[mmctrab]

If you're going to be incrementally adding to positions over time then index mutual funds are fine since you won't pay commissions. Vanguard has all the index funds you would need, and they are about as cheap as you can get. The only question I would have about Vanguard (which I can't answer) is whether they help calculate your cost basis when you sell something because figuring it out yourself after putting money into a fund over many years is a real pain in the ass. If they don',t I'd rather open a brokerage account at Fidelity and buy their index funds plus whatever ETFs you need to round out your portfolio.