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Conference nyoss1::market_investing

Title:Market Investing
Moderator:2155::michaud
Created:Thu Jan 23 1992
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1060
Total number of notes:10477

300.0. "IRA Index Fund" by REFDV1::FERRETTI () Mon Oct 26 1992 15:30

    
    My wife just received a lump sum distribution (<$2500) from a
    company she worked for years ago. I'd like to transfer the $
    into an index mutual fund and consider it a long-term investment.
    
    Any opinions on what fund may present the best long-term value?
    I'm considering T. Rowe Price, Scudder, Janus, 20th Century,
    Vanguard and Fidelity.
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300.1Verify, but I believe Vanguard is lowest expenseMCIS2::BONVALLATMon Oct 26 1992 18:136
If its going to be an index fund (not my favorites, but that's another
subject), then I think Vanguard is your best bet.  They seem to work
harder than anyone in the industry to keep their expense ratios down -
and their service is very good.  That's about all you need to care about
with an index fund - after you've chosen your index.
300.2VanguardDYNOSR::CHANGLittle dragons&#039; mommyTue Oct 27 1992 10:386
    I have to agree with .1, Vanguard is probably the best choice
    for index funds.  Vanguard also has a very large selection
    when compares to Janus and 20th Century.  Most of Fidelity
    funds are load funds, which I would avoid.
    
    Wendy
300.3BRAT::REDZIN::DCOXTue Oct 27 1992 11:4826
Janus and 20th Century do not offer Index Funds (as of "report")

Vanguard Index funds require a minimum of $3000 initial investment; I believe 
Fidelity is $2500. I also believe that the IRA minimums are lower.

Vanguard advertises its low fees as the reason why they are able to come close to 
matching their index, however, if you re-invest the dividends, they charge you
$2.50 per exchange.  The smaller your investment, the more serious the effect of
the charge.

Again, first decide what your long term goals are, then research to find the 
investment vehicle that best meets those goals.  When you are looking at Mutual
Funds, all you have to go on is their statement of the Fund's objectives and the
published historical data to show how well they have achieved those goals.

As a personal example, I was in a similar situation in 1984.  My goal was "safety
in numbers" through diversification.  Fidelity Magellan was the largest and most
diverse fund.  My reasoning was that the fund would be resonably safe from major
downturns in any one stock/sector and that only a "crash" would  significantly
affect my capital.  I measure investment performance on an "annualized ROI" 
basis; the value of my initial investment in Magellan (including effects of the
initial sales load as well as the annual $10 IRA fee) is the same today as if I
had placed it in a bank and earned 13.5%/year compounded monthly.

FWIW
Dave
300.4AIMENG::AIM002::grinnellTue Oct 27 1992 18:136
Fidelity is waiving load fees on IRA investments, starting in November I think. 
As mentioned previously, if you really want an index fund, it doesn't matter 
too much whom you go with, and I can say from years of experience that you'll 
get excellent service from Fidelity.

Mark
300.5Correction on VanguardSLOAN::HOMTue Oct 27 1992 20:367
    >Vanguard advertises its low fees as the reason why they are able to
    >come close to  matching their index, however, if you re-invest the
    >dividends, they charge you $2.50 per exchange.  The smaller your
    >investment, the more serious the effect of the charge.
    
    Vanguard does have a $10 annual fee per account payable quarterly. 
    There is however, no $2.50 charge per exchange.