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ETFsAn exchange-traded fund, or ETF, is a type of investment fund that can be bought and sold on a stock exchange. While there are different varieties of ETFs, they all allow investors to invest in a “basket” of different assets. Depending on the type, the basket may contain securities like stocks, commodities like gold and silver, or another class of assets. Exchange-traded funds are popular investment vehicles for both retail investors and institutional investors. As of 2024, there were over 3,000 listed in the US, and the global ETF market was worth more than $10T. These funds make it easier for the average person to diversify their portfolio while lowering risk in comparison to investing in an individual security. As of last year, more than 45% of retail investors chose to invest in ETFs due to these and other perks, such as their tax advantages.Explore ETFs
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Buffered ETFs are designed to protect investors from market downside while still providing exposure to upsideInvestors typically hold them for a defined period before they “reset.” During periods of market volatility, buffered ETFs can seem particularly appealing. CNBC ETF EdgeThere are ETFs that track lawmakers' stock purchasesIf you can’t get enough politics in your life, why not invest like a politician? Because members of Congress are required to disclose their stock purchases, you can do just that, and the NANC and KRUZ ETFs make it even easier. NANC, referencing Nancy Pelosi, holds a basket of stocks that Democratic politicians have purchased. KRUZ, referencing Ted Cruz, holds a basket of Republican-held stocks. Financial TimesExplore a list of the world’s weirdest and wildest ETFs Whether you’re leaping straight into the future and looking for stocks picked by AI, a sci-fi aficionado who wants to invest in space travel, or a drama enthusiast looking to make money on stock market volatility, the ETF market’s weird corners have something for you. BankrateThe SEC recently approved bitcoin ETFs in landmark investing decisionIn January 2024, the US Securities and Exchange Commission made history when it decided to allow fund issuers to launch bitcoin ETFs. This new class of exchange-traded fund tracks spot bitcoin prices, essentially allowing investors to hold bitcoin without actually having to buy the crypto. CoinDeskBiotech ETFs allow investors to gain exposure to multiple promising companies in the industry Biotech ETFs offer a diversified alternative to purchasing an individual biotech stock and gambling on whether an individual company’s clinical trial yields the next blockbuster cancer treatment or an absolute flop. This list of the top biotech ETFs in 2025 can help you learn more about them. NerdWalletThere are monthly dividend ETFs that pay you to hold them Traditional dividend stocks and funds pay out quarterly, or four times a year. A select group of stocks and funds pay out monthly, putting cash in investors’ hands 12 times a year. These monthly dividend funds are popular because their regular payouts can help keep budgets on track. InvestopediaCrypto ETFs are driving cryptocurrency adoptionIn 2024, the SEC approved ETFs that track the price of bitcoin called spot bitcoin ETFs. These funds have since significantly increased investment inflows into cryptocurrency markets. CoinMarketCapSee the top 100 ETFs by trading volumeThis list grabs the top 100 by trading volume, or the average number of shares that have traded hands over a 3-month period. Top of the list is a semiconductor-focused fund from Direxion, followed by other tech-centric offerings. VettaFiThere are more than 300 different thematic ETFs Exchange-traded funds seem to offer something for everyone. As tracked by ETF.com, there are 338 thematic ETFs, offering exposure to “baskets” of stocks covering global infrastructure, genomics, cannabis, and more. ETF.comETFs and mutual funds are both taxed on capital gains and on dividendsMany experts consider ETFs to be more tax-efficient—ETFs are less likely to trigger capital gains taxes that must be passed on to the fund holder. TurboTaxETFs are rising in popularityWhile less than half of retail investors hold ETFs in their portfolio, this figure is up dramatically in recent years, and experts forecast continued adoption as more options hit the market and total ETF assets under management continue to grow. State Street Global Advisors'Buying the dip' refers to purchasing stocks or ETFs after a price decline in anticipation of a reboundSome investors see it as getting a discount before the market recovers and the temporary declines turn into gains. PublicETFs vs. Sovereign Wealth FundsSome of the world’s largest economies use sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) to invest surplus revenue into global assets. But how do they compare to something investors use every day—ETFs? This breakdown explains how SWFs work, how they differ from ETFs, and why they play a major role in national economies. 1440ETFs vs. mutual funds: Which are better investments?Exchange-traded funds and mutual funds have many similarities. They both invest in multiple companies under one fund and trade using the same securities (such as stocks and bonds). However, they have distinct differences—such as fees and management style—that can impact your bank account in the long term. BankrateRetail investors cannot directly invest in private credit funds—but other financial vehicles can offer exposure to the industryFor example, as some US regulations have loosened in recent years, retail investors have begun to get exposure to the private credit market via ETFs that invest in publicly traded financial vehicles with private credit exposure, such as BDCs. CNBCCompanies sometimes issue corporate bonds to raise capitalThese bonds offer investors regular interest payments in addition to the return of the principal amount at maturity. They allow companies to raise capital without losing ownership. InvestopediaBullion is either gold or silver that has at least 99.5% or 99.9% purity, respectivelyIt’s typically kept in