Investment options
A short menu, chosen so it can be understood.
Most people do not need a thousand choices. They need a handful they can compare, priced clearly, with the costs stated at the point of decision.
The money market option
Cash held in the money market option is the default. It carries no MyFreeIRA fee of any kind. Contributions land here first and stay until you direct them elsewhere.
See footnote 1
The curated ETF menu
Four broad, low-cost, exchange-listed ETFs covering US equities, international equities and US bonds. Commission-free, with mandatory third-party charges passed through at cost.
| Ticker | Fund | Exposure |
|---|---|---|
| VTI | Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | US total market |
| VOO | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | US large cap |
| VXUS | Vanguard Total International Stock ETF | International developed and emerging |
| BND | Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | US investment-grade bonds |
See footnote 2
What every option tells you
- Its objective, in one sentence
- Its expense ratio, from the fund
- Any charge that reaches your account, itemised
- How and when it is priced
- Its principal risks
What we do not do
MyFreeIRA does not recommend investments, does not assess whether an option suits your circumstances, and is not an investment adviser. Inclusion on this menu is not an endorsement. The menu is a shortlist chosen for breadth and cost, and the choice among the options is yours.
Why the menu is short
A curated menu is a deliberate constraint. It keeps costs low, keeps the comparison honest, and avoids presenting hundreds of options as though the choice between them were obvious. If you want a wider universe, a self-directed account at Investor Services is the right instrument.
Footnotes
- No account establishment fee, no maintenance fee and no closing fee. Cash held in the money market option carries no MyFreeIRA fee. Investment options other than the money market may carry third-party costs, described on the Fees page. ↩
- MyFreeIRA charges no commission on purchases or sales of the US exchange-listed ETFs on its curated menu. Mandatory third-party charges set by the SEC and FINRA are passed through at cost, without markup, and are itemised on your transaction confirmation. Final rates are confirmed with our executing broker before launch. ↩