1. GLD: The Easiest Way to Invest in Gold When the stock market becomes volatile and currency exchange rates fluctuate, many investors start looking for safer assets. One of the most traditional safe-haven assets is gold. Historically, gold has held its value during economic crises and financial instability, making it a popular choice for defensive investing. However, buying physical gold can be inconvenient due to storage costs, security risks, and low liquidity. Expense Ratio (%) Inception Date Asset Manager 0.40 2004/11/18 SSGA That's where GLD (SPDR Gold Shares) comes in. GLD is a U.S.-listed ETF designed to closely track the price of gold, allowing investors to gain exposure to gold without holding physical bullion. With GLD, you can invest in gold just like buying a regular stock in the market, making gold investment simple and accessible. *This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate ...
Investing in international stocks often feels complicated, but in reality, you can gain broad global exposure with just a few well-designed ETFs. One of the most popular options is VXUS (Vanguard Total International Stock ETF). As its name suggests, VXUS allows you to invest in the entire global stock market excluding the United States, making it an excellent complement to a U.S.-focused portfolio. In this post, you’ll learn what VXUS is, how it’s structured, its benefits, and what to consider before investing—explained in a beginner-friendly way. 1. What Is VXUS? VXUS is a global equity ETF created by Vanguard, one of the largest and most trusted asset managers in the world. The ETF includes both developed markets and emerging markets, covering virtually all major countries outside the U.S. That means VXUS holds stocks from countries like Republic of Korea, Japan, the U.K., Germany, France, and Canada, as well as emerging mark...