March 2021

The Vanguard 500 Index Fund has tracked the S&P 500 faithfully in composition and performance. As of July 2024, Vanguard’s Admiral Shares (VFIAX) had a 10-year average annual return of 13.11% vs. the S&P 500’s 13.14%—a very small tracking error. The expense ratio is low at 0.04%, and its minimum investment is $3,000. Autumn Knutson,