The Difference Between Index Funds And ETFs

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The Difference Between Index Funds And ETFs

Investing in index funds and ETFs is a popular way to invest your money. The difference between the two can be confusing, but it's important to know so that you can make the best decision for your future.

What Is An Index Fund?

An index fund is a mutual fund that tracks an index, such as the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. These are funds that are designed to replicate the performance of those indexes, which helps investors get exposure to all of their stocks without having to buy each one individually. For example, if you have $5,000 saved up and want to invest it all into one mutual fund that tracks the S&P 500 Index, you would have $5,000 invested in each of those 500 companies.

What Is An Exchange Traded Fund (ETF)?

An exchange traded fund (ETF) is different from an index fund because it trades like a stock on an exchange. This means that when someone buys shares in an ETF they will receive shares of exactly what they're buying no more and no less and they'll be able to sell them back when they want at whatever price they paid for them initially.
 
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