I was mugged by Vanguard!

[soupcxan]

See attached photo for the evidence.

Pro: It was free
Pro: I can use it to subtly reiterate my LBYM superiority over my coworkers

Con: It makes the coffee taste passive and low-cost
Con: I'm sure that my expense ratios will go up 0.00000000001% next year as a result of these giveaways

[Nords]

Is that a benefit of the Voyager, Admiral, or God Among Mortals asset levels?

I've never even gotten a mouse pad from Fidelity... and I think they've scarfed up a bit more of my money than Vanguard has of yours.

[W2R]

If you've got that much money in Vanguard, what is the probability that you will need/want a coffee mug (as much as you did before you accumulated so much)?

It's really cool, though. Congrats!

[Peaceful_Warrior]

I cannot resist posting a link to a story from my site because the story is too perfect for this thread...

Life is Like a Cup of Coffee

[Jeb-NY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peaceful_Warrior I cannot resist posting a link to a story from my site because the story is too perfect for this thread... Life is Like a Cup of Coffee

Great story.

I got a cheapy flashlight/toolkit combo from TD Ameritrade last year for being a good customer. I have 3 times as much money at Vanguard and all I get is great service and good returns. Guess where more money is getting moved by years end.

I'll be watching for my mug

Jeb

[soupcxan]

Actually, I picked it up at a career fair where Vanguard was recruiting.

[LOL!]

You gotta auction off that mug at the Vanguard Diehards site. You might be able to pay for all your coffee for the next couple of years.

[jazz4cash]

I was poking around one the Vanguard sites, and I found some really neat scholarship and intern info.........too bad none of my kids has ANY career interest in anything remotely related to the financial industry. Ever since, I always poke around any big company site I find looking for something similar that my kids could use.

[Kronk]

I worked at Vanguard for 6 months as a (very low end) computer consultant. Their headquarters are around 10-15 minutes away from my house. They have the rep of relatively low pay, great benefits, and very much a Mega-Corp feel.

Of course, working at Vanguard doesn't necessarily mean you are doing anything interesting with finance. My gig was software testing of a data warehouse, which was brutally boring. That was 11 years ago when I was fairly fresh out of college. It surprised me how low their fees were based on the inefficiencies I could see from the ground level -- the same type of waste you'd see in any Mega-Corp. I don't think things have changed much since then, based on discussions with people who are currently working there.

But hey, I put most of my money into Vanguard, so they've got my thumbs up as an investor, just not as an employee.

[Jeb-NY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kronk It surprised me how low their fees were based on the inefficiencies I could see from the ground level -- the same type of waste you'd see in any Mega-Corp. I don't think things have changed much since then, based on discussions with people who are currently working there.

My boss way back when, use to say the reason big corporation succeeded was they competed with other big corporations. Same reason
for how armies manage to win, they fight other armies. Thy don't have to be efficient or good, just better than all their competitors. Of course that is why some small corporations clean the clock of big companies. But then they turn in to big corporations and things rebalance.

jeb

[TromboneAl]

You gave me a great idea for a thread!

[RunningBum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeb-NY Great story. I got a cheapy flashlight/toolkit combo from TD Ameritrade last year for being a good customer. I have 3 times as much money at Vanguard and all I get is great service and good returns. Guess where more money is getting moved by years end.

I used to get some decent stuff from Datek before they merged with Ameritrade. I still use their Zippo lighter, and my daughter's ballcap of choice for a couple years was from Datek.

[teejayevans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soupcxan See attached photo for the evidence. Pro: It was free Pro: I can use it to subtly reiterate my LBYM superiority over my coworkers Con: It makes the coffee taste passive and low-cost Con: I'm sure that my expense ratios will go up 0.00000000001% next year as a result of these giveaways

Con: It's consider a taxable gift, so your taxes may go up as well
TJ

[brewer12345]

Hmmm, I haven't gotten anything from Schwab (other than good value for the money) except the big, glossy brochure that says "Welcome to our hyperactive monkey on crack frequent trader service..."

[chinaco]

I got a massive drop in value from PBHG Fund before they went under for their shenanigans. Does that count?