Automated investing with Digital Advisor

Get your time back with Vanguard's powerful, easy-to-use automated investment tool.

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$0

is what you pay in advisory fees for your first 90 days (investment costs still apply).1

$100

in assets is required to enroll in Vanguard Digital Advisor.2

$15

is approximately what you pay per year for every $10k in an all-index portfolio.3

How Vanguard Digital Advisor® works for you

Custom from beginning to end

Leave the cookie cutters in the kitchen. Your Digital Advisor journey starts with a personalized risk assessment to determine the best asset allocation

and glide path

for your needs. The initial process can take up to 30 minutes to ensure we can deliver the best results for you.

Get started

Calculate your cost for Digital Advisor

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Enter an amount to see what Digital Advisor may cost you.

Investment options built for you

When you're a Digital Advisor client, we do the work for you. You just need to choose which investment option is right for you.

A Venn diagram shows a dollar sign in the left circle and a heart in the right circle as their intersected area is shaded in a red color.

All-index investment option

Personalized, broad diversification of low-cost Vanguard ETFs® across U.S. and international stock and bond markets.

Learn more
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Active/Index investment option

Higher possible returns from active funds with broad diversification of index funds. May include 3 exclusive Advice Select funds. Higher advisory fee applies. 

Learn more
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ESG investment option

Funds that apply prescreened ESG criteria defined by third-party index providers. This strategy also uses certain non-ESG bond ETFs to provide additional diversification.7

Learn more

All-Index investment option

Why might you choose this investment option?

Investors looking for index funds that track broad U.S. and international stock and bond markets.

If you have higher taxable income, we'll use tax-exempt investments for your U.S. bond allocation in your taxable accounts.8

What are the advisory fees?

$20

You’ll pay no more than
$20 per $10,000 annually.3

Interested in this investment option?

Get started

What funds are used in this option?

VTI
Total Stock Market ETF

BND
Total Bond Market ETF

BNDX
Total International Bond ETF

VXUS
Total International Stock ETF

Active-Index investment option

Why might you choose this investment option?

Investors who are patient when active funds have periods of underperformance and are willing to pay a higher advisory fee with no guarantee of long-term outperformance.

If you have higher taxable income, we'll use tax-exempt investments for your U.S. bond allocation in your taxable accounts.8

What are the advisory fees?

$25

You’ll pay no more than
$25 per $10,000 annually.3

Interested in this investment option?

Get started

What funds are used in this option?

VHCAX
Capital Opportunity Fund Admiral™ Shares

VADGX
Advice Select Dividend Growth Fund

VZICX
International Core Stock Fund Admiral Shares

VAGVX
Advice Select Global Value Fund

VAIGX
Advice Select International Growth Fund

VCOBX
Core Bond Fund Admiral Shares

VTI
Total Stock Market ETF

BND
Total Bond Market ETF

BNDX
Total International Bond ETF

VXUS
Total International Stock ETF

ESG investment option

Why might you choose this investment option?

Investors who are seeking an investment option that helps to align their personal preferences. Though not as broadly diversified as total market funds, the ESG funds we use—when combined—include thousands of stocks and bonds to help balance investment risk and reward.

If you have higher taxable income, we'll use tax-exempt investments for your U.S. bond allocation in your taxable accounts.8

What are the advisory fees?

$20

You’ll pay no more than
$20 per $10,000 annually.3

Interested in this investment option?

Get started

What funds are used in this option?

VCEB
ESG U.S. Corporate Bond ETF

ESGV
ESG U.S. Stock ETF

VSGX
ESG International Stock ETF

BNDX
Total International Bond ETF

A Venn diagram shows a dollar sign in the left circle and a heart in the right circle as their intersected area is shaded in a red color.

All-index investment option

Personalized, broad diversification of low-cost Vanguard ETFs® across U.S. and international stock and bond markets.

Learn more

Choose excellence when it matters most

A green banner displays the text, "NerdWallet Best-of Awards 4x Winner."

