TD Ameritrade offers a self-directed IRA as a well-balanced account as one of the larger providers of retirement accounts.
Vanguard offers an IRA comprised mainly of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with low fees and great educational resources.
Reviewed by
Stang Gappa
Reviewed by
Stang Gappa
Updated on May 30, 2024
Learn about our Editorial Process
TD Ameritrade offers a self-directed IRA as a well-balanced account as one of the larger providers of retirement accounts.
Vanguard offers an IRA comprised mainly of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with low fees and great educational resources.
TD Ameritrade was acquired by Charles Schwab in 2020. We also have a comprehensive review of Charles Schwab’s Self-Directed IRA.
Vanguard’s platform is built on trading low-cost mutual funds, index funds, and ETFs. As an investor, you’ll get access to Vanguard’s research, easy-to-read fund performance analyses, and helpful retirement planning tools. These perks, as well as Vanguard’s low-cost philosophy, make them a good choice for buy-and-hold investors planning for long-term goals like retirement. Vanguard’s low fees and earnest investment philosophy continue to attract new customers, the company’s assets under management (AUM) recently hit $6.2 trillion.
TD Ameritrade was acquired by Charles Schwab in 2020. We also have a comprehensive review of Charles Schwab’s Self-Directed IRA.
Vanguard offers a wide selection of investment account types, including standard brokerage accounts and goal-oriented investments like education savings plans. If you’re saving for several different goals in addition to retirement, Vanguard’s platform will allow you to manage it all from one online dashboard.
Vanguard offers customers the ability to work directly with a financial advisor, though you’ll need at least $50,000 to invest. Until then, you can take advantage of their free research and planning tools to help you invest wisely.
TD Ameritrade was acquired by Charles Schwab in 2020. We also have a comprehensive review of Charles Schwab’s Self-Directed IRA.
If you’re a buy-and-hold investor looking for low fees, Vanguard may be the place for you. However, if you’re looking for access to a wide variety of investment choices and a high-tech platform, you’ll likely get frustrated by Vanguard’s narrow investment selection and simplistic trading platform.
