{
  "id": 16987359,
  "title": "If I Were Building an Investment Portfolio From Scratch Today, I'd Start With These 2 ETFs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/if-i-were-building-an-investment-portfolio-from-scratch-today-id",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-29T01:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Motley Fool",
    "slug": "motley-fool",
    "url": "https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/10/28/building-investment-portfolio-scratch-2-etfs/?source=iedfolrf0000001"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Building a successful investment portfolio can seem daunting, but exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer a simplified solution. For those starting from scratch, two ETFs stand out: the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) and the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS).\n\nThe first recommendation is the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF. Starting with $10,000, 80% ($8,000) should be allocated to this ETF. It boasts a low expense ratio of just 0.03%, leaving more capital invested. Over the past decade, the ETF has delivered an impressive total return of 318%. This fund tracks the S&P 500, providing broad exposure to 500 large, profitable U.S. companies. The top 10 positions make up 39.1% of the portfolio, with information technology comprising 39.7% of the holdings. Warren Buffett endorses this ETF as a solid choice for most investors.\n\nThe second ETF to consider is the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF. The remaining 20% of the initial $10,000 should be invested here. Its expense ratio is slightly higher at 0.05%, but still very reasonable compared to mutual funds and hedge funds. This ETF invests in 9,000 non-S&P 500 companies, boosting international exposure. The top three countries represented are Japan, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom, making up 33.5% of the portfolio. Key holdings include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix, all benefiting from the AI boom. The concentration risk is lower in this ETF compared to the S&P 500 counterpart.",
  "summary": "I'd stick to what has worked so well in the past decade while adding international exposure.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}