When Junkster wrote about a modest account, I didn't realize that what he meant was that the account owner was being modest. :-) Nice job, and congratulations on getting that bonus.
While I feel that Fidelity is one of the best places going in terms of breadth of offerings, pricing, and service, I find they exaggerate a bit when it comes to dealing with groups having unique needs. Three personal examples:
- The linked article mentions HSAs. Fidelity offers HSAs to employees through their workplace, but doesn't offer HSAs to those unique individuals who hold HSAs independently. (Fidelity says it get lots of requests for HSAs, and it says it it is working on it, but it has been saying that for years.)
- I've written about funding a non-resident alien's US college education (a rather unusual need). Fidelity's response was basically - call around our various departments and figure it out for yourself.
- Years ago, I asked Fidelity for a bonus to bring an IRA to them, ironically from WF. As an alternative, I asked Fidelity to simply cover the transfer charge. Fidelity refused, saying it couldn't for tax reasons. See Junkster's boglehead thread for how this can be handled cleanly. So Fidelity lost out, Merrill Edge won, I got BofA credit cards with better rewards than Fidelity's Visa, and Fidelity lost a second time.
Fidelity handles "unique" needs that it has figured are worth its while, i.e. needs with a sizeable market, not "unique" at all.

Bonuses on brokerage transfers seem to be this decade's version of the 1990's checks for switching long distance companies (MCI->Sprint->AT&T->MCI->...)
Here's a third party page that points you at various Fidelity promotions (like the cable company, Fidelity doesn't seem to want to make its "best price" easy to get):
https://investorjunkie.com/11001/fidelity-promotions/
The link to a Fidelity cash offer points here: https://rewards.fidelity.com/offers/friendsandfamilyoffer1
The highest lump sum cash offer I've seen from any brokerage (for under $250K transferred) is $1K, so I too am curious about a $3K+ offer.
@DavidV - TDAmeritrade seems to offer various different terms depending on whom you work through. In my case, my account is an HSA with a credit union having a brokerage option. I found that even with HSAs, the TDA terms vary depending on the HSA provider. I suspect they have also different arrangements with different 401k plans that offer brokerage windows.

MJG noted:
"Expectations are typically formulated based on a careful review on relevant historical data sets. Forecasting belongs to soothsayers. Forecasting does become more meaningful if odds based on expectations are attached to it."
This just about covers all of the investing turf, eh?
I'll choose #3 at this time.........the odds based expectations thingy.

Hi Guys,
Here is a Link to a superior article from Morgan Housel that highlights the big difference between expectations and forecasts:
http://www.fool.com/investing/2016/08/22/expectations-vs-forecasts.aspx?source=iaasitlnk0000003
The distinction is significant. Housel and I would have a very friendly coffee discussion together. We agree on most things. Expectations are typically formulated based on a careful review on relevant historical data sets. Forecasting belongs to soothsayers. Forecasting does become more meaningful if odds based on expectations are attached to it.
Best Regards.

Why would Vanguard offer VMFXX (gov't) at a 0.30% yield and Fidelity's best gov't fund is FDRXX at .11%?

Because Fidelity is a profit making organization and Vanguard isn't? Fidelity is actually outperforming before taking out its expenses (profits):
- VMFXX: 0.30% + 0.11% (ER) = 0.41%
- FDRXX: 0.11% + 0.37% (ER) = 0.48%
Note that Fidelity has a higher yielding government MMF available at the retail level ($500 min in IRAs): FZCXX, yielding 0.14%.

Three times the difference. Why doesn't Fido have a competitive offering in the gov't space?

Fidelity does have competitive funds - FDRXX shows up in the top ten retail government MMFs. Vanguard is the outlier.
http://www.imoneynet.com/retail-money-funds/government-retail.aspx

I need to change my brokerage MM to a gov't option or ultra short CD soon to avoid the pitfalls of the new law.

Ultra-short bond funds still have one of the "pitfalls" of some of the new MMFs - a floating NAV.
What pitfall are you trying to avoid, and what's your risk tolerance? The fact that you've been using MMFs says that you've been willing to accept the possibility of losing money, perhaps because you felt the risk of breaking a buck was sufficiently low that you'd take that gamble rather than keep money in an insured bank account.
The new MMF rules are designed to reduce that risk further. But if we have another 2008, you might have to wait a couple of weeks to get your cash if it's not in a government MMF. Do you need faster access to all your cash, or can you accept that risk with some portion of your money?

People are saying there is a bank account option in some brokerage accounts. Do they mean CD's? If not, what bank account options do they mean?

They mean using a bank account as your transaction/core account, which is where cash awaiting investment is kept for you in a brokerage. That transaction account can be structured one of three ways (not all of which are available for all accounts at all brokerages):

• cash account (the brokerage holds your money and may or may not pay you interest; if the brokerage goes bust, you stand in line with its other creditors)
• MMF (your brokerage "checking" account is a government MMF that has a remote possibility of breaking a buck)
• Bank sweep (money is moved automatically between one or more bank checking accounts and your brokerage account so that it "feels" like your transaction account really is the bank checking account)

Scottrade does a pretty good job of describing how a bank sweep account in general, and theirs in particular works. Here's itsdisclosure statement as well.
Similarly, here's Fidelity's description of its bank sweep feature (note that Fidelity only makes this available on CMA, IRA, and HSA accounts), and its disclosure statement.
AFAIK, Vanguard does not provide a bank sweep option.

