Debt fund with lowest expense ratio?
A good expense ratio, from the investor's viewpoint, is around 0.5% to 0.75% for an actively managed portfolio. An expense ratio greater than 1.5% is considered high. The expense ratio for mutual funds is typically higher than expense ratios for ETFs. 2 This is because ETFs are passively managed.
Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio |
---|---|---|
BTCW | WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund | 0.00% |
SPLG | SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF | 0.02% |
BBUS | JP Morgan Betabuilders U.S. Equity ETF | 0.02% |
BND | Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | 0.03% |
A good expense ratio, from the investor's viewpoint, is around 0.5% to 0.75% for an actively managed portfolio. An expense ratio greater than 1.5% is considered high. The expense ratio for mutual funds is typically higher than expense ratios for ETFs. 2 This is because ETFs are passively managed.
Index funds use passive investment strategies and thus tend to have low turnover and low expense ratios.
Typically, any expense ratio higher than 1% is high and should be avoided, however it's important to note that many investors choose to invest in funds with high expense ratios if it's worth it for them in the long run.
Vanguard's unique cost structure, the economies of scale it has achieved, and the total number of assets under management (AUM) allow it to offer its ETFs at the lowest cost available in the market. We've listed 10 of the firm's cheapest ETFs by their expense ratio.
The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO -0.07%) is one of the most popular investment options for index investors. And with good reason. Its low expense ratio and strong track record of tracking the index make it a great option for those simply looking to match the S&P 500.
*Vanguard average mutual fund expense ratio: 0.09%. Industry average mutual fund expense ratio: 0.54%. All averages are asset-weighted. Industry average excludes Vanguard.
In general, an expense ratio over 1% may be too high for the average investor. Follow Fortune Recommends on Facebook and Twitter.
Since a regular plan mutual fund hires brokers, the brokerage fee is included in the expense ratio. However, if the investor chooses a direct plan mutual fund, they can avoid these brokerage fees, manage the fund themselves, and avoid a higher expense ratio.
What funds have zero expense ratio?
Ticker | Fund name | Expense ratio |
---|---|---|
BKLC | BNY Mellon US Large Cap Core Equity ETF | 0.00% |
SFY | SoFi Select 500 ETF | 0.00% |
SPLG | SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF | 0.02% |
BBUS | JP Morgan Betabuilders U.S. Equity ETF | 0.02% |
Our recommendation for the best overall S&P 500 index fund is the Fidelity 500 Index Fund (FXAIX). With a 0.015% expense ratio, this fund is the cheapest one on our list. In addition, the fund does not have a minimum initial investment requirement, sales loads or trading fees.
Some funds call themselves “no-expense” or “zero-expense” funds or emphasize their low expense ratios without mentioning other costs investors pay—either directly or indirectly— when investing in the fund.
VOO and SPY are mutual funds offered by different brokerage companies that aim to generate returns similar to the S&P 500. As a result, they have a very similar portfolio diversification and risk rating. But there are some key differences to consider. First, VOO has a lower investment expense ratio compared to SPY.
Current performance may be higher or lower than performance quoted. Invesco QQQ's total expense ratio is 0.20%.
If you're buying a stock index fund or almost any broadly diversified stock fund such as the S&P 500, it can be a good time to buy if you're prepared to hold it for the long term. That's because the market tends to rise over time, as the economy grows and corporate profits increase.
If you want to actively trade within your accounts, Fidelity might be the better option. However, if you want to focus more on index investing, or you want to use a robo-advisor, Vanguard has a slight edge.
Because their passively managed approach aims to replicate benchmark returns, index funds tend to have lower expense ratios compared to actively managed investments. Tax efficiency. Index funds tend to have low portfolio turnover rates, so they are typically subject to fewer capital gains distributions.
Vanguard charges no closing, transfer or inactivity fees. There is a $20 annual account service fee for all brokerage accounts and IRAs that is easily waived for clients who sign up for statement e-delivery.
Also, Buffett seemed to express his opinion in his 2013 letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. In that letter, he wrote that he had instructed in his will that most of the fortune inherited by his family be invested in a low-cost S&P 500 index fund. He added, "I suggest Vanguard's."
Should I buy VOO or VTI?
VTI is better diversified and benefits from small and mid-cap stocks that grow into large caps. VOO is less diversified, tracking the performance of the S&P 500 Index. VOO excludes small and mid-cap stocks.
Most of Warren Buffett's portfolio through his holding company Berkshire Hathaway is comprised of individual stocks. He does own two ETFs, though, both of which are S&P 500 ETFs: the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO 0.30%) and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY 0.29%). An S&P 500 ETF tracks the S&P 500 index itself.
- Interactive Brokers IBKR Lite.
- Fidelity.
- J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing.
- Charles Schwab.
- Webull.
- Robinhood.
- SoFi Active Investing.
- Firstrade.
We'll waive the fee if you have at least $5 million in qualifying Vanguard assets. Refer to the applicable fund prospectus for other exclusions that may apply.
Index fund | Expense ratio |
---|---|
Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTWAX) | 0.1% |
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) | 0.0945% |
iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (GOVT) | 0.05% |
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) | 0.06% |
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