Here in the first week of April 2013, an overwhelming number of folks believe one truth to be unassailable. For worse or for better, the U.S. Federal Reserve's unconventional interest rate easing has pushed dollars into riskier assets, including higher-yielding debt, equities, and real estate.

Beyond crediting the Fed with a modern-day "wealth effect," however, opinions vary greatly. Some expect that the U.S. Federal Reserve's electronic money creation and subsequent bond purchasing will continue for many years into the future. Others postulate that the Fed may signal a change in direction as early as June or July. Similarly, there are those who feel that the end of ultra-loose monetary policy will mark the start of a self-sustaining economy - one where stocks and other higher-yielding assets will continue providing ample reward for the risk incurred. Conversely, there are many who argue that the minute the Fed ceases to

I still laugh out loud when I catch bits from the '80's movie, Airplane! Who can forget the classic scene of Ted Striker's thoughts echoing as he desperately tries to land the plane in stormy weather:

I've got to concentrate... concentrate... concentrate… I've got to concentrate... concentrate... concentrate… Hello?... hello... hello... Echo... echo... echo... Pinch hitting for Pedro Borbon... Manny Mota... Mota... Mota... Mota.

With passengers panicking, and a nun singing Aretha Franklin's Respect, Striker (sweating buckets) and Elaine eventually land the plane skidding past gate after gate. It makes me smile just writing about it.

Striker's mantra to "concentrate … concentrate" is apropos for how to invest part of your equity allocation. Rather than buying ETFs that cover the broad general indices (S&P 500, EAFE, etc.), consider pairing a few funds that together cover some portion of all market sectors but hold only the "best of breed"

Last week, I wrote a piece on ETFs with remarkably positive trends in relative strength. Specifically, I highlighted 3 successful investments that rarely garner media coverage, yet deserved a bit more of the limelight.

I received a great deal of direct feedback on this particular article. Do I own Market Vectors Gaming (BJK) in my own portfolio? (Answer… Not at the moment.) Is the trading volume on lesser-known ETFs an issue? (Answer: It depends.) Don’t I know that Columbia is an emerging market, not a frontier market? (Answer: Get a grip, wannabe… the reclassification happened just last fall.)

As I look at the tape, I consider discussing the ongoing trend toward high income production. Indeed, REIT ETFs and High-Yield Bond ETFs have hit fresh 52-week highs (4/24/2012). On the other hand, if writing about the wild and the exotic revs up the reader base, why should I disappoint?

Here, then,