Employer-sponsored defined contribution (DC) plans such as 401(k) accounts have been working tirelessly and consistently behind the scenes to help millions of Americans move closer to financial independence and retirement security. And index investing has been powering those retirement plans. By delivering broad market exposure at low cost and with minimal complexity, index target-date funds (TDFs) function as a quiet engine driving long-term outcomes.

Investors worried about the impact of the SpaceX IPO launch on index funds can rely on a more grounded approach.

A closer look at how saving and debt repayment choices interact—and how missteps can reduce long-term wealth.

A practical guide to cash management: how much to hold, where to keep it, and how it supports financial confidence.

Understanding the potential uncertainty and volatility involved is key when considering alternative assets.

While headlines paint a picture of panic during geopolitical shocks, the reality of investor behavior tells a different, calmer story. When tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply in late February 2026, reigniting market volatility and testing investor resolve, Vanguard examined how individual investors actually responded. It turns out that most Vanguard investors stayed the course, and those who traded were far more likely to buy the dip than to sell in a panic.

Recent monthly job reports have been unusually volatile. Over the past 10 months, employment growth has oscillated between gains and losses, with negative months often followed by positive ones. The unexpected 133,000‑job decline in February, quickly reversed by a 178,000‑job gain in March, illustrates just how erratic the headline payroll numbers have been. It’s enough to send a labor economist in search of more reliable numbers.

In the first quarter of 2026, our outlooks for global stock and bond markets improved modestly as stocks were under pressure and rising oil prices shifted interest rate expectations.

Private credit is having a moment in the headlines. Higher interest rates and a pullback in certain types of bank lending have pushed more financing activity into private markets. Investors may be left with a simple question: What exactly is private credit?