Category: ETF

Over an investing lifetime, expenses add up. Using commission-free ETFs and tax-loss harvesting are just two of the ways that DIY investors can keep their investment expenses in check. To use these techniques, you need to first identify investments that are more or less equivalent to the index that you're trying to track, or the specific fund or ETF that you seek a replacement for. In math-speak,... [more]  

TD Ameritrade account holders enjoy commission-free trading in over 100 ETFs, including a number of low-cost Vanguard funds, and many other popular ETFs. Three of the ETFs used in our Adaptive Portfolios are on Ameritrade's zero-commission list: iShares Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) for exposure to long-term bonds, SPDR Dow Jones International Real Estate (RWX) and even... [more]  

Charles Schwab currently offers commission-free trades for 105 ETFs. Schwab has its own "in-house" brand of ETFs (15 total) which provide exposure to the most common asset classes, and are good proxies for more popular ETFs. These funds are relatively new and unknown to most investors, but using them can be a great way to reduce investment expenses. In addition to zero commission, Schwab has... [more]  

The Vanguard Group has staked its reputation on low-cost passive investing. It created the first index fund, and has a solid lineup of 64 stock and bond ETFs, all of which can be traded commission-free by Vanguard brokerage account holders. While the company has announced plans to expand into alternative asset classes (alternative beta), it does not offer commission-free trades in gold or commodities... [more]  

Fidelity Investments offers 65 commission-free iShares funds that track most common asset classes. Many of these are widely held, industry-leading funds. Four of the ETFs used in our Adaptive Portfolios are on Fidelity's zero-commission list: iShares Barclays 7-10 Year Treasury Bond (IEF), iShares Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT), iShares S&P Europe 350 Index (IEV), and iShares MSCI Emerging... [more]  

There are over 1,400 Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) on the market. With so many available choices, it's difficult to know which ones to use. Major brokers such as Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, Vanguard, and Fidelity offer commission-free trading for a number of ETFs. To keep investment expenses as low as possible, it's a good idea to use a zero-commission ETF when available. We... [more]  

U.S. stocks and bonds are the most familiar asset classes to most investors, but there are many other types of investments worthy of your consideration. All our Adaptive Portfolios choose from a broad basket of 9 different Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), representing all major asset classes such as U.S., European and Emerging Markets stocks, medium and long term bonds, domestic and international... [more]