ETFs are the New Mutual Funds Symbols: (FAA, PJP, IGM)

While the generation before us swore by the returns of their favorite mutual fund managers, it was those very same managers that delivered portfolio-crippling returns in 2008 that pushed back or canceled retirement plans for many investors. From this generation we've seen a new breed of investor emerge -- the self directed investor. This investor is cost-conscious when it comes to their portfolio and demands timely disclosure regarding their holdings. The needs of the self-directed investor cannot be satsified by the mutual fund industry any longer as fees continue to be high and portfolio holdings are only released on a quarterly basis. The answer for investors comes in the form of Exchange Traded Funds, or ETFs. Costs tend to be lower and the holdings are published every day for investors to review. An investor who is bullish on the technology sector, the airline industry and large-cap pharmaceutical companies could divide their capital between the iShares S&P Technology ETF IGM, the Claymore Airline ETF FAA and the Dynamic Pharmaceuticals ETF PJP. By visiting ETFChannel.com's website, this investor could see exactly what each ETF holds on a daily basis and would be happy to find that his average expense ratio comes in under 0.6% for their portfolio.