Saving for a big event or your rainy day fund?
Take advantage of opportunities to grow that money until you need it.
Things you should know before you get started
You'll need $3,000 to buy most Vanguard mutual funds, though there are some with lower or higher minimums.*
And you can invest in any ETF (exchange-traded fund) for the price of 1 share, which will vary throughout the day.
Find details in each fund's profile
Other companies' funds may have different minimums, so be sure to check their prospectuses. And like ETFs, minimums for individual stocks, certificates of deposit (CDs), and bonds are based on their current market prices.
Your investment earnings—the money your money makes—will likely be taxed at the federal, state, and sometimes local levels. The tax rate depends largely on your income and how long you hold the investment.
You could shrink that tax bill by choosing tax-efficient investments.
Trying to find the fastest road to riches could put your hard-earned savings at risk just as quickly.
Particularly when making a shorter-term investment—less than 7–10 years, for example—you'll want to choose the combination of bonds and stocks that strikes the right balance between risk and reward.
Some investments have obvious costs—like trading commissions and service fees. But keep a keen eye on expense ratios too. While they don't show up on your statement as a debit, they can take a serious bite out of your savings.
At Vanguard, you'll enjoy no commission to trade ETFs, stocks, and Vanguard mutual funds online. Our account service fees are easily avoidable,** and our expense ratios are 82% less than the industry average.† Put it all together, and you keep more of your money in your account, where it belongs.
Expense ratio
The annual operating expenses of a mutual fund or ETF (exchange-traded fund), expressed as a percentage of the fund's average net assets. It's calculated annually and removed from the fund's earnings before they're distributed to investors, directly reducing investors' returns.
An expense ratio includes management, administrative, marketing, and distribution fees. It doesn't include trading or sales commissions, loads, or purchase or redemption fees.
Other types of taxable accounts
Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act (UGMA/UTMA) accounts, which are administered by an adult on behalf of a minor until the child reaches the age of majority (typically 18 years old).
Guardian accounts, which are administered by a court-appointed guardian or conservator.
Trust accounts, which hold assets held in a personal or retirement trust. This includes trusts created by a will.
Estate and other organization accounts, which are owned by an entity versus an individual person. This includes accounts held by corporations, partnerships, professional associations, endowments, foundations, and other organizations.
Get it done in 4 easy steps
It's easy to open joint accounts and individual accounts online, and it takes just a few minutes.
Then what?
Once your account is set up, there are a few things you can do to control your costs and make your investments easier to manage.
Save money, time & paper with e-delivery
Connect your bank account to your Vanguard account
Put your savings on autopilot with automatic investments (log in required)
Ready to open an account?
Tax-saving alternatives for retirement and college
Size up the basic IRA types
Compare Roth vs. traditional IRAs for your retirement savings
Get a retirement plan
Explore SEPs, SIMPLEs & i401(k)s for small-business retirement plans
Ready to invest in a fund?
New to Vanguard or looking to consolidate your savings?
Already a Vanguard client? Log in and add a plan to your account.
Ready to invest in a fund?
New to Vanguard or looking to consolidate your savings?
Already a Vanguard client? Log in and add a plan to your account.
*Minimum initial investment requirements for most mutual funds range from $1,000 to $100,000 depending on the fund and the share class, but some may be higher. Details are provided in each fund profile.
**There's no annual account service fee if you sign up to receive statements and other important documents electronically or if you have at least $50,000 in qualifying Vanguard assets. Otherwise, a $20 fee is charged annually for all Vanguard Brokerage Accounts, as well as for each individual Vanguard mutual fund holding with a balance lower than $10,000.
†Vanguard average expense ratio: 0.09%. Industry average expense ratio: 0.49%. All averages are asset-weighted. Industry averages exclude Vanguard. Sources: Vanguard and Morningstar, Inc., as of December 31, 2021.
You must buy and sell Vanguard ETF Shares through Vanguard Brokerage Services (we offer them commission-free) or through another broker (which may charge commissions). See the Vanguard Brokerage Services commission and fee schedules for limits. Vanguard ETF Shares are not redeemable directly with the issuing fund other than in very large aggregations worth millions of dollars. ETFs are subject to market volatility. When buying or selling an ETF, you will pay or receive the current market price, which may be more or less than net asset value.
Investments in Target Retirement Funds are subject to the risks of their underlying funds. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative ones based on its target date. An investment in a Target Retirement Fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date.
All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.
Tax rates will vary based on the individual and on changing tax rates. You may wish to consult a tax advisor about your situation.