Likely Vanguard account change coming:

[barry barnitz]

Hi:

Those of you who might want to use Vanguard as one of your financial shops for implementing the Permanent Portfolio strategy might find the following to be of interest. First, Vanguard enlisted me for a market survey recently. The survey topic involved the communications Vanguard might employ regarding a proposed change in the Vanguard individual account structure that would place all Vanguard mutual fund accounts and brokerage accounts into one streamlined Vanguard brokerage account. The change would allow holding mutual funds, etfs, cd's, and bonds/stocks in one integrated account, allowing for streamlined tax accounting, as well as one day settlement of security/mutual fund sales.

Vanguard shareholders would be able to change over to the new brokerage account structure through the Vanguard website. This may be an improvement for those using Vanguard for the purchase of Total Market Index funds, etfs, treasury bonds, notes, and bills.

Secondly, Vanguard will soon bring to market a short term TIPS  index fund/ETF that might fulfill a desire for investors desiring a 100% short term treasury fund for allocation purposes. I have created a spreadsheet which tracks the returns of the indexes which are used as benchmarks for Vanguard short term bond funds. Thanks to Grok (over at bogleheads) I have data for the Barclays US 0-5 year TIPs index (which is the benchmark for the incipient Vanguard fund, as well as the existing ishares ETF).  The second tab of the spreadsheet provides cumulative and compound returns of the indexes over the common period 2003-2011. (The 0-5 index began in 2002; the first complete year of annual returns begins in 2003).  With all the caveats pertaining to past performance, it is interesting to note that short-term tips have provided returns that are quite competitive with other short term bonds, especially keeping in mind that the index fund would be 100% full faith and credit, as well as providing the treasury interest exemption from state taxation.

Short term bond index returns - Google Docs

regards,

[WildAboutHarry]

The change would allow holding mutual funds, etfs, cd's, and bonds/stocks in one integrated account, allowing for streamlined tax accounting, as well as one day settlement of security/mutual fund sales.

Amen!

[TripleB]

What's the problem with the way VG does it now by having a separate brokerage account from the "mutual fund" accounts? Most of my money is in tax-sheltered accounts with them (IRAs) so tax reporting hasn't been an issue for me... yet.

[WildAboutHarry]

What's the problem with the way VG does it now by having a separate brokerage account from the "mutual fund" accounts? Most of my money is in tax-sheltered accounts with them (IRAs) so tax reporting hasn't been an issue for me... yet.

Three days to clear brokerage transactions is a pain.  Sell an ETF and then wait three days to use the funds.  So 1960s.

If you have a mutual fund and brokerage account for the same fundamental account (i.e. IRA, Roth) you have to track one more account than you really need.

[KevinW]

I took the same survey. I conjecture that they'd rather maintain only one trading platform instead of two, each with their own policies and web interface, to save on overhead costs.

[Figuring It Out]

Good news!