the form of bars or ingots. Governments and central banks often keep bullion reserves on hand; they can use it as a hedge against inflation. One can invest in bullion via ETFs, among other financial vehicles. InvestopediaListen to a podcast exploring reported UFO and alien sightingsFrom the most shocking accounts of abductions and UFO sightings to an interview with a Harvard professor about these claims, dive into fascinating stories about run-ins with ETs that have continued to be told for decades. Alien UFO Podcast by Simon BownSee a visualization of the most popular e-commerce companies in AmericaAmazon’s app sees more users than the next four most popular e-commerce apps (like Temu, Walmart, and others) combined. Visual CapitalistThe New York Stock Exchange wouldn't have been made if not for municipal bond salesThe Funding Act of 1790 nationalized and consolidated the debt held by the 13 colonies to be sold off in the form of bonds. New York Stock ExchangeMeet the ‘SPY kids’ tied to Wall Street’s first ETF When SPY became the first ETF to launch in 1993, regulators wanted its issuers to set a termination date. After initially saying the fund would cease to exist in 25 years, its issuers came up with a different strategy. They named 11 children born between 1990 and 1993 and declared that the fund would cease to exist in 2118, or 20 years after the last of the 11 “SPY kids” died. The kicker? According to Bloomberg, none of the children knew they were connected to the fate of this giant fund. Bloomberg TelevisionTest your ETF knowledge A 10-question quiz from the SEC allows investors to test their basic knowledge about exchange-traded funds and their investing counterparts, mutual funds. Here’s a sample question: Is the past performance of a fund a good indicator of future results? (Hint, the answer is no). US Securities and Exchange ComissionExplore a giant ETF database Given that there are more than 3,000 ETFs trading in the US, the list of options for individual investors may be overwhelming. VettaFi provides a database that allows potential investors to sort funds by sector, region, strategy, fund issuers, and more. It tracks nearly 100 funds focused on general technology but just one that focuses on copper mining. VettaFiThe first US ETF was launched in 1993Exchange-traded funds are relatively new inventions, and they’ve grown significantly in popularity during their few decades of existence. They were first created as an alternative to mutual funds. A colorful visualization depicts the entire history of ETFs. Visual CapitalistThe SPDR S&P 500 ETF is one of the most highly traded funds on the marketState Street, a popular ETF issuer, is responsible for the SPDR S&P 500 ETF. This fund trades under the SPY ticker, and State Street maintains a web page with key facts and figures on SPY. For instance, its expense ratio is 0.0945%, or $9.45 on an initial $10K investment. State Street Global AdvisorsThe total cost of owning an ETF is the sum of the holding costs and the transaction costsHolding costs include things like the expense ratio, or the annual fee that a fund issuer charges. Transaction costs include things like brokerage commissions, or the fee that a broker charges to enact a trade. However, in recent years, most brokers have essentially eliminated commissions on ETF trading. Morningstar, Inc.An expense ratio represents the cost to own an ETF over the course of the yearFor instance, an expense ratio of 0.5% would add a cost of $50 on an investment of $10K. And while expense ratios have on average decreased in recent years, a particularly hefty fee can still eat into total profits. BankrateCathie Wood is one of the most famous modern figures in ETF investingCathie Wood is the fund manager and stock picker behind Ark Invest and its flagship Ark Innovation ETF. Her strategy centers around disruptive technology, and she’s made bold bets on cryptocurrency and companies like Tesla, Robinhood, and Nvidia. Wood has a loyal following of retail investors who watch her daily trades religiously. CNBCThe pros of exchange-traded funds include ease of access through brokerage apps and retirement savings accounts One unexpected perk is that ETFs are typically associated with lower capital gains tax requirements. Read this list to learn more about the benefits of investing in ETFs. Schwab BrokerageDividends are payments made by a corporation to its shareholdersFrom the Dutch East India Company paying out the first dividends over 400 years ago to the word “dividend’s” ancient Latin roots, Dividend.com has a full explainer of this investing perk and how individuals can earn income while holding dividend-paying stocks or ETFs. Dividend.comBlackRock says investor demand and improvements in underlying fund technology have supercharged ETF availability in 2025Investors are likely most familiar with ETFs that invest in an index or other grouping of stocks. However, BlackRock breaks down a wide variety of options, including commodity ETFs, currency ETFs, and bond ETFs. BlackRockThe ‘commodities’ investment category includes livestock, oil, wheat, and moreCommodities traders look at all of these things as assets, placing short-, medium-, and long-term wagers on how much each is really worth. Business InsiderAbout 30% of financial advisors opted for fixed and indexed annuities in 2023An infographic that shows the most common types of investments used by financial advisors with their clients in 2023 also found that nine in 10 advisors used ETFs, and three-quarters invested in cash and cash equivalents. Visual CapitalistA bond ETF lets someone invest in multiple bonds through one single fundThere are risks, there are also major perks to buying a bond ETF, like the ability to purchase bonds on the stock market. BankrateThere are three main ways to start investing in the bond marketInvest in the boind market through a brokerage, mutual fund or ETF, or the US government. Each has different steps and terms to follow, from starting rates to opening specific accounts. Some bonds are relatively easy to purchase, but the process differs depending on the type of bond you want. Business Insider