My 401k is with Fidelity. My wife's Roth IRA is with Vanguard. I'd like to find a third brokerage for my Roth IRA, just to have a little more diversification. Of course, I want low fees, and I need access to gold funds like IAU, GTU, and maybe PM GOLD, if possible. Ability to buy Treasury bonds directly would also be nice.
Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks!
Brokerages
Moderator: Global Moderator
Re: Brokerages
The brokerages that keep getting mentioned as PP-friendly are: Vanguard, Fidelity, Schwab, TD Ameritrade. Also PERM is commission-free at ETrade and you can simulate a one-fund PP at Folio Investing.
-
Pointedstick
- Executive Member
- Posts: 8883
- Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:21 pm
- Contact:
Re: Brokerages
Schwab is nice because you can assemble an entirely commission-free ETF portfolio with SGOL, SCHO, SCHB, and TLO, and you can purchase treasuries in smaller batches of $1000. TDAmeritrade is nice because they have an easy bond laddering tool and a huge assortment of PP-friendly commission-free ETFs, though nothing for gold, sadly.
Fidelity is spoken of highly but I don't have any experience with their brokerage services so someone else will need to chime in.
Fidelity is spoken of highly but I don't have any experience with their brokerage services so someone else will need to chime in.
Last edited by Pointedstick on Fri Mar 08, 2013 2:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Human behavior is economic behavior. The particulars may vary, but competition for limited resources remains a constant.
- CEO Nwabudike Morgan
- CEO Nwabudike Morgan
Re: Brokerages
Are any of these brokerages commission free for IAU, GTU, or PM GOLD?
More generally, how can I find out which ETF's are commission free? I've looked at their websites, but it's not always clear.
More generally, how can I find out which ETF's are commission free? I've looked at their websites, but it's not always clear.
-
Pointedstick
- Executive Member
- Posts: 8883
- Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:21 pm
- Contact:
Re: Brokerages
I'm not aware of any gold ETFs that are commission-free anywhere except for SGOL at Schwab. To find this stuff out, you just need to put a little muscle into your Google-fu. 
Try "<name of brokerage company> commission-free ETFs"
Try "<name of brokerage company> commission-free ETFs"Human behavior is economic behavior. The particulars may vary, but competition for limited resources remains a constant.
- CEO Nwabudike Morgan
- CEO Nwabudike Morgan
Re: Brokerages
Very cool data resource. I checked out their website. Thanks!
Re: Brokerages
Do you have a local office for either of your existing brokerages?
You might want to consider that factor. It can be very handy to be able to just show up when you need something fixed or taken care of right away.
I use scottrade as one of my brokers, and their office is only a couple of blocks away from mine. I don't think they meet your treasury criteria.
If you have sufficient assets (usually starting about $25K) then the brokerage arm of any of the several banks might be a consideration (Wells Fargo, Chase,...). Brokerage at a bank can get you free trades, and might also get a discounted or free safe deposit box.
You might want to consider that factor. It can be very handy to be able to just show up when you need something fixed or taken care of right away.
I use scottrade as one of my brokers, and their office is only a couple of blocks away from mine. I don't think they meet your treasury criteria.
If you have sufficient assets (usually starting about $25K) then the brokerage arm of any of the several banks might be a consideration (Wells Fargo, Chase,...). Brokerage at a bank can get you free trades, and might also get a discounted or free safe deposit box.