Voted NerdWallet's "Best Robo-Advisor for Low-Cost Investing" 2021-2024.

Most recently awarded January 2024, based on data as of October 2023.9

Red Morningstar logo

First overall robo‑advisor in Morningstar's Robo‑Advisor Landscape Report for 2 years in a row

Awarded June 2023, based on data as of December 2022.10 
Compensation provided for use of the rating in marketing materials.

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— Sandy T., 20s

I’ve been using Digital Advisor for almost 4 years now....Tools like the rainy day or estimated retirement medical cost calculator have been very helpful in preparing me for the future”

Sandy is a compensated advisory client of Vanguard and this experience may not be representative of all user experiences.

Learn more about Vanguard Digital Advisor
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View transcript

Smart investing made simple

What if we told you investing can be simple, automatic, and intuitive?

[Visual: A woman appears on screen looking at the viewer while the words "simple, "automatic," and "intuitive" appear on the screen.]

Vanguard Digital Advisor harnesses powerful technology and 50 years of trusted investment expertise to take your risk preferences, your goals, your timeline,

[Visual: A laptop screen is featured prominently against a white background. It shows a graph titled “Your personalized financial outlook” with green shaded financial projections trending upward.]

and build you a personalized investment plan that does everything automatically.

[Visual: A man works on repairing his bicycle as Digital Advisor screens showing his asset allocation and projected retirement appear onscreen.]

Always working,

[Visual: A man looks at his smartphone as he walks down the street. A graph with green shaded areas shows his progress toward meeting his goal of buying a new car.]

always optimizing,

[Visual: A woman with a sleeping baby on her chest glances at her phone. It shows a financial goal titled “Cece’s Education Sep 2041-2045”.]

adjusting is needed to help keep you on track to reach your goals.

[Visual: A man lies on a couch while kids' feet step on him. A graph showing how stocks and bonds could be allocated toward his retirement goal appears on the screen. Then a laptop appears on the screen surrounded by different graphs.]

And what if we told you that all that happens while you're sleeping,

[Visual: A couple sleeps peacefully in bed.]

playing,

[Visual: A grandfather and his grandson laugh as they play video games together.]

working,

[Visual: A pleasantly surprised woman glances at her phone as she works.]

snacking,

[Visual: Two people are eating snacks from a bowl]

folding,

[Visual: A woman folds laundry]

moving,

[Visual: A group of ladies perform yoga poses in a class.]

building,

[Visual: A woman turns the sign on her business' door around to indicate she's open.]

doing life?

[Visual: A group of friends talk and dance in an outdoor setting.]

Welcome to smart investing made simple with Vanguard Digital Advisor.

[Visual: A smartphone screen against a white background slowly scrolls through Digital Advisor goals.]

[Visual: Scrolling stops on a heading that reads “You have $25,000 funding your Digital Advisor goals.”]

[Visual: A red Vanguard V animates against a white background, replaced by the full red Vanguard logo. Disclosures appear. They read “Important Information. All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest. Vanguard’s advice services are provided by Vanguard Advisers, Inc., (“VAI”), a registered investment advisor, or by Vanguard National Trust Company (“VNTC”), a federally chartered, limited-purpose trust company. The services provided to clients will vary based upon the service selected, including management, fees, eligibility, and access to an advisor. Find VAI’s Form CRS and each program’s advisory brochure here for an overview. VAI and VNTC are subsidiaries of The Vanguard Group, Inc., and affiliates of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Neither VAI, VNTC, nor its affiliates guarantee profits or protection from losses. ©2024 The Vanguard Group, Inc. All rights reserved.”]

See Digital Advisor in use

[Screen showing an example Digital Advisor client dashboard.]

Your dashboard reflects your progress in saving for retirement, and you can see exactly where your money is invested.

[Screen showing an example client's financial outlook for retirement]

Here you can view how making changes to your retirement age, spending amount, or contributions impacts your progress toward a successful retirement.

[Screens showing how Digital Advisor clients can add additional savings goals to their accounts.]

