I’m an individual investor handling my own portfolio for my husband and myself – ETF’s have been an incredible boon for my Ira and Keogh accounts. I have had great success with Van Eck GlobalMarket Vectors – MOO is the big winner as is GEX and RSX – The mutual fund that I hold and it has done as well or better than the ETF’s is EUROX. Van Eck has been disappointing in their XLE – My XOM has been a much better investment. I’ve been disappointed in KXI and sold my VWO just in time for the downturn. The bulk of my funds remain in US Treasuries. ETF’s are a marvelous way to invest unless you’re luck enough to just have bought Apple and Google and Rimm which are the main holdings in my annuity through a tech fund (bought years ago). ETF’s are not for everybody – most of my friends don’t know what I’m talking about.

In conclusion, my feeling is that sector ETF’s are a marvelous way to truly diversify your investment portfolio but one has to remained glued to the screen – they can drop like rocks. You really have to see how they’re weighted – there aren’t many MOO’s out there. I sometimes think it would be simpler to find the stock that powers the engine ie Bunge or Rig or Mon and just watch the stock with trailing stops. Whatever road one takes managing one’s money is a full time job – however, I don’t trust anyone other than myself as I’ve been truly burned by managers with exorbitant fees. I had to educate myself – it’s interesting, a challenge and fortunately I share my interest with a very knowledgeable friend. Otherwise, it’s very lonely – just oneself with the computer trying to make the right decision.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WONDERFUL ETF E-MAILS!!!

Lois Feigen