Anyone invest monthly with Sharebuilder?

LuckyTaxi

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
6,044
23
81
In addition to my 401k, I've been using Sharebuilder to invest in some ETFs.
I put in about $80/month towards my ETFs, but what I do is rotate the full amount at one specific ETF each month. Here's hoping it works out in 10-20 yrs.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
48,760
38,642
136
I accumulate mostly Vanguard ETFs through my Sharebuilder account. Energy, Health care, International, and an S&P 500 index.
 

LuckyTaxi

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
6,044
23
81
yea im going mostly international for now. My 401k has majority domestic and the choice of funds suck so im using sharebuilder to get into foreign markets
 

maddogchen

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2004
8,903
2
76
hmm....$80 a month, minus $4 thats 5%! Thats terrible! why would you do that? Just find the mutual fund equivalent, open it up directly through them and put in 80 whenever for free
 

JS80

Lifer
Oct 24, 2005
26,271
7
81
Originally posted by: maddogchen
hmm....$80 a month, minus $4 thats 5%! Thats terrible! why would you do that? Just find the mutual fund equivalent, open it up directly through them and put in 80 whenever for free

ding ding ding.
 

LuckyTaxi

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
6,044
23
81
Originally posted by: maddogchen
hmm....$80 a month, minus $4 thats 5%! Thats terrible! why would you do that? Just find the mutual fund equivalent, open it up directly through them and put in 80 whenever for free

Cause its easier to have it all under one account? Why do you buy bread from your local grocery store and shampoo from target when you can get both from either store?

am i missing something?
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
48,760
38,642
136
Originally posted by: maddogchen
hmm....$80 a month, minus $4 thats 5%! Thats terrible! why would you do that? Just find the mutual fund equivalent, open it up directly through them and put in 80 whenever for free

Sharebuilder is more attractive when you are investing more money into several diverse stocks/ETFs. Also that you can accumulate fractional shares based on your options is a plus.

 

LuckyTaxi

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
6,044
23
81
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: maddogchen
hmm....$80 a month, minus $4 thats 5%! Thats terrible! why would you do that? Just find the mutual fund equivalent, open it up directly through them and put in 80 whenever for free

Sharebuilder is more attractive when you are investing more money into several diverse stocks/ETFs. Also that you can accumulate fractional shares based on your options is a plus.

i have about 5-6 ETFs in my portfolio and i put the $80 towards each one, rotating between each fund every month. Isn't it just the same with 401ks? Let's say someone puts in $100, that gets split up between all the funds you allocate. I dont see any difference besides the $4 commission.
 

maddogchen

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2004
8,903
2
76
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: maddogchen
hmm....$80 a month, minus $4 thats 5%! Thats terrible! why would you do that? Just find the mutual fund equivalent, open it up directly through them and put in 80 whenever for free

Sharebuilder is more attractive when you are investing more money into several diverse stocks/ETFs. Also that you can accumulate fractional shares based on your options is a plus.

I understand that, like if say you are investing $400 or more a month, the $4 fee is only 1%. But 5% then the ETF has to increase around 5.something % just to break even again. Its like buying a mutual fund with a 5% front end load.

If you go through a mutual fund company like Vanguard or Fidelity you can also accumulate fractional shares. If we are talking about buying individual stocks then its another story.

 

LuckyTaxi

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
6,044
23
81
Originally posted by: maddogchen
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: maddogchen
hmm....$80 a month, minus $4 thats 5%! Thats terrible! why would you do that? Just find the mutual fund equivalent, open it up directly through them and put in 80 whenever for free

Sharebuilder is more attractive when you are investing more money into several diverse stocks/ETFs. Also that you can accumulate fractional shares based on your options is a plus.

I understand that, like if say you are investing $400 or more a month, the $4 fee is only 1%. But 5% then the ETF has to increase around 5.something % just to break even again. Its like buying a mutual fund with a 5% front end load.

If you go through a mutual fund company like Vanguard or Fidelity you can also accumulate fractional shares. If we are talking about buying individual stocks then its another story.

Unless I'm looking at the wrong thing, but Vanguard wants $25 per share?

link
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
48,760
38,642
136
Originally posted by: maddogchen
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: maddogchen
hmm....$80 a month, minus $4 thats 5%! Thats terrible! why would you do that? Just find the mutual fund equivalent, open it up directly through them and put in 80 whenever for free

Sharebuilder is more attractive when you are investing more money into several diverse stocks/ETFs. Also that you can accumulate fractional shares based on your options is a plus.

I understand that, like if say you are investing $400 or more a month, the $4 fee is only 1%. But 5% then the ETF has to increase around 5.something % just to break even again. Its like buying a mutual fund with a 5% front end load.

If you go through a mutual fund company like Vanguard or Fidelity you can also accumulate fractional shares. If we are talking about buying individual stocks then its another story.

