Personal Investments • Misplaced 1980s Purchase Records of 2 Funds in Taxable

Not sure if this belongs in Personal Investments or Taxes forum category.
I have misplaced and apparently lost two of my long held investment purchase records from the early to mid 1980s. These purchases precede computerized records, I since moved residence 3 times, the funds were held within 3 sequential brokerages with most recent transfer over 20 years ago, long ago due to 1% AUM expense politely fired independent financial advisor which handled the initial purchases, that past advisor is now deceased, and one of the mutual funds (Benham) has merged and changed its name to American Century.
The mutual funds are:
Vanguard Index 500 (VFIAX) and American Century Disciplined Core Value Fund (BIGRX) [Previously Benham Income & Growth Fund].
Both have appreciated significantly and are held in my taxable account.
Selling both would be a big one time tax hit for me if the tax basis for them was listed as zero. Probably will end up keeping Vanguard 500 indefinitely in my permanent equity allocation, but really am interested in selling BIGRX and prefer consolidating into low fee index fund. VFIAX now valued at about $75,000 2.5% of my total invested assets. BIGRX now consists of about $25,000 1.5%. So combined they are 5% of total, about $100,000 and if taxed on the full amount would be 100% long term capital gains. Like most would prefer to minimize taxes, and avoid BIGRX ongoing expense ratio and high fund turnover. Musing now... maybe the IRS tax upon selling BIGRX would be greater than the 0.66% annual fund expense ratio & ongoing annual 67% turnover within the fund for the next 30 years if so blessed.
I only hold one other equity in taxable but it is valued at $25K & purchased at $2K also held for decades so don't expect to be able to tax loss harvest utilizing that.
My age is 70 & dear wife & I are retired, married filing jointly. Required minimum distributions, RMDs, will begin for me in 2 or 3 years and wife a year later. Most of our invested assets are in traditional IRAs and about 10% are in Roth IRAs. Began moderately aggressive Roth conversion last year. In retirement we are presently withdrawing 3% annually from invested assets and it is working so far, so don't have a need to presently touch these specific funds. Trying to think ahead due to upcoming RMDs in 2026 or 2027 and since IRMAA may be lurking if not careful...
Have in the last couple of years tried and failed to obtain the purchase records from the mutual fund companies, past & present brokers, past financial advisor office and it's ancestor financial advisor firm that he initially worked for at time of purchase. Live and learn. Any suggestions particularly about taxes on these two mutual funds other than just let them ride and allow heirs deal with it?
Thank you very much,
nanook

Statistics: Posted by trueblueky — Sun Nov 10, 2024 5:35 am — Replies 2 — Views 210