Course 3 of 8
Learn ETFs
Learn how funds, indexes, fees and diversification actually work.
7 lessons · about 40 minutes
ETFs are the simplest way most beginners own many investments at once. These lessons cover what an ETF is, how it differs from a mutual fund, how fees compound against you, how an index is actually built, and how to read what an ETF really holds before you buy it.
- 01
What Is an ETF?
Beginner6 minAn ETF is a basket of investments that trades on an exchange like a single stock.
- 02
Index Funds and Passive Investing
Beginner6 minAn index fund tries to match an index rather than beat it.
- 03
ETF vs. Mutual Fund
Beginner5 minBoth are pooled funds; they differ in how and when you trade them, and often in cost.
- 04
Expense Ratios and the Real Cost of Fees
Beginner6 minSmall annual fees compound into large amounts over decades.
- 05
How to Read What an ETF Actually Holds
Intermediate6 minTwo similarly named ETFs can hold very different things.
- 06
ETF Risks and Products to Avoid as a Beginner
Intermediate6 minSome products carry the ETF label but are unsuitable for long-term accumulation.
- 07
Combining ETFs With Individual Companies
Intermediate5 minMany long-term investors hold broad funds as a base and add researched companies deliberately.