A Step by Step Guide to Selling Vanguard Mutual Funds

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To sell Vanguard mutual funds, you'll need to follow a few simple steps. First, you'll need to have a Vanguard account, which you can open online or by phone.

You can sell your Vanguard mutual funds online, over the phone, or by mail. The process is relatively straightforward and can be completed in a few minutes.

To sell your funds online, you'll need to log in to your Vanguard account and navigate to the "Trade" or "Sell" section. From there, you can select the fund you want to sell and enter the number of shares you'd like to sell.

If you're selling a large amount of shares, you may want to consider using Vanguard's automatic investment plan to avoid a large tax bill. This plan allows you to sell a portion of your shares each quarter, reducing the tax impact.

It's also a good idea to review your account and make sure you're not selling a fund that's had a recent market downturn. This can help you avoid selling low and potentially missing out on future gains.

Buying and Selling Mutual Funds

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You can buy or sell Vanguard mutual funds through your Vanguard Brokerage Account or your Vanguard mutual fund-only account.

If you buy or sell via a bank transfer, your bank account should be debited or credited within 2 business days.

It's easy to open a brokerage account online if you need to do so.

You can also buy or sell Vanguard mutual funds through financial services firms like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E-Trade, and Interactive Brokers.

Investment Details

To sell Vanguard mutual funds, you can start by logging into your account online or by calling the customer service number.

You'll need to have your account information and identification ready to verify your identity.

Vanguard offers a range of mutual funds, including index funds and actively managed funds, with various investment minimums and fees.

Prices

Mutual funds determine the price of their shares each business day by law.

They take the current value of all a fund's assets, subtract the liabilities, and divide the result by the total number of outstanding shares.

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This price is known as the net asset value (NAV).

If you request to buy or sell a fund before 4 p.m. Eastern time, your transaction will receive that day's closing price.

If your request is received after the market closes, your transaction will receive the next business day's closing price.

Investment Fees & Minimums

Investment fees can range from 0.05% to 1.5% or more annually, depending on the type of investment and management style.

Some investment accounts have low or no fees, such as index funds and ETFs, which can be a cost-effective option for investors.

A $1,000 investment with a 1% annual fee would result in a $10 loss in the first year alone.

Minimum investment requirements can vary greatly, ranging from $100 to $10,000 or more, depending on the investment product and firm.

Some brokerages and investment platforms have no minimum investment requirements, making it easier for new investors to get started.

A $5,000 minimum investment can be a barrier for those with limited financial resources or a small amount of money to invest.

Vanguard Mutual Funds

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Vanguard mutual funds are a great option for investors who want to save on fees.

The broker-assisted commission does not apply to brokerage accounts enrolled in a Vanguard-affiliated advisory service.

Some Vanguard mutual funds charge special purchase and/or redemption fees that range from 0.25% to 1.00% of the transaction amount.

These fees are paid directly to the funds to help cover higher transaction costs and protect long-term investors by discouraging short-term, speculative trading.

Account service fees may apply, but the details are not specified in the article.

Vanguard mutual funds have very low and highly competitive fees that are substantially below the fund industry averages.

Some of its mutual funds are actively managed, but other funds and most of its ETFs use a hands-off indexing approach.

A few Vanguard mutual funds charge special fees, but the article doesn't mention any fees for the actively managed funds.

Vanguard's unique management structure is owned by investors in its funds, similar to a mutual fund credit union.

Miscellaneous fees tend to be low with Vanguard funds, incurred mainly if a client doesn't meet an account balance minimum of $10,000.

Key Information

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To sell Vanguard mutual funds, you can log in to your account on the Vanguard website or mobile app. You can also call Vanguard's customer service or visit a local branch.

The minimum requirement to sell mutual funds varies depending on the account type and the specific fund. For example, you may need to sell a minimum of $100 worth of shares in some accounts.

You can sell a portion of your mutual fund shares, not just the entire investment. This is known as a partial redemption. This option is available for most Vanguard mutual funds.

The sale of mutual funds is typically processed within a few business days, but this timeframe may vary depending on market conditions.

Brokerages and Recordkeeping

Vanguard will continue to report the basis to you using average cost for noncovered mutual fund shares.

If you're eligible to use a method other than average cost, you can use your records to report earliest lots acquired on your tax return, but Vanguard won't be able to assist you in determining the earliest lots.

For noncovered shares, Vanguard will report the basis to you if they know it, but they won't send it to the IRS.

You'll need to download, complete, and mail a Cost Basis Method Election Form if you want to use a method other than average cost for noncovered shares.

Settlement Fund

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Your settlement fund holds the money you use to buy securities, as well as the proceeds whenever you sell.

You can buy Vanguard mutual funds with no worries about the execution price, as long as you place the order before the cutoff time.

The cutoff time for Vanguard mutual funds is the business day's closing price, but for other companies' funds, it varies by fund. You can find the cutoff time by clicking the fund's name as you place a trade.

Orders received after the cutoff deadline will execute at the following business day's closing price, so be sure to place your trades on time.

Vanguard Brokerage offers a variety of funds from other companies with no transaction fees, and the fees for transaction-fee funds don't vary with order size.

Before you transact, it's essential to understand how the settlement fund works, as all funds bought and sold from other companies settle through it.

Brokerages Selling Mutual Funds

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Vanguard Brokerage Services sells Vanguard Funds, but you don't have to go to them to buy them. Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E-Trade, and Interactive Brokers also sell Vanguard Funds.

You can buy Vanguard Funds through Fidelity, a well-known brokerage firm.

Charles Schwab is another brokerage firm that offers Vanguard Funds for sale.

Additional Recordkeeping Required

You may need to keep more detailed records than you think. For noncovered mutual fund shares, you'll need to track the average cost basis, as the brokerage will only report this to you.

It's a good idea to review your records regularly, especially if you're eligible to use a method other than average cost for noncovered shares. This allows you to report earliest lots acquired on your tax return.

If you have noncovered shares for which the brokerage doesn't have an acquisition date, they'll be sold first. This is followed by shares with the earliest acquisition date.

You can download a Cost Basis Method Election Form from the brokerage's website to help with this process.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cash out my Vanguard mutual funds?

To cash out your Vanguard mutual funds, log into your account and navigate to the 'Payments' section, then select 'Withdraw cash' from the 'Money out' tab.

Minnie Dietrich

Senior Assigning Editor

Minnie Dietrich is an accomplished Assigning Editor with a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling. With a background in journalism, she has honed her skills in curating engaging content that resonates with diverse audiences. Throughout her career, Minnie has demonstrated expertise in assigning and editing articles across a range of categories, including technology, finance, and lifestyle.

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