[arielweisberg]

I started using E-trade because of this instead of transferring my vested stock to Vanguard. Already had an account so it was zero effort to convert to my usual funds as ETFs which has the bonus of being transferable between brokerages unlike mutual funds.

[kasey_junk]

You can frequently do in kind transfers of mutual funds, particularly between the big funds and brokers.

[arielweisberg]

You can’t for funds that are only available at a single brokerage. This describes a lot of index funds and wrapper funds.

[kasey_junk]

The big index and wrapper funds at vanguard you absolutely can.

[FooBarBizBazz]

> convert to my usual funds as ETFs

Do you mean that you sold mutual funds at Vanguard, and used the cash to buy ETFs at eTrade? This means you had to pay tax on capital gains, right? Or is there some trick I don't know about, vis-a-vis converting mutual funds into equivalent ETFs, without a taxable event?

[toast0]

Many Vanguard mutual funds offer ETF as a share class of the fund. For those funds, shares in the traditional share classes can be exchanged for ETF shares, if you hold them at Vanguard.

But not all of the funds have an ETF share class. And if you hold Vanguard mutual funds elsewhere, you'd need to transfer them in-kind to Vanguard to convert.

[arielweisberg]

The funds come from selling stock as it vests. Stuff already in Vanguard stays there until I feel annoyed enough to move it.