Read the screenplay: FANNIEGATE — $7 trillion. 17 years. The biggest fraud in American capital markets.

25 ETFs, Ranked

Top 25 Best
ETFs to Buy

From VTI and VOO to SCHD and QQQ. The ETFs that belong in every portfolio, ranked by a former hedge fund manager who switched to indexing.

Scored on performance, cost efficiency, and diversification. 3 ratings per ETF, /30 total.

25

ETFs Ranked

0.03%

Lowest Expense Ratio

$3.9T+

Combined AUM

10

Categories

From Hedge Fund to Index Funds

I ran Global Speculation LP, a hedge fund focused on undervalued securities. I wrote 300+ stock analyses on Seeking Alpha. I spent years reading 10-Ks, modeling cash flows, and arguing about GSE preferred stocks in SEC comment letters. And after all of that, the data forced me to confront an uncomfortable truth: most people — including most professionals — should just buy index ETFs.

The evidence is overwhelming. Over 90% of actively managed funds underperform their benchmark index over 15 years (SPIVA scorecard data). The fund managers who do outperform rarely persist. Meanwhile, a simple 3-fund portfolio of VTI + VXUS + BND has beaten most hedge funds, most financial advisors, and most stock-pickers for decades. At a combined expense ratio of under 0.05%.

This ranking covers the 25 ETFs I believe matter most. They span U.S. stocks, international stocks, bonds, dividends, growth, value, small caps, real estate, and emerging markets. Every ETF is scored on three dimensions: performance, cost efficiency, and diversification. No paid placements, no sponsored rankings. Just an honest assessment from someone who has been on both sides of the active-vs-passive debate.

Why Expense Ratios Are Everything

Lifetime cost of a 1% vs 0.03% expense ratio on $100,000 invested for 30 years at 10% annual returns.

Typical Active Mutual Fund
1.00%$64,400
Average ETF
0.44%$29,300
SPY (S&P 500)
0.09%$6,200
VOO / VTI / BND
0.03%$2,100

The difference between a 1% fee and a 0.03% fee over 30 years is $62,300 on a $100K portfolio. That is not a rounding error. That is a car, a down payment, or a year of retirement income — taken from you by fees.

The 3-Fund Portfolio

The only investment strategy most people will ever need. Three funds. Total global diversification. Under 0.05% in fees.

VTI60%

U.S. Stocks

The entire U.S. stock market. Your growth engine. 60% allocation captures the equity risk premium that drives long-term wealth creation.

VXUS20%

International Stocks

Every market outside the U.S. Geographic diversification protects against U.S.-specific risks and captures growth in the rest of the world.

BND20%

U.S. Bonds

Investment-grade bonds. Your portfolio ballast. Reduces overall volatility and provides income. Increase this allocation as you approach retirement.

Adjust allocations based on age and risk tolerance. Younger investors can go 80/20/0. Retirees might prefer 40/10/50.

The Rankings

25 ETFs. 3 ratings each. Scored by a former hedge fund manager who switched to indexing.

1

VTI

29/30Total Market

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF

ER: 0.03%|AUM: $416B|5Y: 14.2%|Yield: 1.3%|Holdings: 3,700

What It Is

The entire U.S. stock market in a single ticker. VTI holds every investable U.S. company -- large, mid, small, and micro cap. 3,700+ stocks for 0.03% per year. This is the closest thing to owning American capitalism itself. One share and you are done.

Glen's Take

If someone put a gun to my head and said I could only own one ETF for the rest of my life, it would be VTI. After running a hedge fund and writing 300+ stock analyses, I have come full circle. Most people should own VTI and nothing else in their equity allocation. The total market approach means you never miss the next mega-cap winner because it is already in there. At 0.03%, Vanguard is practically giving this away.

Performance9/10
Cost10/10
Diversification10/10
2

VOO

28/30S&P 500

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF

ER: 0.03%|AUM: $540B|5Y: 14.5%|Yield: 1.3%|Holdings: 503

What It Is

The 500 largest U.S. companies by market cap, weighted by size. VOO tracks the S&P 500 index -- the benchmark that 90%+ of active managers fail to beat over 15 years. Mega-cap tech, healthcare giants, financial institutions, and consumer staples in one fund at rock-bottom cost.

