Author's Note:Many leading financial advisors and a growing number of investors are accepting the fact that we have entered a new era – one that may include below-average U.S. economic growth, high stock market volatility, and massive government involvement in key sectors of the economy.

Some investors are no longer enamored of long-term buy-and-hold stock market strategies; however, they may be receptive to innovative ideas that can deliver attractive returns over time while reducing market volatility and protecting purchasing power. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have come of age at the right time to meet such needs, and this two-part series is designed to help you evaluate new ETF concepts that can protect clients' assets while rekindling their investment appetites.

Next Month: What We Have Learned about Using Short ETFs to Hedge Portfolio Risk