Subject: Re: Why I started using ETFs

When I first started investing I went with mutual funds but as the years went by I grew annoyed with the capital gains they distributed, especially during down years and slowly moved to stocks. Generally with stocks I avoided speculative stocks and did the usual things you do when younger, sell after things fall, then don't get back in until you miss a chunk of the recovery.

I'm nearing retirement and will be moving to mostly ETFs and funds like Distillate US Fdmtl Stblty & Val ETF DSTL. I want to simplify things.

Only recently have I gotten into fixed income products such as treasuries, CDs, MYGAs. Currently don't own any bond funds but that will probably change. Mostly I have various treasuries although I haven't gone much into TIPs as some people have.

My biggest annoyance is all of the accounts I have. I like to diversify but even within some place like Fidelity I have around 8 accounts due to some inherited accounts and a HDHP savings account.

So, yeah I plan to move mostly into a few indexes and make life easier. While my accounts are down I actually have been actively selling some losers this past week to offset some large gains on my Apple stock that a sold very early in the year.

I think moving forward my goal is about 50/50 stocks/fixed income until I get social security and then may move more aggressive since my withdrawals should be very low (except for whatever the RMDs are).