VTI in my TDAmer Roth IRA account...or open new Vanguard account for VTSAX?

[HankWilliams]

Hi folks,
First post, new to the FIRE community. Saw Mr. Mustache on PBS in Oct and since then, I've learned a ton. Very exciting.

I bought Jim Collin's "Simple Path to Wealth" and want to invest in VTSAX.
However, my Roth IRA is at TD Ameritrade. I have some VTI in that account.

In regards to FIRE and my Roth IRA, should I...
a) Keep investing in VTI via my TD Ameritrade Roth IRA?
or
b) Open a Vangaurd Roth IRA to invest in VTSAX there?

Pros, cons? Thanks a lot...

[FIREandMONEY]

They're the same.

As long as you don't plan on doing intra-day trading, stick with VTI in your current account.

[terran]

If I was investing at TD Ameritrade I would use SPTM which is similar to VTI/VTSAX but trades without a commission there. But I'd probably move it unless you have a good reason to keep it at TD Ameritrade.

[HankWilliams]

Ugh... I'm still so confused. My wife says just leave it in TD and stick with VTI (or SPTM). She says they're the same so why open a Vanguard account.

However... I don't want to miss out if the FIRE "hero's" (Mr. Mustache, Paula Pant, ChooseFI, Jim Collins, etc.) are talking VTSAX nonstop.
Am I splitting hairs?

[bacchi]

Ugh... I'm still so confused. My wife says just leave it in TD and stick with VTI (or SPTM). She says they're the same so why open a Vanguard account.

However... I don't want to miss out if the FIRE "hero's" (Mr. Mustache, Paula Pant, ChooseFI, Jim Collins, etc.) are talking VTSAX nonstop.
Am I splitting hairs?

Yes. They're the same. VTI = VTSAX. They track the same index and VTI has enough liquidity so that the spread is meaningless.

Create a chart somewhere and add VTI, VTSMX, VTSAX, and SPTM. They track one another very closely.

[HankWilliams]

Ok thanks folks. If you feel like SPTM as good as Jim Collin's VTSAX recommendation, then I'll stick with TD and SPTM.

[dsw]

One reason you might consider opening a Vanguard account is that transactions for their ETFs are free. If you're regularly contributing, it adds up. As the other posters mentioned, VTI is essentially the same, so you can continue to buy it there, but without transaction fees.

[HankWilliams]

Yes, I would like to start contributing as much as I can. I'm 43 and would like to make regular contributions. Hummmm...

[dsw]

Yes, I would like to start contributing as much as I can. I'm 43 and would like to make regular contributions. Hummmm...

Then if it were me (and this is actually what I do), I would open a Vanguard account and buy VTI there. Having another account is a minor inconvenience and over time it will save you all of the transaction fees plus the compounding you get on investing the money that would have gone to fees.

[turtlefire]

I suggest you read the "Random Walk Down Wall Street" by Burton Malkiel. I like his ideal of life-cycle portfolio management. Which is known to produce better results than just throwing your money into one fund, like VTSAX. I'm not saying VTSAX isn't a good fund, it just shouldn't be your only fund.