Wouldn’t a little simplicity in your financial life be nice? Imagine one ticker symbol that gives you ownership of nearly every publicly traded company in the U.S. That’s the power of a Total Stock Market Index Fund — and today we’re breaking down why it may be the most dependable core for your investment strategy.

I’m Adam B. Cordover, collaborative family law attorney and host of LawyerFI, the podcast that helps lawyers and other high earners build lasting wealth and reclaim their time.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- A quick history of index investing and how Jack Bogle’s “folly” became the default retirement option
- The key differences between the S&P 500 and Total Stock Market funds
- JL Collins’ “VTSAX and Chill” philosophy and why it works
- A head-to-head comparison of Vanguard, Fidelity, and Schwab ticker symbols
- One-fund, two-fund, and three-fund “meal” portfolios you can actually use
- How to automate your investing, avoid sneaky fees, and keep your costs microscopic

By the end, you’ll understand how to run a streamlined, low-cost portfolio that doesn’t require a financial advisor or endless tinkering — just a smart, steady plan.

Resources & Links Mentioned

SPIVA Scorecard (latest U.S. data): http://bit.ly/4mG7Ywm

Fama & French research (1993): https://bit.ly/4mNdJIF

Paul Merriman Fine-Tuning Asset Allocation (2024 update): https://bit.ly/3JNIgHN

Bogleheads Investing Wiki: https://bit.ly/45PqOvd

Fund Fact Sheets

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)
Vanguard Total Stock Market Mutual Fund (VTSAX)
Fidelity Total Market Index Fund (FSKAX)
Fidelity’s Zero Total Market Index Fund (FZROX)
Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund (SWTSX)

Automation & Fractional Shares

Vanguard ETF & Mutual Fund automation

Fidelity Recurring Investments & Stocks-by-the-Slice

Schwab Automatic Investing & Stock Slices

This episode is brought to you by Family Diplomacy: A Collaborative Law Firm, serving professionals across Florida with dignity and privacy in divorce. Learn more at familydiplomacy.com or call 813-443-0615.

We accept clients in every county in Florida and have offices by appointment in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota. Contact us to schedule a confidential virtual planning meeting.

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