Bogleheads.org

If I am looking at investing $110,000 in the taxable account, how would you divide that up? I already have $60,000 in the High Yield Tax Exempt Bond Fund. How much would you do into the Total Stock Market Index and how much into the International Stock Market Index? Would you use the mutual funds or...

Generally speaking are the Total Stock Market Index Fund and Total International Stock Market Index Fund just about as tax efficient at the tax managed funds? Is it okay to use the ETF version of each fund?

I have read a lot about tax efficient portfolios, but I am having trouble choosing the funds. I am curious is the best way to go with tax managed funds, ETFs or just use the total stock market index fund with the total international stock market index? I am 38 and all of my other tax deferred vehicl...

When you look at investing in taxable accounts what are your preferred Vanguard funds or ETFs? What strategies do you use? I have come to realize I need to start investing more in taxable accounts. Currently I have Berkshire stock and the Vanguard High Yield Tax Exempt Bond Fund. That is not going t...

My plan with the ETFs is to buy and hold. For me Vanguard is the only place I want to invest. Thank you for answering my question.

I invest at Vanguard and have started to move into ETFs instead of mutual funds. ( As an example) Why does the Total Stock Market Index ETF price fluctuate more than the Total Stock Market mutual fund price? I am in the ETFs because they have a lower maintenance fee and I can be a little more divers...

I had a friend invite me to invest with Lending Club http://www.lendingclub.com. After reading about it I just can't bring myself to do it for numerous reasons. I don't know how it exactly works tax wise and regular investing seems risky enough. Does anyone have recent experience or thoughts on Lend...

I am looking at different books to read. Is the Aftershock Investor a good one? Please share other easy to read titles.

I have a big chunk of money sitting in the Vanguard High Yield Tax Exempt Bond Fund. I continue to hear how the bonds are going to go do and I am concerned. When I look at the fun it continues to make money. My question is should I get out of the fund or just leave the money their knowing that I won...

Just curious do your friends talk openly about their investments, money management, and financial situations with you or are they private about it? Are most of your friends similar to you and your views on managing money and investing?

That is my thought. I am toying with the idea of mostly using the 2045 Target Fund as my main funds and use a couple of others as well.

My problem is I have too many plans. Vanguard offered me another free financial planning consultation. I should probably take them up on the offer. I would like to find a the best tax efficient portfolio that will also have a reasonable return. Please share your suggestions. Other than the mortgage ...

Would something like the High yield Tax Exempt be an okay fund to buy into?

The rate is 5.85%.

Through my 401K I have access to the Financial Engines investment software. It looks at your investments and makes suggestions on how to improve your investments. Just curious what people think of the software program and if you would ever act on the advice that it gives. To me the information seems...

As people have a wide variety of opinions on here they always give food for thought. I have a rental house with about $92,000 left on the mortgage. The rent more than covers the mortgage. One person suggested since I have the money I should consider paying it off. I do get a tax right off on the ren...

If you are investing over the long haul say 20 years, what is the best way to invest? Yes, this is a very general question. If all other things are taken care of how would you invest in a taxable account. My thought is to buy index funds every 4 months or so and try to keep things simple. I am not s...

I have two rentals that the rent covers both of the mortagages and no other debt. I have maxed out my 401k and the Roth IRAs for my wife and myself. I have a 6 month emergency fund and this seems like the last thing to do.

I am looking to start investing in a taxable account? Does it makes sense to do a target retirement fund, tax managed funds or just choose regular index funds? I am looking at going with a simple approach and want to keep my taxes simple. My other questions is what is the best way to keep things sim...

The Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap Index Fund does not have Admiral shares. My thought is to go with the ETF at 0.28 instead of the investor shares at 0.50. I am working my way down from 20 funds to around 7 or so in both the 401K and Roth IRA. I am kind of trying to replicate the Yale U's ...

I am restructuring my ROTH account. Some of the mutual funds have high fees and I am think of going with the ETF version in my ROTH IRA. How do ETFs work in a Roth account? I read that dividends are not automatically reinvested. So what will have to the dividends? All of my funds are at Vanguard. Fo...

I have read Common Sense on Mutual Funds. Please suggest any good books that are written in plain English you think a person would benefit from. I have been looking at asset allocation and exploring some of these Lazy Man Portfolios link http://www.marketwatch.com/lazyportfolio . Thank you for your ...

I am trying to simplify my investments across the board. I used Financial Engines to get some advice and I still think things are too complicated. My thought for my 401 K is to invest in the 2035 Target Retirement that consists of: Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares 60.6% Vanguar...

My parents are both retired and are looking at simplifying their investments. Their question is should they take money out of one of their taxable mutual funds to pay off the home equity loan (mortgage on a rental house) they own. The home equity loan is at 3.3 % and they owe about $70,000. My paren...

For me 10%.

There is an investment company my father uses and they tell you the allocation they think you should have if you used funds other than their companies. These are suggested for a buy and hold. I have listed the portfolios they suggest from each investment company and the allocation percentages. Do al...

