Introduction to Exchange-Traded Funds

Traditional open-end mutual funds have long been the staple of many investors' portfolios. Recently, however, an alternative has emerged—exchange-traded funds. While ETFs have been around since the early 1990s, their popularity has soared in recent years, and they are being used by more and more brokers and financial advisors. In addition, ETFs are popping up in company retirement plans.

So, how do you tell whether an ETF or a conventional mutual fund is best for you? Here are some things to consider.