Vanguard or Fidelity?

**disneysteve** · 04-09-2013, 05:23 AM

Either one is perfectly fine. There is good reason why they are among the top choices. Personally, I'm with Vanguard. Others here are with Fidelity. I'm not aware of any significant differences that make one better than the other.

**mgkimsal** · 04-09-2013, 06:05 AM

Vote for fidelity here, but as DS said, there's not any major significant differences. The expense ratios of specific funds will vary slightly, and I think vanguard used to have a bit of an edge here, but there's so little difference that I can see that I'm not in any hurry to switch over. I've been happy with Fidelity's service for the past... 13 years(?) or so. I have some friends who work for Fidelity now, so I'm even less likely to change, but that's a personal reason, nothing technical or financial.

Good luck on your investing!

**feh** · 04-09-2013, 09:43 AM

I recently had to make this same decision, as we left our financial advisor.

It really is 6 of one, half dozen of the other. We went with Fidelity because they gave us a nice bonus.

If you're going to buy and hold (which I assume is the case, if you're looking at index funds), I'd just choose the one with the lower expense ratio.

**bUU** · 04-09-2013, 12:47 PM

If you don't live near a Fidelity Investor Center, then there's very little difference between the two.

Fidelity Investments Branch Locator - Investor Centers

http://www.fidelity.com/branchlocator/

Find the Fidelity Investments branch office / investor center nearest to your location and connect with a Fidelity Advisor.

**disneysteve** · 04-09-2013, 01:14 PM

Originally posted by bUU View Post

If you don't live near a Fidelity Investor Center, then there's very little difference between the two.

What difference is there if you do live near one? What does that provide that would make Fidelity a better choice?

**mgkimsal** · 04-09-2013, 01:42 PM

For myself, I don't think the FIC add all that much, but there's one on the other side of town I pass by now and then. I've been able to stop by and ask some questions and pick up paper copies of things that I needed to sign and such, but this was years ago before everything was electronic. I suspect if you wanted a bit more hand-holding, though, a f2f sit-down office is nice to have. Also, if there are any issues, having someone f2f to talk to is nice too. But... I've generally found Fidelity's phone agents to be anywhere between good and great - haven't yet had a *bad* experience with them in 13 years, whether in person or by phone.

The OP might have some other reasons for suggesting FIC might make a difference.

**bUU** · 04-09-2013, 01:42 PM

I have enjoyed the services of an excellent CFP, gratis - face to face, not by telephone or video conference - and received far more understandable explanations from her than from from practically anyone. I've taken advantage of their notary services and received medallion signature guarantees, on the spot. And I've received overall better service from Fidelity than I have received from Vanguard.

Also: Fidelity accepts checks for deposit, at the counter, at the Fidelity Investor Center; Vanguard is limited to EFT and perhaps snail mail deposits only, or remote deposit on Android and iPhone phones (we have Windows Phones). Also, while practically all account actions can be done online, you can drop off those things that have to be done on paper forms at the Fidelity Investor Center and take USPS and FedEx out of the process. They also have free use of computer terminals at the Investor Center for doing financial research, for those who don't have their own computers. And they have free coffee, too.

**mgkimsal** · 04-09-2013, 01:50 PM

YES - I'd forgotten about check drop offs - I did need to do that twice a few years back, and it was handy. Didn't know about the notary service -thanks.

**creditcardfree** · 04-09-2013, 02:50 PM

I personally find Vanguard's website much easier to navigate than Fidelity's.

**scfr** · 04-09-2013, 06:40 PM

Personally I prefer Vanguard over Fidelity. When my grandparents' estate was settled Fidelity kept insisting that my late grandfather "sign" a document although the man was dead. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what they were trying to get us to do. We refused. We finally got it worked out but it was a pain in the backside.

**BrianJone** · 04-09-2013, 07:02 PM

thakn you everyone!

**bUU** · 04-10-2013, 12:02 AM

Originally posted by scfr View Post

Personally I prefer Vanguard over Fidelity. When my grandparents' estate was settled Fidelity kept insisting that my late grandfather "sign" a document although the man was dead.

I walked in with the death certificate and my certified appointment as executor and signed the document. It was no problem at all. That's basically the point of being named an executor in a Will: You are legally empowered to act as that person, and no entity is allowed to gainsay that.

Vanguard or Fidelity?