It has been a brutal year for the stock market, but downturns like the current one are often the best time to invest. In theory, because valuations are depressed, investors have the opportunity to buy shares of quality companies at a bargain and watch their positions grow.

Of course, the hard part is finding the right stocks. But a simple way to dip your toe into a volatile market in a still uncertain economy is to invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs allow you to invest in a broad portfolio of stocks based on an index as opposed to building your own portfolio of individual companies. It's a relatively easy way to invest without taking on excess risk, particularly for those who aren't sure where to begin.

Here's how one investment of $10,000 in a diversified ETF could grow to well over $300,000 given enough time.

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Source Fool.com