ETFs 101: Investing Made Easy

If you’re debt free and have built up extra savings, congratulations! The next step for many people is putting that money to work through investing.

For new investors, one of the biggest challenges is deciding where to start. With thousands of individual stocks available, building a diversified portfolio can seem overwhelming. Rather than trying to pick the "perfect" combination of stocks, many investors choose Exchange Traded Funds, commonly known as ETFs.

 

What is an ETF?

An Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is an investment fund that holds a collection of assets such as stocks, bonds, or other securities. Instead of purchasing individual investments one at a time, an investor can buy a single ETF and gain exposure to dozens or hundreds of underlying holdings.

ETFs can be designed to track:

•  Broad market indexes like the S&P 500, NASDAQ Composite, Dow Jones Industrial Average, or Russell 2000
• Fixed Income, including U.S. Treasury, corporate, municipal, and international bonds
• Specific industries such as technology, healthcare, energy, or financial services
• Commodities like gold, oil, and timber
• Investment styles for high growth or value stocks
• Different company sizes, including small-cap, mid-cap, and large-cap stocks

Source: https://www.westernsouthern.com/investments/types-of-etfs

What are the advantages of investing in ETFs?

Because this collection or portfolio of securities can include a wide range of investments, one of the biggest advantages of ETFs is diversification. Imagine investing all of your money in a single company. If that company’s stock price declines, your investment could suffer significantly. An ETF spreads your investment across many companies or assets, helping reduce the impact of any one investment performing poorly. With a single purchase, you can own a small piece of a broad section of the market instead of relying on the success of one company. 

While both ETFs and mutual funds provide diversified exposure through pooled investments, ETFs offer several advantages that have made them increasingly popular among investors. ETFs generally have lower expense ratios than many mutual funds. The expense ratio represents the annual cost of managing the fund. For example, SPYM has an expense ratio of approximately 0.02%, and QQQM has an expense ratio of approximately 0.15%. While these percentages seem small, investment costs can add up over time. Lower fees mean more of your money stays invested, which could mean more portfolio gains in the long run.

Buying and selling ETFs is often as simple as trading a stock through a brokerage account. Because they are actively traded on exchanges, many ETFs offer ample liquidity, making transactions straightforward and efficient for most investors. Mutual funds, on the other hand, are priced only once at the end of each trading day. Regardless of when an order is placed, all investors receive the same end-of-day price. This flexibility from trading ETFs gives investors greater control over when they enter or exit positions.

ETFs are often considered more tax-efficient than traditional mutual funds due to the way shares are created and redeemed. ETFs typically use an in-kind creation and redemption process, which allows for trades of the underlying securities without triggering a taxable event. When underlying assets of a mutual fund are sold, capital gains are realized and passed onto the shareholders as capital gain distributions. Unexpected capital gains may increase income for investors and cause them to pay additional taxes even if they never sold any shares of the mutual fund. Because of this, ETFs typically distribute fewer capital gains than mutual funds. While tax implications vary by individual circumstances, many investors appreciate the potential to reduce unexpected taxable income.

 

What should you consider when buying ETFs?

Although ETFs provide convenient diversification, it is important to understand what you will actually own before purchasing one. Two ETFs may have similar names but very different investment objectives and risk levels. Some may focus on large, established companies, while others concentrate on emerging industries, small businesses, or international markets. Before investing, take time to review the fund's objective, top holdings, industries/sectors represented, expense ratio, and overall risk level. Making sure an ETF aligns with your financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment timeline is just as important as choosing to invest in other assets.

Investing doesn't have to be complicated. For many people, ETFs offer a simple, affordable, and effective way to start building wealth while maintaining diversification. Successful investing is less about finding the perfect stock and more about consistently investing in a diversified portfolio over time.

 

Sources:

https://www.ici.org/faqs/faqs_etfs

https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/smart-money/what-are-etfs

https://investor.vanguard.com/investor-resources-education/taxes/tax-saving-investments

Trump Accounts – What Are They?

Starting July 5^th, 2026, any American child born between 2025 and 2028 qualifies for a free $1,000 from the US government to kick start their financial future. This is the base of the new Trump accounts. What you may not know is that ANY child under the age of 18 can also open a Trump account with funds contributed by parents, grandparents and others. The free money for those new children makes this a no-brainer for parents, but the question is whether they should they be used for older children. And should parents continue to fund the Trump accounts annually? Are there better alternatives? 

At a high level, Trump Accounts were established by the One Big Beautiful Bill[1] as a way for children to begin building wealth. The best way to think about a Trump Account is as an Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) that parents can open for their children to secure their financial future. They’re “baby bonds,” accounts that are funded early in a child’s life with the goal of compounding over decades, not years, to support financial security and help build generational wealth.

