Connect the dots. By simply holding a stake in the world's best-known market barometer, you're now only guaranteed to match its usually bullish long-term performance -- an average annual gain of just under 10% per year. But you're also more likely to outperform most other investors, including the professionals.

Vanguard is one of the gold standards when it comes to low-cost exchange-traded fund (ETF) options. Undoubtedly, passive investing (typically with index funds) tends to be wildly popular among the retail crowd.

While all ETFs are different, there are two Vanguard funds I personally own and plan to continue buying for decades. An S&P 500 ETF tracks the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC 1.00%), meaning it includes all the stocks within the index. These stocks come from 500 of the largest companies in the U.S. across all corners of the market.

Bond market conditions look challenging, but these ETFs offer a combination of healthy yield, upside potential and managed risk.

What's the smartest way to invest $500 right now? Check out a robust Vanguard ETF focused on strong dividends and deep-discount stock valuations.

Its smart to seek income from your investments -- whether it's because you need that income to support yourself in retirement, or whether you want to use it to invest in more stocks. It's also a fine idea to seek that passive income from exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that are focused on dividend-paying shares.

With such a wide range of potential outcomes this year, risk management and value capture will be important themes.

In this piece, we’ll check in on some of the more underrated exchange-traded fund (ETF) products that may be worth looking into as the great bull market runs for another year. Undoubtedly, it can pay dividends to go beyond index funds,