Once you've set your retirement goals, you can add other financial goals, like buying a home. We'll create a strategy for each new goal while keeping your retirement plan on track.

Enrolling in Vanguard Digital Advisor®

[Visual: A shopkeeper puts a sign in a window that says “Welcome / Open” as the Vanguard Digital Advisor logo appears onscreen.]

Welcome to Vanguard Digital Advisor! You’re just a few steps away from stress-free automated investing that’s tailored to your goals. We’ll walk you through what to expect when you enroll so you can have all the right documents and information ready. Once you start the Digital Advisor enrollment process, it’s okay if you need to pause it at any point. You’ll be able to save your progress and come back to it anytime. Keep in mind that some of the following steps may not apply to investors who enroll through an expedited path.

[Visual: Laptop screen shows enrollment screen asking for personal information like name, date of birth, and email address.]

First, if you don’t already have an account with Vanguard, you’ll be asked to create a basic profile with a username and password.

[Visual: Laptop screen shows enrollment screen asking client to create credentials]

Then you’ll fill out your financial profile, which helps us get to know you. You’ll need to provide some details on your current tax filing info, your income (including any bonuses), any retirement accounts you’re contributing to, and your estimated household spending. So, it’s good to have that information handy.

[Visuals: Portions of enrollment screens are overlaid on video asking client to fill out their financial profile information.]

Next, you’ll take our risk attitude quiz. This helps us understand how much risk you’re comfortable taking on.

[Visuals: A transitional screen appears with the title “Risk attitude quiz” and a circular green icon featuring a question mark in a speech bubble. A woman wearing glasses works at a laptop computer.]

You’ll answer questions about what you’d do in hypothetical situations that involve taking risks for the possibility of higher investment returns. At the end, you’ll get a risk tolerance recommendation. This will guide how Digital Advisor invests your funds.

[Visuals: A graphic highlighting that the client’s risk attitude is “Very aggressive” on a scale from Very Conservative to Very Aggressive is shown.]

Then it’s time to create your retirement goal. We’ll ask you to set a target retirement age, so you’ll have an idea of how much cash you’ll need to be able to comfortably stop working by then.

[Visuals: Portions of enrollment screens are overlaid on video asking client to enter a range of ages they think they’ll retire during. Screens showing other questions about how long they plan to spend in retirement and possible income in retirement appear on client’s laptop.]

A well-funded retirement is your ultimate destination on the road to financial freedom, and that’s the goal we’re aiming for.

[Visuals: Portions of enrollment screens that show a range of 10,000 scenarios that predict a client’s possible account balances at retirement are overlaid on video. The hypothetical client is also shown that their retirement goal appears to be “well-funded.”]

If you don’t have exact answers to the questions in this section, it’s okay! Just enter your best guess and you can update it later.

Now you’ll be able to see the retirement plan Digital Advisor built based on all the information you entered.

[Visuals: Portions of enrollment screens are overlaid on video showing an “optimal” retirement option for the hypothetical client with age and possible monthly income displayed so that the client can choose that option.]

You can make changes to anything on this screen to see how different numbers would change your overall outlook.

[Visuals: Portions of enrollment screens are overlaid on video showing the client making changes to their planned retirement age and planned number of years they think they’ll spend in retirement to see if their retirement goal remains well-funded.]

After you’re enrolled in Digital Advisor, you’ll also be able to set additional goals to track all the other cool things you’re saving for.

[Visuals: Portions of enrollment screens are overlaid on video showing the option to save for other goals like the client’s business. They enter they want to save $80,000 by 2/2/2025 to invest in their new business.]

If you don’t already have an account with Vanguard, the next step in the process is to open one and deposit some cash into it so that Digital Advisor can start doing what it does best: investing for you.

[Visuals: Portions of enrollment screens are overlaid on video asking client to fill in the type of account they want to open and to enter additional personal information, like their Social Security number, address, and phone number.]

Be sure to have your bank account and routing numbers ready.