Glen's Take

VOO vs VTI is the great debate that does not actually matter. They are 99% correlated. VOO is pure large-cap, VTI adds small and mid. Over any 20-year period the difference is noise. I give VTI the slight edge because it is more complete, but if your 401(k) only offers an S&P 500 fund, congratulations -- you already own one of the two best equity ETFs ever created.

Performance9/10
Cost10/10
Diversification9/10
3

SCHD

25/30Dividend

Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF

ER: 0.06%|AUM: $63B|5Y: 12.1%|Yield: 3.4%|Holdings: 104

What It Is

The dividend ETF that became a cult favorite. SCHD tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, screening for companies with 10+ years of consecutive dividend payments, strong fundamentals, and high yield. It tilts toward financials, industrials, healthcare, and consumer staples.

Glen's Take

SCHD is the internet's favorite ETF and it deserves the hype. It screens for quality dividend growers -- not just high yield -- which means you avoid the yield traps that blow up retirees' portfolios. The 10-year dividend growth rate is exceptional. If I were building a pure income portfolio for retirement, it would be SCHD + VTI + BND. That is 90% of what most people need.

Performance8/10
Cost10/10
Diversification7/10
4

QQQ

24/30Growth

Invesco QQQ Trust

ER: 0.20%|AUM: $310B|5Y: 18.9%|Yield: 0.6%|Holdings: 101

What It Is

The 100 largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq. QQQ is a concentrated bet on technology, communication, and consumer discretionary. Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, Meta, Google, Tesla -- the companies reshaping the global economy. Higher risk, higher reward than broad market funds.

Glen's Take

QQQ has been the performance king of the last decade and the expense ratio (0.20%) is the tax you pay for that outperformance. It is not diversified -- it is a tech-heavy growth bet. That is fine if you understand what you own. I would never put 100% of a portfolio in QQQ, but a 20-30% allocation as a growth sleeve alongside VTI makes sense for investors with a long time horizon and strong stomachs.

Performance10/10
Cost8/10
Diversification6/10
5

BND

25/30Bond

Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF

ER: 0.03%|AUM: $117B|5Y: 0.4%|Yield: 4.4%|Holdings: 11,200

What It Is

The entire U.S. investment-grade bond market. BND holds 11,000+ Treasury, government, corporate, and mortgage-backed bonds. It is the ballast in your portfolio -- the thing that keeps you from panic-selling stocks during a crash. Not exciting, but essential.

Glen's Take

Bonds are boring. That is the point. BND exists so that when the stock market drops 30%, your entire portfolio only drops 15-20% and you can sleep at night. The 3-fund portfolio (VTI + VXUS + BND) is the single most powerful investment strategy available to retail investors. Your age in bonds is the old rule. I think 20-30% bonds for most people is about right. BND is the default choice.

Performance5/10
Cost10/10
Diversification10/10
6

VXUS

26/30International

Vanguard Total International Stock ETF

ER: 0.07%|AUM: $72B|5Y: 6.8%|Yield: 3.1%|Holdings: 8,500

What It Is

Every investable stock market outside the United States. VXUS holds 8,500+ companies across developed markets (Europe, Japan, Australia) and emerging markets (China, India, Brazil). 40% of global market cap lives outside the U.S. -- this fund owns all of it.

Glen's Take

International stocks have underperformed the U.S. for 15 years and that is exactly why you should own them. Mean reversion is real. The U.S. cannot outperform forever. VXUS at 0.07% gives you the entire world ex-U.S. in one fund. The 3-fund portfolio allocates 20-40% to international. I lean toward 20-25% because U.S. companies already earn 40%+ of revenue overseas, so you get international exposure through VTI anyway.

Performance6/10
Cost10/10
Diversification10/10
7

SPY

27/30S&P 500

SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

ER: 0.09%|AUM: $590B|5Y: 14.4%|Yield: 1.2%|Holdings: 503

What It Is

The original ETF. SPY was launched in 1993 and remains the most traded security on earth. It tracks the S&P 500 identically to VOO and IVV. The higher expense ratio (0.09% vs 0.03%) is offset by unmatched liquidity -- penny-wide spreads and massive options volume.

