DFUS

Possible-Magazine23

DFUS/DFAX 65/35. Sleep well

dead_voxel

I personally do 80/20 DFUS/DFAX as an alternative to VTI/VXUS. I believe DFUS is superior to VTI because it uses academically-informed flexible implementations like filtering out junky small caps and delaying investing in IPOs (there's a YT video by Ben Felix on this). These strategies should allow it to beat VTI in the long run (and it has so far since its 2021 inception). Similarly, I expect DFAX to beat VXUS in the long run. Outside the US, factor tilts have had superior performance to "vanilla" market cap weighting. This combined with the above-mentioned academically-informed flexible implementation should allow it to beat VXUS long term. After months of researching this topic, I came to the conclusion that this combo works best for me because of its simplicity and the fact that I don't have to worry about winning sectors/countries. Plus, there's a satisfaction in owning a part of 12,000+ companies worldwide.

DontPeeInTheWater

Here are the big ones from Vanguard: Total World (VT), US (VTI), ex-US (VXUS), Developed markets ex-US (VEA), Emerging Markets (VWO). If you want to get really in the weeds, I believe that Dimensional and Avantis are worth the small increase in expense ratios for some small factor tilting, profitability screening, etc, so I incorporate several of their funds. DFUS, DFAW, DFAI, DFAE are Dimentional's equivalents to those Vanguard options I listed

PashasMom

I don't ever hold the same asset in two different accounts (if one of the accounts is a taxable brokerage account). I am too lazy and too paranoid about the IRS to have the possibility of a wash sale out there. If this were my account, I would use a different broad market fund in my Roth IRA, such as VTI, DFUS, SCHK, ITOT, or SPTM.

GoodTweetman

Stick it all in DFUS or VOO and enjoy being able to retire when you're 65 like people used to.

ilfollevolo

After being introduced to the “family trusted wealth manager” I gave my life savings to this very respectable firm. They slapped my personal money, my Roth IRA, my wife’s Roth IRA in DFIC, DFUS, DFAC. They suggested to go all in with all accounts in November 2021. Made no money for 2 years, then steadily underperformed the S&P500 when things picked back up in 2023 until 2025 when I fired them. I sold all that crap and put the money back in in April.

greytoc

Correct - in a Roth there is not a taxable event. Re; DFUS - the spread is only a penny but if you are planning to acquire a significant percentage of the daily volume - you could potentially introduce a slight premium to the I-NAV.

IgnotusDiedLast

I currently hold VTI as my US index fund in my Roth, and I want to switch it to DFUS. To my understanding, since it's in a Roth, selling the VTI won't trigger a taxable event. Should I have any bid/ask spread concerns over buying a large amount of DFUS all at once? Ex: should I buy the DFUS shares 50 at a time? 100? 300? The 30-day median bid/ask spread on their site is 0.03%, avg share volume 400k, etc. etc. Not sure if this is the right sub, Bogleheads might be better, but I figured this is more of a technical question.

Freightliner15

DFAU is more like VTI, DFUS has a stronger tilt.

marikek

Thanks. It matches with what I have found so far, apart from DFAU which from what I understand has a very slight filter tilt and DFUS would be the closer equivalent to VTI, is that correct ? I'd already be covering factors for US with a 14% allocation to DFSV

occurious

Dividends are just a forced sale that causes tax drag. It’s not extra free income. Especially at your age a solid index fund portfolio will do far better. Just sell when you need money. The loss aversion works to your benefit. Also at your age I’d recommend VTI not VOO. There is a return premium on small cap stocks that will benefit you on a long time horizon. DFUS is another option: it excludes small cap growth stocks, which underperform. But there’s a lot more technical background there to wade through.

AICHEngineer

Dimensional has ETF versions of their mutual funds. You cna buy DFUS instead of DFUSX.

TaxGuy_021

I love the self-confidence. You should trade crypto or something. The good thing is even you are saying "usually" because you know it's not true across the board, but just for future references, here are 3 examples of actively managed ETFs that are beating their index after fees. JPEF DFUS CGDV What's absolutely hilarious is that bond investing is one area where actively managed funds and ETFs are generally more successful in beating their index than equities.