| Class, Subclass, Fund Name | Ticker | Grade | Type | Comp- osition | Cost | Exp. Ratio | Comments |
| STOCK |
| US Market |
| Ssga SPDR S&P 500 | SPY | A | ETF | A | A | 0.10 | No small cap (add SV), true ETF so most tax efficient choice. |
| Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | VTI | A | ETF* | A | A | 0.08 | Same fund, different share class as VTSMX below. |
| Vanguard Total Stock Market Fund | VTSMX | A | MF | A | A- | 0.15 | Prefer to ETF if making frequent purchases. |
| US Small Value |
| Vanguard Small Cap Value ETF | VBR | A- | ETF* | B+ | A | 0.11 | Larger stocks, less tax friendly, cheaper than IJS. |
| iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Value Index | IJS | A- | ETF | A | B+ | 0.25 | Prefer this to Vanguard in taxable. IWN is a similar fund. |
| Vanguard Small Cap Value Index | VISVX | A- | MF | B+ | A- | 0.22 | Same fund, different share class as VBR. |
| Rydex S&P Smallcap 600 Pure Value | RZV | B+ | ETF | A- | B- | 0.35 | Extreme small value, but low diversification, higher cost. |
| Total International (Some exclude Emerging Market and/or Canada) |
| Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index ETF | VEU | A- | ETF* | A | B+ | 0.25 | Comprehensive, low fee, best all round choice for most. |
| Vanguard Tax-Managed International Fund | VTMGX | A- | MF | B | A | 0.15 | 1% fee if held > 5yr. No EM/Canada. 100% qualified divs so far. |
| Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF | VEA | A- | ETF* | B | A | 0.12 | Different class, same fund as VTMGX above. No 1% fee. |
| Vanguard Total International Stock Index | VGTSX | B+ | MF | B+ | B+ | 0.27 | Additional .1-.2% cost in taxable - no foreign tax credit. No Canada. |
| Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index | VFWIX | B | MF | A | B- | 0.40 | .25% purchase fee. Same fund, different share class as VEU. |
| iShares MSCI EAFE Index | EFA | B- | ETF | B | B- | 0.35 | No EM or Canada. |
| Emerging Market |
| Vanguard Emerging Markets ETF | VWO | A | ETF* | A | A | 0.25 | Combine with VEA above for lowest ER international. |
| Vanguard Emerging Markets | VEIEX | B+ | MF | A | B | 0.37 | .5% purchase/sale fees. Combine with VTMGX, VEA above. |
| International Small Cap (No Emrg. Mkt.) |
| iShares MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index | SCZ | B+ | ETF | B- | A- | 0.40 | Cheaper, but larger stocks than others. |
| WisdomTree International SmCap Dividend | DLS | B+ | ETF | B+ | B- | 0.58 | Dividend stocks only = less diversification, but a value tilt. |
| SPDR S&P International Small Cap Index | GWX | B+ | ETF | A- | B- | 0.59 | OK combo of size and diversification, not tax efficient in 2007 |
| iShares FTSE Developed Intl. Small Cap | IFSM | B | MF | B- | B | 0.50 | Cheaper, but larger stocks than others. Mostly Europe (71%). |
| International Value |
| iShares MSCI EAFE Value Index Fund | EFV | B | ETF | B | B+ | 0.40 | Heavy on financials, excludes emerging market. |
| Vanguard International Value | VTRIX | B | MF | B | B+ | 0.43 | Includes Emerging Market, Actively managed. |
| Class, Subclass, Fund Name | Ticker | Grade | Type | Comp- osition | Cost | Exp. Ratio | Comments |
| REAL ESTATE |
| US REIT |
| Vanguard REIT Index Fund | VGSIX | A | MF | A | A | 0.2 | Best Mutual Fund Option |
| Vanguard REIT Index ETF | VNQ | A | ETF* | A | A | 0.07 | Best ETF Option |
| Dow Jones Wilshire REIT ETF | RWR | A- | ETF | A | B | 0.25 | |
| iShares Dow Jones U.S. Real Estate | IYR | B- | ETF | A | C | 0.48 | |
| BOND / FIXED INCOME (MUNI funds, CDs, etc OK too) |
| Intermediate Term, "Total" Bond |
| Vanguard Total Bond Market Index ETF | BND | A | ETF | A | A | 0.11 | |
| Vanguard Total Bond Market Index | VBMFX | A- | MF | A | B+ | 0.19 | |
| Short Term Bond |
| Vanguard Short-Term Bond Index | VBISX | A | MF | A | A- | 0.18 | |
| Vanguard Short Term Bond Index ETF | BSV | A | ETF | A | A | 0.11 | |
| iShares Lehman 1-3Yr Treasury Bond | SHY | A- | ETF | A | B+ | 0.15 | Treasuries only - lowest risk/return |
| Inflation Adjusted Bond (TIPS) |
| Barclays Capital TIPS SPDR | IPE | A- | ETF | A | B+ | 0.19 | |
| iShares Lehman TIPS | TIP | A- | ETF | A | B+ | 0.2 | |
| Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities | VIPSX | A- | MF | A | A- | 0.2 | |
| Foreign Bond |
| SSGA Lehman International Treasury | BWX | B | ETF | A | B- | 0.5 | Index fund, 85% AA+, duration 5.94Y, current yield 4.13% |
| T. Rowe Price International Bond | RPIBX | C | MF | A- | C- | 0.82 | Active mgmt, 80% AA+, duration 4.97Y, TTM yield 3.51% per M* |
| High Yield Bond |
| Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund | VWEHX | A | MF | A- | A | 0.25 | 254 bonds, avg credit quality Ba3, yield 8.43%, duration 5.0 years |
| Lehman High Yield Bond ETF | JNK | B | ETF | B | B- | 0.4 | 100 bonds, avg credit quality B2, yield 9.28%, duration 4.9 years |
| COMMODITIES |
| Gold/Metals |
| streetTRACKS Gold Shares ETF | GLD | B+ | ETF | A | B- | 0.4 | Simply holds gold bullion. |
| iShares COMEX Gold Trust | IAU | B | ETF | A | B- | 0.4 | Simply holds gold bullion. Prefer GLD due to its greater liquidity. |
| Precious Metal Stocks |
| SPDR S&P Metals & Mining | XME | A- | ETF | A | B | 0.35 | Vanguard offering is closed to new investors |
| Commodity Futures |
| PIMCO CommodityRealReturn Inst. | PCRIX | B | MF | A | B- | 0.75 | Same as PCRDX, min purchase $25K at Vanguard, $100K elsewhere. |
| PowerShares DB Commodity Index | DBC | B | ETF | A- | B- | 0.75 | Weighted toward energy (oil), less agriculture, metals, etc. |
| iShares S&P GSCI Commodity | GSG | B | ETF | A- | B- | 0.75 | Weighted toward energy (oil), less agriculture, metals, etc. |
| PIMCO CommodityRealReturn | PCRDX | C | MF | A | D | 1.5 | Skip unless you can get PCRIX above. Uses TIPS as collateral. |