A strategy as unique as you are

1 Morningstar, “How Tax-Efficient Is Your Mutual Fund?” February 2010; Vanguard Study, January 2011, personal.vanguard.com/pdf/ISGTEEI.pdf [personal.vanguard.com]. Average tax cost is calculated based upon Morningstar data for all domestic equity stock funds with 15 years of performance history as of September 30, 2014. Calculations assume account is not liquidated at the end of the period. When after-tax returns are calculated, it is assumed that an investor was in the highest federal marginal income tax bracket at the time of each distribution of income or capital gains. State and local income taxes are not reflected in the calculations. After-tax distributions are reinvested, and all after-tax returns are also adjusted for loads and recurring fees using the maximum front-end load and the appropriate deferred loads or redemption fees for the time period measured.

2 We performed a hypothetical back-test using historical market returns from stocks in the S&P 500 and Russell 2000 indexes. Based on available data, the hypothetical results are time-linked equal returns of size, style, and sector indexes. From 1991 to 1995, results are calculated using an average of equal-weighted S&P sectors and an equal weight of the S&P 500 and Russell 2000. From 1996 to present, results are calculated using an average of equal-weighted S&P sectors and the nine Russell Style box indexes. Results assume the reinvestment of dividends. These retroactive results do not include the effects of cash flows, fees, commissions, or taxes, all of which would have affected the returns. For SW, the current benefit is 0.5%, and this is based on the annualized return of SW that is 11.1%, and the S&P annualized return of 10.6% for the period 12/31/1990 to 12/31/2023. Taking this 0.5% difference and assuming a 55% U.S. equity weighting for a growth strategy, the potential annualized benefit is 0.3%.

3 Vanguard Advisor’s Alpha ® Perspectives: “Putting a value on your value: Quantifying Vanguard Advisor’s Alpha,” corporate.vanguard.com/content/dam/corp/articles/pdf/putting_value_on_your_value_quantifying_vanguard_advisors_alpha.pdf. [corporate.vanguard.com]

All investments are subject to the risk of loss. This information is intended only to illustrate a potential index strategy. Past returns are no guarantee of future performance. There can be no assurance that any strategy will be profitable, or that the equal weighting approach described above will perform better than the S&P 500 or other market-weighted index. Actual results for Empower Personal Wealth Composite Personal Strategies are available upon request.

We performed a hypothetical back-test using historical market returns for the six major liquid asset classes: U.S. stocks, international stocks, U.S. bonds, international bonds, alternatives, and cash. We then selected six of the commonly utilized model client asset allocations, ranging from highly aggressive to conservative, and ran a performance analysis from 1970 to 2022. Two sets of returns were calculated for each asset allocation: one with annual rebalancing and one without. Out of all portfolio outcomes, the annually rebalanced portfolios generated a performance benefit of up to 0.1%. The research, views, and opinions contained in these materials are intended to be educational; may not be suitable for all investors; and are not tax, legal, accounting, or investment advice.