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ETFs VS. Mutual Funds: What Are They & Why Use Both?

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A blend of using both ETFs and mutual funds is beneficial for many reasons as each provides its own special advantages.
Mutual Funds are managed by investors who use the invested cash to purchase the holdings in the fund. Often there are fees and expenses that must be paid and the capital gain distributions are passed down to the investors. This is called an "in cash transaction". With this, all taxable capital gains are spread amongst all investors in the fund. When you purchase a mutual fund you are transacting directly with the fund and those trade just once per day after market close with all investors getting the same share price. The uniform treatment of mutual funds is the reason you never see ETFs in company 401k plans as regulations deemed employees must get the same share price & costs.
When ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) are purchased, the money goes to the market maker, not a fund manager. The market maker then buys the securities the ETF manager allocates for that ETF. This is called an "in kind transaction". This type transaction is advantageous tax-wise as the ETF manager can exchange shares to the market marker without creating capital gains. ETFs are traded like regular stocks during the market hours. Their prices change during the day based on the supply and demand. Buying an ETF intraday could be better if prices are lower than at the close of the market. As well, when purchasing ETFs there is no minimum investment amount, whereas with a mutual fund there may be a minimum monetary investment required.
As your advisors we determine in what scenario it is best to use a mutual fund or ETFs in your accounts. For example, we might use an ETF in a taxable account to mitigate capital gains and a mutual fund in an IRA. Conversely, we might choose to use a mutual fund when superior investment strategies or fund managers are not offered as an ETF. While both have tradeoffs, using both ETFs and mutual funds can be a useful long term strategy.
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About the author

Erin Nelsen, CFP®

Erin Nelsen, CFP®

Call 714-827-5794  to make a free consulation with Erin 

Erin Nelsen, CFP® is a fee-only fiducary Financial Advisor that manages portfolios & conducts hourly financial planning for Asset Planning.  Erin holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ & Registered Investment Advisor Representative professional designations.  Erin has expertise in various financial planning areas such as investments, taxes, estate divisions, public and private pension options, Social Security, real estate, insurance analysis, recent widow planning, and many other complex financial issues that arise.  Erin has been with Asset Planning since April 2007. Erin is thankful to have found her perfect forever firm. Asset Planning holds a high standard of care for both its clients and staff, and everyone is truly valued as family. 

An Orange County native, Erin earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Cal State Fullerton. Erin completed the Personal Financial Program at CSUF. Erin is an active member of the Orange County Financial Planning Association and has been a volunteer teacher of personal finance to elementary kids through the community outreach program Junior Achievement. 

Erin Nelsen is a Fee-Only Financial Advisor and a member of NAPFA, the largest Fee-Only Network Financial Planners. Fee-Only means Erin is only compensated directly by her clients & does not sell products nor accept commissions for the investments she recommends. Erin is proud to have built her career solely on the independent Fee-Only side of the Wealth Management industry. Erin is among an elite group of Financial Advisors held to the Fiduciary Standard. As a Fiduciary, she is required to put a client's interest above her own. Ethical, appropriate, & skilled professional care is our solid promise to all clients. 

When Erin is not at the job she loves, she is busy tending to her garden, caring for her family, attending concerts, traveling, floating in her pool, or scouting out new restaurants to try with her husband/college sweetheart of 18 years. Erin's  household is blessed with a son, daughter (both in college), two  nephews (orphaned), a Sheltie dog, & two royal cats that rule her household. 

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