What’s an investment product?
An investment product is an asset that may grow your money for you such as a mutual fund of ETF (exchange-traded fund). When you open a Vanguard Brokerage Account, you can choose multiple investments and hold them all in 1 account. Check out your options below.
Mutual funds
ETFs
Stocks
CDs
Bonds
Money market
Vanguard mutual funds
Mutual funds offer diversification and convenience
Vanguard pioneered low-cost mutual fund investing. Our current fund lineup includes a wide selection of both index funds and actively-managed funds.
Vanguard ETFs®
ETFs offer more flexibility than traditional funds
You don't need thousands of dollars to purchase exchange-traded funds (ETF) to enjoy their low-cost diversification.
Want to invest in a specific stock? No problem.
With Vanguard Brokerage Services®, you can invest in your choice of stocks.
Add stability to your account with CDs
FDIC insured certificates of deposit (CDs) offer principal preservation, earnings, and less volatility in your portfolio.
Diversify your portfolio with bonds
You can earn income while investing in a less risky alternative to stocks.
Make your cash work for you
It’s important to have cash set aside for a rainy day. See what money market fund is right for you.
Vanguard mutual funds
Mutual funds offer diversification and convenience
Vanguard pioneered low-cost mutual fund investing. Our current fund lineup includes a wide selection of both index funds and actively-managed funds.
Vanguard ETFs®
ETFs offer more flexibility than traditional funds
You don't need thousands of dollars to purchase exchange-traded funds (ETF) to enjoy their low-cost diversification.
Want to invest in a specific stock? No problem.
With Vanguard Brokerage Services®, you can invest in your choice of stocks.
Add stability to your account with CDs
FDIC insured certificates of deposit (CDs) offer principal preservation, earnings, and less volatility in your portfolio.
Diversify your portfolio with bonds
You can earn income while investing in a less risky alternative to stocks.
Make your cash work for you
It’s important to have cash set aside for a rainy day. See what money market fund is right for you.
Already have an investment in mind?
Additional financial products to consider
Diversifying your holdings can help reduce market risk. Need help finding a bond to stock ratio for your account?
What does it cost to invest at Vanguard?
Helpful resources
How to invest on your own
Get key information on how you can start a successful DIY investing journey.
Accounts and plans
Find the right account that matches your investing goals. Whatever your goal is, we have an account to help you reach it.
Get the advice you need
Use our robo-advisor or work with a financial advisor for ongoing portfolio guidance and access to exclusive tools.
What our experts have to say Stay on top of everything from market updates to smart tax strategies. Read our blog posts and news articles, or watch videos from our experts. |
Get perspective on the markets Market volatility is a part of investing. But with the right investing strategy, you can ride out ups and downs with less stress. |
It's very meaningful to me that Vanguard is owned by its investors, which is me!”*
Vanguard is investor-owned, meaning the fund shareholders own the funds, which in turn own Vanguard.
This illustration is hypothetical and isn't representative of any client's account.
Start investing today.
Common questions about investment products
Your account holds the investments you choose to grow your money. The investment products you select put your money to work by generating earnings or increasing in value.
Think of your accounts as an empty garage. The different vehicles you keep in the garage are like the varying investment products you hold in your brokerage accounts to build your portfolio.
You can buy a Vanguard ETF® for as little as $1, regardless of the ETF's share price. All stocks and non-Vanguard ETFs must be bought at market share price. Both Vanguard and non-Vanguard mutual fund minimum investment amounts vary by fund.
Expense ratios on mutual funds and ETFs are calculated by dividing the fund's operational expenses by its average net assets.
When you open an account at Vanguard, you’re opening a brokerage account that can hold most types of investments. Having all your investments in 1 place helps you easily keep tabs on your portfolio and make changes if necessary.
Your brokerage account includes a settlement fund—a money market mutual fund used to pay for and receive proceeds from brokerage transactions.
The most common investments held in Vanguard accounts are mutual funds and ETFs (from Vanguard and other fund families) and individual stocks, bonds, options, and CDs.
Lower-risk products, including certificates of deposits (CDs) and money market funds, aim to protect your principal; but pay lower interest rates.
Learn more about cash investments
Learn more about CDs
Learn more about money market funds
The biggest risk is that your portfolio will lack diversification. An individual investment product, like a stock, could provide excellent returns, but the company could also go bankrupt, and its stock could become worthless. By investing in products that hold multiple investments, like mutual funds and ETFs, you spread out the risk of 1 investment performing poorly.
Consider your investment goal, time frame for needing the money, and overall risk tolerance to determine an appropriate asset allocation. Then, pick a proportion of stock, bond, and cash investments to build a portfolio that matches your target asset mix.
You can also take our Investor Questionnaire, which will suggest an asset mix based on your results.
Yes. ESG funds are a great way to complement your portfolio with funds that reflect your values. We offer ESG investing options that consider environmental, social, and governance issues. Our ESG funds have differing investment styles and objectives and invest in stocks and bonds.
Sometimes, the term ESG is used interchangeably with “socially responsible investing (SRI)” and “sustainable investing.”
Opening a Vanguard investing account is free, easy—and fast! (It should only take around 5–10 minutes.) Start by choosing Open an account from the menu, then select Start your new account.
Most investors fund their new accounts with an electronic bank transfer. If you choose this option, make sure you have your bank account and routing numbers readily available.
Actively managed funds are directed by professional fund managers who handpick investments to try to beat market returns.
Browse our actively managed funds
Passively managed funds—also called index funds—are directed by professional fund managers to try to keep pace with market returns by mirroring certain market segments.
Each strategy has a unique method for selecting its underlying investments. Compare other aspects of these management styles
We offer several low-cost, all-in-one funds that invest in multiple asset classes to help simplify how you manage your portfolio.
Whether you’re saving for retirement, a loved one’s education, or any other financial goal, we’ve got you covered.
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For more information about Vanguard funds or ETFs, 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.
*The experience of this Vanguard client may not be representative of the experiences of other Vanguard clients and is not a guarantee of future investment performance or success.
ESG funds are subject to ESG investment risk, which is the chance that the stocks screened by the index sponsor for ESG criteria generally will underperform the stock market as a whole or that the particular stocks selected will, in the aggregate, trail returns of other funds screened for ESG criteria.
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 work force. The Fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative ones based on its target date. The Income Fund has a fixed investment allocation and is designed for investors who are already retired. An investment in a Target Retirement Fund is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date.
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 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.
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. There is no guarantee that any particular asset allocation or mix of funds will meet your investment objectives or provide you with a given level of income.
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.