Request - PP Choices - Commission Free at TD Ameritrade.

General Discussion on the Permanent Portfolio Strategy

Moderator: Global Moderator

Post Reply
User avatar
MarketIfTouched
Associate Member
Associate Member
Posts: 34
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2018 4:46 pm

Request - PP Choices - Commission Free at TD Ameritrade.

Post by MarketIfTouched » Sun Sep 09, 2018 4:56 pm

I've just opened an account at TD Ameritrade.

I would like to construct a PP with the Commission-Free ETF's available at TD Ameritrade.

Here is what I have developed:
25% Bonds - SPTL - SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF
25% Cash - BIL - SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF
25% Gold - GLDM - SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust
25% Stock - QUAL - iShares Edge MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF

Can anyone familiar with the Commision-Free ETF's at TD Ameritrade let me know if this looks reasonable, or if I missed any better choices.
User avatar
ochotona
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 3353
Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2015 5:54 am

Re: Request - PP Choices - Commission Free at TD Ameritrade.

Post by ochotona » Sun Sep 09, 2018 5:50 pm

MarketIfTouched wrote:
Sun Sep 09, 2018 4:56 pm
I've just opened an account at TD Ameritrade.

I would like to construct a PP with the Commission-Free ETF's available at TD Ameritrade.

Here is what I have developed:
25% Bonds - SPTL - SPDR Portfolio Long Term Treasury ETF
25% Cash - BIL - SPDR Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF
25% Gold - GLDM - SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust
25% Stock - QUAL - iShares Edge MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF

Can anyone familiar with the Commision-Free ETF's at TD Ameritrade let me know if this looks reasonable, or if I missed any better choices.
MTUM looks great! It sure beats the default fee-free large cap choice, SPLG. Not expensive.

Why not just buy 90-day T-Bills for cash, and 20-30 year T-Bonds, and avoid the ETF fees and counterparty risk? Does TD charge a lot to transact?
User avatar
MarketIfTouched
Associate Member
Associate Member
Posts: 34
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2018 4:46 pm

Re: Request - PP Choices - Commission Free at TD Ameritrade.

Post by MarketIfTouched » Mon Sep 10, 2018 8:46 pm

Many thanks for suggesting that I look at MTUM as well. Yes, I see it on the list on 'commission free trades' and will check it out.

This account is relatively small; it is connected with my new Lively HSA; for simplicity (laziness) I want to setup/maintain a self-contained PP here with ETF's only.

PS
Saw your signature...I studied Aikido for about 10 years or so. Absolutely loved it.
User avatar
sophie
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 1959
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:15 pm

Re: Request - PP Choices - Commission Free at TD Ameritrade.

Post by sophie » Tue Sep 11, 2018 9:14 am

Beware of commission-free...you have to consider expense ratios too.

I have a TDA account with my HSA. I plan to hold these for long enough that the ER is what drove my choices: I decided to pay the fees and buy VTI and VBR, the Vanguard ETFs. With the lower ER of these funds, I'll recoup the commission fee in less than a year.

I did go with SPTL for bonds and BIL for cash.
User avatar
MarketIfTouched
Associate Member
Associate Member
Posts: 34
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2018 4:46 pm

Re: Request - PP Choices - Commission Free at TD Ameritrade.

Post by MarketIfTouched » Thu Sep 13, 2018 7:12 pm

Thank you Sophie!

I am taking your suggestion and checking the Net Expense Ratio of each of the stock possibilities at MarketWatch:

Commission Free @TDA
MTUM .15%
QUAL .15%

Vanguard
VTI .04%
VBR .07%

Yes, I can see recouping the Vanguard commissions relatively quickly, with the lower Net Expense Ratio.

Thanks again.
Post Reply