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Get details on specific categories of funds

Learn about different types of mutual funds and how they can work together in your portfolio.

Money market funds

Use money market funds to limit your money's exposure to market risk while you save for emergencies, an upcoming big purchase, or another short-term need.

Learn more about Vanguard money market funds

Bond funds

Choose bond funds if you're looking for income and want to moderate the risks involved with the stock portion of your portfolio.

These funds generally offer higher yields than money market funds and less volatility than stock funds.

Learn more about Vanguard bond funds

Balanced funds

Look to balanced funds for a mix of income and growth potential in a single fund.

These funds have varying degrees of risk based on the percentages of stocks and bonds in the portfolio. Some maintain a steady asset allocation; others gradually become more conservative over time.

Learn more about Vanguard balanced funds

Stock funds

Consider stock funds if you want to increase your chances of growing your money over longer periods of time.

These funds expose you to more risk than typical bond funds. But you can limit some of that risk when you pair stock funds with bond funds as part of a diversified portfolio.

Learn more about Vanguard stock funds

International funds

Get exposure to investment opportunities in developed and emerging countries.

International funds can provide additional diversification in a well-balanced portfolio.

Learn more about Vanguard international funds

Sector & specialty funds

Focus on a specific industry, like precious metals, real estate, health care, or energy.

But remember, these funds have a very narrow focus—exposing you to more risk—and should only be used to supplement an already diversified portfolio.

Learn more about Vanguard sector & specialty funds
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REFERENCE CONTENT

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Asset allocation

The way an investment portfolio is divided among the broader asset classes of stocks, bonds, and short-term reserves. Also known as "asset mix."

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An investment in a money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although a money market fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in such a fund.

Please remember that all investments involve some risk. Be aware that 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. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss.

For the 10-year period ended December 31, 2014, 10 of 10 Vanguard money market funds, 46 of 51 Vanguard bond funds, 18 of 18 Vanguard balanced funds, and 107 of 115 Vanguard stock funds—for a total of 181 of 194 Vanguard funds—outperformed their Lipper peer-group averages. Only funds with a minimum 10-year history were included in the comparison. Source: Lipper, a Thomson Reuters Company. The competitive performance data shown represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results. See the most recent performance of our funds

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.

Investments in stocks issued by non-U.S. companies are subject to risks including country/regional risk, which is the chance that political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters will adversely affect the value of securities issued by companies in foreign countries or regions; and currency risk, which is the chance that the value of a foreign investment, measured in U.S. dollars, will decrease because of unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates. These risks are especially high in emerging markets.

Vanguard provides services to the Vanguard funds and ETFs at cost.