Wall Street Words Unraveled: Mutual Funds vs. ETFs vs. SPDRs vs. Index Funds — What’s the Real Difference?

If you’ve ever found yourself in a conversation about investing and someone starts rattling off terms like “ETFs,” “SPDRs,” or “index funds,” while you nod politely and internally spiral—don’t worry, you’re not alone. Even native New Yorkers who walk past the NYSE every day can feel like they’ve entered another language class when it comes to finance.