How to Build a Portfolio with ETFs: A Simple 5-Step Plan to Help You Get Started

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) have become increasingly popular among investors due to their versatility, low costs, and potential for diversification. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced investor, ETFs can play a key role in your investment portfolio, offering access to a wide range of asset classes and sectors. But with so many ETFs available, building a well-rounded portfolio might feel like a daunting task.

Don’t worry—this blog post will guide you through a straightforward, five-step process for constructing a portfolio entirely made up of ETFs. By following these steps, you’ll be on your way to creating a diversified and efficient portfolio designed to meet your financial goals.

1. Figure Out How Much Risk to Take On

Before you begin selecting specific ETFs, you need to decide how much risk you’re willing to take. Remember that risk and potential return go hand in hand—higher risk generally comes with the potential for higher returns, while lower risk offers more stability but less opportunity for significant growth.

Here are a few key factors to consider when assessing your risk tolerance:

• Time Horizon: How long do you plan to keep your investments? If you’re saving for a long-term goal, such as retirement in 30 years, you can afford to take on more risk because you have time to ride out market volatility. On the other hand, if you’re saving for a short-term goal, like buying a house in the next year or two, you’ll want to take on less risk.
• Risk Tolerance: Are you comfortable with the ups and downs of the stock market? An aggressive portfolio may yield higher returns in the long run, but it also means enduring short-term volatility. Ask yourself how much of a market drop you’re willing to stomach without panicking.
• Financial Situation: If you have a stable job, an emergency fund, and little debt, you may be in a stronger position to take on more risk. If your financial situation is less stable, consider being more conservative.

Once you’ve evaluated your risk tolerance, you’ll have a clearer picture of the type of portfolio that suits you. Remember, your goal is to find a balance between risk and potential returns that aligns with both your financial needs and your emotional comfort level.

2. Translate That Risk Level Into an Investment Mix

Once you’ve identified your risk tolerance, you can start translating that into an asset allocation, or investment mix. Your asset allocation defines how much of your portfolio is dedicated to different asset types—typically, stocks, bonds, and sometimes cash or alternative assets like commodities.

Here’s how your asset allocation might look based on your risk tolerance:

• Aggressive (High Risk, High Return Potential): 90% stocks, 10% bonds. This mix might be ideal for younger investors with a long time horizon.
• Moderate (Balanced Risk and Return): 60% stocks, 40% bonds. This portfolio seeks to balance growth with some protection against downturns.
• Conservative (Low Risk, Low Return Potential): 30% stocks, 70% bonds. A safer allocation for those nearing retirement or needing their investments in the short term.

You can further refine your asset allocation by breaking it down into more detailed categories, such as U.S. stocks vs. international stocks, large-cap vs. small-cap stocks, or corporate bonds vs. government bonds. Your asset mix will ultimately depend on your financial goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.

3. Fill the Buckets With Specific ETFs

Now that you have your asset allocation, it’s time to select the specific ETFs that will populate your portfolio. For each asset class in your mix, you’ll want to choose ETFs that provide broad exposure to that market segment.

Here’s how to approach this step:

• Diversification: Ensure that the ETFs you select are diversified across various sectors, industries, and regions. For example, in the U.S. stock portion of your portfolio, you might include an ETF that holds a wide variety of stocks from different sectors such as technology, healthcare, and consumer goods.
• Active vs. Passive ETFs: You can choose between actively managed ETFs and passive ETFs (which track an index). Passive ETFs tend to have lower costs and are designed to match the performance of a specific index, such as the S&P 500. Active ETFs, on the other hand, are managed by professionals who aim to outperform the market, but they often come with higher fees.
• Expense Ratio: One of the key advantages of ETFs is their low cost. The expense ratio is the annual fee expressed as a percentage of your investment. Look for ETFs with low expense ratios to minimize costs over time.
• Issuer Reputation: ETFs are offered by a wide range of financial institutions. When choosing an ETF, consider the reputation and track record of the issuer. Established providers like Vanguard, BlackRock, and Fidelity are known for offering low-cost, reliable ETFs.

Here are a few ETF categories to consider when building a diversified portfolio:

• U.S. Stocks: A core U.S. equity ETF that tracks the S&P 500 or a total market index.
• International Stocks: An ETF that gives you exposure to companies outside the U.S., such as developed markets in Europe or emerging markets like China and India.
• Bonds: A diversified bond ETF, such as one that tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, which includes a wide range of government and corporate bonds.
• Sector-Specific ETFs: If you want to overweight a particular industry (e.g., technology or healthcare), you can add a sector-specific ETF.

4. Make the Trades to Buy Your ETF Portfolio

Once you’ve selected the ETFs that will form your portfolio, the next step is to execute the trades. Most online brokers offer ETF trading with no commissions, making it easier and more cost-effective to build your portfolio.

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

• Place Your Trades: Input the ticker symbol for each ETF you want to buy and enter the amount you want to invest in each. Be sure to allocate the appropriate amount to each asset class according to your asset allocation plan.
• Fractional Shares: Some brokers allow you to purchase fractional shares of ETFs. This can be especially helpful if you want to allocate small amounts across multiple ETFs without buying whole shares.
• Automate Your Investments: If you’re making regular contributions to your investment account, you can automate this process by setting up recurring buys. This way, you can keep adding to your ETF portfolio without needing to remember to place trades.

5. Monitor and Adjust as Needed

Building a portfolio isn’t a “set it and forget it” process. Over time, the value of your ETFs will fluctuate, causing your asset allocation to drift away from your original plan. Periodically monitoring your portfolio allows you to ensure that it’s still aligned with your goals.

Here’s how to manage your ETF portfolio over time:

• Rebalance: If one portion of your portfolio grows significantly, it may outweigh other parts of your asset allocation. For example, if U.S. stocks perform well, your stock allocation could rise from 60% to 70%, making your portfolio more aggressive than you initially intended. Rebalancing means selling some of the overperforming assets and reinvesting the proceeds in underperforming ones to restore your original allocation.
• Add New Funds: As you save more, you’ll need to add to your investments. You can do this by purchasing more shares of your chosen ETFs. Alternatively, you might choose to introduce new ETFs if your goals or circumstances change.
• Reevaluate Risk: As you get closer to your financial goal (such as retirement or buying a home), you may want to shift to a more conservative asset allocation by increasing your bond holdings or adding more stable assets.

Building an ETF portfolio doesn’t have to be complicated. By following these five steps—assessing your risk, choosing an asset allocation, selecting diversified ETFs, executing your trades, and monitoring your portfolio—you can create an investment strategy that aligns with your financial goals. With careful planning and regular adjustments, you’ll be well on your way to building long-term wealth through ETFs.