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Founded in 1975, Vanguard guides both industry experts and everyday investors. We offer time-tested products, philosophies, and expertise to help you build a life you'll love.
Our mission
Vanguard’s mission is to take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success. Today we’re helping millions of people just like you save for a comfortable retirement.
The Vanguard difference
Most investment firms are either publicly traded or privately owned. Vanguard is owned by its funds, which are owned by Vanguard’s fund shareholder clients.
The typical fund management company is owned by third parties, either public or private stockholders, not by the funds it serves. These fund management companies must charge fund investors fees that are high enough to generate profits for the companies’ owners.
We help people save for their future through low‑cost funds and ETFs, and straightforward guidance—so more of every dollar can stay invested toward long‑term goals. You can trust that we’re focusing on your long-term success instead of quarterly results.
Our investing philosophy
At Vanguard, we believe you can increase your chances of investment success by:
- Thinking about your goals. Having a goal in mind can help when it comes to picking the right investments. This could be anything from buying a home to saving for retirement.
- Staying balanced. Investing in the right mix of stocks and bonds could have a bigger impact on your returns than anything else you do. Stocks have the potential for high returns over the long-term but are considered to be a riskier investment type. Bonds are historically a more conservative investment, and typically often offer lower potential returns.
- Being disciplined. During periods of market uncertainty, discipline can help you remain committed to a long-term investment strategy.
Our disciplined approach, clear perspective, and commitment to keeping costs low mean more of every dollar can remain invested for your future.
Before you invest, get the details. Consider the fund’s objective, risks, charges, and expenses. The fund’s prospectus (or summary prospectus, if available) will tell you these important facts and more. So read it carefully. Call Vanguard at 800-523-1188 to get one. Or you can find one at vanguard.com.
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.
Bond funds are made up of IOUs, primarily from companies or governments. These funds risk losing value if the debt isn't repaid on time. Also, bond prices can drop when interest rates rise or the issuer's reputation suffers.
Vanguard ETF Shares are not redeemable with the issuing Fund other than in very large aggregations worth millions of dollars. Instead, investors must buy or sell Vanguard ETF Shares in the secondary market and hold those shares in a brokerage account. In doing so, the investor may incur brokerage commissions and may pay more than net asset value when buying and receive less than net asset value when selling.