LOL !
do you ever consider vxus instead ? Or do you dislike the small cap component of vxus?
Yes, I consider VXUS, but have not used it for several small reasons.
1. It was not available when I initiated a LARGE position in VEU. I try to simplify my investments whenever possible, although it may not seem like it. So I prefer to add to VEU than start a new position in VXUS.
2. I like to overweight foreign small caps and like to slice-and-dice, so I own a VERY LARGE position in VSS (small-cap foreign index), less in SCZ (small-cap developed), and DGS+EWX (small-cap emerging markets). So these easily make up what is missing from VEU.
3. I own a little bit of VTIAX (same as VXUS) in a small IRA. It is in set-and-forget mode, so I don't write about it in this newsletter.
4. Splitting international into VEA+VWO+VSS or VEU+VSS is more tax-efficient than owning VXUS. I can have the less tax-efficient VSS in tax-advantaged accounts, while having the tax-efficient VEA, VWO, VEU in a taxable account.
5. VXUS just doesn't have the daily volume that VEA, VWO, VEU have and seems to have an average bid/ask spread about twice what these more liquid ETFs have. See
https://advisors.vanguard.com/VGApp/iip/site/advisor/investments/bidaskspread
6. And the most important reason of all: FSGDX (Fidelity Spartan Total Int'l index) is just like VXUS, but is available in my 401(k). I own lots of it and as noted in recent posts have purchased more of it.
Do you like my reasoning?
(Today is going to be a great day for VEU and VEA and FSGDX. Japan was up almost 5% overnight. I should charge for this newsletter
)