Glen's Take

SPY is the best ETF for traders and the worst ETF for buy-and-hold investors compared to VOO. Same index, 3x the expense ratio. If you are buying and holding for decades, use VOO and save the 0.06% annually. If you trade options or need the liquidity, SPY is the only choice. I rank it below VOO for this list because most readers should be buying and holding, not trading.

Performance9/10
Cost9/10
Diversification9/10
8

VUG

26/30Growth

Vanguard Growth ETF

ER: 0.04%|AUM: $130B|5Y: 16.8%|Yield: 0.5%|Holdings: 188

What It Is

Large-cap U.S. growth stocks at Vanguard pricing. VUG tracks the CRSP U.S. Large Cap Growth Index -- similar tech-heavy exposure to QQQ but at 0.04% instead of 0.20%. Includes financials and healthcare growth names that QQQ excludes due to its Nasdaq-only rule.

Glen's Take

VUG is the thinking person's QQQ. You get 80% of the same exposure at one-fifth the cost. The 0.04% expense ratio is essentially free. VUG also includes growth stocks from non-Nasdaq exchanges, so you get names like Visa, UnitedHealth, and Eli Lilly that QQQ misses. If you want growth exposure and do not need QQQ's options liquidity, VUG is strictly better.

Performance9/10
Cost10/10
Diversification7/10
9

VTV

25/30Value

Vanguard Value ETF

ER: 0.04%|AUM: $125B|5Y: 10.8%|Yield: 2.4%|Holdings: 335

What It Is

Large-cap U.S. value stocks. VTV holds Berkshire Hathaway, JPMorgan, ExxonMobil, Johnson & Johnson, and Procter & Gamble -- the stable, cash-generating businesses that value investors love. Lower volatility than growth funds, higher dividend yield, and strong downside protection.

Glen's Take

Value has underperformed growth for a decade and the pendulum always swings back. VTV is how you bet on that reversion without picking individual stocks. As someone who ran a value-oriented hedge fund, I have deep respect for what is in this fund. Berkshire, JPM, JNJ -- these are businesses that will be around in 50 years. VTV + VUG together approximate VTI, which is another way to build a portfolio.

Performance7/10
Cost10/10
Diversification8/10
10

IVV

28/30S&P 500

iShares Core S&P 500 ETF

ER: 0.03%|AUM: $530B|5Y: 14.5%|Yield: 1.3%|Holdings: 503

What It Is

BlackRock's S&P 500 tracker. IVV matches VOO on expense ratio (0.03%) and tracks the same index. The difference is the issuer: Vanguard vs BlackRock. IVV has slightly better securities lending revenue and marginally different tracking error, but in practice they are interchangeable.

Glen's Take

IVV is tied with VOO as the cheapest way to own the S&P 500. Pick whichever your brokerage offers commission-free or whichever is already in your 401(k). There is no meaningful difference. I rank it slightly below VOO purely because Vanguard's ownership structure (owned by the fund shareholders) aligns incentives better than BlackRock's public company structure. But this is splitting hairs.

Performance9/10
Cost10/10
Diversification9/10
11

VYM

26/30Dividend

Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF

ER: 0.06%|AUM: $58B|5Y: 10.6%|Yield: 2.8%|Holdings: 540

What It Is

High-yield U.S. stocks broadly diversified. VYM tracks companies forecasted to pay above-average dividends. With 540+ holdings it is far more diversified than SCHD's 100 names. It tilts toward financials, healthcare, energy, and consumer staples.

Glen's Take

VYM vs SCHD is the dividend ETF debate. SCHD screens for quality and has outperformed. VYM casts a wider net with 5x the holdings. If you want concentration in the best dividend growers, pick SCHD. If you want broad dividend exposure with less single-stock risk, pick VYM. For large portfolios I would actually own both -- SCHD for the core and VYM for breadth.

Performance7/10
Cost10/10
Diversification9/10
12

AGG

25/30Bond

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

ER: 0.03%|AUM: $118B|5Y: 0.3%|Yield: 4.3%|Holdings: 12,000

What It Is

BlackRock's total bond market ETF. AGG tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index -- the same universe as BND. Treasuries, corporates, mortgage-backed, and government agency bonds. The BlackRock alternative for investors who prefer iShares.

