One of the most popular investments right now is the ETF. An exchange-traded fund is kind of like a hybrid between a mutual fund and a stock. You get the diversity of a fund, as well as easy trading since, unlike mutual funds, ETFs are traded on an exchange like a stock.

You pay a transaction cost, such as the $4.95 you would normally pay to trade a stock, but you also have to pay the annual expense ratio. Even so, ETFs are often considered a good deal since the expense ratio is usually quite low (sometimes as low as 0.07%). And, if you choose the right broker, you can find an array of commission-free ETFs.

ETFs are often considered a good investment choice for many, but there are those who are wary of these relatively new investment products. I often receive the question, Can I create a diverse portfolio with ETFs?

The answer (and good news) is yes, you can. Heres how.

Focus on Asset Class

In many cases, building a diversified portfolio with ETFs is about focusing on asset class. There are many ETFs built according to asset class. There are stock ETFs, bond ETFs, real estate ETFs, commodity ETFs, and currency ETFs. You can even find ETFs that are built around the idea of cash and cash-like products.

To get a very basic portfolio, you can choose ETFs according to your desired asset allocation. If youre going with the very basic rule of 120 minus your age, and youre 30 years old, youll want 90% of your portfolio in stocks and 10% in bonds. Find stock ETFs to fulfill that 90%, and then buy bond ETFs to fill in the rest.

You can also mix things up a bit depending on how you want to include other asset classes. Perhaps you want 80% stocks, 10% bonds, and 10% real estate. Or, if youre interested in holding gold, you might decide on 70% stocks, 10% bonds, 10% real estate, and 10% gold ETFs. (Make sure you understand the tax implications associated with gold ETFs. )

Figure out your desired asset allocation and buy index ETFs that match. That way, you end up with a diverse portfolio and you can prevent too many eggs from ending up in one basket.

Consider Sector and Geography

Its possible to further diversify your ETF portfolio by sector and geography. Your portfolio makeup should be mainly based on asset class, but can be changed as you go along.

Divide the stock portion of your portfolio using ETFs from different countries (or an all-world ETF) and choosing different sectors and cap sizes. There are index ETFs concerned mainly with Treasuries, as well as those that focus on foreign bonds and corporate bonds. With a little planning, you can take your main asset allocation and break it down a little.

And you can do it all with ETFs, which makes it easy to change things up if you need to.

What do you think? Do you invest with ETFs?

Editor’s Note: I’ve begun tracking my assets through Personal Capital. I’m only using the free service so far and I no longer have to log into all the different accounts just to pull the numbers. And with a single screen showing all my assets, it’s much easier to figure out when I need to rebalance or where I stand on the path to financial independence. They developed this pretty nifty 401K Fee Analyzer that will show you whether you are paying too much in fees, as well as an Investment Checkup tool to help determine whether your asset allocation fits your risk profile. The platform literally takes a few minutes to sign up and it’s free to use by following this link here. For those trying to build wealth, Personal Capital is worth a look.

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