• Written By
    Jennifer Schell

    Jennifer Schell

    Financial Writer

    Jennifer Schell is a professional writer focused on demystifying annuities and other financial topics including banking, financial advising and insurance. She is proud to be a member of the National Association for Fixed Annuities (NAFA) as well as the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA).

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  • Edited By Michael Santiago
  • Financially Reviewed By
    Thomas J. Brock, CFA®, CPA
    headshot of Thomas J. Brock, CFA, CPA

    Thomas J. Brock, CFA®, CPA

    Investment, Corporate Finance and Accounting Expert

    Thomas Brock, CFA®, CPA, is a financial professional with over 20 years of experience in investments, corporate finance and accounting. He currently oversees the investment operation for a $4 billion super-regional insurance carrier.

    Read More
  • Updated: August 16, 2023
  • 4 min read time
  • This page features 4 Cited Research Articles
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Why You Can Trust Annuity.org
Annuity.org has provided reliable, accurate financial information to consumers since 2013. We adhere to ethical journalism practices, including presenting honest, unbiased information that follows Associated Press style guidelines and reporting facts from reliable, attributed sources. Our objective is to deliver the most comprehensive explanation of annuities and financial literacy topics using plain, straightforward language.

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We pride ourselves on partnering with professionals like those from Senior Market Sales (SMS) — a market leader with over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry — who offer personalized retirement solutions for consumers across the country. Our relationships with partners including SMS and Insuractive, the company’s consumer-facing branch, allow us to facilitate the sale of annuities and other retirement-oriented financial products to consumers who are looking to purchase safe and reliable solutions to fill gaps in their retirement income. We are compensated when we produce legitimate inquiries, and that compensation helps make Annuity.org an even stronger resource for our audience. We may also, at times, sell lead data to partners in our network in order to best connect consumers to the information they request. Readers are in no way obligated to use our partners’ services to access the free resources on Annuity.org.

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Key Takeaways

  • Vanguard was founded in 1975 and is currently headquartered in Pennsylvania. It has a global presence with operations in Canada, Australia, Europe and Asia. Vanguard offers a range of investment products including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), certificates of deposit (CDs) and more.
  • On June 19, 2019, Vanguard exited the annuity market by transferring the administration of its Variable Annuity to Transamerica. The renamed Transamerica Value Variable Annuity is now accessible for purchase at all locations where Transamerica investment products are available.
  • Vanguard also discontinued its online platform, Vanguard Annuity Access. The company maintains a relationship with Hueler Investment Services, Inc., which runs the renamed Income Solutions platform. Income Solutions is available to anyone seeking an income annuity for a defined contribution plan.
  • Although Vanguard no longer sells annuities, there are other options if you are looking for an annuity provider. Annuity.org has many tools to help you assess a potential provider’s financial stability.

About Vanguard

Founded in 1975 by John C. Bogle, Vanguard is an investment management company owned by the people who invest in its funds. Under the direction of the headquarters in Malvern, Pennsylvania, Vanguard’s 20,000 employees provide investment products, financial advice, insight and tools. Their 30 million+ customers or investor-owners have access to 430 funds worldwide. [MS4] 

As of June 19, 2019, Vanguard stopped offering annuities and began the 18-month process of transferring customer account administration and service entirely to Transamerica. The Vanguard Variable Annuity was renamed the Transamerica Value Variable Annuity. Vanguard continues to manage the underlying investments in the renamed annuity. This annuity is available wherever Transamerica investment products are sold.

Vanguard made the decision to withdraw from the annuity market to focus more extensively on their core priorities. This includes the sale of investment products such as mutual funds and ETFs, as well as delivering personalized customer service and comprehensive financial advice to their owner-shareholders.

Do You Want To Know More About Vanguard and Its Services?

Call 1-877-662-7447 for more information.

Credit Ratings

The financial strength of insurance companies is rated by companies like A.M. Best Co., Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor. Investment management companies like Vanguard are better judged by their ranking on the J.D. Power Investor Satisfaction Survey. In the 2023 Full-Service Investor survey, J.D. Power ranked Vanguard in eighth place overall, with a score of 725 out of a possible 1,000. In last year’s survey, Vanguard was in second place, scoring 759.

When it comes to self-directed investors, J.D. Power put Vanguard in fourth place for overall customer satisfaction in 2023, with a score of 690 out of 1,000. Moreover, Vanguard ranked first in the do-it-yourself (DIY) investors category with a score of 734. In the 2022 survey, Vanguard was first among DIY Investors with 736 and in second place in overall customer satisfaction with 721. Whether you are a full-service or DIY investor, Vanguard is a highly-ranked company.

Founded by John Bogle, a renowned proponent of passive investing, Vanguard is one of the world’s most respected investment management companies and largest providers of index mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

headshot of Thomas J. Brock, CFA, CPA
Thomas J. Brock, CFA®, CPAInvestment, Corporate Finance and Accounting Expert

Thomas Brock, CFA®, CPA, is a financial professional with over 20 years of experience in investments, corporate finance and accounting. He currently oversees the investment operation for a $4 billion super-regional insurance carrier.

Annuity Products Offered by Vanguard

Vanguard Annuity Access was an online platform allowing investors to compare the income annuities offered by different insurance companies. The platform was discontinued in June 2019. Although Vanguard no longer offers annuities as an investment option, it maintains a relationship with Hueler Investment Services for customers interested in annuities. Hueler operates Income Solutions, the new name of the income annuity distribution platform, which is available to any retail client. Income Solutions offers a selection of products tailored to meet different goals, one of which is a fixed index annuity. This annuity provides the benefit of tax deferral and serves as a long-term savings solution. It guarantees the preservation of your principal while also offering potential growth opportunities.

If you are interested in purchasing an annuity, Vanguard is no longer an option. We have tools to help you find another annuity provider who will suit you, including:

  • An annuity calculator to estimate potential monthly income.
  • Where to find financial strength ratings and what they mean.
  • Which annuity providers are best in 2023.
  • A chance to be matched with a personal financial advisor to help you reach your goals.
  • A handy guide to our tools and resources, all in one place.

Client Resources

Vanguard offers a suite of retirement income solutions, both self-directed and advised. Customers can choose from a range of products and services according to their needs and risk tolerance levels. The company also offers other investment products like CDs, mutual funds and ETFs. In managing your finances, you have the option to adopt a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach or seek guidance from either a robo-advisor or a personal financial advisor. The level of advisor involvement can be tailored according to your needs or the size of your portfolio.

Are You Interested in Investing With Vanguard?

Login or create an account today.

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Last Modified: August 16, 2023