Is Vanguard a mutual fund or ETF?
Both offer a wide variety of investment options
The most common investments held in Vanguard accounts are mutual funds and ETFs (from Vanguard and other fund families) and individual stocks, bonds, options, and CDs.
Vanguard is the largest issuer of mutual funds in the world and the second-largest issuer of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). John Bogle, Vanguard's founder, began the first index fund, which tracked the S&P 500 in 1975. Index funds with low fees are appropriate investments for the majority of investors.
Also available as an Admiral™ Shares mutual fund.
How are ETFs and mutual funds different? How are they managed? While they can be actively or passively managed by fund managers, most ETFs are passive investments pegged to the performance of a particular index. Mutual funds come in both active and indexed varieties, but most are actively managed.
Index investing pioneer Vanguard's S&P 500 Index Fund was the first index mutual fund for individual investors.
ETFs and index mutual funds tend to be generally more tax efficient than actively managed funds. And, in general, ETFs tend to be more tax efficient than index mutual funds. You want niche exposure. Specific ETFs focused on particular industries or commodities can give you exposure to market niches.
The Bottom Line. Most Vanguard index mutual funds have a corresponding ETF. The most significant difference between mutual funds and ETFs is how tradable the shares are. ETFs can be bought and sold throughout the day, whereas mutual fund shares price only once per day.
While Fidelity wins out overall, Vanguard is the best option for retirement savers. Its platform offers tools and education focused specifically on retirement planning.
Leader in low-cost funds: The company has a solid reputation for the well-below-average expense ratios on its index funds and exchange-traded funds. For long-term investors looking to pair a buy-and-hold strategy with the lowest-cost offerings, it's hard to beat the service and selection found with Vanguard.
Is Vanguard good for beginners?
“Beginner investors should consider Vanguard funds for their low costs, diversification across asset classes and regions, simplicity, and robust investor education resources,” says Sean August, CEO of The August Wealth Management Group.
For instance, some ETFs may come with fees, others might stray from the value of the underlying asset, ETFs are not always optimized for taxes, and of course — like any investment — ETFs also come with risk.
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Both mutual funds and ETFs offer investors pooled investment product options. Mutual funds have more complex structuring than ETFs with varying share classes and fees. ETFs typically appeal to investors because they track market indexes. Mutual funds appeal because they offer a wide selection of actively managed funds.
| Symbol | Name | 5-Year Return |
|---|---|---|
| SPXL | Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X Shares | 21.97% |
| UPRO | ProShares UltraPro S&P500 | 21.68% |
| FTEC | Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 21.67% |
| IXN | iShares Global Tech ETF | 21.54% |
With a mutual fund, you buy and sell based on dollars, not market price or shares. And you can specify any dollar amount you want—down to the penny or as a nice round figure, like $3,000. With an ETF, you buy and sell based on market price—and you can only trade full shares.
The Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Class (VFIAX) and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) are similar investment products. Both track the S&P 500, a U.S. stock index comprising 500 companies with the largest market capitalizations. Both funds have expense ratios significantly lower than those of the average fund.
For example, a mutual fund that invests in high-yield bonds may be riskier than an ETF that invests in blue-chip stocks. It's essential to consider the investment objectives, strategies, and holdings of each fund before making an investment decision.
Our recommendation for the best overall S&P 500 index fund is the Fidelity 500 Index Fund. With a 0.015% expense ratio, it's the cheapest on our list. And it doesn't have a minimum initial investment requirement, sales loads or trading fees. Over the last 10 years, FXAIX has returned an annualized 12.02%.
The choice comes down to what you value most. If you prefer the flexibility of trading intraday and favor lower expense ratios in most instances, go with ETFs. If you worry about the impact of commissions and spreads, go with mutual funds.
Are Vanguard ETFs cheaper than mutual funds?
ETFs have lower costs on average than passively managed mutual funds and don't charge 12b-1 fees. The expense ratio is the cost of the mutual fund, including any management fees, fees for expenses, and 12b-1 fees, and expressed as a percentage of the total assets under management.
ETFs have transparent and hidden fees as well—there are simply fewer of them, and they cost less. Mutual funds charge their shareholders for everything that goes on inside the fund, such as transaction fees, distribution charges, and transfer-agent costs.
Vanguard Brokerage doesn't charge additional fees for a purchase, a sale, or an exchange of any load mutual fund offered through our program. 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).
If you're paying fees for a fund with a high expense ratio or paying too much in taxes each year because of undesired capital gains distributions, switching to ETFs is likely the right choice. If your current investment is in an indexed mutual fund, you can usually find an ETF that accomplishes the same thing.
Yes. Many of the index mutual funds at Vanguard are eligible for tax-free conversion into ETF shares if the process is completed while the securities are held at Vanguard.
