For More Information On this site, see the small value article, and article on the why of indexing. The portfolio theory article is relevant to index investing, especially the four pages starting here. (And remember the mantra that indexers groove on: you aren't trying to beat the market, you're participating in it in an intelligent manner.)     Morningstar Snapshot        You can get lots of unbiased information on funds and ETFs at Morningstar.com, which has its own index family. Their Instant X-Ray tool lets you view a fund's inner workings. This Morningstar article details the tax efficiency of ETFs. Yahoo! offers this convenient ETF browser. More specialized articles are available at IndexUniverse.com. For details on specific popular indexes see the websites of Standard & Poor's (and Barra), The Frank Russell Company, and Wilshire Associates. There are still other index families constructed according to different methodologies. Two extreme cases: DFA does something extremely simple (like a non-handpicked version of S&P/Barra); MSCI does something extremely complicated. IndexFunds.com is a sales site for IFA, which is a retailer for DFA. This article explains the rationale behind the different methodologies indexes use. The Vanguard Diehards is a lively (and informed and courteous - wow!) forum on indexing. For real diehards, here are Vanguard's reasons for their switch from S&P indexes to MSCI, plus a different take and some background. For information on ETFs, see ETFzone.com (or their section in Yahoo! Finance) and iShares. The Efficient Frontier has a lot of relevant articles, including this one on how index funds can beat their indexes, and this one on the practical versus theoretical differences between index funds and ETFs.   Also see the Recommended Books page.      Capital Ideas tells the history of indexing, describing the false starts and the renegades who tried to sell the idea to a skeptical investment community. Vanguard Group founder (and successful renegade) John Bogle explains the basics of indexing and much more in Common Sense on Mutual Funds. Bogle's latest book, The Battle for the Soul of Capitalism, takes investor rights (and responsibilities) to a new level. Bogle blames the recent bubble and corporate scandals on a managerial class who lack respect for shareholders' interests; among other things, the fix will require more proactive control by fund managers. The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing pays homage to Bogle and Vanguard, but goes much further to include guidance on general financial planning, tax management, insurance, and more. The Four Pillars of Investing gives advice on indexing within a context of understanding the market. All About Index Funds tells you ... all about index funds: a compact, comprehensive resource. Unconventional Success covers advanced topics, including reasons why some indexes and funds are better than others. The author writes like a man on a mission, warning you about "slimy" practices that the industry would rather keep hidden.

Index Basics Size, Growth, Value Turnover ETFs Dangers of Timing Portfolio Guidelines (1) Adding Small & Mid Adding Foreign Funds Portfolio Guidelines (2) List of Funds & ETFs Books & Links   "...index funds that are very low-cost ... are investor-friendly by definition and are the best selection for most of those who wish to own equities."   - Warren Buffett

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