[Visuals: Portions of enrollment screens are overlaid on video showing how the client can enter their bank account information.]

Now you’re in the home stretch. You’ll be asked to select which account or accounts to enroll in Digital Advisor. If you already have eligible accounts with us, they’ll show up here for you to choose from—otherwise, you can select the one you just opened.

[Visuals: Client looking at their laptop and reviewing their final enrollment application.]

You’ll also see what your account’s asset allocation will be based on your risk attitude.

[Visuals: Portions of enrollment screens are overlaid on video showing a pie chart with the hypothetical client’s recommended asset allocation of 80% stocks and 20% bonds and cash.]

Hit confirm, and that’s it—you’re in!

[Visuals: The word “Congratulations!” appears on the screen with confetti around it.]

Now the real work begins, but not for you—for the smart technology you’ve chosen to manage your investments. Nice.

[Visuals: The Vanguard wordmark, short URL (vanguard.com/digital-advisor), and Legal disclosures appear on-screen.]

Important information

All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.

Vanguard Digital Advisor's services are provided by Vanguard Advisers, Inc., a registered investment advisor (VAI).

For more information, please review Form CRS and the Vanguard Digital Advisor brochure.

Vanguard Digital Advisor's financial planning tools provide projections and goal achievement forecasts that are hypothetical in nature. They’re provided for educational purposes only and aren’t guarantees of future results.

For more information see the Privacy Policy and Service Agreement.

© 2024 The Vanguard Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Getting started with Vanguard Digital Advisor

Robo-Advisor services

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Investing more? Get additional guidance

Vanguard Personal Advisor offers ongoing financial planning, automated investing, and access to an advisor for those wanting to invest $50,000 or more.

Find out more

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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.

Visit vanguard.com to obtain a Vanguard mutual fund or Vanguard ETF prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus, which contains investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other information; read and consider it carefully before investing.

1The 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.

2Enrollments in Vanguard Digital Advisor require at least $100 in each Vanguard Brokerage Account. For each taxable account or traditional, Roth, rollover, or inherited IRA you wish to enroll, the entire balance must be in certain investment types (based on eligibility screening by Digital Advisor at the time of enrollment) and/or the brokerage account's settlement fund. 

3Vanguard Digital Advisor is an all-digital service. Digital Advisor charges brokerage accounts an annual gross advisory fee in the amount of 0.20% for an index portfolio option or 0.25% for an active portfolio option. That gross advisory fee is reduced by a credit of the actual revenue The Vanguard Group, Inc. ("VGI"), or its affiliates retain from investments in each enrolled account, resulting in a net advisory fee. The net advisory fee is the actual fee collected from your account(s) and will vary based on your unique asset allocation, portfolio option, account type, and specific holdings in each enrolled account.  Note that this fee doesn't include investment expense ratios charged by a fund, such as fees paid to the funds' third-party managers which are not credited.  While we generally recommend using low-cost Vanguard funds to build your portfolio, actively managed funds will have higher expense ratios than index funds. For more information on the services, find VAI's Form CRS and each program's advisory brochure here for an overview.

4Vanguard Digital Advisor's debt payoff calculator helps you project the impact of different fixed-rate debt payments over time. To analyze your debt payments, you'll use a third-party aggregation service. There are limitations to the aggregated information, including inability to carve out any escrow payments. There also could be missing or inaccurate information, such as taxes and insurance, which you'll need to closely review in using the calculator.

5Vanguard can help determine if tax-loss harvesting is appropriate for your specific situation. Tax-loss harvesting is included in your Digital Advisor advisory fee. Tax-loss harvesting involves certain risks, including, among others, the risk that the new investment could have higher costs than the original investment and could introduce portfolio tracking error into your accounts. There may also be unintended tax implications. We recommend that you carefully review the terms of the consent and consult a tax advisor before taking action.

6Based on enrolling accounts holding assets in the settlement fund that are invested in a portfolio of Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF, Total International Stock ETF, Total Bond Market ETF, and Total International Bond ETF.