But is this what families want and need? Most savings for children are focused on education, and these accounts can be used for that purpose, but that is not the main goal. Although the accounts are intended to be easy to open (you can fill out IRS Form 4547 to create one), there are still significant unknowns. Currently, Trump Accounts appear to be limited in scope, with only one custodian and one brokerage involved. 

Like all tax-advantaged accounts, there are limits and provisions that must be followed. First, there is an annual limit of $5,000 that can be contributed[2].That can come from anyone. There’s also a provision that allows employers to contribute up to $2,500 of the $5,000 annual limit in a child’s Trump Account annually (so check those employer benefits). Contributions may also be given philanthropically, much like Michael and Susan Dell who are giving $250 for the first 25 million children under the age of 10 that do not qualify for the $1,000 from the federal government.

Investment options for Trump Accounts are limited. Funds must be invested in low-cost mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that are invested in primarily U.S. stock indices such as the S&P 500[3].  While this may keep things simple in investment selection, it might not give you the most diverse options that you may be looking for. 

From a tax perspective, the treatment is mixed. Contributions will generally be made with after-tax dollars, while contributions from your employer, a charity, or the government are made with pre-tax dollars. Withdrawals depend on what part of the account is being withdrawn. Withdrawing the after-tax amounts will be tax free, while any pre-tax amounts will be taxed at the child’s income tax rate. Much like the growth of a Traditional IRA, the growth is tax-deferred, being taxed as income when withdrawn.

Looking ahead, these accounts are clearly designed with retirement in mind. Once the child turns 18, they can fully access their Trump Account. At that time, it will be considered like a Traditional IRA. Meaning that there’s a withdrawal penalty of 10% if taken out before the age of 59 ½ and would be taxed as ordinary income rates. While your child’s retirement allows for many years of compounding, it limits the flexibility and practicality for more immediate financial goals. 

As with a Traditional IRA, there are exceptions to the 10% withdrawal penalty such as with purchasing a first home ($10,000 limit), educational expenses (tuition and fees, not room and board), or the birth of a child ($5,000 limit per child), but the withdrawal amount will still be taxed as income.

As a result, the real-world use case for Trump Accounts is likely smaller than it initially seems. For many families, priorities such as emergency savings, retirement planning for parents, and education funding will be the priority. In that context, placing funds to a long-term, relatively inflexible account would likely not be the most efficient choice. While educational expenses can be used from the Trump Accounts once they change to a Traditional IRA at 18 years old, the 529 plan is more tax friendly with tax-free earnings for qualified educational expenses and the ability to be used for room and board.

For those new babies in the family, you certainly want to take advantage of the initial $1,000 government contribution, but they are probably not the best option for older children or for continuing contributions. In fact, if the overall goal is to cover educational expenses, we prefer the state-sponsored 529 plans.  

Ultimately, Trump Accounts are an interesting addition to the financial field, but as they currently stand, are unlikely to be the first solution for most families. They work best as a supplemental tool, especially when taking advantage of initial funding opportunities, rather than a replacement for more established and flexible strategies.

Savings Plan for Children

Attribute	Trump Accounts	529 Plan	UGMA/UTMA
Tax Treatment	Tax-Deferred Growth	Tax-Free Growth; Tax-Free Withdrawals for Qualified Education Costs	Taxable
Non-Qualified Withdrawal	Taxed at Ordinary Income Rate and 10% Early Withdrawal Penalty	Taxed at Ordinary Income Rate and 10% Early Withdrawal Penalty	Capital gains tax
Investment Options	Low-cost US Equity Index Funds/ETFs	Plan selected mutual funds and index funds	Any investment
Qualified Uses	Retirement; Exceptions for higher education, first home	Higher Education, K-12 Tuition	No restrictions
Account Owner	Owned by Child	Owned by Account Owner	Child takes full control at age 18-21
Best Used For	Long-term retirement wealth building with possible Roth conversion	Tax-Free growth for college and education costs	Maximum Flexibility

 

---

[1] https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/one-big-beautiful-bill-provisions

[2] https://trumpaccounts.gov/

[3] https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/one-big-beautiful-bill-provisions

How are those predictions going for you?

Every year the CFA Society of Mississippi hosts economic and investment experts from around the country to prognosticate about the future at the Forecast Dinner. While nobody (not even these experts!) has a crystal ball, the exercise can be amusing, intellectually stimulating and sometimes yields surprising insights!

This year carried a positive message of resilience in the American economy and global stock markets but there was one large blind spot.

