Learn how to authorize others on your Vanguard accounts, compare access levels, and plan for incapacity with the right permissions.
Guide to account access types and requirements
Account access allows you to give a person, an organization, or a trust some level of authority to manage your Vanguard investments and accounts on your behalf—without giving up ownership. This can be helpful if you're unable to manage your accounts due to travel, health, or other life changes.
In this article, we'll review the different types of access and the permissions associated with each of them.
What is account access?
Granting account access means authorizing a person or entity to act on your behalf with certain permissions—such as trading, withdrawing, or handling transactions—under a formal arrangement like a durable power of attorney or as an agent.
In most cases, account holders choose a trusted individual like a family member or legal representative who has agreed to act in their best interest. In some cases, these individuals might grant access to an organization or a trust.
Giving someone account access doesn't transfer ownership of the account. You remain the sole owner, responsible for any taxes or debts on the account.
Access vs. permissions
Think of access as the first step in this process, like having a key to get inside the account. Permissions determine which areas of the account your agent is allowed to enter or make changes to once they're inside. It all comes down to how much control you're granting within your account.
Types of account access
Next, we'll get into the different types of account access you can choose to set up on your account.
Information-only Access
Information-only Access lets someone view your Vanguard account details online but doesn't allow them to take any action. With this level of access, the person can log in to view balances, transaction history, performance, and holdings, but they can't buy or sell investments, make withdrawals, or complete changes to your account. If you'd like to give a trusted individual visibility into your account while maintaining full control yourself, Information-only Access can be a good option.
You can grant this to someone using a paper or digital form, or by selecting the Accounts & trading tab in Profile & account settings when you're logged in to your account, and then selecting Access permissions.
For personal accounts (like an individual brokerage account), you can grant someone access online, but fiduciary accounts (like organizational or trust accounts) require a paper or digital form.
Limited agent authorization
With limited agent authorization, you allow someone to perform specific, pre-approved actions on your Vanguard account without giving them full control. This designation lets your agent buy investments, transfer assets between Vanguard accounts, and request distributions be paid to you and sent to your address or bank account of record.
However, your agent won't be permitted to write checks on the account, redeem assets to anyone other than you, change ownership of the account, change beneficiaries, close accounts, or add new ones.
For personal accounts, you can add a limited agent online, or by using a paper or digital form. For a fiduciary account, you'll need to use a paper or digital form.
Full agent authorization
Granting full agent authority requires a high level of trust because you're allowing a designated person to manage your account with broad decision-making power—as if they were you. You'll remain the account owner, and the agent must act in your best interest, but they'll have the ability to buy and sell investments, transfer or withdraw assets, update your personal and banking information, and even close the account without needing your prior approval. For these reasons, it's important to consider this option carefully.
Full agent authorization is only available for personal accounts, not for trusts or organizational accounts. To add a full agent, you need to submit a paper or digital form with a required notarized signature and 2 witnesses present.
If you choose the digital form, Vanguard offers a complimentary E-Notary service that provides the 2 witnesses and the notary and completes the process within 15 minutes.
Power of attorney
A general, or non-durable, power of attorney (POA) grants someone you choose the authority to act on your behalf. It's typically used for a specific, temporary purpose, such as an extended period of travel. If you become incapacitated—due to illness, injury, or cognitive decline, for example—POA authority will automatically end.
A durable power of attorney (DPOA), on the other hand, appoints someone you trust to manage your financial affairs when you're unable to. Not having one could lead to delays in paying bills or managing investments should you become temporarily incapacitated.
When does Vanguard recognize a DPOA?
- If you're able to manage your own financial affairs (and are not incapacitated), Vanguard won't accept a DPOA to establish ongoing access to your accounts. If you wish to establish ongoing full authority, you'll need to complete a Full Agent Authorization form.
- If you're named as attorney‑in‑fact under an external DPOA for an account owner who is incapacitated, Vanguard will accept the DPOA when submitted together with an Agent Certification for Incapacitated Person (ACIP) form and appropriate proof of incapacity.
- Vanguard may accept a certified copy of a valid DPOA to request a onetime monetary or clerical transaction.
