VG vs. Fidelity : exp ratio comparisons?

[megacorp-firee]

Has anyone done an analysis of VG versus Fidelity expense ratios for their different index (or any other) funds?

I'm looking at a place to park my 401k to Roth IRA account funds.

Thanks.

 

[Midpack]

They are available at their respective sites and you don't have to have an account to see them. Without knowing which funds you're interested in, not sure how we'd answer, there are quite a few at Vanguard and probably Fido too.

I was with Fido for about 10 years and switched to Vanguard mostly because there were far more index funds (that I wanted to put my money in) at Vanguard. I could not emulate Four Pillars at Fido whereas I could at Vanguard, but that may have changed by now. Good luck...

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

Has anyone done an analysis of VG versus Fidelity expense ratios for their different index (or any other) funds?

Not an "analysis" but almost every time I have compared like index funds between the two companies, Vgd has one, with few exceptions. Usually the difference is small.

You don't have to guess - just select the type of fund you want and compare them - be sure you are comparing apples to apples, though.

 

[Notmuchlonger]

I know off hand Fidelity Spartan 500 Index fund is .10 %

Vanguards SP 500 index fund is .15%

I really dont find a huge variance between the two companies.

 

[FIREd]

We have accounts with both Fidelity and Vanguard. We have comparable funds at both places and in general I found that Fido's ERs are higher. For example:

Fido diversified International ER=0.91% Vs. Vanguard total International ER=0.27% (Fido's fund is not a pure index fund per se but it does loosely track the same index as the Vanguard fund).
Fido Equity income ER=0.66% Vs. Vanguard equity income ER=0.29%
Fido US bond index ER=0.31% Vs. Vanguard total bond index ER=0.19%

One exception: Fido's Spartan lineup seems to have very competitive ERs.

 

[megacorp-firee]

Ok, got it on just going to each fund and comparing... I have found that VG is a bit more cost effective (small differences).

Those of you with experience in both VG and Fido, what about the service or any other items that I should consider.

btw, here are the VG funds I was considering;
VFINX - Large Blend
VISVX - Small Value
VGSIX - REIT
VEURX - European Index
VPACX - Pacific Index
VEIEX - Emerging Mkt Idx
VTRIX - Int'l Value
VBMFX - Total Bond
VIPSX - Inflation Protected

Thanks.

 

[nwsteve]

We have accounts with both Fido and Vanguard. I also just completed an onerous process transferring my recently deceased Mom's asset through the Vanguard process.
The short answer is Fido will do it best to find a way to make reasonable things work, while Vanguard will send you a form and do nothing until it is filled out to their liking. Most recent example, I converted an old Fido mutual fund account to a brokerage so I could transfer some brokeage assets from my Mom's estate. Fido no longer allows new accounts to use Cash Reserves as the Brokerage Account clearing account and now use something called FCash which has a yield about half Cash Reserves. I called and asked since the Cash Resrv account was in place that the Fcash rule be waived. The Private Access rep looked at the account and said he would try to make it work. No forms, no written request with guarantees, etc which I would get from Vanguard. He did make it happen, end of issue with a call of less than 5 min.
Last fall, Vanguard unilaterally decided all beneficiaries should be converted to Transfer on Death structures from a Paid on Death. Since my 86 yo Mom did not understand what they were asking she ignored it. Vanguard made the conversions anyway and a manner that fundamentally changed my Mom's estate distribution. Had I not accidently caught it, we would have had untold problems when she passed in March.
If you are a buy and hold mutual funds only investor, than Vanguard black and white rule environment probably will not be an issue. If you have anything going more complicated than vanilla, you will find a fair share of frustration with Vanguard.
Nwsteve

 

[Notmuchlonger]

Ive had good customer service with both. Only 1 problem with each company and they handled it promptly and professionally.

 

[FinanceDude]

Why do you guys love FIDO so much when they say they are no-load but cater to FA's??

 

[youbet]

Why do you guys love FIDO so much when they say they are no-load but cater to FA's??

Because they are no load and have low ER's? They can french kiss you all day as long as they don't pay you to do it at my expense!

 

[chinaco]

Fidelity has some loaded funds, some no-load fund (high fees), and some very low no-load funds (mainly index funds).

I think Fido has the low cost index funds to compete with VG.

IMO - Fido is reputable... But I prefer VG. If you look at their entire line-up VG is lower cost. Fido may have some funds that perform better.


These days, I want reasonable market performance and diversification. The low cost deals with market performance are fine for me.

 

[Rich_by_the_Bay]

For my bigger roll-over to Vgd they assigned me a special rep. She walked me through every step. She set up conference calls with the external companies and documented everything they told me needed to be done. She dogged them (and me here and there) about just what forms were pending, etc. Yes it was s tedious process, but she watched over every detail and transaction.

I was impressed. She even called after the deal was done to make sure I had no further needs. Then she conferenced by "Flagship" advisor and introduced us.

 

[RonBoyd]

Has anyone done an analysis of VG versus Fidelity expense ratios for their different index (or any other) funds?

