Cheapest/Best way to get Intl exposure?

[brewer12345]

Any tips on the cheapest way to get international equity exposure? I am rolling money over from a 401k to my IRA so I now have pretty much any choice I want. Is EFA the way to go, or is tere some, better, cheaper way to get intl equity exposure?

 

[renferme]

You don't say which Mutual Fund company you're dealing with.
Whichever one, it's easy to select the International Fund within the Fund company.
.
Vanguard, for example, has 10 international/global funds.
Dodge and Cox has one.
Fidelity has a bunch too.
.

 

[lazyday]

I like Vanguard's VPL and VWO. Very low expenses.

I used to like DODFX, but today I'm less interested in Value. I only have a very small position.
There's a Europe Viper too, I think VGK.

Some people like international bonds; I prefer intl equity and us short term bonds myself (at today's prices) to decrease exposure to us equity, but not overdo my currency exposure.

 

[Nords]

Is EFA the way to go, or is tere some, better, cheaper way to get intl equity exposure?

Now that Tweedy, Browne is closed EFA may be the only cost-effective alternative. No dollar hedging, but maybe that's part of the plan for you.

 

[wildcat]

I am sticking to my guns and I still reco Dodge & Cox Intl.  Some people on the forum dislike the "newness" of the fund but look at the long-term record of the flagship fund.  Similar approach and about as low as you can go on the expenses for actively managed.  I like the slow and steady approach & they will close to new investors before new money floods the fund.  

Other strategies the forum has mentioned in the past - basket of each Vanguard Intl index fund, i.e not the Total Intl. index and weighted differently.

Tweedy Global - offer hedged and unhedged but I think I recall someone mentioning they will closing to new investors.  Exp ratio a bit higher.

Damn I wish we all had access to DFA's index funds b/c that opens up a whole new avenue  

And I won't touch your area of expertise with foreign bond recos, esp. since I got mine from you  

 

[wildcat]

Now that Tweedy, Browne is closed EFA

Ask and I shall receive.

I would rather be unhedged right now