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Vanguard's brokerage account fees are relatively low, with no commissions on most trades.
You'll pay a $20 fee for trades under $1,000, which can be waived with a minimum balance of $50,000.
Some investors may also be charged a $20 fee for options trades.
Vanguard doesn't charge maintenance fees, but you'll be charged a $20 fee for accounts that have been inactive for 24 months.
Vanguard Brokerage Account Fees
A $25 annual fee applies to each of your brokerage and mutual-fund-only accounts, but you can easily avoid it.
Vanguard offers a wide range of account types, including taxable brokerage accounts, retirement plans, and education savings accounts.
You can avoid the $20 annual account fee for clients with under $10,000 in qualifying Vanguard assets by opting into Vanguard's e-delivery service.
There are some fees to be aware of, including a $25 commission for broker-assisted trades, a 1% foreign securities and ADR dividend fee, and a $100 account closure and transfer fee.
If you have a balance below $25,000, you may be subject to an annual maintenance fee of $250.
Vanguard is mostly commission-free, charging $0 for stock and options trades, and nearly all ETFs and over 3,000 mutual funds also have $0 commissions.
Here's a breakdown of the fees you might encounter:
Commission and Trading Fees
With a Vanguard brokerage account, you won't pay a commission to buy or sell Vanguard mutual funds and ETFs online in your Vanguard account.
Most Vanguard mutual funds don't charge trading fees, but a few do to help cover high transaction costs and discourage short-term trading. These fees vary, but you can avoid them by investing for the long haul.
You can trade stocks, ETFs, and Vanguard mutual funds online without paying a single penny. This is thanks to Vanguard's $0 trading commission policy, which applies to more than 160 no-transaction-fee mutual funds from Vanguard and over 3,000 funds from other companies.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule. If you call and speak to a representative to trade, you'll be charged a $25 commission for Broker Assisted Trades. Additionally, there are fees for Foreign Securities and ADR Dividend Fee (1%), Account Closure and Transfer Fee ($100), and Tax Filing Fee For MLPs Held In An IRA ($500 per Account).
Here's a breakdown of Vanguard's trading fees:
Keep in mind that these fees may not be applicable to all Vanguard accounts, so it's essential to review your account details and fees before making any trades.
Account Fees and Requirements
Vanguard brokerage accounts come with a few fees, but they're generally low compared to other brokerages. The annual fee for each brokerage and mutual-fund-only account is $25, which can be avoided by opting into Vanguard's e-delivery service.
You can avoid account fees altogether if you have at least $50,000 in qualifying Vanguard assets, which includes Vanguard mutual funds, ETFs, annuities, and 529 plans. This will also give you access to portfolio management through Vanguard Personal Advisor Services.
Some fees to be aware of include a $25 commission for broker-assisted trades, a 1% fee for foreign securities and ADR dividend fees, and a $100 fee for account closure and transfer. There are also miscellaneous fees for certain activities, such as tax filing fees for MLPs held in an IRA, which is $500 per account.
Account Fees
Account fees can be a significant consideration when choosing a brokerage account. Vanguard, in particular, has a straightforward fee structure.
A $25 annual fee applies to each of your brokerage and mutual-fund-only accounts, which can be easily avoided by opting into Vanguard's e-delivery service.
Vanguard also charges fees for Broker Assisted Trades, Foreign Securities and ADR Dividend Fee, Account Closure and Transfer Fee, and Tax Filing Fee For MLPs Held In An IRA.
If you have a balance below $25,000 in your account, you may be subject to an annual maintenance fee of $250.
Here are the fees associated with Vanguard Brokerage Services:
It's worth noting that Vanguard offers a wide range of account types and investment products, including Vanguard mutual funds and ETFs with very low fees.
Investors with at least $50,000 in qualifying Vanguard assets qualify for portfolio management through Vanguard Personal Advisor Services, which automatically avoids the $20-per-year service fee charged on common account types.
Overall, understanding Vanguard's fee structure is essential to making informed investment decisions.
Advisory Fees
Advisory fees can be a significant expense when working with a financial advisor. Vanguard offers 4 investment advice services, each with their own advisory fee schedules.
The annual net advisory fee for Vanguard Digital Advisor is approximately 0.15% AUM, or roughly $1.50 for every $1,000 you invest. This is lower than what you'll see from other robo-advisors like Betterment and Wealthfront, which start at 0.25% per year.
Vanguard Personal Advisor has a higher annual cost, starting at 0.30% of assets under management. This is a very low price relative to what other companies charge for similar services.
The minimum investment to enroll in Vanguard Digital Advisor is $3,000, but there's no minimum requirement for Vanguard Personal Advisor.
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Non-Vanguard ETFs are available to Vanguard Brokerage Services clients, offering a range of options to consider.
You can choose from a few dozen non-Vanguard ETFs, all of which have no transaction fees.
These ETFs also come with low expense ratios and waive investment minimums.
This allows you to shop around and compare external investment options to in-house products.
Vanguard provides a handy tool to help you compare these options, but it's nice to have the freedom to choose.
Daf Administrative Fee
The DAF administrative fee is a crucial aspect of using a donor-advised fund (DAF). It's a fee that helps cover the costs of managing your charitable giving.
The fee schedule varies depending on the balance and activity of your account. For accounts with assets under $1 million, the fee is 0.60% for the first $500K and 0.30% for the next $500K.
Here's a breakdown of the administrative fee schedule:
The fee enables Vanguard Charitable to provide you with access to their knowledgeable staff, in-depth due diligence, and advanced research tools, such as the Candid Nonprofit Directory.
Your account's pricing status can also affect the administrative fee. Vanguard Charitable designates philanthropic accounts as eligible for either Standard or Premier pricing, based on account balance and activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to avoid Vanguard $25 fee?
To avoid the $25 Vanguard fee, you'll need to have at least $5 million in qualifying Vanguard assets. This exemption applies to Vanguard Brokerage Services and can help you save on fees.
Sources
- https://investor.vanguard.com/client-benefits/investment-fees
- https://investor.vanguard.com/accounts-plans/organization-accounts
- https://www.moneycrashers.com/vanguard-review-brokerage-investment-funds/
- https://thecollegeinvestor.com/19714/vanguard-review/
- http://www.vanguardcharitable.org/giving-with-vc/fees-and-minimums
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