Vanguard: Investment Commentary

In this podcast, Daniel Wallick, a principal in Vanguard's Investment Strategy Group, examines the premise that baby boomers will withdraw money from the stock market when they retire, putting downward pressure on equities.

Vanguard economists explain why they think the global economy could perform better in 2014 than it has averaged over the past five years.

In a follow-up to November's podcast on taxes, Sarah Hammer, a senior investment analyst in Vanguard Investment Strategy Group, talks about common methods of charitable giving, including gifting appreciated securities and tax-deferred assets.

Sarah Hammer, a senior investment analyst in Vanguard Investment Strategy Group, reviews popular year-end strategies such as rebalancing, gain/loss realization, and charitable giving.

Vanguard economists Joe Davis and Roger Aliaga-Diaz discuss the challenge the U.S. Federal Reserve and other major central banks face in stimulating economic growth without triggering high inflation.

Is your investing driven by your desired return (which may be inflated by advertising and word of mouth) or by the return actually required to meet your needs? A required return approach could mean less volatility and a greater likelihood of meeting your goals.

Foreign currency exposure dominates the volatility profile of international bonds. Christian Loxham, a trader in Vanguard Fixed Income Group, explains Vanguard's reasoning behind why international bond investing should be hedged, and the strategy that is being applied to the new Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund.

Sarah Hammer, a senior analyst in Vanguard Investment Strategy Group, explains the tax rule changes that occurred earlier this year, including increased rates for higher income taxpayers, revisions to the estate and gift tax, limitations to personal exemptions and itemized deductions, and a new Medicare investment surtax.

It's one of the most important questions any retiree faces: "How much can I afford to withdraw from my portfolio each year? " Many advisors recommend the "4% rule " to their clients, but others have their doubts—especially in the wake of recent market volatility. In this interview, John Ameriks, head of Vanguard's active equity team, says research indicates that a 4% withdrawal rate, adjusted annually for inflation, remains a useful guideline for most investors.

Walter Lenhard, a senior investment strategist at Vanguard, discusses benchmark construction best practices and Vanguard's decision to change benchmarks for 22 index funds.

Three of Vanguard's top experts discuss the state of the stock and bond markets and the challenges still facing the global economy. Chief Economist Joe Davis is joined by Joel Dickson of our Investment Strategy Group and Christopher Alwine, who oversees our municipal bond funds.

With the "fiscal cliff" on the horizon, year-end tax planning is a little more complicated than usual this year. Vanguard senior investment analyst Joel Dickson discusses how to think about capital gains, losses, and distributions.

Chuck Thomas, an analyst in Vanguard's Investment Strategy Group, describes Vanguard's current outlook on inflation, as well as how inflation protection securities can be incorporated in a portfolio. He explains the differences between short-term and long-term TIPS and the tradeoffs of choosing one over the other.

David R. Glocke of Vanguard Fixed Income Group and Sarah D. Hammer of Vanguard Investment Counseling & Research discuss proposals to reform the money market sector. They also highlight some of the key management principles behind Vanguard's money market funds.

Vanguard muni bond fund manager James D'Arcy addresses California's fiscal woes and says we don't expect a national surge in municipal bankruptcies.