Build a fully diversified portfolio with just 4 ETFs
Although we have dozens of ETFs to choose from, these 4 total market ETFs—when used in combination—cover nearly all aspects of the U.S. and international stock and bond markets. This level of diversification can help reduce your overall investment risk while making it easier to manage your portfolio.
Get more details on these ETFs
Total market ETF
An ETF that invests in the U.S. or international bond or stock market at the broadest level.
"Total bond" ETFs invest in a combination of short-, intermediate-, and long-term bonds with varying degrees of credit quality and risk.
"Total stock" ETFs invest in a combination of small, mid-size, and large companies with varying degrees of value (meaning they focus on paying dividends) and growth (meaning they focus on increasing the price of their stock).
They typically do this by following an indexing strategy—choosing a broad market index that tracks the entire bond or stock market and investing in all or a representative sample of the bonds or stocks in that index.
Diversification
A strategy intended to lower your chances of losing money on your investments.
Diversification can be achieved in many ways, including spreading your investments across:
- Multiple asset classes, by buying a combination of cash, bonds, and stocks.
- Multiple holdings, by buying many bonds and stocks (which you can do through a single ETF) instead of just one or a few.
- Multiple geographic regions, by buying a combination of U.S. and international investments.
BND
Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF
BNDX
Vanguard Total International Bond ETF
VTI
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF
VXUS
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
ETFs for socially conscious investors
Are you part of the growing community of investors who want to invest in companies with strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) track records?
We offer a lineup of ESG investments that can help you achieve your financial goals and match your dollars with what matters to you.
Want help figuring out how much to invest in these 4 ETFs?
Determining your asset allocation, how you divide your money among cash investments, bonds, and stocks, can reveal your investing style and financial situation and, ultimately, help get you to your goals.
After you have your asset allocation
Consider breaking down your bond and stock allocations into U.S. and international investments to further diversify your portfolio.
U.S. & international bond ETFs
You might split your bond allocation to about:
- 70% U.S. bonds. For example, Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) offers the broadest exposure to U.S. bonds.
- 30% international bonds. For example, Vanguard Total lnternational Bond ETF (BNDX) offers the broadest exposure to international bonds.
U.S. & international stock ETFs
You might split your stock allocation to about:
- 60% U.S. stocks. For example, Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) offers the broadest exposure to U.S. stocks.
- 40% international stocks. For example, Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) offers the broadest exposure to international stocks.
Search for a specific ETF
Other conditions & costs that may apply
Commission-free trading of Vanguard ETFs applies to trades placed both online and by phone. Commission-free trading of non-Vanguard ETFs applies only to trades placed online; most clients will pay a commission to buy or sell non-Vanguard ETFs by phone. It also excludes leveraged and inverse ETFs, which can't be purchased through Vanguard but can be sold with a commission. Commission-free trading of non-Vanguard ETFs also excludes 401(k) participants using the Self-Directed Brokerage Option; see your plan's current commission schedule. Vanguard Brokerage reserves the right to change the non-Vanguard ETFs included in these offers at any time. All ETFs are subject to management fees and expenses; refer to each ETF's prospectus for more information. Account service fees may also apply. All ETF sales are subject to a securities transaction fee. See the Vanguard Brokerage Services commission and fee schedules for full details.
Best of all, ETFs are commission-free at Vanguard.
Commission-free trading of Vanguard ETFs applies to trades placed both online and by phone.
Already have a Vanguard Brokerage Account?
Already have a Vanguard Brokerage Account?
For more information about Vanguard mutual funds and ETFs, visit Vanguard mutual fund prospectuses or Vanguard ETF prospectuses to obtain a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are contained in the prospectus; read and consider it carefully before investing.
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.
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. Fluctuations in the financial markets and other factors may cause declines in the value of your account. 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.
Investments in stocks or bonds issued by non-U.S. companies are subject to risks including country/regional risk and currency risk. Bond funds are subject to the risk that an issuer will fail to make payments on time, and that bond prices will decline because of rising interest rates or negative perceptions of an issuer's ability to make payments.
ESG funds are subject to ESG investment risk, which is the chance that the stocks or bonds screened by the index provider or advisor, as applicable, 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
or advisor’s assessment of a company, based on the company’s level of involvement in a particular industry or their own ESG criteria, may differ from that of other funds or an investor’s assessment of such company. As a result, the companies deemed eligible by the index provider or advisor 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 or advisor's proper identification and analysis of ESG data. The advisor may not be successful in assessing and identifying companies that have or will have a positive impact or support a given position. In some circumstances, companies could ultimately have a negative or no impact or support of a given position.