings as VNQ [8] Investment Implications - VNQ is designed as a large, liquid core holding with a low-fee structure, making it suitable for long-term allocations, while RWR follows a narrower REIT-only index [10]

Core Insights - Recent market conditions have made certain stocks, particularly dividend stocks, more attractive as they have pulled back from recent highs [1] - ETFs are a significant focus in investment strategies, with plans to allocate a larger portion of retirement contributions to them in 2026 [2] Small Cap Stocks - Small cap stocks are currently trading at their lowest valuations relative to large caps since the 1990s, with the Russell 2000 small-cap index averaging a price-to-book ratio of 2.0 compared to 5.2 for the S&P 500 [4] - Lower interest rates in 2026 could favor small cap outperformance, as smaller companies typically rely more on debt [5] Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) - The real estate sector has underperformed over the past decade, but there are attractive opportunities in REITs, with the Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) expected to perform well in 2026 [6] - VNQ offers a 4% dividend yield and provides exposure to major real estate operators like Prologis and Digital Realty Trust [8] Artificial Intelligence ETFs - The Ark Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF (ARKQ) focuses on smaller AI stocks and is actively managed, with Tesla being the top holding [11][12] - This ETF allows investors to gain exposure to smaller AI companies without extensive research, making it an appealing option for those less familiar with the sector [13] Investment Strategy - The discussed ETFs represent different components of a diversified investment strategy, with a focus on long-term holdings and exposure to emerging sectors [13][14] - The three highlighted ETFs are considered particularly attractive as the market heads into 2026, with plans to add shares to portfolios soon [14]

Michail Petrov / Shutterstock.com When it comes to building real retirement income, there are a number of strategies, but far and away the most popular right now is turning dividend income into real income. Unless you win the lottery, you have to be practical about what you can really do to make enough through investment to live comfortably while retired. Quick Read Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) yields 3.92% and pays $3.53 annually per share. JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (JEPI) offers an 8.20% ...

Core Insights - The article provides an update on the performance of the S&P 500 and the Ivy Portfolio, highlighting that all five ETFs in the Ivy Portfolio remain in an "invest" position as of the end of October [5][7][14]. Ivy Portfolio Overview - The Ivy Portfolio is constructed using an asset allocation strategy similar to that of Harvard and Yale endowment funds, consisting of five ETFs that cover various asset classes [2]. - The strategy involves creating a diversified portfolio with equal weight across asset classes, calculating a 10-month moving average for each fund, and making buy/sell decisions based on whether the fund closes above or below this average [3]. Ivy Portfolio Performance - At the end of October, none of the five ETFs in the Ivy Portfolio closed below their 10-month or 12-month simple moving averages, indicating a continued "invest" position [5][7]. - The percentage above or below the moving average for each fund is tracked, with funds within 2% of the signal highlighted for potential position reversals [6]. S&P 500 Performance - The S&P 500 closed October with a monthly gain of 2.3%, marking the sixth consecutive month of gains, and closed 11.0% above its 10-month simple moving average [8][10]. - The index also closed 11.6% above its 12-month simple moving average, maintaining an "invest" position for six straight months [12]. Moving Averages Strategy - Utilizing a moving average strategy can effectively manage risks associated with bear markets, where holding the index is advised when it closes above the moving average and moving to cash when it closes below [9]. - The article illustrates that a 10- or 12-month simple moving average strategy would have allowed participation in most upside movements since 1995 while significantly reducing losses [10][15]. Psychological Factors - The article discusses the psychology behind momentum signals, noting that human behavior often leads to buying during market uptrends and selling during downturns, which can create cycles of buying and selling momentum [16]. Implementation Considerations - The moving average strategy is most effective when applied to specific investments rather than broad indices, as signals may differ due to factors like dividend reinvestment [17]. - The strategy is recommended for use in tax-advantaged accounts with low-cost brokerage services to maximize gains [18].

