Author Topic: Finally a Vanguard investor  (Read 6923 times)

LibrarIan

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Finally a Vanguard investor
« on: March 17, 2015, 11:48:00 AM »
As of this past Friday, I am now an investor in Vanguard's VTSMX. I took the plunge and started with $7,000. I checked this morning and my workers had created $88 extra for me since I started it. Feels amazing.

In the recent past I have also biked through nearly the entire winter (we actually got a lot of snow and subzero days but that didn't stop me), sold off a drum set I never use ($600 right there) and cut back the number of times I eat out.

johnny847

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #1 on: March 17, 2015, 11:55:35 AM »
Whoo congrats! Index investing is definitely the way to go for the vast majority of people. I know there are active traders on this forum, but that's way too much time and effort for me.

And hey, when you hit $10k, you can upgrade your shares to admiral! Reduces your expense ratio from 0.17% to 0.05%.

eil

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #2 on: March 17, 2015, 12:39:44 PM »
Score!

May I ask, what kind of an account did you set up?

5pak

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2015, 01:04:48 PM »
Nice. Those are the very ones I'm looking at. Hope to join you there soon. Glad to see a fellow librarian in the lists.

LibrarIan

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #4 on: March 17, 2015, 01:17:59 PM »
Score!

May I ask, what kind of an account did you set up?

*Awkwardly points at original post*

Vanguard VTSMX. https://personal.vanguard.com/us/funds/snapshot?FundId=0085&FundIntExt=INT

biffwhipster

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2015, 01:27:15 PM »
Score!

May I ask, what kind of an account did you set up?

*Awkwardly points at original post*

Vanguard VTSMX. https://personal.vanguard.com/us/funds/snapshot?FundId=0085&FundIntExt=INT

Account type and funds are 2 separate things.

You have only told us which fund you have invested in, not the type of account the investment is held in.

Eric

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2015, 02:36:28 PM »
The $7K contribution should be a clue that it's not an IRA.  :)

Good work Mr. Ian!

rothnroll

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #7 on: March 17, 2015, 04:49:51 PM »
The $7K contribution should be a clue that it's not an IRA.  :)

Good work Mr. Ian!
You can still contribute to a 2014 IRA until April 15.

ikonomore

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #8 on: March 17, 2015, 08:30:23 PM »
Whoo congrats! Index investing is definitely the way to go for the vast majority of people. I know there are active traders on this forum, but that's way too much time and effort for me.

And hey, when you hit $10k, you can upgrade your shares to admiral! Reduces your expense ratio from 0.17% to 0.05%.

Thank you!  I always thought I had to hit something like $100k to move to admiral.  Just logged on and found the upgrade page and boom!
Thanks again!  (we need a beer icon)

johnny847

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #9 on: March 17, 2015, 09:30:56 PM »
Whoo congrats! Index investing is definitely the way to go for the vast majority of people. I know there are active traders on this forum, but that's way too much time and effort for me.

And hey, when you hit $10k, you can upgrade your shares to admiral! Reduces your expense ratio from 0.17% to 0.05%.

Thank you!  I always thought I had to hit something like $100k to move to admiral.  Just logged on and found the upgrade page and boom!
Thanks again!  (we need a beer icon)

Haha no problem!
(Until October 2010, the minimum for most Admiral shares versions of funds was $100k).

LibrarIan

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #10 on: March 18, 2015, 12:47:29 PM »
The $7K contribution should be a clue that it's not an IRA.  :)

Good work Mr. Ian!

Correct, not an IRA. A regular old personal investment (joint because my wife is also an owner) account. I guess I misunderstood the question above and took account as fund (*eats crow*). I do have a separate Roth IRA.

carozy

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #11 on: March 18, 2015, 01:01:55 PM »
That's great!  I'm planning to become a Vanguard investor soon too.  I can't wait!

frugalkristen

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #12 on: September 25, 2016, 12:14:05 PM »
Awesome!  I just signed up too!  Can I ask what admiral is?  Sorry - still new to some of this stuff.  I have $10,000 going into the account.

markbike528CBX

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #13 on: September 25, 2016, 12:34:19 PM »
Awesome!  I just signed up too!  Can I ask what admiral is?  Sorry - still new to some of this stuff.  I have $10,000 going into the account.

https://investor.vanguard.com/mutual-funds/admiral-shares

TL/dr--- same funds, lower fees,  10k minimum in a fund, most smaller accounts get upgraded automatically when eligible.

frugalkristen

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #14 on: September 25, 2016, 12:36:57 PM »
markbike528CBX - Thanks!!

markbike528CBX

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #15 on: September 25, 2016, 12:55:11 PM »
frugalkristen, no problem.  vanguard's site is pretty logically laid out, but is hard to search for random questions

SwordGuy

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #16 on: September 29, 2016, 11:27:59 AM »
The $7K contribution should be a clue that it's not an IRA.  :)

Good work Mr. Ian!

Could have been a rollover from an old IRA or 401k... :)

Capt j-rod

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #17 on: September 30, 2016, 11:24:01 AM »
Holding out on the vanguard until the election, market will either drop or stay the same. If I can catch a dip, I'm going in deeper than if no dip.

moof

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #18 on: September 30, 2016, 02:48:00 PM »
Holding out on the vanguard until the election, market will either drop or stay the same. If I can catch a dip, I'm going in deeper than if no dip.
My personal advice is to invest early on often, timing the market is mostly a fool's errand.  Avoiding a possible few percent drop on a percent or so of your eventual net worth is pretty pointless.  Money left on the side line as a habit locks in a couple percent perpetually.  Similarly to the "If I wouldn't buy it, then sell it" mantra, unless you are similarly cashing out your entire portfolio for fear of Trump, then it makes little sense to hold off on a modest sized contribution.

I am freshly inspired this year and pouring everything that isn't bolted down into accounts.  I got the wife's IRA maxed out, mine is still on autopilot to max out through regular contributions.  Finally opened a taxable account and moved most of the savings account in there other than what is planned to be used for a trip in the next couple months.  401k is on autopilot to max out too.  I lost the login for the 529 for the toddler, so I need to call in to reset that one so I can up it to max out too.  I still need to get around to tweaking the W4 for the larger IRA deductibility.

Capt j-rod

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #19 on: September 30, 2016, 03:05:42 PM »
I already maxed out the work 401k and bought another rental. I'm pretty flexible when it comes to investing, I'm just kinda opportunistic. My projection is if Hillary goes in it will be the same, if the Donald goes in, then we will see change. Waiting two months isn't a big loss but buying in low gives more opportunity later. Either way it's going into something!

libertarian4321

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #20 on: September 30, 2016, 03:58:22 PM »
Welcome to the club.  After years of wandering the mutual fund wastelands (high expenses, high loads, high fees, poor performance, and all the other "suck" that most mutual funds bring, to one degree or another), I found Vanguard 20+ years ago, and haven't looked back.

Capt j-rod

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Re: Finally a Vanguard investor
« Reply #21 on: September 30, 2016, 05:48:22 PM »
Thanks for the welcome.. I have some vanguard as well. It's a rock solid performer. I also do rentals, 401k, and other ventures. When I can't find anything better, than vanguard is my go to. I'm a long time lurker and a huge fan of MMM. I'm not a diehard, but I'm about 80%. I was doing quite a few MMM moves without knowing it. I was also in need of a few face punches. I'm looking to be FI and "voluntarily" employed to supplement. Cheap money is forbidden fruit. It got me started, but it was also holding me back. My net worth is great, but the payments were making me a slave to the job. Back to vanguard... It's a great tool, but it only represents one card in my hand of five card stud!

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!