#sp-500-etf

#sp-500-etf

If you want exposure to the S&P 500 but prefer companies trading at reasonable valuations with steady cash flows, SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:SPYV) gives you exactly that. This fund filters the S&P 500 for value characteristics like lower price ratios and stronger dividend yields, creating a portfolio that tilts toward financial stability over growth speculation. A Core Position for Income and Stability SPYV works best as a foundational holding for investors who want large cap exposure without paying premium multiples.

Meanwhile, the news from consumers is more mixed. The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment survey last week showed a 53.3 reading, up 4.5 percentage points sequentially from November but down 28 points year over year. That's not necessarily good news, but it may help to give the Federal Open Markets Committee political cover to lower interest rates at its next meeting, as it's forecast to do on Wednesday. This would please the stock market - a second reason for the Voo to be up this morning.

Saving money for retirement isn't enough. Sure, it's a stepping stone to success. But to accumulate a respectable amount of money for retirement, you need to do more than just keep building cash. You should plan to invest your money so it's able to grow over time. Remember, inflation is apt to erode the value of money over time. So you need to invest your retirement savings in a manner that can outpace it.