"F" is Franklin, right? :-)
That fund (Franklin Mutual Shares) has a noload share class MUTHX open to people who were continuously invested in any of Michael Price's old funds (they are grandfathered in) and to investors in wrap accounts.
The noload F-1 share class IFAFX of Income Fund of America® is available through various HSA accounts, including one that I've been looking at (because it is one of the few that facilitates cost-effective investing for sub $10K HSAs). It tends to be one of the more attractive offerings on these HSA lists of funds.
More and more these days funds can be accessed without paying a load. A fund that at first blush has an entry fee need not be dismissed automatically.

I have this fund in my HSA account....I need to up its percentage methinks. Thanks for posting!

Near the top of the OSMAX page I see NTF:
Oppenheimer International Small-Mid Company Fund
Class A OSMAX
OppenheimerFunds | Foreign Small/Mid Growth

The HSA account is a full TDA brokerage account. The only restriction is that money only moves in and out through the associated bank's or CU's HSA account (one cannot fund it directly).
I agree that the TDA vanilla account's $50 fee make TF funds unattractive. A $50 fee works at Fidelity because there selling is free and one can add to positions for $5 (unlike Schwab where selling is also free but there's no cheap way to add to a position).
That's why I prefer Fidelity for TF funds (unless they're available NTF elsewhere).

I agree that TDA is not the best for MF investors, but it doesn't seemall that bad, and has gotten much better in recent years. Further, different types of accounts have different rules.
I have a TDA account for my HSA. Note that different banks/CUs have different account agreements with TDA, so YMMV, but here's mine:
http://www.tdameritraderetirement.com/forms/ACS1009.pdf
For my TDA account:
1. 90 days to avoid brokerage short term redemption fee - not quite as short as the 60 days some others offer, but close enough.
2. $25/trade on TF (thus $50 round trip or exchange) - in line with other brokerages
3. Since the information on most sites comes from M*, I'm not sure how the info varies from one broker to another. Finding that information (attributes/quality of screener) may be something else. Any specific deficiency?
4. Not sure what the problem is. For example, I look up OSMAX, and right on its summary page it says NTF (for normally front end loaded A shares):
https://research.tdameritrade.com/grid/public/mutualfunds/profile/profile.asp?symbol=OSMAX
In contrast, American Funds EuroPacific Growth A shows a load
https://research.tdameritrade.com/grid/public/mutualfunds/profile/feesandmanagementBuffer.asp?symbol=AEPGX
5. I agree that portfolio analysis is a nice feature; I just use M*. Fidelity's does not seem to allow you to enter any holdings outside of the brokerage (unless you use their Yodlee software; but even giving it external passwords it cannot access all accounts). Don't know about TDA's portfolio analyzer.
6. Here's Schwab's page summarizing some competitors:
http://www.schwab.com/public/schwab/investing/accounts_products/investment/etfs/schwab_etf_onesource
The number of NTF ETFs at TDA is in the same ballpark as E*Trade and Fidelity (right in the middle), and TDA offers more families than either. Notably, Vanguard. A gotcha w/TDA that I fortunately found out about before trading is that you have to register for the NTF ETF feature.

FYI: Do you put money in a Health Savings Account every month without investing it? You may as well shove your hard-earned dollars under a mattress.
A $2,000 balance in the HSA gives you a measly buck in yearly interest.
But investing your tax-advantaged HSA funds allows you to build a bigger and better retirement nest egg. The less you pay in administration fees to a mutual fund company, the more that is available to be invested.
Regards,
Ted
http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=MjExMTI5NDQ=
Enlarged Graphic:
http://news.investors.com/photopopup.aspx?path=WEBlv121115.gif&docId=784945&xmpSource=&width=1000&height=1027&caption=&id=784950

I visited CapGainsValet earlier this week. Mark has made some nice upgrades, and I don't recall the site looking so fine last year. Good job, Mark.
Anyone focused like a laser beam on any important aspect of MF investing is bound to note something we don't. So, Mark--- as the HSA jingle goes--- "if you see something, then say something." By all means, bring it!

@bee so, when you send in your hsa money for the year, you have no control over when they buy shares in the fund?

Actually it gets invested as it arrives, but it remains fully invested until I redeem shares or a dollar amount. All of this is done via US mail. The online account is spartan. I use bill pay as a monthly hsa contribution method and I receive emails from Bruce that they have received my contribution and I can also log onto my account to verify the transaction history online. This fund is a one trick pony and so far so good even though I would like a MM fund (cash) option as part of my account.
For the OP, BRUFX is a fine choice. Just realize that investing in the Bruce Fund has it's nuances that are a bit more "old school".

