What is a Brokerage account and how does it work? | Vanguard (2024)

*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 online) or through another broker (who may charge commissions). See the Vanguard Brokerage Services Commission and Fee Schedulesfor 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, visitvanguard.com to obtain a Program Description, which includes investmentobjectives, 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.

What is a Brokerage account and how does it work? | Vanguard (2024)

FAQs

What is a Brokerage account and how does it work? | Vanguard? ›

A brokerage account is a standard nonretirement investing account. You can hold mutual funds, ETFs (exchange-traded funds), stocks, bonds, and more, which can generate returns and help you grow your savings. Use it to save for any goal, and take your money out anytime with no early withdrawal penalty.

What is the downside to a brokerage account? ›

No tax breaks for contributions or withdrawals.

The biggest drawback of a brokerage account versus other types of retirement accounts (not including Roth IRAs) is that there's no initial tax advantage. You fund the account with after-tax money, then pay taxes on investment gains when you withdraw.

Can you take money out of a brokerage account? ›

With a brokerage account, any money you contribute or earn is yours to withdraw at any time. Just know that any earnings, or gains from selling investments you bought at a lower price, usually will be taxed. Your ability to contribute to one popular type of retirement account, a Roth IRA, is based on your income.

Is putting money in a brokerage account a good idea? ›

For example, if you want to buy a house with cash or save up a very large down payment, a brokerage account might be a good option if you plan to save for about five years. But for savings goals that will take less than five years, you might want to use a regular savings account or a money market account.

Can you make money with a brokerage account? ›

Brokerage accounts are used for day trading to earn short-term profits, as well as investing for long-term goals. Most brokerage accounts also provide a way to earn a decent yield on uninvested cash. A broker maintains your brokerage account and acts as the custodian for the securities you own in your account.

Can you lose cash in a brokerage account? ›

It is possible to lose money investing in securities. On the other hand, depositing your savings at an FDIC-insured bank ensures that your money is protected in the event of bank failure. Your deposits are automatically insured to at least $250,000 at each FDIC-insured bank.

How much money should I keep in a brokerage account? ›

“Ideally, you'll invest somewhere around 15%–25% of your post-tax income,” says Mark Henry, founder and CEO at Alloy Wealth Management. “If you need to start smaller and work your way up to that goal, that's fine.

Why should no one use brokerage accounts? ›

Brokerages tend to offer lower annual percentage yields (APYs) on savings, money market and interest checking accounts than the best online banks. Brokerages typically don't have cash-handling employees in brick-and-mortar locations. Brokerage accounts don't offer all the services that a traditional bank offers.

Do I pay taxes on my brokerage account? ›

If you buy stock through a brokerage account, you'll probably have to pay capital gains tax if you sell it for a profit later. If you sell a stock a year or less after buying it, you may have to pay short-term capital gains tax.

Can you go negative in a brokerage account? ›

If you engage in margin trading and the market moves against your position, the losses can exceed the funds you initially invested. This could cause a negative account balance, as you have not only used up your funds but are also borrowing additional capital from the broker.

Do millionaires use brokerage accounts? ›

The Wealthy Use Brokerage Accounts

With a brokerage account, you can buy and sell various investments like stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and more.

Is it better to have a savings account or a brokerage account? ›

Savings accounts and brokerage accounts serve very different purposes. Savings accounts are a safe place for your money, but your money won't earn the kind of return it might in an investment account. If the money is to be used at least several years in the future, it's likely better to invest it.

Is your money safer in a bank or a brokerage account? ›

While bank balances are insured by the FDIC, investments in a brokerage account are covered by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). It protects investors in the unlikely event that their brokerage firm fails. However, certain rules and conditions apply—and investment earnings are not insured.

Is there a penalty for withdrawing from a brokerage account? ›

The key differences lie in how the accounts are taxed and whether you're investing for the short or long term. With brokerage accounts there are no contribution limits (as you would have with IRAs), and there are no withdrawal penalties either.

Does opening a brokerage account affect your credit score? ›

Opening a brokerage account usually involves a soft credit inquiry, which does not impact your credit score.

What do I do after opening a brokerage account? ›

After opening an account, you'll need to put money in it before you place any orders and start building your portfolio. Most likely, you'll set up an electronic transfer, which will move the money directly from your bank account to the broker.

Is it safe to keep more than $500,000 in a brokerage account? ›

They must also have a certain amount of liquidity on hand, thus allowing them to cover funds in these cases. What this means is that even if you have more than $500,000 in one brokerage account, chances are high that you won't lose any of your money even if the broker is forced into liquidation.

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