Long time lurker, first time poster.
A few years ago, the daunting minimum of $10,000 for Vanguard seemed like a pipe dream. Now, I'm a proud tenthousandaire. Actually a lot more, but nonetheless, very proud to reflect that the $10k minimum is no longer a gigantic dream, but a healthy reality.
My wife and I started a joint "build wealth" Betterment account together about 6 months before our wedding, thinking it'd grow and we'd have extra $ for the celebration. Well, the value went down. My brilliant other half said, keep it in, don't sell at a loss. I also started a Betterment "retirement" account and have been consistently contributing to both. They have gone way up, now back to slightly above breaking even. Combined present value of about $82,500 with $79,500 invested. Since we didn't use it for the wedding, it has become a savings account for our next real estate purchase.
We currently own (have significant mortgages on) our primary and 3 residential rental properties that are positive cash flow and positive appreciation since purchase in our town. I am a real estate appraiser, so feel comfortable with real estate investments, but enjoy the diversification and passive stock market investments. We'll both early 30s, both with good jobs w matching 401's, no debt, healthy savings, no kids yet but probably soon. Even w possibly starting a family on the horizon, we'd both like to retire early (my goal is by 50, in 17 years).
My questions:
1) I'd like to transfer to a Vanguard account to save fees. Is it best to transfer direct from Betterment to Vanguard? Or to my high interest checking/savings account, then into Vanguard?
2) Is there any fee or taxes that come due upon this move?
3) Is it best to have 1 single account, rather than the 2 betterment accounts I currently have (is there extra compounding with 1 greater amount, vs 2 smaller amounts)?
4) Will this move create a hit to my excellent credit score (I believe closing bank accounts and credit cards has a negative effect on credit score)?
5) Which Vanguard fund mix is best for a long investment horizon (high risk high reward)?
6) Would maxing out a Roth IRA maximize tax benefits, while maintaining liquidity for a potential RE investment? (any other tax advantaged strategies with relatively high liquidity?)
7) Is an investment account as a RE down payment savings account silly? Ideally, we'll scoop up a deal in a recession a few years from now, but that would likely also be bad timing to withdraw money from stocks. (I look everyday, if a good deal came along, I'd move on it quick but I feel like a correction may be coming in the next few years).
Thanks!