ETF and Mutual Fund Selection Workbook: Comparing and Choosing Investment Funds

Choosing between two ETFs tracking the same index, or deciding whether an active fund justifies its higher expense ratio, requires a structured comparison process. This workbook provides that process through templates, checklists, and worked selection examples. By the end of this course you will be able to complete a fund comparison worksheet for two competing funds in the same category, calculate the ten-year cost impact of different expense ratios, and build a simple fund shortlist for a target asset allocation using a standardised screening checklist. What you will learn: - Building a fund comparison worksheet: expense ratio, index tracked, tracking error, fund size, and liquidity - Calculating the compounding cost impact of a 0.05% vs. 1.00% expense ratio over ten and twenty years - Assessing active fund performance: comparing risk-adjusted returns to the benchmark over multiple periods - Evaluating ETF liquidity: bid-ask spread, average daily volume, and when liquidity matters for your trade size - Screening for tax efficiency: comparing ETF and mutual fund distributions in a taxable account context - Building a target allocation and matching fund categories to each allocation bucket - Constructing a fund shortlist using a standardised multi-criteria checklist - Reviewing an existing portfolio of funds for overlap, redundancy, and cost reduction opportunities Each module pairs a short explanatory reading with a template exercise. Worked examples walk through fund selection scenarios for different investor types — a young accumulator, a pre-retiree, a cost-focused index investor — so you see the process applied across different contexts. All templates are formatted for direct use with publicly available fund data. This course is designed for individual investors who want a disciplined, systematic approach to fund selection. No prior finance expertise is required. This content is purely educational and informational; it does not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified financial professional for personalised guidance.