Use ETFs to create a diversified 10-item portfolio

— -- Q: What 10 stocks should I buy if I want to get the best returns for the long and short term?

A: Why do you think you need 10 stocks? Why not nine stocks or 11?

The fact you're asking for 10 stocks makes me think you're willing to do a little more tinkering with your portfolio. And while you may not have known it, 10 is a decent number of stocks to create a diversified portfolio.

Thanks to the boom in exchange-traded mutual funds, which trade like stocks, you can own shares in thousands of companies by buying a handful of investments.

To find ETFs that match the criteria above, the ETF Screener at USATODAY.com can help.