VTI — Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF
Vanguard · Expense Ratio: 0.03% · US Stock · 2bp below the US Stock category average of 0.05%
Key Facts
| Ticker | VTI |
| Full Name | Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF |
| Provider | Vanguard |
| Expense Ratio | 0.03% |
| Category | US Stock |
| Assets Under Management | 1.7T |
| Inception Year | 2001 (25 years ago) |
| Number of Holdings | 3,700 |
| Dividend Yield | ~1.3% (low) |
| Top Holdings | AAPL, MSFT, NVDA |
What Is VTI?
VTI, managed by Vanguard, launched in 2001, is one of the largest ETFs in the world with exceptional liquidity in the US Stock category. US total stock market ETF covering thousands of US companies across all market caps. With 1.7T in assets under management, it is among the most liquid and widely traded ETFs available.
VTI in a FIRE Portfolio
Broad US market exposure at 0.03% expense ratio makes this a cornerstone holding for any FIRE portfolio. It captures the full US equity market in a single fund.
A core holding should make up 50-80% of your equity allocation in a FIRE portfolio. Pair VTI with an international fund like VXUS (Vanguard Total International) for geographic diversification. A common FIRE allocation is 70% VTI + 30% VXUS.
Cost Analysis: How VTI's 0.03% Fee Affects Your FIRE Timeline
At 0.03%, VTI is in the ultra-low-cost tier. On a $100,000 investment, you pay just $30/year in fees. Over 30 years, the fee drag is approximately less than 1% of your total returns — essentially negligible for FIRE planning. This is about as close to "free" as ETFs get.
Dividend Income Potential
With a low dividend yield of approximately 1.3%, here's what VTI could generate in annual income at different portfolio sizes:
| Portfolio Value | Annual Dividend Income | Monthly Income |
|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $1,300/year | $108/month |
| $250,000 | $3,250/year | $271/month |
| $500,000 | $6,500/year | $542/month |
| $1,000,000 | $13,000/year | $1,083/month |
Frequently Asked Questions About VTI
What is the expense ratio for VTI?
VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03%. This is ultra-low-cost — on a $100K portfolio, annual fees are $30. 2bp below the us stock category average of 0.05%.
Is VTI good for a FIRE portfolio?
Broad US market exposure at 0.03% expense ratio makes this a cornerstone holding for any FIRE portfolio. It captures the full US equity market in a single fund. Its 0.03% expense ratio is ultra-low-cost for the US Stock category.
How does the 0.03% fee affect long-term returns?
At 0.03%, the fee impact is minimal — less than $50/year on a $100K portfolio. Over a 30-year FIRE timeline, the cumulative fee drag is under 1% of total returns, making VTI an extremely efficient choice.
Similar ETFs in US Stock
- VOO — Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (0.03% · Core Holding)
- IVV — iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (0.03% · Core Holding)
- SPY — SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (0.09% · Core Holding)
- SCHB — Schwab US Broad Market ETF (0.03% · Core Holding)
- SCHX — Schwab US Large-Cap ETF (0.03% · Core Holding)
- ITOT — iShares Core S&P Total US Stock Market ETF (0.03% · Core Holding)
- IWV — iShares Russell 3000 ETF (0.2% · Core Holding)
- VV — Vanguard Large-Cap ETF (0.04% · Core Holding)
- SPTM — SPDR Portfolio Total Stock Market ETF (0.03% · Core Holding)
- SPLG — SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (0.02% · Core Holding)
- VTHR — Vanguard Russell 3000 ETF (0.1% · Core Holding)