Core Insights - Warren Buffett's net worth is approximately $150 billion, making him one of the wealthiest individuals globally [1] - Owning just 1% of Buffett's wealth equates to $15 billion, which would still place an individual as the 175th richest person in the world [3] Investment Opportunities - High-yield savings accounts could yield around 3.5% APY, resulting in a monthly income of approximately $43,750,000 from a $15 billion investment [4] - Investing in U.S. Treasury bonds at a current rate of 4.875% could generate a monthly income of about $60,937,500 [4] - A balanced portfolio (60% stocks, 40% bonds) could average around 8.8% annually, leading to a potential monthly income of around $110,000,000 [4] - Real estate investments, particularly through REITs like Vanguard's Real Estate ETF (VNQ), could yield approximately $93,750,000 per month based on historical returns of around 7.5% [4]

Ivy Portfolio Overview - The Ivy Portfolio is based on the asset allocation strategy used by endowment funds from Harvard and Yale, constructed with 5 ETFs to achieve diversification and reduce risk [2][5] - The portfolio consists of domestic stocks, international stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities [10] Ivy Portfolio Strategy - The strategy involves creating a diversified portfolio with equal weight across major asset classes, calculating a 10-month moving average of closing prices, and adjusting positions based on whether funds close above or below their moving averages [3][5] - At the end of September, all five ETFs in the Ivy Portfolio remained in an "invest" position, as none closed below their 10-month or 12-month simple moving averages [5][7] S&P 500 Performance - The S&P 500 closed September with a monthly gain of 3.5%, marking the fifth consecutive month of gains, and closed 10.3% above its 10-month simple moving average [8][10] - The index also closed 10.9% above its 12-month simple moving average, indicating a strong performance and maintaining an "invest" position [12] Moving Averages Strategy - Utilizing a moving average strategy can effectively manage the risk of severe losses during bear markets, with the S&P 500's performance since 1995 demonstrating the strategy's effectiveness in capturing upside while reducing losses [9][10] - The 10-month exponential moving average (EMA) has produced fewer whipsaws compared to the simple moving average, closing 9.2% above its 10-month EMA in September [13] Conclusion - All three moving average approaches (10-month SMA, 12-month SMA, and 10-month EMA) remained in an "invest" position at the end of September, reflecting a positive market trend [14]

Core Insights - Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have reached $10.3 trillion in U.S. assets, yet many investors still overpay for basic market exposure [2] - Vanguard's unique investor-owned structure allows it to offer lower expense ratios, such as 0.03% for its S&P 500 fund, significantly undercutting competitors [2][5] - The difference in expense ratios can lead to substantial long-term wealth retention, with a 0.03% fee allowing investors to keep 97% of their returns compared to higher fees [3] Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has an expense ratio of 0.03%, equating to a fee of $3 per year on a $10,000 investment, and has delivered a total return of 16% over the past year [5] - This fund is a core holding in portfolio construction, with major tech companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia making up over 20% of its holdings [6] - The fund offers a 1.16% dividend yield, which can be reinvested to compound returns over time [6] Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) - The Vanguard Growth ETF has an expense ratio of 0.04% and targets 200 leading growth companies, returning nearly 25% annually over the past three years [8] - The fund includes profitable companies like Amazon and Alphabet, providing growth exposure without high active management fees [9] Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) - The Vanguard Information Technology ETF has an expense ratio of 0.09% and focuses on the tech sector, which has been a major driver of market earnings growth [10] - The fund has delivered annualized returns of nearly 27% over the past three years, with the top 10 holdings representing about 60% of its assets [11] Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) - The Vanguard Real Estate ETF offers REIT exposure with a 0.13% expense ratio and yields about 3.5%, providing diversification and income generation [12] - Historically, REITs have outperformed during periods when the Federal Reserve cuts rates, making this fund a strategic choice for investors [13] Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) - The Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF charges an expense ratio of 0.07% and provides access to 835 smaller companies trading at discounted valuations [14] - This segment has historically delivered the highest risk-adjusted returns, offering better risk-reward balance compared to large-cap growth stocks [15]