“Before providers began offering commission-free ETFs, transaction costs made ETFs generally more expensive for investors who make regular contributions to their accounts. For example, let’s say you contribute $150, 24 times a year, into your account. Over the course of one year, if you were to buy ETFs (assuming a 0.10% annual fee), you would incur about $1.88 in ETF fees and a painful $240 (assuming a $10 per trade fee) in transaction fees, and that is if you only bought one type of ETF at a time. The transaction fees would be three times higher if you bought three different ETFs at a time. Now, with commission-free ETFs, investors can more easily make apples to apples comparisons when trying to decide between index mutual funds and ETFs. However, one benefit of using index mutual funds for regular contributions is that you can purchase fractions of mutual fund shares, which allows you to invest your entire contribution. ETFs have to be purchased in whole number of shares.” reports Patricia Oey (Morningstar)

Brian Campos, director of wealth management at Capital Cities Asset Management states, “Commission-free ETFs mean dollar-cost averaging is now possible, small account access is now possible, re-balancing is no longer hindered by transactions costs and the door is open to more ETFs inside of 401k plans. This positions ETFs to become the pooled investment of the future because of the increased exposure that ETFs will get for the everyday investor. Commission-free access to mutual funds spurred much of their popularity, and we expect similar results from commission-free ETFs.”

Comparing the three providers Morningstar has found the following:

For the full Morningstar comparison click: HERE

Users of these new commission free products should keep a watchful eye on the management fees as time moves on. Be sure that fees do not creep higher than other products that charge a trading fee. If you are looking for a buy and hold, look to the big picture and don’t get caught up in the dazzle of your initial trade free purchase.

The following is a list of all the commission free ETFs by provider:

Schwab Commission Free ETFs:

1  Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB) 
2  Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF (SCHX)
3  Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (SCHG)
4  Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF (SCHV)
5  Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF (SCHA)
6  Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF)
7  Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF (SCHC)
8  Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF (SCHE)

Fidelity Commission Free ETFs:

1  S&P 500 Value (IVE)
2  Russell 1000 Value (IWD)
3  S&P 500 (IVV)
4  Russell 1000 (IWB) 
5  Russell 3000 (IWV)
6  S&P 500 Growth (IVW) 
7  Russell 1000 Growth (IWF)
8  S&P Mid Cap 400 Value (IJJ)
9  S&P Mid Cap 400 (IJH)
10 S&P Mid Cap 400 Growth (IJK)
11 S&P Small Cap 600 Value (IJS)
12 Russell 2000 Value (IWN)
13 S&P Small Cap 600 (IJR)
14 Russell 2000 (IWM)
15 S&P Small Cap 600 Growth (IJT)
16 Russell 2000 Growth (IWO)
17 MSCI ACWI (ACWI)
18 MSCI EAFE (EFA) 
19 MSCI EAFE Small Cap (SCZ) 
20 MSCI Emerging Markets (EEM)
21 Barclays Aggregate (AGG)
22 Barclays TIPS (TIP)
23 iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate (LQD) 
24 JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets (EMB) 
25 S&P National AMT-Free Municipal (MUB)

Vanguard Commission Free ETFs

1  Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (VCR)
2  Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC)
3  Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG)
4  Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock ETF (VWO)
5  Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE)
6  Vanguard Europe Pacific ETF (VEA)
7  Vanguard European ETF (VGK)
8  Vanguard Extended Dur Trs Idx ETF (EDV)
9  Vanguard Extended Market Index ETF (VXF)
10 Vanguard Financials ETF (VFH)
11 Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF (VEU)
12 Vanguard FTSE All-Wld ex-US SmCp Idx ETF (VSS)
13 Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG)
14 Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT)
15 Vanguard High Dividend Yield Indx ETF (VYM)
16 Vanguard Industrials ETF (VIS)
17 Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT)
18 Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond ETF (BIV)
19 Vanguard Interm-Tm Corp Bd Idx ETF (VCIT)
20 Vanguard Interm-Tm Govt Bd Idx ETF (VGIT)
21 Vanguard Large Cap ETF (VV)
22 Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index ETF (BLV)
23 Vanguard Long-Term Corp Bond Idx ETF (VCLT)
24 Vanguard Long-Term Govt Bd Idx ETF (VGLT)
25 Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW)
26 Vanguard Mega Cap 300 Index ETF (MGC)
27 Vanguard Mega Cap 300 Gr Index ETF (MGK)
28 Vanguard Mega Cap 300 Value Index ETF (MGV)
29 Vanguard Mid Cap ETF (VO)
30 Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF (VOT)
31 Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF (VOE)
32 Vanguard Mortgage-Backed Sec Idx ETF (VMBS)
33 Vanguard Pacific Stock ETF (VPL)
34 Vanguard REIT Index ETF (VNQ)
35 Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (BSV)
36 Vanguard Short-Term Corp Bd Idx ETF (VCSH)
37 Vanguard Short-Term Govt Bd Idx ETF (VGSH)
38 Vanguard Small Cap ETF (VB)
39 Vanguard Small Cap Growth ETF (VBK)
40 Vanguard Small Cap Value ETF (VBR)
41 Vanguard Telecom Services ETF (VOX)
42 Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)
43 Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)
44 Vanguard Total World Stock Index ETF (VT).
45 Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU)
46 Vanguard Value ETF (VTV)

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