There's no need to research thousands of US stocks one by one. Understanding these 18 mainstream ETFs is enough to build a basic asset allocation framework.

They cover US core, growth tech, overseas markets, bonds, and gold. However, many have similar positioning, so holding more doesn't necessarily mean better diversification.

For example, holding $VOO, $SPY, and $IVV simultaneously means their underlying logic is already very close.

Adding $QQQ, $VUG, $VGT, and $XLK further increases the weight of growth and tech sectors.

Therefore, I've reviewed these 18 ETFs to see which ones complement each other and which are unnecessary duplicates.

For the US core segment, $VOO, $IVV, $SPY, and $SPLG are common entry points for allocating to large US companies.

While they differ in fees, scale, and liquidity, choosing just one is usually sufficient for long-term allocation.

If you want broader coverage, including small and mid-cap companies, $VTI offers an alternative approach.

It's more like putting the entire US stock market into your portfolio.

In the growth tech category, $QQQ, $QQQM, $VUG, and $SCHG all lean towards large-cap growth stocks.

$VGT and $XLK push the weight of the technology sector even higher.

This type of product is suitable for adding elasticity to your portfolio, but if positions are stacked too heavily, drawdowns will feel more pronounced.

Checking your existing holdings before buying is often more important than finding another hot ticker.

For the overseas market segment, $VXUS is suitable if you don't want to split allocations by region.

If you have specific views on market distribution, you can use $VEA and $VWO to cover developed and emerging markets respectively.

Bonds and gold are included in the portfolio mainly to reduce the risk of assets moving solely with the stock market.

$BND and $AGG are common bond choices, $SGOV leans towards short-term cash management, and $GLDM provides exposure to gold prices.

If you just want to get started building a portfolio, you can begin with a few simple strategies:

- Worry-free

$VTI + $VXUS

US total market plus overseas markets; the structure is straightforward.

- Growth-oriented

$VOO + $QQQM + $VXUS

Based on US large caps, adding growth style will increase portfolio volatility accordingly.

- Balanced

$VOO + $VXUS + $BND + a small amount of $GLDM

Adding bonds and gold alongside stocks diversifies asset sources.

Specific ratios should be combined with holding period, cash flow, and volatility tolerance.

The chart shows 18 ETFs. Start by picking one core ETF, then supplement based on your needs. This approach is generally easier to hold long-term.

This is for investment knowledge sharing only and does not constitute investment advice.