Vanguard Review: The Low-Cost King That Still Has Some Rough Edges
Vanguard is the broker your money would choose if your money could think. Founded on the radical idea that investment companies should work for their investors — not the other way around — Vanguard has spent 50 years building a reputation as the undisputed champion of low-cost investing. With over 50 million investors and an average fund expense ratio of just 0.07% (84% below the industry average), no one does cheap like Vanguard. But here's the thing: cheap funds and $0 stock commissions are table stakes now. Fidelity, Schwab, and even Robinhood all offer commission-free trading. So the question isn't whether Vanguard is affordable — it's whether the rest of the experience holds up. The answer? It depends entirely on what kind of investor you are. If you're a long-term, buy-and-hold type who wants to park money in index funds and check in once a quarter, Vanguard is close to perfect. If you want a slick trading platform, fractional stock shares, or cutting-edge research tools, you'll be frustrated. Let's dig into the specifics.