ETFs: a Better Way to Invest?

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I agree with Mr. Bentley. There's many ways of getting around transaction fees too. I use bank of america investment services: NO comission on any trades as long as you keep at least $25k combined in all your BOA accounts. seems like a good deal to me

Nando of TX 9:46AM December 04, 2008

Why are you know-it-all journalists always ragging on commissions or other acquisition costs?
Do you seriously expect a 12% return investment to be acquired at NO COST?
That is simply not the way the world works.
Even a bank charges a fee for purchasing a CD. It's a hidden fee. It's called a spread. The bank pays you 3.50% while collecting 5.75%. That is actually a HUGE cost, but wanna-be financial gurus, commonly known as journalists, have never focused on something so obvious. They'd rather scare people into thinking that paying acquisition and management fees is a bad thing.
The real test is to determine whether the fee(s) you are charged are worth it -- regardless of the investment or savings vehicle.

Thomas Bentley, Certified Financial Planner of DC 1:48AM December 04, 2008

This is a great post!!! glad I found it..….very educational…thank you…I will put it on my favorites list.. I also learned a lot about ETF trading strategies from 3 other great books. Hedge Fund Trading Secrets Revealed..by Robert Dorfman..and Confessions of a Street Addict of course by Jim Cramer..written before he got really famous.and Richard ARMS..STOP AND MAKE MONEY….all 3 are riveting and very informative. You should check them out if you like reading behind the scenes stuff about hedge fund and what methods they use to make money.

milt tomkins of MN 10:33AM December 03, 2008