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9 Growth Funds That Will Turbocharge Your Portfolio

By U.S. News & World Report

Get excited about growth.

Growth funds are something investors can actually get excited about. In addition to mining for the stocks and funds that will put your portfolio over the top, growth investing typically involves digging into the most exciting technological and medical advances on the market. Yes, value investing is an important part of a balanced nutritional breakfast, but there also are plenty of gains to be made by buying into explosive small-caps and investing in the world’s biggest megatrends. Here are nine funds that’ll allow you to do just that.

Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (ticker: VBK)

Small-capitalization stocks have a lot more growth potential than their large-cap brethren; after all, it’s a lot easier to grow from $1 million to $2 million in revenues than it is to go from $1 billion to $2 billion. But they’re risky and volatile, making them difficult investments on a single-stock level. VBK helps reduce that risk by giving investors exposure to 740 small-cap stocks, including the likes of Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) and United Therapeutics Corp. (UTHR).

Expenses: 0.09 percent, or $9 annually for each $10,000 invested

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF)

If you’d prefer a much more tested part of the market, iShares’ IWF instead focuses on mid- to large-cap companies that are simply expected to grow earnings at a greater clip than their peers. The portfolio is heavily weighted in tech (28 percent), consumer discretionary (21 percent) and health care (16 percent), and features top holdings such as Apple (AMZN), Amazon.com (AMZN) and Alphabet (GOOG).

Expenses: 0.2 percent

PowerShares QQQ Trust (QQQ)

The QQQ is a deranged hybrid of a fund. It tracks the Nasdaq 100 index, which is made up of 100 of the largest non-financial companies in the Nasdaq. Tech takes up a whopping 57 percent of the fund — including top holdings Apple and Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) — so it’s extremely tech-heavy, yet it’s also far from being a direct play on the sector either. Still, long-term, it has been a far better performer than the Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

Expenses: 0.2 percent

SPDR MFS Systematic Growth Equity ETF (SYG)

The SYG is an actively managed fund that relies on a host of fundamental factors — earnings, cash flows, competitive position and management ability — as well as quantitative analysis to select its holdings. That results in some usual suspects like Apple and Amazon, as well as less-expected holdings such as Kroger Co. (KR) and Tyson Foods (TSN). Of note: The SYG has actually doubled the S&P 500’s performance since inception in early 2014.

Expenses: 0.6 percent

ARK Web x.0 ETF (ARKW)

ARKW’s fund description is a veritable name-dropper of technological trends, investing in companies in cloud computing, big data, wearables and the Internet of Things, among other movements. Yes, this fund carries biggies like Apple and Amazon, but it also holds medical cloud software and web app company Athenahealth (ATHN), as well as education tech firm 2U (TWOU).

Expenses: 0.95 percent

ARK Industrial Innovation ETF (ARKQ)

The ARKQ is an industrial-based counterpart of ARKW, and as such, isn’t nearly as sexy. But the fund still has plenty of oomph potential, considering that it invests in players in alternative energy, driverless vehicles, 3D printing and space exploration. Top holding Tesla Motors (TSLA) couldn’t be more fitting, and it’s joined by chipmaker Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) and vehicle components maker Delphi Automotive (DLPH).

Expenses: 0.95 percent

ISE Cyber Security ETF (HACK)

The PureFunds ISE Cyber Security ETF (HACK) is a much more targeted play than either of the ARK funds, going full bore into cybersecurity-related firms — so, we’re talking antivirus, firewalls, monitoring and the like. Because of its focus, it’s a thin fund at just 35 holdings, including CyberArk Software (CYBR) and Proofpoint (PFPT).

Expenses: 0.75 percent

ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF (SBIO)

Biotech has taken it on the chin amid worries about drug pricing as well as investors locking in profits. Still, the need for life-bettering and life-saving drugs isn’t going away, and SBIO takes advantage of that. The fund invests in companies with treatments in Phase II and/or Phase III U.S. Food and Drug Administration clinical trials, and relies on growth via stock pops on successful trials and eventual FDA approvals. Holdings include Seattle Genetics (SGEN), whose brentuximab vedotin has already been improved to treat relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma.

Expenses: 0.5 percent

WisdomTree Emerging Markets Consumer Growth Fund (EMCG)

As emerging markets grow in wealth, so the story goes, they will be joined by a growing middle class with increasing spending power. EMCG looks to take advantage of that with a heaping helping of consumer stocks, which make up roughly 60 percent of the fund, followed by 14 percent in financials and 12 percent in information technology. Top holdings include international brewer Ambev (ABEV), because what better way to celebrate increased spending power than some suds?

Expenses: 0.63 percent

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9 Growth Funds That Will Turbocharge Your Portfolio originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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