Advice from Vanguard options for every participant
Vanguard Digital Advisor®
Customized portfolio, ongoing investment management, and holistic financial planning for participants who prefer advice entirely online.
- For life’s important financial goals, especially saving for retirement.
- Robust financial wellness support, including emergency saving tools, Social Security payment planning, and retirement income strategies.
- Expert advice and ongoing money management.
Annual net advisory fee of ~15 bps1
Vanguard Personal Advisor®
High-tech, high-touch service for participants who want advice both digitally and from a Vanguard advisor who’s focused on their needs.
- For even the most complex retirement and other financial goals.
- Everything included in Digital Advisor, plus ongoing access to professional advisors.
- Expert advice and ongoing money management.
Annual net advisory fee of ~30 bps1
Vanguard Situational Advisor™
Point-in-time consultation for participants to meet with a Vanguard advisor who can address any financial situation and provide a full financial plan.
- For specific retirement or financial goals or questions.
- One-on-one coaching for better saving and spending habits.
- Expert advice on financial actions that participants can implement themselves.
$250 per consultation1
Our advice is making waves
First overall robo‑advisor in Morningstar's Robo‑Advisor Report
three times in a row.
three times in a row.
Most recently awarded January 2025, based on data as of December 2024.*
Compensation provided for use of the rating in marketing materials.
Voted NerdWallet's "Best Robo-Advisor for Low-Cost Investing" 2021–2024.
Ready to learn more about how Advice from Vanguard can help your participants thrive?
*Vanguard received the first overall ranking in Morningstar's Robo-Advisor Report for 2025 among 15 other robo-advisors selected by Morningstar. Morningstar evaluated each provider across the following weighted criteria, as of December 2024, to determine their rankings: total price (30%); the process used to select investments, construct portfolios, and match portfolios with investors (30%); the platform provider (20%); and breadth of services (20%). Vanguard also received the same ranking in 2023 and 2022 in Morningstar’s Robo-Advisor Landscape Report, based on December 2022 and 2021 data, respectively. Additional details about Morningstar's methodology are available on its website. Current fees may vary for Vanguard's advisory services and the other robo-advisors considered. Although Vanguard compensates Morningstar for marketing services, Morningstar's opinions and evaluations are independent and unrelated to the selection of Vanguard for this ranking. Following the independent announcement of this ranking, Vanguard purchased a license from Morningstar for the right to include this rating in Vanguard marketing. Source: 2025 Robo-Advisor Report by Dan Culloton, et al. © 2025 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.
**Vanguard Digital Advisor previously received NerdWallet's top rating for "Best Robo-Advisor for Low-Cost Investing" in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. NerdWallet selected Vanguard Digital Advisor for the 2021 award based on November 16, 2020, data, the 2022 award based on October 1, 2021, data, the 2023 award based on October 1, 2022, data, and the 2024 award based on October 1, 2023, data. For the 2024 award, NerdWallet evaluated 15 providers across the following weighted criteria to determine the winner for low costs: management fees (50%), expense ratios on investments (40%), and account fees (10%). Additional details about NerdWallet's methodology and current Best-Of Awards winners are available on its website. Current fees may vary for Digital Advisor and the other robo-advisors considered. Although Vanguard compensates NerdWallet for marketing services, NerdWallet's opinions and evaluations are independent and unrelated to the selection of Digital Advisor for this award. © 2017–2025 and TM, NerdWallet, Inc. All rights reserved.
1 Actual costs vary for Vanguard Digital Advisor and Vanguard Personal Advisor services.
Digital Advisor will reduce the participant’s gross advisory fee by the amount of revenue (such as expense ratio rebates) that Vanguard (or a Vanguard affiliate) collects on their portfolio to calculate the net advisory fee. Digital Advisor’s annual net advisory fee is approximately 0.15% across the participant’s enrolled accounts for a typical investment portfolio, although their actual net fee will vary depending on the specific holdings in each enrolled account. The participant’s net advisory fee can also vary by enrolled account type. Plan participants’ actual advisory fees will vary depending on their plan’s lineup and the revenue that Vanguard receives from those investments. Participants will be notified of the gross advisory fees applicable to their accounts via plan fee disclosure notices.
Personal Advisor will reduce the participant’s gross advisory fee by the amount of revenue (such as expense ratio rebates) that Vanguard (or a Vanguard affiliate) collects on their portfolio to calculate the net advisory fee. Personal Advisor’s annual net advisory fee is approximately 0.30% across the participant’s enrolled accounts for a typical investment portfolio, although their actual net fee will vary depending on the specific holdings in each enrolled account. The participant’s net advisory fee can also vary by enrolled account type. Plan participants’ actual advisory fees will vary depending on their plan’s lineup and the revenue that Vanguard receives from those investments. Participants will be notified of the gross advisory fees applicable to their accounts via plan fee disclosure notices.
Plans may pay part or all the $250 per consultation Situational Advice fee for their participants.
Advice from Vanguard services excludes participants with a foreign address or insiders. Digital Advisor requires a minimum of $5 of manageable assets in a Vanguard retirement plan account. Personal Advisor requires that a participant have manageable assets of at least $250,000 in Vanguard retirement plans, $50,000 in personal Vanguard accounts, or $250,000 in total at Vanguard.
All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.
Vanguard Digital Advisor's and Vanguard Personal Advisor’s services are provided solely by Vanguard Advisers, Inc. (VAI), a registered investment advisor. Please review the Vanguard Digital Advisor and Personal Advisor brochure for important details about these services. Vanguard Digital Advisor’s and Personal Advisor's financial planning tools provide projections and goal forecasts, which are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of future results.
Vanguard Situational Advisor is provided by Vanguard Advisers, Inc. (VAI), a registered investment advisor. Eligibility restrictions may apply.
VAI is a subsidiary of The Vanguard Group, Inc. (VGI), and an affiliate of Vanguard Marketing Corporation (VMC). Neither VAI nor its affiliates guarantee profits or protection from losses.