A simple ETF strategy for beginning investors

Richard Jenkins' ETF portfolio is for investors with relatively small amounts of money to invest. It was launched on March 15, 2004, with a $100 purchase of the Vanguard Total Stock Market Viper ETF. In each succeeding month, another $100 is invested in one of the five ETFs in the portfolio. In the first year, commissions reduce the overall return by 4%, but that cost drops to 2% in the second year, 1.3% in the third year and 0.8% by the fifth year. For more on how this strategy works, see Start investing with just $100.