i didnt know that about vanguard, i mean the conversion. but doesnt vanguards sub 10k fund auto convert once it hits 10k as well?
Yes investor shares will auto convert to admirals shares once you hit $10k.
What I'm saying is if the OP wishes to use MFs in the long run, he or she cannot use ETFs as a stop gap solution until $10k is amassed to switch to admirals shares of the MF without incurring a taxable event (that is, the ETFs must be sold in order to buy the admirals shares of the MF).
The same logic can be applied to the investors shares - ETFs cannot be used as a stop gap solution until $3k is amassed to switch to investors shares of the MF without incurring a taxable event.