The exchange traded fund (ETF) fan club keeps on growing.

Brian Neill for the Bradenton Herald says that he’s staying away from most individual stocks. Instead, he’s spending more time on ETFs, and the more he learns, the more he likes them.

His portfolio is made of of some funds that help him rest easier at night:

• Dow Diamonds Trust (DIA)
• SPDR S&P 500 (SPY)
• S&P Mid Cap 400 (MDY)
• Financial Select Sector SPDR (XLF)

Among one of Neil’s biggest themes he’s sticking with is caution. The ETFs he has in his portfolio are broad-based, so he gets a wide array of exposure. In the wake of recent volatility, broad baskets of stocks keep the risk factor lower than it would be with individual stock-picking.

So whether the renewed strength in the dollar helped his portfolio, or crude’s drop to a 3-month low, or simple magic, it doesn’t matter, because with ETF investing, you’re covered.

Tags: DIA, Dow Jones Industrial Average, Financial, MDY, Mid-Cap, S&P 500, Sector ETFs, SPY, XLF