I believe that Vanguard charges a $10 service fee to buy an index fund. Also you have to do it by letter. If you have less than $10,000 of VFINX, I believe you also pay a $10 annual fee on top of the 0.19% management fee. Because QQQ uses the dividends to offset expenses, they may not have a management fee. Also you can get discount brokers that charge less than $10/trade. I'm winging this so you ought to get the prospectus and check it out.

brucedoe