[tannenj]

thanks a lot for this post, much appreciated. indeed, you nailed the source of my confusion: i was not aware that vanguard, for example, offers both its own index funds in addition to investment advice. in other words, the following are all possibilities:

1) opening an account with vanguard and investing in vanguard's index funds
2) opening an account with vanguard and investing in non-vanguard index funds
3) opening an account with etrade and investing in vanguard's index funds
4) opening an account with etrade and investing in non-vanguard index funds (obviously)

i'd like for my investing to be more hands-on than the experience that you say would occur with an edward jones or a merrill lynch. however, at this point, i'll rule out neither vanguard, t. rowe price, etc. nor the etrade/scottrade route.

is any of my logic flawed? anyone else have input? thanks.