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Thread: ETF's

  1. #1

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    Post ETF's

    Exchange-Traded Funds
    ETF's




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  3. #2

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    Post Re: ETF's

    How do you invest with ETF's

    First you would need to set up an account with an internet broker.
    Remember you will be using tax-paid funds.
    Using their online trading platform you can buy and sell shares within seconds.

    "Ask" is what they are selling at. "Bid" is what they will buy back at. Note these prices fluctuate, so if you wait a while the deal may get better.

    You have a cash account and you can purchase shares within that account. When you sell, there is generally a three day waiting period till the shares clear, it's called settled. Re-trading unsettled funds is a no-no.

    For TSP the corresponding ETF's would be Cash= G-fund, AGG= F-fund, IVV= C-fund, IJR= S-fund, and EFA= I-fund. These are iShares, there are other matches but iShares are very consistant in their daily updating.

    The Cash account pays interest for funds on hand, generally at the end of the month. Not quite as good as TSP, but within reason.

    So using tax paid funds, one can construct a clone of the TSP funds, trade within seconds. And going to cash; withdraw the funds in case of an emergency. With TSP an inter-fund-transfer is free. Trades with ETF's have a trade cost plus the Ask/Bid difference. Using ETF's you can go with other indexes/sectors/etc., which there is a multitude. A good reference to the various ETF's can be found at the Barcharts web site: http://www.barchart.com/

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  5. #3

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    Default Re: ETF's

    Spaf, you can re-trade unsettled funds immediately but if you sell those shares before they settle in three days, it's considered a "free ride" by the government and you'll be hearing about it. Unless of course you set your account up as a "day trading account".

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  7. #4

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    Question Re: ETF's

    M_M, anyone,
    What happens if you "free ride"? What does the government do?....

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  9. #5

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    Default Re: ETF's

    The time I did it, this was when I first started my account, Scottrade just sent me a form that I had to sign as acknowledging that I had read and understood it. Mainly explaining what a free ride was. Never heard anything from the IRS about it. Of course I just got a letter from them a few months ago saying I owed them money from some stocks I sold in 2004 and never claimed. They were losses anyway so they ended up owing me money.........

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  11. #6

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    Post Re: ETF's

    Thanks Mike!
    I could just see 4 big black SUV's parked in my front yard.........

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  13. #7

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    Default Re: ETF's

    Quote Originally Posted by Spaf View Post
    How do you invest with ETF's
    So using tax paid funds, one can construct a clone of the TSP funds, trade within seconds. And going to cash; withdraw the funds in case of an emergency. With TSP an inter-fund-transfer is free. Trades with ETF's have a trade cost plus the Ask/Bid difference.
    "Unless of course you set your account up as a "day trading account"

    A mention of the 'wash rule' for active trading same stock. I don't know if it applies to ETFs, probably does. Primarily affects tax loss write-off. Within 30 days, you can't buy, then sell at loss, then buy back at lower price, and write off that loss. But you can go back and match up like trades, i.e., you made the round turn 4 or 5 times in oct and again in nov, you could offset any of the losses in the first month with gains from trades 30 days later

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  15. #8

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    Post Re: ETF's

    FUTURESTRADER,

    What you are saying is critical to having a reputable internet broker. At the end of the year you need to download your trading transactions, and have an accountant that can translate that into your tax return. If not the IRS will be after your rear end. Been there, done that!
    This sounds funny for me since I worked in the same building with the IRS, on the floor below them......

  16.  
  17. #9

    Default Re: ETF's

    Anyone interested in investing in the four fastest growing countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China), then check out Claymore's new BRIC ETF - Ticker symbol EEB
    Parents wonder why the streams are bitter, when they themselves have poisoned the fountain.


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  19. #10

    Default ETF's in an IRA?

    I'm looking at transfering my TSP to an IRA to take advantage of the 72t rule.
    Would ETF be a good choice? No taxes or paperwork involved inside IRA right? You could mirror TSP funds. Would the costs be too high?

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  21. #11

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    Post Re: ETF's in an IRA?

    Quote Originally Posted by clester View Post
    I'm looking at transfering my TSP to an IRA to take advantage of the 72t rule.
    Would ETF be a good choice? No taxes or paperwork involved inside IRA right? You could mirror TSP funds. Would the costs be too high?
    clester,
    I use ETFs for trading with my internet broker, there are so many that you can mirror just about any index or sector. A lot of the internet brokers offer IRAs
    There are some web sites that set up portfolios using ETFs!
    However, to set up a long term IRA, I would look to see what some reputable mutual fund companies offered i.e., Vanguard, USAA, etc.
    I would definitly do some research before making a final decision.
    I think EWGuy has gone down this road. You may want to send him a PM and see what he has to say.
    Spaf

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  23. #12

    Default Re: ETF's

    Thanks Spaf,
    I was thinking of EFT's for the flexability. Most large companies like vanguard restrict you ability to move around. On the other hand expenses are low.
    I assume EFT's with internet brokers have the $10 per trade fee, are there other fees if, for example, you trade large blocks like $50,000 like I do with TSP?

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