Fundsters who have been following fund firms' moves into the ETF space may want to read Janet Paskin's Wednesday article in the Wall Street Journal's monthly "Investing in Funds" special section. Paskin ponders the attraction of ETFs for firms like Old Mutual, Pimco, Russell and Schwab. Those who weighed in for the article include: Tammie Arnold from Pimco; Rick Ferri, an advisor and author of The ETF Book; and Matt Hougan, editor of Index Universe.

Eleanor Laise, meanwhile, warns investors about the increasing number of fund mergers -- she cites Morningstar data that show fund mergers this year through mid-August (more than 300) roughly equal the number of fund mergers for all of 2008. Morningstar's Karen Dolan, director of fund analysis, weighs in, along with: Wilmington Funds president John Kelley; Lipper research manager Tom Roseen; and Sentinel president and CEO Christian Thwaites. Laise specifically highlights fund mergers at Ameriprise (i.e. RiverSource and Seligman), ING, JPMorgan, Putnam, Sentinel and Wilmington.

Tom Lauricella highlights emerging markets funds, including: Matthews Asia Small Companies, SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF, Templeton Emerging Markets Small Cap and Wasatch Emerging Markets Small Cap. Wasatch Global Opportunities manager Robert Gardiner offers his thoughts on the niche.

In a profile by Shefali Anand, advisor Debra Brede shows off a model portfolio which includes: American Century Equity Income; American Funds EuroPacific Growth; American Funds Growth Fund of America; Artio Global High Income; Artisan Mid Cap Value; BlackRock Inflation Protected Bond; Caldwell & Orkin Market Opportunity; Fidelity Contrafund; Gabelli Small Cap Growth; Harding Loevner Emerging Markets Portfolio; Ivy Asset Strategy; Permanent Portfolio; Pimco Total Return; Pioneer Cullen Value; Rydex/SGI Managed Futues Strategy; Templeton Global Bond; Thornburg International Value; and Van Eck Global Hard Asset.

Meanwhile, in an article by Karen Hube, financial planner Stewart Welch III recommends several ETFs, including: iShares MSCI EAFE Index; iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index; PowerShares DB Commodity Index Tracking Fund; and Vanguard Extended Market Index ETF. And advisor Steven Enright pushes Caldwell & Orkin Market Opportunity, Hussman Strategic Growth, Pimco All Asset All Authority and Pimco Global Multi-Asset.

And Sam Mamudi ponders the classic 60-40 stock-to-bond ratio in so-called balanced portfolios. Research Affiliates chairman Rob Arnott, Morningstar mutual fund research director Russ Kinnel, T. Rowe Price asset allocation committee chair Ned Notzon, FPA Crescent Fund manager Steven Romick, Alger Balanced Fund co-manager Andrew Silverberg and Janus co-chief investment officer (and Janus Balanced Fund co-manager) Gibson Smith all offer their thoughts.

Edited by: Neil Anderson, Managing Editor

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