Can you tell me details about the benefits of $50k? I like having a goal like that. Recently my Roth IRA went over the $10k mark meaning I could exchange to admiral funds (VTSAX replacing VTSMX) which was great. Looks like $50k is the next milestone.
Sure. Keep in mind that these are based on
your total Vanguard holdings, held at Vanguard - unlike Admiral shares, it doesn't matter how much you have spread out over various funds or even accounts. When I hit $50k at Vanguard, it was split between a traditional/rollover IRA, a Roth IRA, and my taxable account (Vanguard funds held in my 401(k) that isn't through Vanguard didn't count). I still qualified for "Voyager" services (the name for the $50k threshold)
In the $50K - $500K range, there's no account fees (nor ever after $50k, nor if you have less than $50k and sign up for e-delivery); you can get a CFP to make a plan for you (it's someone through Vanguard, but there's no commissions and the company is not-for-profit, so there isn't the same conflict of interest you'd get at, say, Edward Jones) for $250 (flat fee). I know a few people who got this done, liked the advice, and followed it; two of them subsequently found that Vanguard refunded the fee after they did so.
If you feel like dabbling in individual stocks or non-Vanguard ETFs, trades are $7/each. I haven't looked into other brokerages for this sort of thing (not where my interest lies), but I think this is about going rate.
Once you hit $500K in Vanguard assets at Vanguard, you can get the CFP to work with you on a plan once a year
complimentary (as in, no charge, although I suppose they'll say something nice about your tie too). Stocks and non-Vanguard ETFs trade down to $2/per, if that's your thing (at $1M, the first 25 are free).
Here's the details at their website, if you're interested.