You’re a goal-oriented investor

Based on your answers, you align best with valuing clear, appropriate investment goals in your investment strategy. Check out our resources below to help you get started.

You’re a balance- oriented investor

Based on your answers, you align best with valuing a balanced, diversified mix of investments in your investment strategy. Check out our resources below to get started.

You’re a cost-oriented investor

Based on your answers, you align best with valuing minimized costs in your investment strategy. Check out our resources below to get started.

You’re a discipline-oriented investor

Based on your answers, you align best with valuing long-term perspective and discipline in your investing strategy. Check out our resources below to help you get started.

Vanguard's 4 investing principles

Create clear, appropriate investment goals

Many of us aspire to achieve a certain quality of life or fund a specific financial goal. Being explicit about your investment goals helps you turn your aspirations into reality. Over time, both savings (the amount you invest initially and over time) and investment returns (what the investment earns) will play crucial roles in achieving any investment goal. 

Keep a balanced, diversified mix of investments

This process is also known as defining an asset allocation. By diversifying investments across stocks and bonds among sectors and countries, you can reduce overall portfolio volatility and help guard against unnecessarily large losses. When considering what mix of investments is appropriate for you, bear in mind the benefit of having a portfolio that matches your level of comfort with the ups and downs of markets.

Minimize costs

While markets and financial returns may be hard to predict, one thing you can control is costs. There are two broad categories of costs you should try to minimize: taxes and investment costs, which can include expense ratios, transaction costs, and sales charges. Together, these costs cut into investment returns.

Maintain perspective and long-term discipline

Discipline in investing is the ability to adhere, over time, to an investment plan. Once you’ve created a plan by defining your goals, choosing an appropriate asset allocation, and minimizing costs, discipline is what will help you get closer to achieving your objectives.

Create clear, appropriate investment goals

Many of us aspire to achieve a certain quality of life or fund a specific financial goal. Being explicit about your investment goals helps you turn your aspirations into reality. Over time, both savings (the amount you invest initially and over time) and investment returns (what the investment earns) will play crucial roles in achieving any investment goal. 

Keep a balanced, diversified mix of investments

This process is also known as defining an asset allocation. By diversifying investments across stocks and bonds among sectors and countries, you can reduce overall portfolio volatility and help guard against unnecessarily large losses. When considering what mix of investments is appropriate for you, bear in mind the benefit of having a portfolio that matches your level of comfort with the ups and downs of markets.

Minimize costs

While markets and financial returns may be hard to predict, one thing you can control is costs. There are two broad categories of costs you should try to minimize: taxes and investment costs, which can include expense ratios, transaction costs, and sales charges. Together, these costs cut into investment returns.

Maintain perspective and long-term discipline

Discipline in investing is the ability to adhere, over time, to an investment plan. Once you’ve created a plan by defining your goals, choosing an appropriate asset allocation, and minimizing costs, discipline is what will help you get closer to achieving your objectives.

Create clear, appropriate investment goals

Many of us aspire to achieve a certain quality of life or fund a specific financial goal. Being explicit about your investment goals helps you turn your aspirations into reality. Over time, both savings (the amount you invest initially and over time) and investment returns (what the investment earns) will play crucial roles in achieving any investment goal. 

Keep a balanced, diversified mix of investments

This process is also known as defining an asset allocation. By diversifying investments across stocks and bonds among sectors and countries, you can reduce overall portfolio volatility and help guard against unnecessarily large losses. When considering what mix of investments is appropriate for you, bear in mind the benefit of having a portfolio that matches your level of comfort with the ups and downs of markets.

Minimize goals

While markets and financial returns may be hard to predict, one thing you can control is costs. There are two broad categories of costs you should try to minimize: taxes and investment costs, which can include expense ratios, transaction costs, and sales charges. Together, these costs cut into investment returns.

Maintain perspective and long-term discipline

Discipline in investing is the ability to adhere, over time, to an investment plan. Once you’ve created a plan by defining your goals, choosing an appropriate asset allocation, and minimizing costs, discipline is what will help you get closer to achieving your objectives.

See our principles in action with advice

Vanguard Personal Advisor Select™

$500,000 minimum to qualify.
Annual advisory fee: No more than $30 per $10,000 invested.

With this option, you'll experience:

  • Custom investment and financial planning strategies.
  • A dedicated Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®).
  • Portfolio stress-testing against thousands of scenarios.
  • A personalized plan based on 30+ data points specific to you.
  • A tax strategy that addresses Social Security, Roth conversions, and account withdrawal order in the context of your spending needs and legacy goals.
Get started
Learn more

Or call us at {Affiliate phone}

Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern time

See other Vanguard resources

Compare advice

Compare our advice services to see if advice is a good fit for you.

View services

Tools & calculators

Our investment tools & calculators can help your financial journey.

View tools & calculators

Investor resources

View our investor resources to expand your investing knowledge.

View resources

Have questions about advice? Talk to an investment professional at Vanguard today.

Schedule a call
We'd love to chat

We're available by phone Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Eastern time. Fill out the form to request a call, and an investment professional will call you back within 2 business days.

We may also send you other Vanguard information you might be interested in. You can opt out at any time.

Error: Enter your first name.
Error: Enter your last name.
Error: Enter a valid email address. Enter a valid email address.
Error: Enter a valid phone number. Enter a valid phone number.
Error:
Error:

Your cash deserves a good home

The Vanguard Cash Plus Account offers access to a competitive -% APY,1 no fees,2 and no minimum balance requirements.

Learn more

Open a Cash Plus Account

Download the Vanguard mobile app to track your investments wherever you are

1The Vanguard Cash Plus program APY (annual percentage yield) is 3.90% as of December 4, 2024. The APY will vary and may change at any time. Source for average bank savings yield of 0.45%: FDIC National Rates and Rate Caps as of October 21, 2024.

2A low annual account service fee of $25 is waived when you elect e-delivery of documents. You can sign up for e-delivery during and after the process of opening an account. There may be low fees for certain types of transactions. See the Vanguard Brokerage Services Commission and Fee Schedules for details and exclusions.

 

For more information about Vanguard mutual funds or ETFs, obtain a mutual fund or ETF 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 online) or through another broker (who 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.

*Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. The performance of an index is not an exact representation of any particular investment, as you cannot invest directly in an index.

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