Use Morningstar and/or MAXfunds.com | A better way of looking at mutual funds. (among many, many other choices) to compare for yourself. The results will be more reliable than any other method.

 

[FinanceDude]

Because they are no load and have low ER's? They can french kiss you all day as long as they don't pay you to do it at my expense!

Uh, ever hear of the Fidelity Advisor funds? About 40% of Fido's money is in those,and they are NOT no-load............

Maybe it's just funny to me. Something is funny about a "no-load" company staying "quiet" about the fact that they also have load funds........

 

[ziggy29]

Uh, ever hear of the Fidelity Advisor funds? About 40% of Fido's money is in those,and they are NOT no-load...........

Maybe. But some of the insurance companies that have the best low-cost term life also sell whole life. Some automakers who make some of the most economical cars also make gas guzzlers. Some grocers who specialize in stocking a lot of healthy foods have some that are a nutritionist's nightmare.

 

[brewer12345]

Since I can get the lowest expense ratios simply buy buying ETFs, I have little interest in moving my accounts to Vanguard. I have a small account at Fido and everything else with Schwab. The Fido account is a solo 401k. Fido made the setup very easy, answers all my stoopid tax and andministrative questions, doesn't fee me to death, and all for a low 5 figures account. Interface is basic and commissions are a little high, but it works.

Since Schwab fired Potruck, dumped US Trust and stopped trying to go upscale by alienating all of their mass market clients, service has been (IMO) flawless. They do everything I ask, answer questions, bend the rules once in a while, waive fees, etc. Commissions are very reasonable, and if there is ever a real problem I have the name of a rep assigned to me in the local office (who politely calls annually, gets told by DW that her husband is in the business and "we don't want any," and leaves it at that). Their index funds are overpriced, but since I can buy ETFs with miniscule expense ratios, I really could care less.

 

[MGYog]

Since I can get the lowest expense ratios simply buy buying ETFs, I have little interest in moving my accounts to Vanguard. I have a small account at Fido and everything else with Schwab. The Fido account is a solo 401k. Fido made the setup very easy, answers all my stoopid tax and andministrative questions, doesn't fee me to death, and all for a low 5 figures account. Interface is basic and commissions are a little high, but it works.

Since Schwab fired Potruck, dumped US Trust and stopped trying to go upscale by alienating all of their mass market clients, service has been (IMO) flawless. They do everything I ask, answer questions, bend the rules once in a while, waive fees, etc. Commissions are very reasonable, and if there is ever a real problem I have the name of a rep assigned to me in the local office (who politely calls annually, gets told by DW that her husband is in the business and "we don't want any," and leaves it at that). Their index funds are overpriced, but since I can buy ETFs with miniscule expense ratios, I really could care less.

I am a fellow Schwabee, and before that, was in the original Rose discount brokerage house before it became Schwab. I do the same thing you do, and am most satisfied with their service, and fees.

 

[FinanceDude]

Maybe. But some of the insurance companies that have the best low-cost term life also sell whole life. Some automakers who make some of the most economical cars also make gas guzzlers. Some grocers who specialize in stocking a lot of healthy foods have some that are a nutritionist's nightmare.

Not a good comparison.........

If VG did that, you guys would be PISSED!!!

 

[ziggy29]

Not a good comparison.........

If VG did that, you guys would be PISSED!!!

Heh. "You guys?" I like Vanguard, but I don't drink the Kool-Aid.

 

[Notmuchlonger]

Heh. "You guys?" I like Vanguard, but I don't drink the Kool-Aid.

Exactly. You need to be very careful when making comments about Vanguard. I flinch every time I do since I expect some knock at my door from a mob

 

[FIREd]

Exactly. You need to be very careful when making comments about Vanguard. I flinch every time I do since I expect some knock at my door from a mob

knock knock... Open up! It's the Vanguard Police!!!! I am a big fan of Vanguard because their investment philosophy matches mine perfectly (good products at rock bottom prices). But I wouldn't mind if they started selling expensive investment products to suckers as long as they use the profits to lower their already low fund expenses for the rest of us diehards...

 

[FinanceDude]

Well, I have a money market account at Vanguard where I draw my quarterlies out of, does that count as a Vanguard investor??

I do have the advantage where I can buy pretty much any load fund I want at NAV, which is something most cannot........

 

[roger r]

I think many of the expense issues have been covered, but I'll add one more kudo for Fidelity customer service. If you're just dealing with simple things, I imagine they are about the same, but if a curve comes along Fidelity customer service will have better odds of getting the job done. I had some problems transfering a DBA IRA and cannot say enough good things about the service I got from Fidelity in helping with this process.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

I thought this was an interesting chart...

Vanguard s&p 500 index investor vs fidelity spartan investor

 

[Tadpole]

About two years ago I tried to get Fidelity to do a rollover from MSF to Fidelity. After Fidelity had the paperwork, they did not get it done no matter how many times we contacted them about it. I asked Vanguard to do the rollover and like magic it got done with no hassel and total success.

I guess different people have different experiences. We never were able to find out what the problem at Fidelity was.

Even so, I am torn between the two if we decide to consolidate our many accounts.