7To maintain diversification, this portfolio option will also include non-ESG investments to achieve your target asset allocation for international and domestic bonds.

The ESG investment option gives Digital Advisor clients the ability to substitute certain existing holdings with Vanguard ETFs that invest according to an index that has been pre-screened based on ESG factors determined by a third-party index provider. There is no guarantee that the ESG investment option will perform better than the other investment options.

ESG funds are subject to ESG investment risk, which is the chance that the stocks or bonds screened by the index provider for ESG criteria generally will underperform the market as a whole or, in the aggregate, will trail returns of other funds screened for ESG criteria. The index provider's assessment of a company, based on the company's level of involvement in a particular industry or the index provider's own ESG criteria, may differ from that of other funds or of the advisor's or an investor's assessment of such company. As a result, the companies deemed eligible by the index provider may not reflect the beliefs and values of any particular investor and may not exhibit positive or favorable ESG characteristics. The evaluation of companies for ESG screening or integration is dependent on the timely and accurate reporting of ESG data by the companies. Successful application of the screens will depend on the index provider's proper identification and analysis of ESG data.

8Although the income from a municipal bond fund is exempt from federal tax, you may owe taxes on any capital gains realized through the fund's trading or through your own redemption of shares. For some investors, a portion of the fund's income may be subject to state and local taxes, as well as to the federal Alternative Minimum Tax.

9Vanguard Digital Advisor previously received NerdWallet's top rating for “Best Robo-Advisor for Low-Cost Investing” in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. NerdWallet selected Vanguard Digital Advisor for the 2021 award based on November 16, 2020 data, the 2022 award based on October 1, 2021 data, the 2023 award based on October 1, 2022 data, and the 2024 award based on October 1, 2023 data. For the 2024 award, NerdWallet evaluated 15 providers across the following weighted criteria to determine the winner for low costs: management fees (50%), expense ratios on investments (40%), and account fees (10%). Additional details about NerdWallet’s methodology and current Best-Of Awards winners are available on its 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. ©2017–2025 and TM, NerdWallet, Inc. All rights reserved.

10Vanguard received the first overall ranking in Morningstar's "Robo-Advisor Landscape Report" for 2023 among 17 other robo-advisors selected by Morningstar. Morningstar evaluated each provider across the following weighted criteria as of December 2022, to determine their rankings: total price (30%); the process used to select investments, construct portfolios, and match portfolios with investors (30%); the parent organization behind the digital platform (20%); and breadth of services (20%). Vanguard also received the same ranking in 2022 in Morningstar’s first annual "Robo-Advisor Landscape Report" based on December 2021, data. Additional details about Morningstar's methodology are available on its website. Current fees may vary for Vanguard's advisory services and the other robo-advisors considered. Although Vanguard compensates Morningstar for marketing services, Morningstar's opinions and evaluations are independent and unrelated to the selection of Vanguard for this ranking. Following the independent announcement of this ranking, Vanguard purchased a license from Morningstar for the right to include this rating in Vanguard marketing. Source: “2023 Robo-Advisor Landscape” by Amy C. Arnott, et al.  ©2023 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

11Vanguard-administered 401(k) retirement accounts are only eligible for management by Digital Advisor if the plan sponsor has elected to offer Digital Advisor to the plan's participants and the participants meet the eligibility criteria.

You should consult your plan fee disclosure notice for the applicable annual gross advisory fees that apply to your 401(k) account.

12Investments 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 work force. 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.

Vanguard Personal Advisor Services and Vanguard Digital Advisor's services are provided by Vanguard Advisers, Inc. ("VAI"), a federally registered investment advisor. VAI is a subsidiary of VGI and an affiliate of Vanguard Marketing Corporation ("VMC"). Neither VGI, VAI, nor its affiliates guarantee profits or protection from losses.

If you decide to manage your investments on your own, you can buy and sell Vanguard ETF Shares through Vanguard Brokerage Services® or another broker (which may charge commissions). See the Vanguard Brokerage Services commission and fee schedules for full details. 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.