ETF and Mutual Fund Selection Workbook: Build a Fund-Based Portfolio

Having a general understanding of ETFs and mutual funds is different from being able to actually pick them, compare them, and build them into a coherent portfolio. This course closes that gap with structured worksheets, screening frameworks, and portfolio construction exercises you work through with real and hypothetical fund data. By the end of this course you will be able to screen funds using a consistent set of criteria, compare competing options using a structured decision matrix, construct a diversified multi-asset portfolio from individual funds, and calculate the blended expense ratio and expected behavior of the resulting portfolio. What you will learn: - A five-criteria fund screening checklist: expense ratio, index tracked, fund size, tracking error, and trading liquidity - How to compare two funds tracking the same index to determine which is more cost-efficient - A portfolio construction worksheet that allocates across domestic equity, international equity, bonds, and alternatives - How to calculate a portfolio-level blended expense ratio across multiple fund holdings - A tax location exercise: which fund types belong in tax-advantaged accounts versus taxable accounts - How to evaluate a target-date fund as a single-fund option versus building your own allocation - A rebalancing threshold worksheet: how to set drift limits and decide when to rebalance - A fund review checklist for evaluating whether current holdings still meet your criteria annually The course follows a workbook format: each module provides a brief reading followed by a guided exercise. Hypothetical fund data is provided so you can complete each exercise before applying the methodology to your own accounts. By the end you will have built a documented portfolio construction framework. Suitable for anyone building or reviewing an investment portfolio — retirement savers, new investors, or those consolidating scattered accounts. No prior portfolio management experience is required. This course is educational and does not constitute investment advice; decisions should be made in consultation with a qualified financial professional.