What did they miss? The Forecast Dinner took place mere days before the US launched attacks on Iran - nobody specifically predicted this. There was, however, a salient observation when Bob Carney noted that "we are not as vulnerable to energy shocks in the Middle East." Net imports of oil have been declining in the US since around 2005 and in 2020 we became a net exporter of oil. That being said, oil is a global commodity and the price here is impacted by events around the world.

While we are unlikely to run out of oil, we will still bear higher prices as the war drags on. Before the Forecast Dinner, oil was comfortably in the $60 range. Last week it spiked as high as $120. This means higher gas prices which mean higher prices for every product that needs to be delivered to store shelves or your door. On a recent road trip, I watched gas prices climb from around $2.50 to $3.50 as I drove the family to North Carolina.

Energy prices were in the spotlight even before the war as new data centers come online, using massive amounts of electricity. This surge in investment is balanced by the potential for increased electricity costs.

Is there a bright side to any of this? The overall message was positive. Specifically on the energy front, panelists noted that there was growing interest in alternatives like nuclear energy. This sort of investment takes a long time to turn into electricity generation. 

Besides the impact to our energy use, data centers have been the primary destination for investment in our economy. In 2025, it was estimated that $425 Billion would be invested in new data centers and up to $7 Trillion would be invested over the next 5 years! At the forecast dinner this was likened to the space race. These are real dollars being invested mostly by large companies with the cash flow to do this. While there is a speculative aspect of some of this investment, the dollars flowing are real.

Why is that investment important? Jack Manley noted that there were two basic levers we could pull to grow the economy: more people or better tools. AI investment promises better tools coming which is important as our population growth slows. Infrastructure investments such as those in the electric grid are also improving our economic tools.

What else drives the economy? Consumer spending makes the bulk of our economy. Tax refunds are up 10.6% this year thanks to some new deductions from the last tax bill. Most of that money is will end up spent soon in the hands of those lucky taxpayers. One risk is lower stock prices. Higher income earners account for 40% of spending, their spending comes from brokerage accounts so lower stock prices mean less consumer spending.

But what about the market? Over the past several years, the story was that the market was driven my the "Magnificent Seven" large technology stocks. While market concentration is a concern at any time, these companies were generating real profits and significant cash flows. There was substance under their dominance. Last year, that script flipped. In the US, smaller stocks performed well and have continued to lead this year. International stocks came out on top last year as lower valuations, positive growth and currency effects lead to higher market prices.

What is happening in the market now is the opposite of the concentration risk that dominated the story for the last few years. "Market rotation" refers to the positive sign of different groups of stocks in a diversified portfolio taking the lead as different sectors grow. While it is easy to look back over 15 years and see the dominance of large US stocks, the value of a diversified portfolio is keeping an investor from the worst years of any single asset.

What does this all mean for my portfolio? There was a question about gold. While it has performed well, they cautioned about thinking of gold as something that will make you rich - rather something that helps you stay ahead of inflation. We have used gold in portfolios very specifically to target uncertainty and volatility in the markets which aligned very well with the advice: “Do not lose sight of the role that Gold plays in your portfolio.”

If you missed the dinner, or just want see how the predictions have stood up these past few weeks, click here to watch the CFA Society of Mississippi's 22nd Annual Forecast Dinner.

Importance of Expense Ratios

 The research is clear. Fees are the biggest drag on investment returns. Advisor fees, commissions, annual fees, exit fees—all reduce an investor’s net. The best investment choice can see its value eroded by explicit and implicit fees.

Many investors opt for pooled funds (mutual funds, ETFs, annuities, separately managed accounts, even private equity funds), and these all have internal fees. We call this the expense ratio. It is measured as a percentage of the overall portfolio and occurs annually. Most of the fee goes to the fund manager but also covers administrative costs. Some ETFs have fees less than 0.10%, while some private equity funds have annual fees over 2.0%. It’s a wide range.

Earn 10% on your mutual fund in your 401k? Expect that number to be net of whatever the fund managers are charging. Maybe the underlying fund earned 11%, but 1% was carved out to pay that annual fee. The higher those expense ratios, the lower the net return. And this is the reason it is so important to pay attention to the expense ratios. 

Where can you find this number? Look in the prospectus for details on the fees. You should be able to find this document on the fund website. If the fund is in a 401k, it is probably in a tear sheet given to participants. You can look on sites like Morningstar.com for this information. If you are in a private fund, the fees should be in documents given to participants. If all else fails, call and ask, “What is your annual expense ratio?”

There are nearly 10,000 mutual funds, about 5000 US ETFs, and countless private equity funds. There is a lot of overlap so it makes sense to find the fund that fits your needs but also has the lowest expense ratio of any of its peers.

