5 Best Vanguard Funds to Buy for Retirees

4. Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (MUTF:VFIAX)

5-Year Performance as of September 14: 52.17%

For buy-and-hold investors comfortable with higher risk levels, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (MUTF:VFIAX) presents a simple and well-established choice. This mutual fund closely follows the S&P 500 index, a widely-recognized yardstick for U.S. large-cap stocks. The index provides broad diversification across all 11 sectors of the stock market and is exceptionally cost-effective, with VFIAX boasting a mere 0.04% expense ratio and a minimal 2.1% portfolio turnover rate. The fund has a track record spanning nearly 23 years, since its inception in November 2000.