If you're not buying ETFs in your retirement account, you should probably consider it. There are hundreds of popular and reputable ETFs that are designed to deliver different types of performance. Whether you're trying to maximize growth in your Roth IRA or trying to limit volatility in your 401(k), there are ETFs that can provide everything you need to meet your retirement goals.

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEMKT: SPY) is the quintessential index fund of the ETF world. It's one of the oldest, largest, and most popular financial products of its kind. The fund doesn't do anything too crazy -- it just holds stocks that are meant to replicate the performance of the S&P 500. That makes this ETF a useful cornerstone for nearly any strategy when combined with other more specific investments.

This passive strategy allows for a razor-thin 0.09% expense ratio, which means investor returns aren't eroded year after year. The fund's popularity leads to high trading volume, which makes it highly liquid with low trading costs. These are all great features that make this a great piece of any retirement ETF strategy.

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Source Fool.com