And many mutual funds offer a variety of share classes. Each fund is identical, as far as the underlying securities, but varies only by those expenses. Check the funds in your 401k and see if there are lower cost alternatives. If so, ask your administrator/trustee to see if such an option is available.

Expense ratios have been declining in recent years as competition has heated up. That’s good for investors. Imagine having a share class with a 0.75% expense ratio, while your friend owns the same fund with a 0.50% expense ratio. Think about the difference in 0.25% accumulated over 30 years and you can understand how important it is to focus on this fee. That difference could be in the thousands!

Certainly, there are other fees you might encounter, but internal expense ratios are some of the biggest. Look for that number and choose the lowest cost alternative available. There are real dollars at stake!

Beneficiaries: A Blueprint

It’s never too early to start estate planning. It may seem daunting, especially when considering who will receive your assets when you die. That’s why it’s important to understand the role of beneficiaries and how to designate them for all your pertinent assets and accounts.

Designating beneficiaries has complex tax and estate consequences and requires careful coordination with your entire estate plan. This is a general overview of beneficiary designations on investment accounts and is not legal, tax or investment advice. Work with the custodian of your accounts to designate or review beneficiaries

Who gets my stuff when I die?

Your estate plan determines that! But first off, it’s important to know what exactly a beneficiary is.

A beneficiary is an individual or entity/organization that you designate to receive your belongings or assets in the event of your death. It’s important to have one as it ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes when you pass away. (ref. 1)

A beneficiary can be designated on retirement, brokerage, bank and other financial accounts. If you designate beneficiaries, that designation is unique to the account, avoids probate (which we will discuss in a later post) and supersedes your Will. 

It’s important to note that there are two types of beneficiaries when considering designations: primary and contingent.

What’s the difference between a primary and contingent beneficiary?

Generally speaking, a primary beneficiary is the first individual(s) to receive your account benefit upon your death. A contingent beneficiary is an individual or entity whom you choose to inherit your accounts/assets in the event the primary dies or elects not to inherit the assets (as shown below). (ref. 2)

What happens if I don’t choose a beneficiary?

If you die without having named a beneficiary on an IRA, your custodial agreement will determine who inherits the account. Typically, these agreements will designate your surviving spouse as your beneficiary if you are married at the time of death. If you are not married, your estate may automatically become a beneficiary of the IRA. For non-IRA accounts, whatever your Will says will determine how your assets are distributed. (ref. 3)

 

What about their children?

Generally, if you have multiple beneficiaries, Ann, Bob and Charles, and Charles dies before you, his share will pass to Ann and Bob (as illustrated in Fig. 1). Distribution options such as Per Stirpes and Per Capita will pass your accounts to your beneficiaries’ children (as in Fig. 2).

Per Stirpes or Per Capita can be defined in different ways depending on the custodial agreement or law, so take care to understand the implications of each designation. Discuss other arrangements with your custodian.

What about my IRAs?

IRAs and other tax qualified accounts are generally not subject to the terms of your Will. If you do not designate a beneficiary, the custodian, state or federal law may determine who inherits your account. It is important to designate beneficiaries to control who gets the account. Remember, inheriting an IRA may have significant tax consequences for your beneficiaries.

Designating beneficiaries has complex tax and estate consequences and requires careful coordination with your entire estate plan. This is a general overview of beneficiary designations on investment accounts and is not legal, tax or investment advice. Work with the custodian of your accounts to designate or review beneficiaries. 

 

Trust issues?

Establishing a Trust is another way to ensure that your assets are distributed the way that you wish. It is generally possible to have much more detailed instructions and name a trustee to exercise control over your assets after your death.  In particular, trusts are helpful for complicated assets (such as estate tax issues or property in multiple states) or complicated beneficiaries (such as minors, multiple families or beneficiaries who cannot handle their own finances).

In the case of an IRA or other tax qualified accounts, living individuals typically have the most flexible options. Trusts may be at a disadvantage when it comes to distribution options, taxes and general complexity. Take extra care when considering naming a Trust as beneficiary of your IRA.

Where can I read more? 

www.trustandwill.com

https://www.schwab.com/resource/titling-beneficiary

---

[1] Julia Kagan, “What Is a Beneficiary? Role, Types, and Examples,” Investpedia, July 14, 2025, https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/beneficiary.asp.

[2] “What is a contingent beneficiary? Making the right beneficiary choice matters,” Fidelity Investments, accessed December 1, 2025, https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/smart-money/what-is-a-contingent-beneficiary.

[3] “Designating a Beneficiary for Your IRA,” Benjamin F. Edwards, Accessed November 17, 2025,https://www.benjaminfedwards.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/designating-a-beneficiary.pdf.