Vanguard's History

Markets change, but for 50 years, we've stayed the course together.

Taking a stand for investors, treating them fairly, and giving them the best chance for investment success. It's been our mission since 1975.

50 years of changing the way the world invests

From the revolutionary idea that started it all to the historic reduction expected to save investors $350 million,* you'll always be our why. Flip through 50 years of our most iconic moments.

We invest where it matters: In you

Awards

At Vanguard, our standards of success are based on helping investors achieve financial security.

2025

JD Power

#1 in DIY investor satisfaction for the 4th time

2024

ETF.com

Best New U.S. Fixed Income ETF award

2024

NerdWallet

Best Robo-Advisor for Low-Cost Investing, awarded by NerdWallet, January 2024. Based on data as of October 2023.1

2025

Morningstar

Only robo-advisor to earn a "High" assessment

2024

Forbes Advisor

7 Best 401(k) plans for the months of August and September

2023

Refinitiv Lipper

Received by 10 Vanguard funds2

 

Our impact by the numbers

50M+

Number of clients worldwide that trust Vanguard as of December 31, 2024.

435

Number of expertly managed funds as of February 28, 2025.

84%

of Vanguard mutual fund and ETFs outperformed their peer-group averages over the past 10 years.3

Get to know the benefits

Find out why so many plan their financial future with us.

Get to know the benefits

Find out why so many plan their financial future with us.

Learn about client benefits

Get ideas for investing

An overview of our mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, and other options.

Get ideas for investing

An overview of our mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, and other options.

Browse our investment products

Get help getting started

Everything you need to know about opening an account at Vanguard.

Get help getting started

Everything you need to know about opening an account at Vanguard.

Learn how to open an account

For more information about Vanguard funds, visit vanguard.com to obtain a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information about a fund 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. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss.

Vanguard Digital Advisor is provided by Vanguard Advisers, Inc. ("VAI"), a federally registered investment advisor.

*Comparison uses AUM as of 11/2024. There is no guarantee that any individual investor will save money due to the reductions in expense ratios. Figures are estimates and should not be relied on. For illustrative purposes only. See www.vanguard.com/investor-resources-education/news/expense-ratio-reductions for details.

1Vanguard Digital Advisor received the top rating for "Best Robo-Advisor for Low-Cost Investing" for 2024 among 14 other robo-advisors selected by NerdWallet. NerdWallet evaluated each provider across the following weighted criteria as of October 1, 2023, to determine the winner for low costs: management fees (50%), expense ratios on investments (40%), and account fees (10%). NerdWallet also selected Vanguard Digital Advisor for the 2021 award based on November 16, 2020, data; the 2022 award based on October 1, 2021, data; and the 2023 award based on October 1, 2022, data. Additional details about NerdWallet's methodology are available on their website. Current fees may vary for Digital Advisor and the other robo-advisors considered. Although Vanguard compensates NerdWallet for marketing services, NerdWallet's opinions and evaluations are independent and unrelated to the selection of Digital Advisor for this award. ©2017-2024 and TM, NerdWallet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

210 Vanguard funds received 12 Refinitiv Lipper Fund Awards. The awards honor mutual funds and firms that have the best risk-adjusted performance over 3-,5-, and 10-year horizons (February 2023). Based on the Lipper Leader for Consistent Return rating, which is a risk-adjusted performance measure calculated over 3, 5, and 10-year periods. The fund with the highest Lipper Leader for Consistent Return (Effective Return) value in each eligible classification wins the Refinitiv Lipper Fund Award. If the funds are eligible for Lipper Fund Awards, are in the Lipper database and meet all criteria as per methodology, they will be considered. The merit of the winners is based entirely on objective, quantitative criteria. Proprietary methodology is the foundation of the Award qualification. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

3For the 10-year period ended December 31, 2024, 6 of 6 Vanguard money market funds, 71 of 97 Vanguard bond funds, 21 of 23 Vanguard balanced funds, and 168 of 191 Vanguard funds- outperformed their Lipper peer-group averages. Results will vary for other time periods. Only mutual funds and ETFs (exchange-traded funds) with a minimum 10-year history were included in the comparison Source: LSEG Lipper. The competitive performance data shown represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results. http://www.vanguard.com/performance

Vanguard is reducing expense ratios for certain share classes of some funds. There is no guarantee that any individual investor will save money due to the reductions in fund expense ratios. Not all fund share classes will have a reduced expense ratio and therefore not all investors will experience the estimated savings. Investors that purchase the relevant funds after the expense ratios have been reduced will not experience savings. Savings means future money not spent on expense ratios, and does not entail a rebate or deposit of any sort. Savings figures are estimates and should not be relied upon. Savings is based on data as of November 30, 2024; if other data is used, savings may differ. Estimated savings accrue to existing investors holding relevant share classes for 2024 and 2025. For illustrative purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.