Vanguard Flagship

[Looking4Ward]

So my account balances at Vanguard have been in the "two comma club" for some time now, and I noticed that my account was still classified as "Voyager".

I sent a message to them last Friday, asking why my account was not Flagship status.

Today, I get a response from them with the following statement (below).

Seriously? I have to point it out to them and then it takes them "a few weeks" to confirm it?


"Since you indicated that you meet the criteria for becoming a Flagship
client, we have forwarded your request to Flagship's Enrollment Team. If
enrolled, you will be contacted in a few weeks by the Flagship
representative assigned to you."

 

[Hermit]

I bet Edward Jones wouldn't be so rude. I hear they even give you a birthday card!

 

[zesty]

What is so great about Flagship status that makes you want it right now?

 

[soupcxan]

What is so great about Flagship status that makes you want it right now?

Come on, do you really want to ride on the Nina or the Pinta when you could be in the champagne room of the Santa Maria?

 

[nwsteve]

Just another example of Vanguard's "administrative excellence"

 

[Looking4Ward]

What is so great about Flagship status that makes you want it right now?

So I can rub elbows with the elite? Emblazon the logo on my polo jersey?

Seriously, I was looking into the specifics of getting the TT software this year, saw the "perk" (if you can call it that) breakdown of the different tiers, and then realized that my account wasn't classified as such.

It wasn't because I thought it was great or that anything made me want it right now, I just wanted to be correct in the same sense I would want to point out that they had my phone number or other information wrong.

Wouldn't have thought anything else about it except that their reply really seemed unusual.

 

[photoguy]

Are all your funds in vanguard MF or ETFs? they don't count dollars in other fund company products.

 

[Looking4Ward]

Are all your funds in vanguard MF or ETFs? they don't count dollars in other fund company products.

100% Vanguard.

 

[fritz]

You're not alone - had to tell them when my accounts hit admiral, and when I crested the flagship requirements. Maybe things are different when you hit Flagship Select

 

[tulak]

I've read that they automatically change your status at the end of the quarter and if you want it sooner you have to contact them. Not sure if it's true or not, but it would make sense.

 

[LOL!]

That's funny about getting TurboTax (TT) for free just because one is Vanguard Flagship. Over on the bogleheads forum, lots of folks got TT free just because they are bogleheads even if they had no money at Vanguard.

 

[Debinnov a]

After rolling over my 401k last month, I'm flagship I guess? But is it noted somewhere? My contact at Vanguard is setting me up with free senior financial advisor to do an entire plan for me at no cost, including expenses, running projections, etc. She said it was due to my assets. Where can I look to see if there are any other perks?

Sent from my KFJWI using Tapatalk

 

[Looking4Ward]

Over on the bogleheads forum, lots of folks got TT free just because they are bogleheads even if they had no money at Vanguard.

How?

 

[zesty]

How?

I saw there was a glitch for a few hours on the TT website, looked like it gave everyone Premier for $10. It wasn't restricted to just people at Bogleheads, though.

 

[Texas Proud]

I was told that you had to have the balance in Vanguard funds.... IOW, if you have a brokerage account that does not count if you are investing in individual stocks or ETFs....


Another is that you have to be above for awhile... IOW, the day you pass the $1 mill mark is not the day you get in.... you could go below the next day... they want to see that you are over and will stay over...

 

[Snidely Whiplash]

I was told that you had to have the balance in Vanguard funds.... IOW, if you have a brokerage account that does not count if you are investing in individual stocks or ETFs.

Correct.

 

[photoguy]

I was told that you had to have the balance in Vanguard funds.... IOW, if you have a brokerage account that does not count if you are investing in individual stocks or ETFs....

I would hope that they include vanguard ETFs in the brokerage account. Otherwise I'm never getting to flagship (Not that flagship is so great or anything).

 

[FIREd]

I would hope that they include vanguard ETFs in the brokerage account. Otherwise I'm never getting to flagship (Not that flagship is so great or anything).

From Vanguard's website:

We determine eligibility by aggregating assets of all qualifying accounts held by the investor and his or her immediate family members who reside at the same address, including investments in Vanguard mutual funds, Vanguard ETFs®, certain annuities through Vanguard, The Vanguard 529 Plan, and certain small-business accounts. Assets in employer-sponsored retirement plans for which Vanguard provides recordkeeping services may be included in determining eligibility if the investor also has a personal account holding Vanguard mutual funds. Vanguard ETFs and Vanguard mutual funds held in a Vanguard Brokerage Account are also included when determining a household's eligibility;

 

[NW-Bound]

I don't know if Schwab still has this offer, but a few months ago I saw their offer of $2500 cash if you deposit or move $1M into an account with them. That's more than the price of TT.

They also have ETFs that have zero trading fees, some even with lower expense ratios than those of Vanguard ETFs or MFs.

 

[kramer]

There is not much benefit for moving from Voyager Select to Flagship.

I love Vanguard but I will probably never get Flagship because none of the following that I have will count toward the limit:

* Bonds held at Vanguard but in Treasuries, TIPs and Brokered CDs.
* Non-Vanguard ETFs/Funds held at Vanguard
* I keep some assets at Schwab for diversification
* I keep some assets in Bank CDs
* I-bonds don't count

 

[Looking4Ward]

100% is in Vanguard MF's and has exceeded the level required for Flagship status for almost a year.

 

[LOL!]

Clearly, Vanguard is sending you a message. They don't like your zip code.

But no worries, they don't like me either. We are somewhat below Voyager Select. It used to be we got the perks of Voyager Select, but then Vanguard split Voyager into Voyager Select and plain ol' Voyager. Next I think we will end up in Lifeboat status when they split lowly Voyager into 2 levels.

If Vanguard was serious about costs, they would have only one status level and get rid of the different share classes of their mutual funds, so that only Admiral was left. How much do all those differences cost Vanguard because of extra content in prospectuses, web site links, confusion to clients, etc.? Dispense with all that crap and just have one set for everybody and save a ton of costs.

 

[Midpack]

If Vanguard was serious about costs...

Seriously? What firm is more cost efficient than Vanguard?

 

[LOL!]

Any of the brokers that give large cash bonuses are better than Vanguard since one can use Vanguard ETFs and sometimes funds at these other places without paying any fees and commissions.

 

[eta2020]

Schwab has some indexes which are equivalent and cheaper then the ones from Vanguard.