Vanguard

Vanguard, fund manager and advisory services for investors

Vanguard is a financial services firm focused on long-term investing. Its offering combines investment products —mutual funds, ETFs, money market funds, stocks, CDs, and bonds— with advisory and financial planning services. The firm reports more than 50 million investors, according to data as of December 31, 2025.

Investment products

The product lineup includes mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), money market funds, stocks, certificates of deposit (CDs), and bonds. The firm offers a broad range of options for building a portfolio, and publishes information on the fees and expenses associated with these products.

Advisory and planning services

Vanguard provides financial advisory services, both with human advisors and through a robo-advisor, to develop personalized strategies. The areas it covers include retirement preparation, cash management, estate planning, and saving for education. Estate planning is offered exclusively to investors with $5 million in Vanguard funds or ETFs. For education expenses, the firm offers 529 savings plans.

Cash Plus Account

The Vanguard Cash Plus Account is a cash management product. According to published information, the sweep program for this account offered an annual percentage yield (APY) of 3.35% as of September 3, 2026, with an additional 0.25% boost effective through September 30, 2026. The firm notes that the APY is variable and may change at any time, and that there are differences between this account and traditional bank products.

Investment principles and track record

The firm states it has been operating for 50 years and summarizes its approach in four principles: goals, balance, costs, and discipline. In its presentation, it highlights that 77% of its mutual funds and ETFs outperformed their peer-group average. This figure refers to the 10-year period ended June 30, 2026: 6 of 6 money market funds, 67 of 108 bond funds, 21 of 23 balanced funds, and 166 of 199 stock funds, totaling 260 of 336 funds. The comparison includes only mutual funds and ETFs with at least a 10-year history, and the cited source is LSEG Lipper. The firm itself cautions that results vary by time period and that past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Investor resources

Vanguard makes educational materials available to its clients, including articles on investing and market topics, FAQs about taxes and tax forms, and a market summary updated every 15 minutes. It also publishes content on financial habits, such as a guide with five practices to improve financial health.

Access and account operations

Account operations are handled through an online account, which allows you to open an account, log in, and set up online access. The firm also hosts informational webinars, such as the one dedicated to how its index products will participate in SpaceX's IPO.