Sharebuilder also has very low minimum initial investments (though I think Vanguarg may have reduced theirs). Also since ING bought it they are offering $9 trades which is pretty decent.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
48,760
38,642
136
Originally posted by: LuckyTaxi
Originally posted by: maddogchen
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: maddogchen
hmm....$80 a month, minus $4 thats 5%! Thats terrible! why would you do that? Just find the mutual fund equivalent, open it up directly through them and put in 80 whenever for free

Sharebuilder is more attractive when you are investing more money into several diverse stocks/ETFs. Also that you can accumulate fractional shares based on your options is a plus.

I understand that, like if say you are investing $400 or more a month, the $4 fee is only 1%. But 5% then the ETF has to increase around 5.something % just to break even again. Its like buying a mutual fund with a 5% front end load.

If you go through a mutual fund company like Vanguard or Fidelity you can also accumulate fractional shares. If we are talking about buying individual stocks then its another story.

Unless I'm looking at the wrong thing, but Vanguard wants $25 per share?

https://personal.vanguard.com/...ageAcctFeesContent.jsp">link</a>

That's for the regular brokerage.

Vanguard mutual funds
 

LuckyTaxi

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
6,044
23
81
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: maddogchen
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: maddogchen
hmm....$80 a month, minus $4 thats 5%! Thats terrible! why would you do that? Just find the mutual fund equivalent, open it up directly through them and put in 80 whenever for free

Sharebuilder is more attractive when you are investing more money into several diverse stocks/ETFs. Also that you can accumulate fractional shares based on your options is a plus.

I understand that, like if say you are investing $400 or more a month, the $4 fee is only 1%. But 5% then the ETF has to increase around 5.something % just to break even again. Its like buying a mutual fund with a 5% front end load.

If you go through a mutual fund company like Vanguard or Fidelity you can also accumulate fractional shares. If we are talking about buying individual stocks then its another story.

Sharebuilder also has very low minimum initial investments (though I think Vanguarg may have reduced theirs). Also since ING bought it they are offering $9 trades which is pretty decent.

Yea, it's $4 (automatic investment) for what I'm doing. You can't beat that.

If there's someone else I should be looking at, I'm all for it.
 

maddogchen

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2004
8,903
2
76
Originally posted by: LuckyTaxi
Originally posted by: maddogchen
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: maddogchen
hmm....$80 a month, minus $4 thats 5%! Thats terrible! why would you do that? Just find the mutual fund equivalent, open it up directly through them and put in 80 whenever for free

Sharebuilder is more attractive when you are investing more money into several diverse stocks/ETFs. Also that you can accumulate fractional shares based on your options is a plus.

I understand that, like if say you are investing $400 or more a month, the $4 fee is only 1%. But 5% then the ETF has to increase around 5.something % just to break even again. Its like buying a mutual fund with a 5% front end load.

If you go through a mutual fund company like Vanguard or Fidelity you can also accumulate fractional shares. If we are talking about buying individual stocks then its another story.

Unless I'm looking at the wrong thing, but Vanguard wants $25 per share?

https://personal.vanguard.com/...ageAcctFeesContent.jsp">link</a>

to buy ETFs and stocks through Vanguard yes. But its free for mutual funds. Say you buy an ETF like VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market, you can get the equivalent of the mutual fund VTSMX Vanguard Total Stock Mkt Idx for free as long as you meet the minimum (3000?) Then you can buy more of VTSMX at any time for free.

thats if your ETF has a mutual fund equivalent. If not Sharebuilder I think allows you to put money each month into their Sharebuilder money market and then when you hit say $400 then you can set it up to buy a specific ETF automatically. I think that still falls under the $4 purchase commision.
 

K1052

Elite Member
Aug 21, 2003
48,760
38,642
136
Originally posted by: LuckyTaxi
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: maddogchen
Originally posted by: K1052
Originally posted by: maddogchen
hmm....$80 a month, minus $4 thats 5%! Thats terrible! why would you do that? Just find the mutual fund equivalent, open it up directly through them and put in 80 whenever for free

Sharebuilder is more attractive when you are investing more money into several diverse stocks/ETFs. Also that you can accumulate fractional shares based on your options is a plus.

I understand that, like if say you are investing $400 or more a month, the $4 fee is only 1%. But 5% then the ETF has to increase around 5.something % just to break even again. Its like buying a mutual fund with a 5% front end load.

If you go through a mutual fund company like Vanguard or Fidelity you can also accumulate fractional shares. If we are talking about buying individual stocks then its another story.

Sharebuilder also has very low minimum initial investments (though I think Vanguarg may have reduced theirs). Also since ING bought it they are offering $9 trades which is pretty decent.

Yea, it's $4 (automatic investment) for what I'm doing. You can't beat that.

If there's someone else I should be looking at, I'm all for it.

If you are interested in funds only Vanguard would be worth a look. I stick with Sharebuilder since I make a live trade once in a while and I like to have everything in one place. I was with Scottrade, cheap trades but the funding/withdrawal options suck ass.