1Vanguard is owned by its funds, which are owned by Vanguard’s fund shareholder clients.
2The introductory waiver period for Vanguard Digital Advisor's net advisory fee begins when the first account's enrollment is complete and ends after the close of the first billing period (generally 90 days), which is specific to each client. If you enroll additional accounts at a later date, you can still take advantage of any remaining fee-waiver period. However, each additional account you enroll won't trigger a unique fee-waiver period but will instead be commingled with your first enrolled account. If you unenroll before your fee-waiver period ends, you won't owe an advisory fee. But if you choose to reenroll in Vanguard Digital Advisor during or after your fee-waiver period, you won't be eligible for a second fee waiver. If you previously enrolled accounts in other VAI proprietary retail offers you will not be eligible for the introductory fee waiver. This fee-waiver offer may be modified or discontinued anytime at the sole discretion of Vanguard Advisers, Inc. All costs associated with fund expense ratios still apply at all times.
3Vanguard Digital Advisor charges Vanguard Brokerage Accounts an annual gross advisory fee of 0.20% for its all-index investment options and 0.25% for an active/index mix. Vanguard Personal Advisor charges Vanguard Brokerage Accounts an annual gross advisory fee of 0.35% for its all-index investment options and 0.40% for an active/index mix. These services reduce those fees by the amount of revenue that Vanguard (or a Vanguard affiliate) retains from your portfolio in order to calculate your net advisory fee. Note that this fee doesn't include investment expense ratios—such as fees paid to the funds' third-party managers, which aren't credited. You should consult your plan fee disclosure notice for the applicable annual gross advisory fees that apply to your 401(k) account.
4Vanguard Personal Advisor Select and Vanguard Personal Advisor Wealth Management charge fees based on a tiered fee schedule (maximum 0.30%) calculated as an average advisory fee on all advised assets. Note that this fee doesn't include investment expense ratios.Please review each service's advisory brochure for more fee information. You should consult your plan fee disclosure notice for the applicable annual gross advisory fees that apply to your 401(k) account.
For more information about Vanguard mutual funds or Vanguard ETFs, obtain a mutual fund or an ETF prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are contained in the prospectus; read and consider it carefully before investing.
All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and Certified Financial Planner™ in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.
FAQs
"Vanguard funds as well as other low-cost investment options are an efficient way for investors to gain exposure to both the overall market as well as specific market sectors," says Robert F. Draper Jr., founder and chief investment officer of Draper Asset Management.
What is the advantage of Vanguard? ›
Vanguard is owned by its funds, which in turn, are owned by their shareholders. With no other parties to answer to and no conflicting loyalties, Vanguard makes decisions, including the decision to keep investing costs as low as possible, with clients' interests in mind.
What are the benefits of joining Vanguard? ›
What you can expect every day as a Vanguard client. All Vanguard clients pay $0 commission to trade ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and stocks online. You also have access to more than 160 no-transaction-fee mutual funds from Vanguard and more than 3,000 funds from other companies.
Why do investors choose Vanguard? ›
Vanguard isn't owned by shareholders. It's owned by the people who invest in our funds. Our owners have access to personalized financial advice, high-quality investments, retirement tools, and relevant market insights that help them build a future for those they love. That's the Value of Ownership.
What are the cons of Vanguard? ›
Vanguard Cons
- High mutual fund minimum.
- Higher options trading fees.
- Doesn't offer a separate trading platform for advanced trading.
- No cryptocurrencies.
With a robust lineup of 267 mutual funds, Vanguard has established itself as a leader in providing investment options that are both accessible and effective for beginners. The firm's unique structure as a shareholder-owned company allows it to focus on continually cutting fees, further benefiting its investors.
Is Vanguard really worth it? ›
Vanguard is the king of low-cost investing, making it ideal for buy-and-hold investors and retirement savers. But beginner investors and active traders will find the broker falls short despite its $0 stock trading commission, due to the lack of a strong trading platform and accessible educational resources.
Is it safe to keep all money at Vanguard? ›
Rest easy knowing the cash in your Vanguard Cash Plus bank sweep is eligible for FDIC coverage up to $1.25 million for individual accounts and $2.5 million for joint accounts. You can keep all your money in the bank sweep or diversify into 5 available Vanguard money market funds (each with a $3,000 minimum investment).
How much money do you need in Vanguard? ›
(Some funds have minimums greater than $3,000 to protect the funds from short-term trading activity.) The minimum investment for Vanguard ETFs® is $1. The minimum investment for non-Vanguard ETFs or other individual securities, like stocks and bonds, is the market price of 1 share.
Why is Vanguard so good? ›
Vanguard funds are known for having the lowest expense ratios in the industry. This allows investors to save money on fees and helps their returns over the long run. Vanguard is the largest issuer of mutual funds in the world and the third-largest issuer of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), ranked by assets as of May 2024.
To enroll, you'll need to meet the following requirements: You have a retail Vanguard Brokerage Account with a balance of at least $50,000. (If you're new to Vanguard, opening an account is simple.)
What does Vanguard give you? ›
Get the support you need
Whether you're saving for college, retirement, or other goals, investing at Vanguard gives you access to varying levels of support. Choose from a wide range of investment products—such as mutual funds, ETFs (exchange-traded funds), stocks, and more—all for a low cost.
Why Fidelity is better than Vanguard? ›
Overall, you might save money at Fidelity if you trade options, but Vanguard will be cheaper if mutual funds are your focus. The key difference is that Fidelity is low-cost for a wide range of investor types, while Vanguard is a great low-cost solution aimed primarily at buy-and-hold investors.
What is the minimum investment in Vanguard? ›
Minimum initial investment
$1,000 for Vanguard Target Retirement Funds and Vanguard STAR® Fund. $3,000 for most actively managed funds. Most Vanguard index funds no longer offer Investor Shares to new investors. For the few that do, most have $3,000 minimums.
Should you invest directly with Vanguard? ›
Key Takeaways. Investors can buy and sell Vanguard mutual funds and ETFs through online brokers, full-service brokers, and financial advisors. If you buy directly through Vanguard, you may benefit from lower fees, better customer service, and additional product research.
How safe is investing with Vanguard? ›
Vanguard is a legit brokerage. It is regulated by top-tier US financial authorities, and comes with a high investor protection amount. On the other hand, negative balance protection is not provided.
What is the average return on Vanguard investments? ›
Vanguard Mutual funds
| | Average annual returns as of 08/31/2024 1 |
|---|
| Sort table ascending by Fund name | Sort table descending by Symbol | Sort table descending by 1 yr |
|---|
| Dividend Appreciation Index Fund Admiral Shares | VDADX | 22.59% |
| Dividend Growth Fund | VDIGX | 19.12% |
| Emerging Markets Bond Fund Admiral Shares | VEGBX | 14.52% |
45 more rowsMost Vanguard mutual funds have a $3,000 minimum, but you can invest in any Vanguard Target Retirement Fund or Vanguard STAR® Fund with as little as $1,000. (Some funds have minimums greater than $3,000 to protect the funds from short-term trading activity.)