Glen's Take

AGG and BND are functionally identical. Same index, same expense ratio, same holdings. Pick whichever is in your 401(k) or whichever your brokerage offers commission-free. There is zero reason to stress about AGG vs BND. Both do the same job: be boring, pay income, and cushion stock market drawdowns.

Performance5/10
Cost10/10
Diversification10/10
13

ITOT

29/30Total Market

iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF

ER: 0.03%|AUM: $62B|5Y: 14.1%|Yield: 1.3%|Holdings: 2,600

What It Is

BlackRock's total U.S. stock market fund. ITOT gives you the same total-market exposure as VTI at the same 0.03% expense ratio. Slightly fewer holdings (2,600 vs 3,700) because it samples the smallest micro-caps instead of owning them all, but the performance difference is negligible.

Glen's Take

ITOT is the iShares version of VTI. If your 401(k) or brokerage platform is BlackRock-centric, ITOT is your VTI equivalent. Same cost, same concept, virtually identical returns. I give VTI the edge because it holds more names and Vanguard's structure, but ITOT is an A+ fund by any measure.

Performance9/10
Cost10/10
Diversification10/10
14

VNQ

21/30Real Estate

Vanguard Real Estate ETF

ER: 0.12%|AUM: $36B|5Y: 4.2%|Yield: 3.8%|Holdings: 160

What It Is

U.S. real estate investment trusts (REITs) in one fund. VNQ holds data centers (Equinix, Digital Realty), cell towers (American Tower, Crown Castle), industrial warehouses (Prologis), and traditional property REITs. Real estate exposure without owning physical property.

Glen's Take

REITs are interest-rate sensitive beasts. When rates drop, VNQ rips. When rates rise, it gets hammered. The 5-year return looks ugly because 2022-2023 rate hikes crushed the sector. But REITs are required to distribute 90%+ of income as dividends, making VNQ a solid income play over full cycles. I have written extensively about REITs on Seeking Alpha -- the key is buying when everyone else is selling.

Performance5/10
Cost9/10
Diversification7/10
15

IXUS

25/30International

iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF

ER: 0.07%|AUM: $38B|5Y: 6.6%|Yield: 3.0%|Holdings: 4,400

What It Is

BlackRock's total international stock fund. IXUS covers developed and emerging markets outside the U.S. -- the iShares equivalent of VXUS. Slightly fewer holdings but tracks a similar universe. Europe, Japan, UK, China, India, and dozens of other countries.

Glen's Take

IXUS is to VXUS what ITOT is to VTI -- the BlackRock version of the same concept. If you are building a 3-fund portfolio with iShares, it is ITOT + IXUS + AGG. Same diversification, same rock-bottom costs. The Vanguard vs iShares choice is almost purely about which platform you are on.

Performance6/10
Cost10/10
Diversification9/10
16

VB

25/30Small Cap

Vanguard Small-Cap ETF

ER: 0.05%|AUM: $54B|5Y: 10.2%|Yield: 1.4%|Holdings: 1,370

What It Is

The small-cap slice of the U.S. market. VB holds 1,370+ companies with market caps typically between $300M and $10B. Small caps have historically outperformed large caps over long periods (the small-cap premium), though the last decade has favored mega-caps.

Glen's Take

The small-cap premium is one of the most debated topics in finance. Historically real, recently absent. If you believe in mean reversion and factor investing, adding a 10-15% VB tilt to a VTI-heavy portfolio gives you extra small-cap exposure. VTI already includes small caps, but they are a tiny percentage by market weight. VB increases that exposure deliberately.

Performance7/10
Cost10/10
Diversification8/10
17

SCHV

25/30Value

Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF

ER: 0.04%|AUM: $12B|5Y: 10.5%|Yield: 2.3%|Holdings: 540

What It Is

Schwab's large-cap value fund. SCHV tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Value Total Stock Market Index. Similar exposure to VTV at the same 0.04% expense ratio. More holdings than VTV (540 vs 335) for slightly broader value exposure.

Glen's Take

SCHV and VTV are basically the same fund from different providers. If you have a Schwab account, use SCHV. If you have Vanguard, use VTV. The expense ratios are identical and the performance is within basis points. This is the beauty of the ETF price war -- investors win no matter which provider they choose.

