A lot of you have been asking: What are your favorite ETFs? And while I could just list them, that wouldn't be doing you any favors. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly how to think about ETFs so you can make smarter investment choices for your unique financial situation.
We're going beyond just picking funds—I'm giving you a framework that helps you understand why certain ETFs make sense and why others don't (even if they work for someone else). I'll walk you through the key factors, from brokers and tax advantages to risk profiles and automation.
By the end of this episode, you won't just know my favorite ETFs—you'll know how to pick the right ones for you.
Key Talking Points of the Episode
00:00 Introduction
01:25 Why I don't just give a one-size-fits-all ETF answer
03:09 Financial education: The #1 key to smart investing
05:51 Understanding brokers: Vanguard, Fidelity, Schwab, and M1 Finance
08:41 How much risk should you actually take?
10:13 How to filter and select ETFs the right way
14:51 The importance of preparation in investing
16:42 My favorite ETFs and how I use them in different accounts
Quotables
"Financial advisors don't always have your best interests at heart. Many are just pushing paper to lock you into high-fee investments."
"A good ETF choice isn't just about performance—it's about how it fits into your portfolio, your tax situation, and your goals."
"Once you have a system in place and automate it, investing becomes effortless. That's the key to long-term success."
Links
Brokerage Comparison Guides:
Vanguard ETFs: https://investor.vanguard.com
Fidelity Investments: https://www.fidelity.com
Charles Schwab: https://www.schwab.com
M1 Finance: https://www.m1finance.com
Budgetdog
https://budgetdog.com
https://budgetdogacademy.com/automated-investing-ioa-ot