@bee so, when you send in your hsa money for the year, you have no control over when they buy shares in the fund?
I have an account similar to that at Altegris (private equity and hedge funds). Sometimes I like the fact that it's not that accessible...I have a tendency to mess with my funds at Schwab. But, I always get a little nervous when I deposit money at Altegris because I can't control when it goes into the funds. And I like to average in and average out...not dump a big slug of money at once.

@bee
if you already own BRUFX at Bruce, can you transfer your holding in its entirety to another HSA, ie, Saturna, TD, etc...thereby allowing you to sell shares and hold the cash as necessary?

Again, not my point. I would like to own BRUFX as well as have the convenience of a personal cash position with Bruce. If what you are suggesting is to move my BRUFX shares "in kind", my experience is that the new administrator has to have access to that fund on their platform. BRUFX is not on any other platform.
BRUFX is a lone wolf and I like that. I just want a d#mn cash account too. I've reached out to Bruce about this, but it's not a deal breaker where I resort to another hsa option.

@bee
if you already own BRUFX at Bruce, can you transfer your holding in its entirety to another HSA, ie, Saturna, TD, etc...thereby allowing you to sell shares and hold the cash as necessary?

>> no cash position other than the internal cash held by the fund
How is that different from other funds?

My point is that not with regard to the fund, but to the lack of a cash position (mm fund) option at Bruce.
At some point I would like to sell shares of BRUFX and holds these proceeds in a cash position (in hsa status) for disbursement at a later point in time. A cash position would also allow me the flexibility to "dial up to" the manager's allocation (including his cash) or "dial it back" with my cash position, but still within the structure of the hsa.
Get it?

@bee - the resets on deductibles are annoying. Your question about when they start is especially relevant for people who switch jobs in mid-year. They lose credit for whatever they did pay, and have to restart the deductible with a new insurer or policy.
The HSA rules try in a small way to address this problem (by allowing you to make a full year's contribution even if you begin the HDHP in December, so long as you remain in an eligible HDHP plan for all of the following year).
But that's a small patch. IMHO we need a better integrated health coverage system, or at least a more portable one that doesn't depend on the whims of employers. (Disclosure: I've helped select plans at a couple of small companies where I've worked, so I'm comfortable saying the selection process isn't capricious, but that doesn't help when you move from one employer to another.)
What your question brought to mind was concierge services. Higher priced, and generally limited to doctor services (not hospitals, etc.), but perhaps some of those address the question of multiple deductibles. On the other hand, these services are not ones designed to save you money, just grief.

@Maurice - you're right, I missed your question about an inherited IRA. I would have sworn the rollover could not be done (as, e.g. you cannot roll over an inherited IRA into your own, unless you inherited as a spouse). But a little searching turned up IRS Notice 2008-51, which seems to say this is okay:

The distributions must be from an IRA or Roth IRA to an HSA owned by the individual who owns the IRA or Roth IRA or, in the case of an inherited IRA, for whom the IRA or Roth IRA is maintained (i.e., a qualified HSA funding distribution cannot be made to an HSA owned by any other person, including the individual’s spouse).

Regarding HSAs that are worth opening, my brief look at Saturna suggests to me that it has improved a bit, and is very good if you want to invest entirely in mutual funds. They offer several NTF funds (not a huge number, but enough) from a modest set of families. The main downside IMHO is that you must make one transaction each year to avoid a $12.50 fee, and you have to hold an NTF fund at least 180 days. (So you have to remember to do a transaction between July and December every year if you're not buying/selling for other reasons.)
if you're just looking for a higher yielding "bank" account, you can get 1% (or more, for higher balances) at a few credit unions. (Link is to a listing of top paying HSA accounts; you'll need to configure for your state and balance amount.)

What I find interesting is the discussion regarding rolling over an existing IRA to an HSA.

The rollover provision is a one time event and the amount can only be as much as you are allowed to contribute in a given year. For instance an individual ( age 55 or older) could rollover $4350 from their IRA into their hsa for TY 2015. More if its a family plan. The rollover would be in lieu of any other contribution.
I use BRUFX as my hsa at Bruce Funds.

Individual plans have traditionally had higher deductibles/co-pays, but nothing like what we're seeing under ACA. That, and narrow networks, are some of the main ways that ACA premiums are being kept lower.
Trying to figure out the best plan becomes intractable, especially when more than one person is involved. You've identified a key difference between HSA plans and some non-HSA plans - the latter often allow doctor visits for co-pays, without requiring that you meet the deductible. The more people you're insuring the more important that becomes, as it becomes more likely that someone will be going to the doctor.
One other difference between HSA and non-HSA plans - with the HSA plans, the deductible is a single family deductible (e.g. $12,000). For a non-HSA plan, the deductible is an individual deductible (e.g. $6,000 per person and $12,000 for the family).
So in an HSA plan, no one escapes the deductible until the family pays the combined deductible. In a non-HSA plan, once someone reaches the individual cap (e.g. $6K), that person doesn't have to pay more deductibles. But the other family members do.
That can work out better if one person is incurring most of the expenses. Then, instead of meeting a family $12K deductible, that person starts getting real coverage after $6K.