The Vanguard Group, Inc. 401(k): best low-cost funds
The Vanguard Retirement And Savings Plan · Plan #002 · Malvern, PA
Suggested simple Boglehead mix
The public data doesn't show enough index funds from this plan to suggest a full mix. A typical Boglehead approach: look in your menu for a US total market or S&P 500 index fund, an international index fund, and a US bond index fund, all with expense ratios under about 0.10%. Or use one low-cost target-date index fund. How the 3-fund portfolio works.
Know this plan's fund menu? Submit it and we'll add a fund-by-fund pick list.
Pooled funds named in the filing (Schedule D)
These are collective trusts and similar pooled funds the plan reported holding. Names that look like index funds are tagged index by keyword, so check them yourself. Mutual funds are not listed by name in the free data.
| Fund | Manager | Type | Plan's holding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vftc Instl TOT Stock MKT IDX TR | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $2.7B |
| Vftc Instl TOT Intl ST MKT IDX Trus | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $1.0B |
| Vftc Instl TOT Bond MKT IDX Trust | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $589.3M |
| Vftc TGT RET 2035 Trust | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $529.9M |
| Vftc TGT RET 2040 Trust | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $482.1M |
| Vftc TGT RET 2050 Trust | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $473.3M |
| Vftc TGT RET 2045 Trust | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $460.3M |
| Vftc TGT RET 2030 Trust | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $403.7M |
| Vftc TGT RET 2055 Trust | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $291.5M |
| Vftc TGT RET 2025 Trust | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $213.8M |
| Vftc TGT RET 2060 Trust | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $187.4M |
| Vftc Retirement Savings Trust II | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $101.7M |
| Vftc TGT RET 2020 Trust | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $76.2M |
| Vftc TGT RET 2065 Trust | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $57.3M |
| Vftc TGT Retirement Income Trust | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $36.4M |
| Vftc TGT RET 2070 Trust | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $5.4M |
| Vftc TGT RET Income & Growth Trust | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $468,557 |
| Vftc TGT RET 2020 Trust Select | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $0 |
| Vftc TGT RET 2025 Trust Select | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $0 |
| Vftc TGT RET 2030 Trust Select | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $0 |
| Vftc TGT RET 2035 Trust Select | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $0 |
| Vftc TGT RET 2040 Trust Select | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $0 |
| Vftc TGT RET 2045 Trust Select | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $0 |
| Vftc TGT RET 2050 Trust Select | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $0 |
| Vftc TGT RET 2055 Trust Select | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $0 |
| Vftc TGT RET 2060 Trust Select | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $0 |
| Vftc TGT RET 2065 Trust Select | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $0 |
| Vftc TGT RET 2070 Trust Select | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $0 |
| Vftc TGT RET Income Trust Select | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $0 |
| Vftc TGT RET INC & Growth TR SEL | Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $0 |
How plan assets are invested
| Category (Schedule H) | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Registered investment companies (mutual funds) | $3.4B | 30.7% |
| Common/collective trusts | $7.6B | 68.8% |
| Participant loans | $58.8M | 0.5% |
Fees paid from plan assets
| Total administrative expenses | $0 |
Reported administrative expenses were about 0.000% of average plan assets, or about $0 per participant with a balance. This usually excludes fund expense ratios netted inside mutual funds and trusts.
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 & Schedules H/D, filing ID 20251010131449NAL0008211745001. EIN 231945930.
FAQ
What are the best low-cost funds in the The Vanguard Group, Inc. 401(k)?
The free public data doesn't list enough of the The Vanguard Group, Inc. plan's index funds to say. Look in your plan's fee disclosure (404a-5 notice) for a US stock index fund, an international index fund and a bond index fund with low expense ratios.
Can I build a three-fund portfolio in the The Vanguard Group, Inc. 401(k)?
Possibly. Many large plans offer the three building blocks, but the public data for this plan doesn't confirm it. A low-cost target-date index fund is a common one-fund alternative.
How big is the The Vanguard Group, Inc. 401(k) plan?
The plan reported about $11.1B in net assets and 26,606 participants with balances for plan year 2024, according to its DOL Form 5500 filing.
Where does this data come from?
From public U.S. Department of Labor Form 5500 filings (EFAST2) and, where noted, the plan's SEC Form 11-K. Data can be outdated or incomplete, and this page is not financial advice.
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