Just opened my first brokerage account-questions

I have NEVER invested outside of my 401K/IRA (IRA is a rollover 401K from a job 20 years ago).

I decided I wanted to start investing on my own. Since roller 401K and high yield savings are with Vanguard, I decided to keep everything in one place. Opened account and have $100 on the way. Here’s my question: I want to buy VOO, which is Vanguard’s S&P 500 ETF. But shares of VOO are $600ish each.

It appears my money has to sit in the settlement fund until I have enough to buy a share. Is that correct?

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Originally Posted by Tradd

I have NEVER invested outside of my 401K/IRA (IRA is a rollover 401K from a job 20 years ago).

I decided I wanted to start investing on my own. Since roller 401K and high yield savings are with Vanguard, I decided to keep everything in one place. Opened account and have $100 on the way. Here’s my question: I want to buy VOO, which is Vanguard’s S&P 500 ETF. But shares of VOO are $600ish each.

It appears my money has to sit in the settlement fund until I have enough to buy a share. Is that correct?

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At Fidelity you can buy partial shares, don't know about Vanguard, just ask them--is there a chat feature?

No chat feature. I attempted to buy a partial share and it said minimum of one.

Just found an article saying that Vanguard does allow partial shares. Will have to play with the website again. Figured it out. Thanks!

That's great, and congratulations on your new account, that's wonderful news!

I joked to a friend that I feel like a real grownup! LOL

We went with VTI at half the share cost.

Good for you Tradd!

my main IRA is at Vanguard and I have a lot of it in a CD because that allows me to sleep at night. But I have a fair amount in something else, and I don’t even remember what type. I’m fairly irresponsible at investing and don’t really pay attention.

Tradd, this is a nice video comparing VTI and VOO. My favorite thing about VOO is that it's a pun on the 500 stocks it follows, since V is Roman Numeral for 5, in addition to being a fund like all the Vanguards starting with V. It's also what Warren Buffett said to put his family's accounts in, and it's what I buy for my kids when I do buy them index funds.

Bing Videos

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Originally Posted by Tybee

Tradd, this is a nice video comparing VTI and VOO. My favorite thing about VOO is that it's a pun on the 500 stocks it follows, since V is Roman Numeral for 5, in addition to being a fund like all the Vanguards starting with V. It's also what Warren Buffett said to put his family's accounts in, and it's what I buy for my kids when I do buy them index funds.

Bing Videos

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Thanks! I will watch the video later. Yes, I had heard Warren Buffet recommended VOO. That’s one of the reasons I chose it.

Tradd, I know you love to read and research so check out the Boglehead forums if you have not found them yet.

Definitely will, thank you!