Why ETFs vs mutual funds

ETFs and mutual funds can both be great. ETFs trade on exchanges throughout the day, so you get intraday pricing and the ability to use limit orders. They're also easy to hold across brokers.

In taxable accounts, many index ETFs have been relatively tax-efficient because the creation/redemption process can reduce capital gains distributions. Mutual funds can still be very tax-efficient too, especially index mutual funds, but the advantage often goes to ETFs in many cases.

Mutual funds have their own strengths: automatic investing, simpler "buy in dollars" behavior, and sometimes fractional investing. For long-term investors, the best choice is often the one that best supports consistent contributions and staying invested.