ETFs vs individual stocks

[Brat]

In IRAs

I read that this is a stock picker's market but I want an array of large-cap stocks that Vanguard seems to think are growth: VUG

I want pharma/health care but am in no condition to know which would be best. Thoughts on XLV

 

[Joylush]

I have seven individual stocks which I chose due to their fundamentals. I also recently purchased some XLV when I saw they hold the stocks I already own. I intend to just go ahead and sell the individual stocks and add to my XLV holding due to the diversification the EFT has over my individual portfolio.
Keeping the stocks I get greater dividends but less diversification and right now I’m liking the diversification better.

 

[OldShooter]

That kind of thinking can be hazardous to your wealth.

First read: "The Coffee House Investor" by Bill Schultheis https://www.coffeehouseinvestor.com/

Then: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Getting_started

Then one or two of these:

• "A Random Walk Down Wall Street" by Burton Malkiel* https://www.amazon.com/Random-Walk-Down-Wall-Street/dp/0393330338
• "Winning the Loser's Game" by Charles Ellis* https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Losers-Game-6th-Strategies/dp/0071813659
• "The Investor's Manifesto" by William Bernstein https://www.amazon.com/Investors-Manifesto-Prosperity-Armageddon-Everything/dp/B002U3CBY8
• 'The Bogleheads Guide to Investing" by Taylor Larimore et al https://www.amazon.com/Bogleheads-Guide-Investing-Taylor-Larimore/dp/0470067365

 

[pb4uski]

In IRAs

I read that this is a stock picker's market but I want an array of large-cap stocks that Vanguard seems to think are growth: VUG

I want pharma/health care but am in no condition to know which would be best. Thoughts on XLV

From what I am reading VUG is not a managed fund, but is rather an index fund.... IOW, Vanguard isn't doing any stock picking... just following the index.

But the bigger question is whether you should have stocks in an IRA at all.... probably not if your tax-deferred percentage of total is less than your bond percentage target.

 

[Brat]

Frankly, I don't want bonds now. I am using dividend players with strong fundamentals instead.