About Vanguard
Changing the way the world invests
Who we are
Changing the way the world invests
Fast fact: We're one of the world's largest and most respected investment companies.
Our remarkable history includes launching the first index mutual fund.
Our long-tenured leaders oversee about 15,000 crew members in 16 locations worldwide.
What sets Vanguard apart
An unwavering focus on investors
Unlike any other investment company, we are built to create wealth only for our clients—not for outside owners. That motivates us to keep costs low—currently less than one-fifth the industry average.* This helps our fund investors to seek better earnings over time.
As a client-focused company, we're committed to following our time-tested investment principles, with the highest degree of integrity.
Our clients
Serving individuals and professionals worldwide
We are stewards of the assets of more than 20 million clients. With offices around the world we serve:
- Individuals investing on their own.
- Participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans.
- Financial advisors.
- Institutional investors.
- Investors outside the United States.
Community involvement
Creating a better way of life in our communities
Our crew members volunteer thousands of hours to charitable programs, donate millions of dollars to worthy causes, and support a free K-12 curriculum that teaches thousands of students basic financial concepts.
We're also expanding our efforts toward long-term environmental sustainability.
- . . . One of the world's largest investment management companies . . .
- . . . About $4 trillion in assets under management (as of December 2016) . . .
- . . . In business since 1975 . . .
- . . . Approximately 370 funds and ETFs worldwide . . .
- . . . About 15,000 employees . . .
- . . . Oldest fund started in 1929 . . .
- . . . Started first index mutual fund in 1976 . . .
- . . . Average fund costs less than one-fifth the industry average* . . .
*Based on 2016 U.S. mutual fund industry asset-weighted average expense ratio of 0.62% (excluding Vanguard) and Vanguard's corresponding average of 0.12%. Source: Morningstar, Inc.