"hp" <hpatel298[at]gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1106178661.166900.143490[at]c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
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The above statement is pure, unadulterated hogwash. Funds, and fund
complexes not only compete, they often beat, Vanguard, DESPITE any perceived
fee differentials. And they do this EASILY.

There are companies that are FLUSH with cash -- cash that Vanguard can only
dream of. If one competes on price, they can die by price. Prudent investors
pick value over price, and the best value is RARELY (approaching NEVER) the
lowest bidder.

Well run companies put their cash where it best fits their corporate
objectives, and sometimes, the best ROI isn't cutting fees, but investments
in service, technology, human resources, and the largest determinant of long
term success and profitability -- distribution (read: sales, marketing,
advertising, public relations).

Fido has Vanguard sucking wind in every quantitative and qualitative area.

Brent D. Gardner, ChFC
Chartered Financial Consultant
http://www.brentdgardner.com/
http://www.gardnerfinancialgroup.com/
http://www.topgunproducers.com/
http://www.creditfixinc.com/

Si vis pacem para bellum!

"Be ever questioning. Ignorance is not bliss. It is oblivion. You don't go
to heaven if you die dumb. Become better informed. Learn from other's
mistakes. You could not live long enough to make them all yourself." - Hyman
George Rickover (1900-86), Admiral, US Navy, advocated development of
nuclear subs & ships

The Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant
(ChFC), designations owned and exclusively offered by The American College,
signify the highest standards of academic study and professional excellence
in the financial services industry.

My point is that fidelity offers index funds with lower expense ratio
than vanguard's only because fidelity is playing a marketing game with
its index funds. Fidelity artificially drags down expenses on index
funds, hoping that some investors will invest in their actively managed
funds with higher expense ratios.
Over the long run (20-30 years), no fund complex can compete against
vanguard on expense ratios.
Take a look at the Equity-income funds at both complexes. Fidelity
funds's expense ratio is 0.70%, while vanguard's expense ratio is
0.32%.

http://therealreturns.blogspot.com/2...or-sp-500.html

Realize that Fidelity Freedom Funds are a fund of funds, they get to charge
you for buying their funds.

Also the auto pilot feature will move you out of equities and into bonds,
probably not the best thing in a rising rate environment.


"Roger" <rajivshah[at]sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:AoVGd.2742$8Z1.150[at]newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
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- quote -

Vanguard is no longer a leader in low expense ratios! How
is it that they can coast on this outdated reputation, and on
top of it introduce more fees and nastier human factors in
dealing with them? I'll grant they do have a wider range of
cheap expense ratio funds.

Fidelitys set of Spartan funds about cut in half Vanguards
comparable fund expense ratios. I don't know about the
particular plan the O.P. mentioned, and there are many
pricier options within Fidelity. Fidelity treats you more
like an adult whereas Vanguard treats your interactions
as a potentially irresponsible cost-drain. Fidelity gives
many features in hopes you grow into a better customer.

Etrade has lowered expense ratio of it's internal funds
even a tad lower (.09 of a percent?). You mention the
vanguard star fund, which has components at something
like .45. Fidelity has less simplistic and more classic
asset allocation mixes in fund-of-funds like their 4-in-1.

Actually there is a nice fund for small investors at vanguard. The STAR
fund. The minimum on this fund is $1,000. The chairman of vanguard
talked about small investors at vanguard about couple of weeks ago in
his comments. You can find this here.
http://flagship4.vanguard.com/VGApp/...62005_ALL.html

Even though vanguard charges $10 account maintenance fee for IRA
accounts with balances less than $10k, I think vanguard's low expense
ratio kind of makes up the money paid in that fee.
http://therealreturns.blogspot.com/

I would at least go to vanguard's website and research the options over
there. The costs are lower at vanguard.
http://therealreturns.blogspot.com/

I have no idea about the program but it sounds promising. The freedom
funds are a decent way to get invested without spending more than 2
minutes on allocation.

Most important thing is that you do SOMETHING. It matters much less
whether you use Fidelity freedom funds or a broker or Schwab, etc, etc.
Just get started and stay disciplined.

It's better to get on the program than analyze too many alternatives
IMO.

I recently received a mailer from Fidelity which features Simple Start IRA
program. From what I understand, it uses dollar cost averaging and requires
investment in Fidelity's Freedom Funds. I am thinking of opening a Roth-IRA.
Can anyone advise me on whether this is a good way to go?
Thanks,
Roger