During CEO Tim Buckley's waning months, Vanguard is imposing fees that may affect its older investors, while hand-off to Ascensus of certain IRA and 401(k) products also comes with some sticker shock

The Malvern, Pa., giant transferred SEP IRA and 401(k) assets to its recordkeeper, which immediately imposed new fees, while Vanguard's new pricing schedule includes a commission to phone in Vanguard fund sales or purchases

Author Oisin Breen May 2, 2024 at 1:27 AM

15 Comments

Tim Buckley: We were founded on the idea of giving clients a fair shake.

Brooke Southall and Keith Girard contributed to the editing of this article.

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Anonymous

May 2, 2024 — 4:26 PM

Good service cost money and the fees seem quite reasonable. For example an Individual 401K administered by Ascensus via Pershing costs $150 per year (versus the $20 quoted in the article).

Tony Rota

May 2, 2024 — 5:29 PM

Vanguard is going page by page out of the airlines playbook Low cost from A to B, then hit the customer with fees and add ons for everything including water. I'm waiting for the mandatory disembark fee. That would be similar to the account closure fee at Vanguard.

Ted FS

May 2, 2024 — 5:58 PM

Sounds like time to move our money to someone who cares.

Robertt Beck

May 2, 2024 — 9:30 PM

This scheme of changes has me nervous. It doesn't sound like the company wants to continue to be friend to the investors, large or small.

Dan

May 3, 2024 — 5:11 AM

Vanguard isn’t Vanguard anymore…

Phil

May 3, 2024 — 7:14 AM

I have supported Vanguard for years It feels like I should learn about ETF to WTF conversions. And yes both those initials mean what you think they mean.

Cliff

May 3, 2024 — 8:28 AM

The article mentions the $20 annual fee that Ascensus will charge i401k clients but according to the letter I got from Vanguard there will also be additional charges of $20 for EACH Vanguard fund held in the i401k. Therefore, even if I only limit myself to four funds in my i401k account (for example S&P 500, Midcap, Healthcare and Energy) I’d be hit with a $100 annual fee ($20 + 4 x $20). And most investors have many more Vanguard funds in their accounts in order to diversify by taking advantage of the literally dozens of Vanguard funds, so the annual fees could be exorbitant.

Kurt

May 3, 2024 — 12:42 PM

He should be fired. Not following Bogle theories. I can have a bank statement with five accounts on one sheet of paper mailed to me monthly. Vanguard has to mail five sheets with all the legal ease for each account. Idiots in charge waste of resources. Now they’re going to charge you to leave. Does that mean people are going to Black rock Fidelity Charles Schwab?

Suman

May 3, 2024 — 4:04 PM

Vanguard is supposed to be a mutual fund company i.e. one owned by the customers. How can it do things like these without approval of owners?

Joe brady

May 3, 2024 — 4:04 PM

I do not understand the push for additional fees. Vanguard is owned by the Individual stakeholders. Who is pushing for more fees? This would be understandable if it was owned by stockholders. I ask why the rush for money?

Peter

May 3, 2024 — 4:14 PM

Vanguard has been stolen. They kept trying to force me to purchase their experts advice and control. I had to tell them that those experts can manage their own money if they had any but they need to keep their their eyes off my money. They also tried to force me to open brokerage account threatening to impose various fees if I didn't.

Patrick

May 3, 2024 — 6:54 PM

I transferred my assets from Vanguard to Fidelity today . I had a Vanguard account for years. I don't need fees where none existed before now. Vanguard has disrespected me and my account.

Mike Stone

May 3, 2024 — 10:55 PM

For those jumping ship, please let us know how it works out and where you go. I was with brown & Co decades ago. It got bought by Etrade. Over the years, I threatened to leave Etrade. But prices were no better (and usually worse) elsewhere. And service elsewhere was comparable. As for fidelity, I ranted at them for poor customer service in 2012 on our joint account with my wife.. They sent me a letter saying (more politely than this): we don't want you as a customer. My move from them and that letter crossed in the mail. Fast forward to 2024. My wife's company's 401k advisor was changing trustees to Fidelity. They called her asking if she knows why Fidelity doesn't want her : ) She's the only employee set up at schwab

Suman

May 4, 2024 — 11:53 AM

Most alarming thing is transition from providing service to customers to goal of controlling customers and their assets. Customers are constantly harassed to move everything to brokerage and give up control of their assets to Vanguard experts and advisors. John Bogle's days are over. I have Vanguard accounts for 45 years.

John

May 5, 2024 — 11:23 AM

I own shares in a few companies, all of them have elections for BOD in which shareholders have to vote. Shareholder vote is also required for major policy issues. However I do not recall ever receiving any proxy material or voting ballots. Where does the decision making power lies for Vanguard and who they are accountable to.

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