Out of these 4, which ones are the absolute best:

T. Rowe Price
Vanguard
Fidelity
TIAA-CREF

I have been investing with TRP, and am very happy with them. However, I am considering going with TIAA-CREF. Does anyone know much about them?

my preference is:

Vanguard (Roth, non-retirement mutual funds)
Fidelity (403b, Roth, trad. IRA, non-retirement mutual funds)
T. Rowe Price
TIAA-CREF (401a)

I put in parens the types of accounts we have with each. We do not have an account with TRprice.

TROWE Price all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My vote is for Vanguard:)

I have no personal experience with T. Rowe Price or TIAA-CRE though.

are you talking about in terms of customer service or who offers the best funds?

I prefer Vanguard, because of their low expense ratios, no fees, and pretty decent funds. Of course, you could purchase Vanguard funds from any of the brokers you mention, but why go through a middle-man?

The only other company in your list that I've had an account with was Fidelity. I only had the account because of my employer's stock purchase program. I didn't really like their Web site, but other then that I didn't really have any complaints.

Both companies have pretty good customer service, Fidelity a little less so because they tended to transfer me to different people a lot. Vanguard I just call 'em up and whoever answers the phone has always been able to answer all my questions, though I try not to call them too much, keeps the fees low

We use T. Rowe Price because they allow you to set up automatic investments without having to put in large lump sum as an initial investment.

So if you want to just start out investing with $100, $250, $500 a month or whatever, they are a great choice.

What are your goals, and what do you mean by best?

Good luck my friend.

I prefer Vanguard, but each of these companies offer something the others don't. I don't think any of them are "rip-offs" compared to investing with a bank or an insurance company. Vanguard has a minimum of $3000 and higher for its funds unless you use the STAR fund ($1000).

Mutual funds are inferior, regardless of the company.

well it depends on what one's goals are in regards to risk versus reward.