Nonsense. ETFs are fine. I bought 5-6 grand of a certain US market index ETF around 2009. In 2 years I have gained double digit % returns. Whereas if I actually hold ING Streetwise Balanced Growth fund or TD e-series funds my % returns at best would be less then 10% in the same amount of time.
These numbers are after taxes and commissions. I have tracked both ING and TD funds since ever. The ING fund you specifically mentioned started in 2008 and within 2008-2011 it barely recovered the original 10$ range. Worst yet, the true internal fees, MERs, are actually holding the fund back from true recovery to it’s original principal amount and going beyond. Whereas if you actually hold ETFs, even around just 5k, you can do better.
