You can get many, but not ALL, of the Couch Potato Building Blocks using Vanguard index mutual funds. Vanguard Energy mutual fund is a managed fund while Vanguard Energy ETF is an index fund, so you would have to choose a slight impurity to remain in mutual funds. Also, Vanguard does not offer an international bond fund so you would have to go outside Vanguard and buy the BWX ETF.
There would be no account charge if your account is large enough. And if you examine the expense ratios of the ETFs, you'll find that they are lower than the expense ratios for the corresponding mutual funds, so the commission costs should not be a significant consideration.
Scott
