Daniel Sotiroff

Use caution when chasing yield.

Outstanding diversification and an ultralow fee earn this fund a Gold rating.

Vanguard Total World Stock Index offers investors the entire global market in one low-cost package.

A smoother ride is possible.

Low-volatility strategies have different intended outcomes compared with value and profitability.

Vanguard Total International Stock Index earns our top rating of Gold.

This compelling choice gets an upgrade.

What is the best way to make a selection?

These three options are pretty good.

Foreign stock index funds are more diversified than ever.

But broad-market index funds are still great investments.

Diversification and a low fee improve its appeal.

Foreign governments aren't always on your side.

Investors should be sure to understand the issues with foreign dividend payers.

Not all dividend strategies are the same.

Stable companies are only part of the equation.

Dan Sotiroff provides some guidance on handling these funds.

Trim risk while staying diversified.

They're just stocks that look a little different.

These funds provide foreign-stock exposure but keep a lid on risk.

Diversification and low fees are a compelling combination.

Bigger yields require patience.

Growth leans toward quality.

Don't overthink it.

Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation Index's portfolio of high-quality firms exhibiting strong dividend growth earns a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Bronze.

Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF's ability to control risk is a big appeal.

The advantage is marginal.

These total foreign market index funds from Fidelity offer great diversification and carry low fees.

Diversification potential comes with some risk.

Attempting to time changes in foreign-exchange rates hurts long-term performance.

Capturing the evolving composition of the emerging-markets universe.

The composition of emerging markets continues to evolve.

Index funds are gaining ground on their active counterparts in this arena.

Silver-rated Schwab Short-Term U.S. Treasury ETF provides low-cost exposure to high-quality, shorter-maturity bonds.

Some investment strategies are overhyped.

Here are two of our favorite index-tracking municipal-bond funds.

We see the cuts as a directional improvement for investors, but they do not impact our Morningstar Analyst Ratings.

Portfolio managers have stepped up their game.

Outstanding tracking error and low ownership costs make this fund a compelling option.

This is one of the broadest and cheapest funds in its Morningstar Category.

Some strategies don't benefit from a cap-weighted approach.

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF have large stakes in Chinese stocks, which holds them back from a higher rating.

Vanguard Total International Stock ETF is an outstanding core foreign-stock fund.

Diversification has advantages for low-volatility strategies.

The lacking performance of these index funds is tied to foreign stock market indexes, but the low fee thesis is intact and investors should sit tight.

These funds look to cut back on risk, but differences in processes make some funds more appealing than others.

Hedging can help remove foreign currency risk from portfolios, but investors should consider the costs and tax implications.

This cheap foreign-stock fund effectively cuts back on risk.

Low-volatility strategies have different intended outcomes compared with value and profitability.

Developed-market indexes are less concentrated than they were 30 years ago.