Of course, IU.com isn't the only game in town. There's another great Web site that offers tremendous tools for investors focusing on low costs and the advantages of ETFs and index mutual funds. That's the wonderful Bogleheads.org site that should be on everyone's bookmarked Web reading list.

This year, we've started highlighting some of the best discussions at Bogleheads.org. Some have asked me why, and I've related that some of the best information on indexing is born out of such online conversations. As such, when they're really onto something, IU.com feels an obligation to let you know and point it out to you.

To make it short and sweet, Bogleheads.org has grown to become a significant player in the world of mutual funds and ETFs for individual investors. Now some 10,000-strong full-time members, they're a voice of reason in the mad, sometimes baffling mutual fund world of self-interest and tedious overhype.

Diehards VII 

They've become such a force that IU.com is sending a contingent to San Diego for Diehards VII ... well, actually me and IU.com Editor Matt Hougan, also a member in good standing at Bogleheads.org. (The group used to call themselves Diehards, but recently switched after opening a new and improved Web site.) 

The three-day event starts on Sept. 22 and will feature John Bogle as the keynote speaker. Bill Bernstein and Rick Ferri will be there, along with "The Coffeehouse Investor" author Bill Schultheis and academic Ed Tower (who probably doesn't remember a certain business reporter for the local Durham, N.C., paper roaming around the Duke University campus looking for any type of interesting investing research available several moons ago).

I'll let you know how that goes later ... in the meantime, I really appreciate all of the input and encouraging words from indexers around the world lately. Even though the market's down, your sage observations and comments are helping me to keep afloat ... and not panic. And I'm expressing such sentiment both as a writer and as an investor.

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