The Complete Guide to ETF Investing: From Index Funds to Industry Picks

Panic Drop Library

I used to think investing in ETFs was complicated. Dozens of tickers, confusing acronyms, performance charts that all looked the same.

Then I figured out a system.

Here’s what surprised me most: only three sectors consistently outperform the S&P 500 over the long haul. Three. Yet most investors spread their money across all eleven sectors, wondering why their returns stay mediocre.

There’s also a tax strategy that international investors miss completely. It can cut your dividend withholding tax in half. If you’re investing from outside the US, this one detail could save you thousands.

In this guide, I’m walking you through the seven main types of ETFs, my six point checklist for choosing between competing funds, and exactly which sectors have the data to back up their performance.

You’ll know which ETFs I hold long term, which ones I only trade, and why some popular funds aren’t in my portfolio at all.