TIPS: Buy Direct or Via Vanguard? December 17, 2002February 22, 2017 Doug Gary: ‘I’m curious whether the Vanguard TIPS fund [VIPSX] is a good way to hold some TIPS. Or do you think it is wiser to hold the individual bonds?’ The only downside to ownership through a fund is the annual expense fee it nicks you for, which is just a quarter of a percent at Vanguard. The upsides are several. Click here for the details. John Lemon: ‘One of the stocks you mentioned a couple of months ago, NTII, is sneaking up on a 150% gain. So I have to ask, is it time to exercise the better part of valor?’ ☞ Discretion/valor, birds/hands, gift-horses/mouths . . . it’s all but irresistible to take the gain, no? And if you’re desperate for Christmas-shopping liquidity, you could certainly do worse. But I’m holding mine.