Sell to harvest loss or in-kind transfer?

[Stephaniekb]

I have some shares of American Funds EuroPacific Fund (AEPGX) in a taxable account. They were purchased in 2008 at about $35/share and are now sitting at about $47/share, but fund has decreased about 3% this year. I am planning to move this money to Vanguard. Given that I have both taxable income this year as well as some capital gains, would I be better off selling the shares and then depositing the money in Vanguard to take advantage of tax loss harvesting, or just moving the money as an in-kind transfer? Thanks in advance for helping me learn to evaluate this decision!

[Another Reader]

You don't have a tax loss.  You have a capital gain.  It's just not as big a gain as it was at the beginning of the year.  It will probably cost you less to sell it yourself and then transfer the proceeds.  Vanguard will likely charge you to sell that fund, but verify that with them.