Performance7/10
Cost10/10
Diversification8/10
18

HDV

22/30Dividend

iShares Core High Dividend ETF

ER: 0.08%|AUM: $11B|5Y: 9.8%|Yield: 3.5%|Holdings: 75

What It Is

High-dividend U.S. stocks screened for financial health. HDV uses Morningstar's economic moat and financial health ratings to filter out yield traps. Concentrated at 75 holdings with heavy energy and healthcare exposure. Higher yield than SCHD but less diversified.

Glen's Take

HDV is the most concentrated of the big three dividend ETFs (SCHD, VYM, HDV). The Morningstar moat screen is smart -- it filters out companies paying dividends they cannot afford. But 75 holdings means more single-stock risk. I prefer SCHD for its quality screen and VYM for its breadth. HDV is a fine complement if you want to tilt even harder toward high current yield.

Performance7/10
Cost9/10
Diversification6/10
19

IJR

24/30Small Cap

iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF

ER: 0.06%|AUM: $82B|5Y: 11.4%|Yield: 1.3%|Holdings: 600

What It Is

Small-cap U.S. stocks via the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. Unlike VB which includes all small caps, IJR only includes profitable companies that meet the S&P committee's quality screens. Fewer holdings (600 vs 1,370) but arguably higher quality due to the profitability requirement.

Glen's Take

IJR has a subtle but important advantage over VB: the S&P 600 index requires constituent companies to have positive earnings. This profitability screen filters out the zombie small caps that drag down returns. Historically, IJR has slightly outperformed VB over long periods. If you want small-cap exposure with a quality tilt, IJR is the better choice.

Performance7/10
Cost10/10
Diversification7/10
20

VWO

22/30Emerging Markets

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF

ER: 0.08%|AUM: $80B|5Y: 3.8%|Yield: 3.2%|Holdings: 5,800

What It Is

Emerging market stocks: China, India, Taiwan, Brazil, South Africa, and dozens more. VWO gives you exposure to the fastest-growing economies on earth. Higher risk due to political instability, currency fluctuations, and governance issues, but potentially higher long-term growth.

Glen's Take

Emerging markets have been a graveyard for the last decade and that is precisely when you should be building a position. China's regulatory crackdowns, Russia's removal from indices, and a strong dollar crushed EM returns. But these are the economies where 85% of the world's population lives. VWO at 0.08% is the cheapest way to bet on global growth outside the developed world. A 5-10% allocation is reasonable.

Performance4/10
Cost9/10
Diversification9/10
21

JEPI

19/30Dividend

JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF

ER: 0.35%|AUM: $36B|5Y: 9.1%|Yield: 7.2%|Holdings: 130

What It Is

A covered call ETF that generates income by selling options on S&P 500 stocks. JEPI holds a portfolio of low-volatility equities and writes out-of-the-money call options to produce a 7%+ monthly distribution. Popular with retirees and income seekers.

Glen's Take

JEPI is the ETF that pays you 7%+ to cap your upside. The covered call strategy works in flat and slightly up markets but drastically underperforms in bull markets because you sold the upside away. If you are retired and need monthly income above what dividends provide, JEPI makes sense. If you are accumulating wealth with a 20+ year horizon, you are leaving massive gains on the table. Know what you are buying.

Performance6/10
Cost7/10
Diversification6/10
22

VONG

26/30Growth

Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF

ER: 0.08%|AUM: $18B|5Y: 17.5%|Yield: 0.5%|Holdings: 440

What It Is

Russell 1000 Growth Index exposure at near-zero cost. VONG is broader than QQQ (440 vs 100 holdings) and cheaper (0.08% vs 0.20%). It includes growth stocks across all exchanges, not just the Nasdaq. A middle ground between VUG's tight Vanguard index and QQQ's Nasdaq concentration.

Glen's Take

VONG sits between VUG and QQQ in the growth spectrum. More diversified than QQQ, slightly broader than VUG, and priced between them. If you want growth exposure with more holdings than QQQ but do not want to pay QQQ's expense ratio, VONG is a smart choice. The Russell 1000 Growth methodology is well-established and has a long track record.

