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Vanguard Assets Under Management in 2026
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Vanguard AUM
Vanguard has one of the largest selections of mutual and exchange-traded funds in the world. Because
so many investors trust the broker-dealer with their assets, the company has very deep pockets. There
are about 20,000 people who work for the privately-held company. Technically, it is owned by its funds, which in turn are owned by their shareholders.
The company has the following impressive stats:
| Assets under management |
$12 trillion |
| Number of customers |
50 million+ in about 170 countries |
| Number of funds |
465 |
| Average fund expense ratio |
0.06% |
| Review |
Vanguard review |
Vanguard has $12 trillion in assets under management. Its higher-rated competitor, Charles Schwab, has
$11.77 trillion in total client assets and over 39.1 million customers.
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Overview of Vanguard
Investors often choose Vanguard (member of SIPC) for the brokerage firm's large lineup of
mutual funds and exchange-traded funds with relatively low expense ratios. While other fund families now also offer low-cost products, Vanguard continues to provide investment
services across multiple areas.
Customer Support
Vanguard offers phone support during weekday business hours, with personal investor Client Services generally available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. Weekend phone support is limited. The brokerage
provides different phone numbers for specific departments, such as retirement services and education savings plans. Vanguard also offers a dedicated number for clients who are traveling outside the United States.
Vanguard does not offer live online chat on its website, although secure internal messaging is available to logged-in clients. Customer service is primarily offered in English, and Vanguard does not operate traditional branch locations for retail brokerage customers.
Compared to some competitors, Vanguard’s customer service options are more limited. For example, some rival brokers provide 24/7 support, online chat, and physical branch locations, which Vanguard does not emphasize as part of its service model.
Vanguard Commissions, Fees, and Account Requirements
Vanguard no longer uses the old tiered commission schedule that depended on account size. Stock and ETF trades placed online are commission-free, in line with much of the brokerage industry.
Vanguard does not charge trading commissions for most online stock and ETF trades. However, certain transactions, such as trades assisted by a representative, may carry additional fees. Pricing and policies can vary depending on the type of service requested.
Options trading at Vanguard includes a per-contract fee, with no base commission for online trades. The exact pricing structure may change over time, and additional costs can apply for broker-assisted orders.
A brokerage account at Vanguard can be opened without a minimum deposit. The firm does not charge inactivity fees or low-balance maintenance fees. Vanguard does, however, charge an annual account service fee, which can be waived by opting for electronic delivery of statements and confirmations, or by meeting certain balance or asset thresholds.
Larger account balances can unlock additional benefits, but even smaller investors can avoid many fees by using electronic delivery and standard online services. In terms of trading costs, Vanguard is generally competitive with other major brokers that also offer commission-free stock and ETF trades, including Robinhood and other discount brokerages that advertise $0 commissions.
Updated on 5/5/2026.
Chad Morris is a financial writer with more than 20 years experience
as both an English teacher and an avid trader. When he isn’t writing
expert content for Brokerage-Review.com, Chad can usually be found
managing his portfolio or building a new home computer.
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