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Vanguard: What is a brokerage account and how does it operate?


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    *See the Vanguard Brokerage services commission and fee schedules for other fees that may apply. 

    **Earnings on nonqualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state and local income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements. State tax treatment of withdrawals used for i) expenses for tuition in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school, ii) expenses related to apprenticeship programs, or iii) student loan repayments is determined by the state(s) where the taxpayer files state income tax. If you are not a Nevada taxpayer, please consult with a tax advisor.

    ***Minimum initial investment requirements for most mutual funds range from $1,000 to $100,000 depending on the fund and the share class, but some may be higher. Details are provided in each fund profile.

    ****A $25 annual account service fee is charged for all Vanguard Brokerage Accounts, as well as for each fund held in a legacy mutual fund-only account by clients with less than $5 million in qualifying Vanguard assets. For brokerage clients, Vanguard Brokerage doesn't charge the fee to clients who elect e-delivery of statements and the annual privacy policy notice; confirmations; reports, prospectuses, and proxy materials; and notices, amendments, and other important account updates. In addition, Vanguard Brokerage doesn't charge the fee to clients with at least $5 million in qualifying Vanguard assets. See the full commission and fee schedules for details on additional exclusions.

    †The 5-year holding period for Roth IRAs starts on the earlier of: (1) the date you first contributed directly to the IRA, (2) the date you rolled over a Roth 401(k) or Roth 403(b) to the Roth IRA, or (3) the date you converted a traditional IRA to the Roth IRA. If you're under age 59½ and you have one Roth IRA that holds proceeds from multiple conversions, you're required to keep track of the 5-year holding period for each conversion separately.

    ††Vanguard received the top rating for ”#1 Most Trusted Financial Companies- ETF/Fund Companies" for 2022 among 11 other ETF and fund companies selected by Investor's Business Daily (IBD). IBD, in partnership with TechnoMetrica, conducted 2 independent polls and surveyed more than 6,500 consumers in June and July 2022. This year's survey was also co-presented by IBD's sister company, MarketWatch. After 2 phases of research, IBD computed the component scores by taking the difference between the percentage of respondents assigning very high or high rating and the percentage who gave a low or very low rating. Based on the results, the associated weightings are as follows:  Quality of products and services (19.09%), ethical business practices and values (16.97%), privacy and security of personal data (16.32% weighting), customer service (16.2% weighting), fair prices and fees (14.15% weighting), and company responsiveness to customer needs (12.32% weighting). Additional details about IBD's methodology are available on their website. Although Vanguard compensates IBD for marketing services, IBD's opinions and evaluations are independent and unrelated to the selection for this award.

    You must buy and sell Vanguard ETF Shares through Vanguard Brokerage Services (we offer them commission-free) or through another broker (which may charge commissions). See the Vanguard Brokerage Services commission and fee schedules for limits. Vanguard ETF Shares are not redeemable directly with the issuing fund other than in very large aggregations worth millions of dollars. ETFs are subject to market volatility. When buying or selling an ETF, you will pay or receive the current market price, which may be more or less than net asset value.

    For more information about Vanguard funds or Vanguard ETFs, obtain a mutual fund or an ETF prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information about a fund are contained in the prospectus; read and consider it carefully before investing.

    For more information about The Vanguard 529 College Savings Plan, visit vanguard.com to obtain a Program Description, which includes investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other information; read and consider it carefully before investing. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

    If you are not a Nevada taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program. Other state benefits may include financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors.

    The Vanguard 529 College Savings Plan is a Nevada Trust administered by the office of the Nevada State Treasurer.

    The Vanguard Group, Inc., serves as the Investment Manager for The Vanguard 529 College Savings Plan and through its affiliate, Vanguard Marketing Corporation, markets and distributes the Plan. Ascensus Broker Dealer Services, LLC, serves as Program Manager and has overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations. The Plan's portfolios, although they invest in Vanguard mutual funds, are not mutual funds. Investment returns are not guaranteed, and you could lose money by investing in the Plan.

    All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.

    Tax rates will vary based on the individual and on changing tax rates. You may wish to consult a tax advisor about your situation.

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