Performance9/10
Cost9/10
Diversification8/10
23

GLD

16/30Commodity

SPDR Gold Shares

ER: 0.40%|AUM: $75B|5Y: 12.4%|Yield: 0.0%|Holdings: 1

What It Is

Physical gold held in vaults, traded as an ETF. GLD gives you gold exposure without storing bars in your closet. Gold is the oldest store of value on earth -- uncorrelated with stocks and bonds, a hedge against inflation and currency debasement.

Glen's Take

Gold is the anti-asset. It produces no cash flow, no earnings, no dividends. You are betting that someone will pay more for it tomorrow. That said, a 5% gold allocation has historically improved portfolio risk-adjusted returns because gold is uncorrelated with everything else. The 0.40% expense ratio is steep compared to stock ETFs but cheap compared to physical gold storage. I own a small gold position for portfolio insurance, not returns.

Performance7/10
Cost6/10
Diversification3/10
24

AVUV

24/30Small Cap

Avantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF

ER: 0.25%|AUM: $15B|5Y: 15.8%|Yield: 1.7%|Holdings: 750

What It Is

The factor investor's darling. AVUV targets the small-cap value premium -- the historical tendency for small, cheap stocks to outperform over long periods. Run by former Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) team members using systematic, evidence-based security selection.

Glen's Take

AVUV is for people who have read their Fama and French and believe in factor premiums. Small-cap value has the strongest long-term premium in academic finance, and AVUV captures it better than passive small-cap value indexes because of active security selection. The 0.25% expense ratio is higher than Vanguard funds but far cheaper than DFA's traditional channel. If you tilt your portfolio toward factors, AVUV belongs in it.

Performance9/10
Cost8/10
Diversification7/10
25

BNDX

23/30Bond

Vanguard Total International Bond ETF

ER: 0.07%|AUM: $55B|5Y: -0.2%|Yield: 3.1%|Holdings: 6,900

What It Is

International investment-grade bonds, currency-hedged to the U.S. dollar. BNDX holds government and corporate bonds from Europe, Japan, UK, and other developed markets. Currency hedging removes exchange rate risk, leaving you with pure bond exposure from issuers outside the U.S.

Glen's Take

BNDX is the bond diversification layer that most investors skip entirely. If BND is your U.S. bond allocation, BNDX is the international complement. Adding international bonds reduces portfolio volatility because interest rate cycles differ across countries. The currency hedging is key -- without it, you would be making a currency bet, not a bond investment. A 70/30 split between BND and BNDX is a reasonable bond allocation.

Performance4/10
Cost10/10
Diversification9/10

Why ETFs Beat Everything Else

The structural advantages that make ETFs the default choice for 99% of investors.

Rock-Bottom Costs

The best ETFs charge 0.03-0.07% annually. On a $100,000 portfolio, that is $30-$70 per year. Active mutual funds charge 1%+ ($1,000+). Over a 30-year career, that difference compounds to hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost returns.

Instant Diversification

One share of VTI gives you exposure to 3,700+ companies. One share of BND gives you 11,000+ bonds. It would take millions of dollars to replicate this diversification buying individual securities.

Tax Efficiency

ETFs use in-kind creation/redemption to minimize capital gains distributions. Mutual funds must sell holdings to meet redemptions, triggering taxable events for all shareholders. ETFs almost never distribute capital gains.

Trade Like Stocks

ETFs trade on exchanges throughout the day with real-time pricing. Mutual funds only price once per day after market close. You can set limit orders, use stop losses, and trade options on major ETFs.

Transparency

Most ETFs publish their complete holdings daily. You know exactly what you own. Active mutual funds only disclose holdings quarterly with a 30-day delay. With ETFs, there are no surprises.

Get Glen's Musings

Occasional thoughts on AI, Claude, investing, and building things. Free. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. I respect your inbox more than Congress respects property rights.

Recommended Resources

Tools & books I actually use and recommend

SeekingAlpha Premium

Quant ratings, earnings transcripts, and the stock analysis community where I published 300+ articles.

Try SeekingAlpha

A Random Walk Down Wall Street

Burton Malkiel's classic case for index investing. The book that convinced millions to stop stock-picking.

View on Amazon

The Little Book of Common Sense Investing

John Bogle's manifesto on why low-cost index funds beat everything else. Straight from the founder of Vanguard.

