How to use this catalogue
Choosing an index fund or ETF is two decisions, in this order: first the index (what you want to own), then the product that tracks it (how cheaply and faithfully it does so). Most comparisons mix the two. This catalogue keeps them apart: one page per index family, comparing every relevant ETF and index fund on it, and one page per product with its ISIN, tickers, real cost and how closely it has actually followed its index.
New to this? Start with what an index fund is and the difference between an ETF and an index fund.
Step 1: the index — what each one really holds
The names suggest more diversification than there is. The "world" indices are around two-thirds to three-quarters US companies, and the Nasdaq-100 puts almost half of your money in ten stocks:
| Index | Companies | Countries | US weight | Top 10 weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSCI World | 1,280 | 23 | 72.1% | 26.6% |
| MSCI ACWI | 2,458 | 47 | 63.6% | 24.3% |
| FTSE All-World | 4,264 | 48 | 61.7% | 23.7% |
| S&P 500 | 503 | 1 | 100.0% | 37.9% |
| Nasdaq-100 | 100 | US-listed | Mostly US | 45.0% |
Index provider factsheets (MSCI, FTSE Russell, S&P via Vanguard, Nasdaq), data as of 31 Aug 2026 for the world indices and 30 Jun 2026 for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100. Weights move every day.
None of these is "the best". The MSCI World covers developed markets; the MSCI ACWI and FTSE All-World add emerging markets and more companies; the S&P 500 is a deliberate bet on the US; the Nasdaq-100 is a concentrated bet on large technology companies, usually held as a complement rather than a core.
Step 2: the product — five things to compare
- TER: the annual running cost. Useful, but it is only the starting point.
- Tracking against the index: what you actually got versus the index, after all costs and income such as securities lending. Two funds with the same TER can end up 0.3 points apart a year.
- Domicile: for US shares, Irish-domiciled UCITS funds suffer 15% US withholding tax on dividends instead of 30%, which is why almost every product in this catalogue is Irish.
- Replication: physical (holds the shares) or synthetic (a swap pays the index return). On US indices, swap-based ETFs have tracked better, because the swap pays the return without that withholding tax.
- Accumulating or distributing: whether dividends are reinvested for you or paid out. In Spain, paid-out dividends are taxed each year; reinvested ones are not taxed until you sell.
If you already own some of these
The most common surprise is overlap: an MSCI World fund at one platform plus an S&P 500 ETF at a broker plus a Nasdaq-100 "for growth" can add up to well over 80% in US companies, and a lot of it in the same ten names. FinBoard puts every account and broker in one view and one currency, so the real split between these indices is visible at a glance.
This is educational content, not financial advice: it explains how these products work so you can make your own decisions, and it does not recommend buying or selling any of them.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best ETFs to invest in?
There is no universal answer, but there is a sensible order: pick a broad index first (MSCI World, MSCI ACWI or FTSE All-World for the whole market; S&P 500 for the US), then the cheapest well-tracking, large Irish-domiciled UCITS product on it. On this page each index lists its options side by side with TER and real tracking.
ETF or index fund: which one should I choose?
The investment inside can be the same. In Spain the index fund has a tax advantage — you can switch between funds without paying tax — while the ETF offers more indices and live trading. See ETF vs index fund.
Why are almost all these ETFs domiciled in Ireland?
Because of the tax treaty between Ireland and the US: an Irish fund pays 15% withholding on US dividends instead of 30%. On indices that are mostly US companies, that difference ends up in your return every year.