I am 25 and just want to invest in three ETFs. I pick Vanguard because there expense ratio is low and look like great investments. What's your opinion? Ect?
Yes you could. Also, if you like the asset allocation, you could stick all your IRA into the Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund, which has roughly the same asset allocation in index funds. This fund starts out mostly stock, than slowly converts over into bonds over time.
Possibly, yes, if you were to invest enough regularly. EFA is not a Vanguard ETF, but does not really matter. I am not a great believer in index funds, especially ones that are cap weighted particularly--VTI. Most of your money is invested in just a few very large cap companies. The rest is window dressing. Remember, at one time AIG, FRE, and FNM were also large cap. Now look at them. It is interesting to note that RSP which is an equal weighted index fund based on the S&P 500 has outperformed SPY which is cap weighted despite having a higher expense ratio.
I am not advising against investing in ETFs, but in my opinion they are not all that they are cracked up to be.
Yes...but I think you could take it a step farther and do VT, VBR, and TIP.
There is some evidence that boosting both value and small cap can increase returns, but the effects are mild.
Everyone needs a little bit of bond exposure...even young people...to smooth out the edges. You don't have to add it right now (especially if your dollars invested are small -- under $100,000), but add it with ten years.