An exchange-traded fund (ETF) can be very broad or very narrow. ETFs are great that way because they can give investors exposure to whatever they want.
But if you can't make up your mind on what sector to invest in or don't want to split up your money among different funds or stocks, then simply investing in the entire stock market may be your best buy. That's what you can get with the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSEArca:VTI).
It has exposure to every sector and there are only two stocks that make up 4% or more of its total weight – Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT). In short, you aren't taking on significant risk with this fund.
The goal is to mimic the total market and this ETF does a great job of that; year to date, it has generated returns of around 16%, tracking very closely with the S&P 500 which is up by a similar percentage.
With a yield of 1.3%, investors are also getting some recurring income with the ETF. And what's probably the best selling point is that the fund comes with minimal costs – its expense ratio is just 0.03%. That is a miniscule cost that in return, gives you exposure to the overall market.
Investing in the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund is a great way to invest in the stock market without worrying about not just picking individual stocks but even sectors. It is the ultimate buy-and-forget investment that you can continue piling money into over the years.
