With ETF's, you not only can avoid the volatility of the individual stocks but you can trade indexes from Toronto to Istanbul, metals like gold, currencies, and short the market with inverse ETF's.

This is important to consider especially now that some parts of the globe are fearing that the debt contagion from Greece will spead as it has to Portugal. Yet, with ETFs, you can trade baskets of securities from different parts of the globe when other parts of the world are having currency crisises, political coups, wars, natural disasters, and so on.

Financial planners preach a great deal about diversifying your portfolio to avoid the negative effects of a given industry, stock, or sector but, for traders, being diversified is even more important to avoid risk.  If Brazil is getting pounded because oil is falling in price then you can short Oil ETF's while buying value for your long-term investments with Australian ETF's.

If the currency ETF's trend down, you can buy gold ETF's or, better yet, buy margined ETF's for double the return like DGP, the DB Double Long Gold ETN.

Looking to trade covered calls in your retirement fund with a stable country like Canada? Then buy ECW and sell call options for steady safe returns.

The stock market will always have enormous potential but ETF's open the world for you.