What do you think of a portfolio such as this? Looking for a long term hold. My idea of aggressive is not to gamble, but take a little bit of a chance. Equity % 12.5 500 Index 12.5 Value Index 12.5 Small Cap Index 12.5 Small Cap Value Index 20.0 Developed Markets Index 20.0 International Value 10.0 ...

I have a lot of time on my side before I retire. What would an aggressive Bogleheads portfolio look like? Using relatively priced ETFs what you portfolio would you use? What relatively priced mutual funds would you use? Try to limit the number funds or ETFs to 6 or less. Please give both EFTs and mu...

Wow that is a good article and my wife will need to read it. Thank you.

I like what you said and I was curious if other people have reflected on things as I have.

As I age and worry about investing financially other areas need to be invested in as well. My thought is investing in life and relationships. At times I get stuck on financial matters and forget to invest in relationships. I have been on single parent duty for the past month as my wife has been out ...

401K Funds Short Term Income fund. 0.18% Vanguard Capital Opportunity Fund Investor Shares 18.12% Vanguard Explorer Fund Investor Shares 14.22% Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund Signal Shares 12.95% Vanguard International Growth Fund Investor Shares 14.95% Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund 7.07...

Do many people use index funds in Roth IRAs? Is that a good or bad idea and why? What are the best types of funds to hold in a Roth? Is it better to go with funds that have averaged around 9% long term rather than 12 % or so from a 20 year history? For the average investor would you say Vanguard has...

In my Roth IRA I hold each of these funds with a little more than $5000.00 in each. As I still need to contribute to my Roth for 2011 what other funds would you suggest I look at purchasing? Would you suggest looking at any other fund companies other than Vanguard? I have a 401K through Vanguard as ...

I live and work overseas, but have taxable income in the United States. I want to buy an ETF through Vanguard. I need to open a brokerage account in the Roth to do it. They say because I reside overseas I can not open a brokerage account. Does the phone representative know what he is talking about o...

The more I have looked into investing with other mutual fund companies the better Vanguard turns out to be all the time. The expenses from almost every other company kill your profits. Do you invest with more than one mutual fund company? Do you only buy investment products through Vanguard? I think...

I just found a tool on the Vanguard site that compares the expenses between two funds. Boy it is amazing about the difference in the fees and how much money they can take away from a person. Thank you for you sharing some of your wisdom with me. I think I will stick with the Vanguard funds.

I am looking at purchasing a couple of different mutual funds. I have heard anything 1% and lower for the maintenance fee is good. My problem is I still have trouble considering that to be a reasonable fee. When looking at the Vanguard funds it is hard to want to buy any other funds. Do you consider...

My thought is to try some different areas as I am young and have the time on my side. My wife and I are both investing in Roth IRAs.

The Roth is where I experiment a little with investments as taxes are nothing to worry about. I am looking at investing about $5000 in Fidelity Select Chemicals Portfolio (FSCHX) with an expense of 0.90% and an average of 14.12% since the inception on 07/29/1985. The returns look good over the long ...

Why should a person not have Vanguard with hold the taxes?

I feel good about all of my other other investment areas. My question is basically where to put my emergency fund. I have about $30,000 in the bank and $100,000 sitting at vanguard as my emergency stash. I am a conservative investor for the most part, but my thought is to put it all into the vanguar...

Consider the Vanguard High Yield Tax Exempt fun.

My thoughts are two fold. I know what the tax situation is like now. Dividends are a nice thing. The stock does not pay them and I would rather have a mutual fund that will pay consistently than have a stock that goes up and down. I am not out to get the greatest bang for my buck, just a consistent ...

I hate to say this.... I bought it because it was going up really fast. I didn't know as much about investing then as I do now. I am still learning. My thoughts are finding a good place to put the money and watch it grow. I am willing to pay my share of taxes, I just want to limit those as much as p...

It is about 60 percent. All of my other money is in my 401K and ROTH IRA. I have an account at at credit union with about $20,000 in it. I a pretty conservative when it comes to investing in a taxable account. I am willing to branch out.

About 4 years ago I bought 10 shares of Berkshire Hathaway at about $1400 and something a share. That split into 500 shares. Here I am 4 years later and feel like I should sell all of the shares. The shares are roughly $80 per share. This is held in a taxable account. I am not too worried about the ...

I live overseas and I need a new smart phone. While I am here in the USA and I am considering the Samsung Galaxy S2 that is unlocked. Does anyone have this phone? I am not a Iphone fan and want a great Android smart phone. Please let me know your thoughts.

I have a variety of Vanguard mutual funds and want to convert them to ETFs. Many of the mutual funds are also offered as ETFs. Is it a bad idea to convert all of my Vanguard mutual funds to Vanguard ETFs? All of the funds are held in a Roth IRA. Please share your thoughts before I do this.

There is an article talking about creating the ultimate buy and hold portfolio. If you have time look at the link below as it compares DFA funds to Vanguad. http://www.fundadvice.com/articles/buy-hold/the-best-mutual-funds-dfa-or-vanguard-.html I am thinking of trying to create a portfolio with the ...