View on Amazon

Some links above are affiliate links. I only recommend products I personally use. See my full disclosures.

Disclaimer

This ranking reflects Glen Bradford's personal analysis and investment experience. It is not financial advice. Past performance does not guarantee future returns. ETF data (expense ratios, AUM, yields, returns) is approximate and changes daily. Always verify current data before investing. Do your own research and consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Work With Glen

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ETF and how is it different from a mutual fund?

An ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) is a basket of securities that trades on a stock exchange like a single stock. Unlike mutual funds, which only price once per day after market close, ETFs trade throughout the day at real-time prices. ETFs are typically more tax-efficient because of their in-kind creation/redemption mechanism, and they usually have lower expense ratios than comparable mutual funds. The main practical difference: you buy ETFs through a brokerage account like buying any stock, while mutual funds are bought directly from the fund company at the end-of-day NAV price.

What is the best ETF for beginners?

VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) or VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF). Both cost 0.03% per year, are massively diversified, and require zero maintenance. If you want one fund and never want to think about it again, VTI gives you the entire U.S. stock market. If you want the simplest possible diversified portfolio, use the 3-fund approach: VTI (60%), VXUS (20%), BND (20%). Adjust the bond percentage based on your age and risk tolerance.

What is the 3-fund portfolio and why do people recommend it?

The 3-fund portfolio is an investment strategy using just three index funds: a total U.S. stock market fund (VTI), a total international stock fund (VXUS), and a total bond market fund (BND). It was popularized by Bogleheads (followers of Vanguard founder John Bogle). The concept is simple: these three funds give you exposure to virtually every investable security on earth at near-zero cost. No stock picking, no market timing, no complicated strategies. Just broad diversification and low fees -- which historically beats 90%+ of professional fund managers over 15+ years.

VOO vs VTI -- which is better?

They are 99% correlated and the difference over any 20-year period is negligible. VOO holds the 500 largest U.S. companies (S&P 500). VTI holds every U.S. company including small and mid caps (3,700+ stocks). VTI is slightly more diversified. VOO has slightly higher average returns in recent decades because mega-cap tech has dominated. In practice, picking either one and sticking with it is far more important than which one you choose. If your 401(k) only offers an S&P 500 fund, that is perfectly fine.

How much do expense ratios actually matter?

More than almost anything else. A 1% expense ratio on a $100,000 portfolio invested for 30 years at 10% annual returns costs you approximately $64,400 in lost wealth compared to a 0% fee. A 0.03% expense ratio costs just $2,100 over the same period. That $62,000 difference is the entire cost of switching from an actively managed mutual fund to a Vanguard index ETF. Expense ratios are the single most reliable predictor of future fund performance -- lower fees consistently lead to better outcomes.

Should I buy SCHD or VYM for dividends?

SCHD screens for quality dividend growers (10+ year dividend history, strong fundamentals) and holds ~100 stocks. VYM casts a wider net, holding 540+ high-yield stocks. SCHD has outperformed VYM over the past decade due to its quality tilt. VYM offers more diversification and lower single-stock risk. For most investors, SCHD is the better core dividend holding. For large portfolios ($500K+), owning both provides quality concentration (SCHD) and broad income exposure (VYM).

Is QQQ a good investment?

QQQ has been the best-performing major ETF over the last 15 years, driven by mega-cap tech (Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, Meta, Google). However, it is heavily concentrated in technology and only holds Nasdaq-listed companies. It is not a diversified portfolio -- it is a growth bet. At 0.20%, it costs 5-7x more than comparable Vanguard funds. VUG offers similar growth exposure at 0.04%. QQQ makes sense as a 20-30% growth allocation alongside VTI, not as your entire portfolio.

Do I need international ETFs like VXUS?

Yes, unless you are comfortable making an active bet that the U.S. will outperform every other country indefinitely. International stocks represent ~40% of global market cap. The U.S. has dominated for the last 15 years, but from 2000-2009, international stocks crushed U.S. stocks. Mean reversion is real. A 20-30% allocation to VXUS provides geographic diversification and reduces portfolio risk. Additionally, in periods of U.S. dollar weakness, international stocks provide a natural currency hedge.

Keep Exploring