Methodology

The iShares “Choose Your Investment Goal” experience (the “tool”) is designed to help investors learn about iShares ETFs that may help them meet their financial goals. It filters a universe of more than 350 U.S. iShares ETFs to a smaller selection through the lens of broad investment goals by using criteria such as asset class, geography, and investment objective. As many factors could influence a decision about which product is best suited for a given investment goal, this information should not be relied upon exclusively when evaluating various investment options.

Categories are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent all possible investor goals. The funds shown are intended to illustrate possible investment ideas to consider. This information should not be relied upon as research, investment advice, or a recommendation regarding any products, strategies, or any security in particular. Any fund selection is category-driven and is not tailored to the investment objectives or needs of any particular investor. Investors should consult with their financial professionals prior to making an investment decision.

The table below describes the criteria used to generate the funds displayed in each category. Please select “All relevant funds” to view and consider the full set of funds that meet the criteria for each category, as applicable. As of February 14, 2020. iShares ETFs launched after this date are not displayed in the tool. The tool is generally updated semi-annually.

GO SUSTAINABLE
BROAD ESG ETFs that invest in securities based on overall environmental, social and/or governance (ESG) performance.
THEMATIC ESG ETFs that pursue specific environmental, social, governance, or SDG* issues.
IMPACT ETFs that intend to contribute to measurable positive environmental, social or SDG* outcomes while pursuing financial returns.

AIM TO MAXIMIZE GROWTH
TRACK THE MARKET Equity ETFs that either seek to track a broad, market-capitalization-weighted index linked to the U.S. and international stock markets, or are in the iShares Core suite and seek to track broad indexes. Dividend-focused, "growth", "value" and “Core” style, and micro- and mega-cap ETFs are excluded.
HARNESS MEGATRENDS Equity ETFs that BlackRock classifies as being within its megatrends product suite. Megatrends are what BlackRock views as long-term structural shifts in the global economy.
MOBILIZE FACTORS Single and multi-factor equity ETFs, excluding single factor minimum volatility, equal-weighted and dividend-weighted ETFs.

FOCUS ON INCOME
DIVIDEND-FOCUSED STOCKS Equity ETFs that seek to track indexes with the objective of focusing on dividend-paying companies.
BONDS WITH YIELD POTENTIAL Broad fixed income ETFs that seek to track indexes comprised of corporate, municipal, and emerging market bonds, and fixed income ETFs with a stated prospectus objective to optimize for yield. Duration-specific bond funds are excluded. Sector-focused bond funds, term-maturity bond funds, as well as funds that seek to own bonds with specific credit ratings are excluded. Funds that incorporate hedging strategies, ESG strategies and non-U.S. dollar-denominated are also excluded.
SPECIALTY INCOME ETFs that seek to track indexes comprised of multi-asset securities that collectively seek to deliver higher current income, U.S. dollar-denominated preferred and hybrid securities, and global or U.S. real estate investment trusts (REITs ).

NAVIGATE RISK
AIM TO REDUCE STOCK RISK Minimum volatility equity ETFs and fixed income ETFs that seek to track indexes comprised of U.S. Treasury bonds with a duration of at least six years, indexes comprised of investment grade corporate bonds, or multi-sector investments with more than 90% investment grade with duration across the curve. Fixed income funds that seek to track international index exposures, target specific bond durations and sectors, are currency-hedged, employ ESG screens, or are non-U.S. dollar denominated are excluded.
HELP MANAGE INFLATION RISK Fixed income ETFs that seek to track indexes comprised of inflation-protected U.S. Treasury bonds or seek to mitigate the inflation risk of a portfolio composed of U.S. dollar-denominated, investment grade corporate bonds. ETPs that seek to track the results of a fully collateralized investment in futures contracts on an index comprised of a diversified group of commodities futures or seek to provide exposure to a single physical commodity.
SEEK TO BLUNT CURRENCY RISK Global or broad international equity ETFs that seek to track indexes comprised of equities while mitigating exposure to fluctuations between the value of the component currencies and the U.S. dollar.

SEEK AN ALTERNATIVE TO CASH
Fixed income ETFs that target securities with a duration of less than one. Term maturity, hedged, convertible and high yield ETFs are excluded.

GO SUSTAINABLE



BROAD ESG

ETFs that invest in securities based on overall environmental, social and/or governance (ESG) performance.
THEMATIC ESG

ETFs that pursue specific environmental, social, governance, or SDG* issues.
IMPACT

ETFs that intend to contribute to measurable positive environmental, social or SDG* outcomes while pursuing financial returns.

AIM TO MAXIMIZE GROWTH



TRACK THE MARKET

Equity ETFs that either seek to track a broad, market-capitalization-weighted index linked to the U.S. and international stock markets, or are in the iShares Core suite and seek to track broad indexes. Dividend-focused, "growth", "value" and “Core” style, and micro- and mega-cap ETFs are excluded.
HARNESS MEGATRENDS

Equity ETFs that BlackRock classifies as being within its megatrends product suite. Megatrends are what BlackRock views as long-term structural shifts in the global economy.
MOBILIZE FACTORS

Single and multi-factor equity ETFs, excluding single factor minimum volatility, equal-weighted and dividend-weighted ETFs.

FOCUS ON INCOME



DIVIDEND-FOCUSED STOCKS

Equity ETFs that seek to track indexes with the objective of focusing on dividend-paying companies.
BONDS WITH YIELD POTENTIAL

Broad fixed income ETFs that seek to track indexes comprised of corporate, municipal, and emerging market bonds, and fixed income ETFs with a stated prospectus objective to optimize for yield. Duration-specific bond funds are excluded. Sector-focused bond funds, term-maturity bond funds, as well as funds that seek to own bonds with specific credit ratings are excluded. Funds that incorporate hedging strategies, ESG strategies and non-U.S. dollar-denominated are also excluded.
SPECIALTY INCOME

ETFs that seek to track indexes comprised of multi-asset securities that collectively seek to deliver higher current income, U.S. dollar-denominated preferred and hybrid securities, and global or U.S. real estate investment trusts (REITs ).

NAVIGATE RISK



AIM TO REDUCE STOCK RISK

Minimum volatility equity ETFs and fixed income ETFs that seek to track indexes comprised of U.S. Treasury bonds with a duration of at least six years, indexes comprised of investment grade corporate bonds, or multi-sector investments with more than 90% investment grade with duration across the curve. Fixed income funds that seek to track international index exposures, target specific bond durations and sectors, are currency-hedged, employ ESG screens, or are non-U.S. dollar denominated are excluded.
HELP MANAGE INFLATION RISK

Fixed income ETFs that seek to track indexes comprised of inflation-protected U.S. Treasury bonds or seek to mitigate the inflation risk of a portfolio composed of U.S. dollar-denominated, investment grade corporate bonds. ETPs that seek to track the results of a fully collateralized investment in futures contracts on an index comprised of a diversified group of commodities futures or seek to provide exposure to a single physical commodity.
SEEK TO BLUNT CURRENCY RISK

Global or broad international equity ETFs that seek to track indexes comprised of equities while mitigating exposure to fluctuations between the value of the component currencies and the U.S. dollar.

SEEK AN ALTERNATIVE TO CASH



Fixed income ETFs that target securities with a duration of less than one. Term maturity, hedged, convertible and high yield ETFs are excluded.