Over the long run, you'd have a hard time finding a better wealth creator than the stock market. Despite the volatility we've witnessed over the past 16 months, the annualized average total return of stocks has outpaced the likes of bank certificates of deposit (CDs), bonds, gold, oil, and home prices over the long term.

Nevertheless, bear markets can be unpredictable in the short term, and the velocity of downside moves can be nothing short of unnerving. It can lead investors to seek out avenues of safety in a turbulent trading environment. That's where exchange-traded funds (ETFs) come into play.

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Source Fool.com