Shutdown

While February saw the U.S. government reopen after a record-setting 35-day partial shutdown, someone apparently forgot to send the memo to Malvern. Vanguard announced it would be shutting down its VanguardAdvantage cash management service. At the same time, they revealed they will be shuttering various index funds’ Investor share classes in favor of new Admiral shares for funds like Social Index and Total World Stock Index that were launched during the month.

In this month’s issue, we’ll take a look at Vanguard’s factor funds, both new and old. We’re also taking the time to review High-Yield Corporate and High-Yield Tax-Exempt, which marked their 40th anniversaries—a milestone most funds never reach—back in December. Lastly, we dive into what is sure to be an extended discussion on the best ideas for making your retirement nest egg last throughout your lifetime. This is a big topic that we plan to cover over the course of several issues, but spoiler alert: there is no “magic number” or amount of money that will guarantee a financial-worry-free retirement.