Charles Schwab

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 Corporation, based originally in San Francisco, was founded in 1971 by Charles Schwab. The firm began discount brokerage on May 1, 1975. An investor can implement the precepts advocated in the Bogleheads investment philosophy by choosing index products available on the Schwab platform.

Indexing at Schwab
All ETFs are commission-free at Schwab, enabling use of ETF lineups from Schwab, Vanguard and iShares.

Schwab also manages its own index mutual funds and exchange traded funds (ETFs). As a broker, Schwab provides access to other firm's mutual funds (usually subject to transaction fees unless the fund is a part of the no-transaction-fee network).

Schwab index mutual funds
The following table shows Schwab's index mutual funds, with the corresponding Vanguard fund listed for reference.

Charles Schwab offers access to:
 * Eight index stock mutual funds, with low  expense ratios ranging from 2 to 6 basis points. The Schwab 1000 (SNXFX) index mutual fund is benchmarked to a proprietary index created by Schwab. The total stock market index is benchmarked to the Dow Jones US Total Stock Market Index.


 * RAFI fundamental index funds.


 * Three indexed bond funds: a total bond market index fund (SWAGX), a short-term bond fund (SWSBX) and a short-term TIPS (Treasury Inflation Protected Security) fund (SWRSX).


 * Tax-free bond funds: A national Tax-Free Bond Fund (SWNTX) and the California Tax-Free Bond Fund (SWCAX).


 * Target date index funds with an expense ratio of 8 basis points.

Schwab exchange traded funds
The below table compares ETF offerings from Schwab, Vanguard and iShares. All ETFs trade commission-free.

Schwab offers a growing selection of low cost ETFs (expense ratios range from 3 to 11 basis points), which can be traded with no commissions at Schwab. Schwab manages intermediate-term investment grade and treasury bond index ETFs (short-term; intermediate term; TIPS), US stock market ETFs (broad; large; growth; value; mid; and small) benchmarked to Dow Jones indices, a US REIT index (Dow Jones sector index) and international index ETFs (developed large; developed small; emerging markets) benchmarked to FTSE indices. The above table provides individual ETF expense ratios.

Vanguard funds at Schwab
Vanguard mutual funds can be purchased at Schwab's mutual fund supermarket, One Source, with a transaction fee of $49.95 for on-line trades. Vanguard ETFs are more cost efficient, since they can be purchased commission free. Schwab has also eliminated charges for on-line stock trades.

Treasury bonds at Schwab
Schwab charges no commissions for on-line treasury bond purchases for both auction purchases and purchases made on the secondary markets. Treasury securities include treasury bills, treasury notes, treasury bonds, and TIPs.

Minimum investment:
 * Treasury Bills, Notes, Bonds, and TIPs - $1,000