So is a POA the same as account authorization? The answer is no. A general, non-durable POA stops upon incapacity, whereas Vanguard's full agent authorization continues when the account owner becomes incapacitated. Just be aware that you can only establish full agent authorization with Vanguard before you become incapacitated.
In cases where an account owner is incapacitated, the attorney-in-fact can request access by completing Vanguard's ACIP form and sending that in with an external DPOA and proof of incapacity.
Account access comparison chart
This chart helps you compare the actions allowed under each access level to determine the most appropriate access for your account.
Which Vanguard accounts can I add access to?
We'll explore the different account types that allow for account access, along with those that are more restricted.
Eligible personal accounts
These personal accounts allow you to grant all levels of account access, including Information-only Access, limited agent authorization, and full agent authorization:
- Individually owned nonretirement accounts.
- IRAs, including traditional, Roth, and SEP.
- Rollover and inherited accounts.
- Joint accounts.
Accounts with restrictions
For fiduciary accounts—such as trusts, organizational accounts, or other accounts where a fiduciary is managing assets on behalf of a beneficiary—you can't add a full or ACIP agent, although establishing Information-only Access or limited agent authorization is allowed. Unlike individual or joint accounts, these accounts are governed by specific legal documents and rules. Vanguard will require additional supporting documentation to show which individuals are authorized on behalf of the organization/trust.
Planning ahead for incapacity
Depending on your account type, Vanguard offers different ways to ensure someone you trust can manage your investments if you're ever unable to. Here's how planning ahead works for personal and fiduciary accounts.
For personal accounts (such as individual accounts, joint accounts, or IRAs):
- If you add an information-only, limited, or full agent while you still have capacity, that person may continue assisting with your accounts if you later become incapacitated.
- A DPOA can help you manage various financial and legal matters outside of Vanguard, even while you still have capacity. However, Vanguard recognizes a DPOA only if you become incapacitated. While you still have capacity, you must use Vanguard's agent authorization forms to grant account access to your attorney-in-fact or any other person.
For fiduciary accounts (such as estate or organizational accounts):
- If a fiduciary becomes incapacitated, Vanguard follows the succession instructions outlined in the governing documents (such as a trust agreement). Full or ACIP agents cannot be added, but a successor fiduciary assumes responsibility when needed, following the terms of the arrangement.
- You can plan ahead by ensuring your trust or organizational documents clearly identify successors and are kept up to date.
Granting access while you're capable
Planning ahead while you're able to make financial decisions ensures your accounts can be managed smoothly if you ever become unable to do it yourself. While it may not be top of mind for a young person, it's a good idea to put together a plan as soon as you're an adult with financial accounts. Wherever you are in life, the best time to start planning is now.
If you currently have full decision-making capacity, you can proactively grant a trusted person or entity Information-only Access, limited agent authority, or full agent authority on your Vanguard personal accounts—giving you control over the level of involvement they have.
Once established, these authorizations remain in effect even if your physical or mental well-being changes. For example, a full agent authorized through Vanguard's Full Agent Authorization form can continue acting on your behalf seamlessly during incapacity, so you can be assured that your financial affairs will be handled according to your wishes.
You can read more of our tips on planning for potential incapacitation by following the link.
Gaining access after being incapacitated
If an account owner becomes incapacitated, the process of accessing and managing accounts depends on the account type and prior planning.
- For personal accounts, if the owner established full agent authority using Vanguard's Full Agent Authorization form, the agent can continue managing the account without delay. If the client named an attorney‑in‑fact under a DPOA before becoming incapacitated, that person can request access by completing Vanguard's ACIP form. Vanguard will also need a copy of the DPOA and medical documentation from a qualified healthcare professional confirming that the client is unable to manage their financial affairs. Without prior authorization, no one—including a spouse or family member—can act on the account. In this case, a court may need to appoint a legal guardian or conservator to gain access.
- For fiduciary accounts, access is granted based on the succession provisions in the governing documents, such as a trust agreement. Vanguard does not accept informal or external POA documents for these accounts.
How to add or manage authorized access
Taking a few minutes today to set up or review account access can make all the difference tomorrow—ensuring your accounts are protected and managed by someone you trust, no matter what life brings.