<div id="readability-page-1"><div> <h2>Key Points</h2><ul><li>Investing in broadly diversified, ultra-cheap index ETFs is one of the best ways to build long-term wealth.</li><li>Vanguard offers dozens of funds that fit this bill that are perfect for retirement investing.</li><li>These three Vanguard ETFs can be used either individually or collectively to build your retirement portfolio.</li><li>10 stocks we like better than Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF ›</li></ul>I've always believed that long-term buy-and-hold investing is the best way to build wealth. While there's a natural tendency to focus on short-term investing news and events, putting all of that aside and letting quality assets grow over time is the simplest (and often times most successful) solution.Vanguard is a great broker for almost any investing goal, but it's especially helpful when saving for retirement. Almost every exchange-traded fund (ETF) in its lineup is broadly diversified, ultra-low cost, and can serve as the cornerstone of a retirement portfolio.Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an &#34;Indispensable Monopoly&#34; providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »In most cases, you don't need a dozen funds or more to be diversified. The broader-market Vanguard ETFs often hold hundreds, if not thousands, of different stocks or bonds in a single product. Use just a few of them targeting major asset classes and you have just about everything you need to get to the retirement finish line.Here's a sample Vanguard portfolio I like that uses three ETFs. If you want simplicity and a portfolio that focuses entirely on U.S. stocks and bonds, this trio checks the boxes. Since I consider them all core portfolio building blocks, you can use them whether you're in retirement or still decades away.<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg1OTgwNC9nZXR0eWltYWdlcy04NDExMDkxNzYuanBnJnc9NzAw?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="700" height="437" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg1OTgwNC9nZXR0eWltYWdlcy04NDExMDkxNzYuanBnJnc9NzAw"/>Image source: Getty Images. <h2>1. Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF</h2>The Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) is about a pure core U.S. equity ETF as there is. It holds 500 of the largest domestic companies and makes for an ideal core portfolio holding. With $870 billion in assets, it's the largest ETF in the world and charges an expense ratio of just 0.03%. As I've noted many times in the past, I prefer to use the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF for my core U.S. equity allocation. I like to have mid- and small-cap stocks in my portfolio in addition to large- and mega-cap names. But I certainly understand why people prefer just the S&amp;P 500. It has unquestionably performed better over the past several years and there's a degree of comfort involved in just owning the biggest and most well-established companies.<h2>2. Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF</h2>Dividend stocks aren't necessarily flashy. But as we've learned so far in 2026, they work well in market environments where the economic outlook is a little more questionable and investors aren't so bullish.The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSEMKT: VIG) invests in U.S. stocks that have increased their annual dividend for at least 10 straight years. Dividend growth stocks are great for portfolios because the companies have demonstrated a commitment to rewarding shareholders over time and to continue growing that dividend for many years. Plus, they are likely demonstrating the financial health to sustain it.While I think the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF's strategy could be improved, I don't think there's any question that it targets the durable, financially healthy companies that are ideal investments for retirement.<h2>3. Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF</h2>The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (NASDAQ: BND) is an underappreciated fund. Bonds have gotten a bad reputation for their lack of returns over the past several years and their inability to provide much downside protection from stocks during the 2022 bear market.But bonds are still a valuable core long-term holding. This fund's 4.2% yield on a portfolio of Treasuries, mortgage-backed securities, and investment-grade corporate bonds provides a meaningful income component that can enhance returns over time. Plus, in many circumstances, it helps to mitigate some of the volatility from riskier asset classes.There are a few factors that this three-ETF portfolio leaves out. There's no international exposure to be had here, so you'd need to add something like the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF or the Vanguard Total International Bond ETF. If you want to add junk bond exposure, the Vanguard High Yield Active ETF would do the trick.But using any or all of the Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF, Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF, and the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF will get you well on your way to a well-funded, secure retirement.<h2>Should you buy stock in Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF right now?</h2> Before you buy stock in Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $514,000!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,105,029!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 930% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 187% for the S&amp;P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of March 14, 2026. David Dierking has positions in Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF, Vanguard Total International Stock ETF, and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF, Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF, Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF, Vanguard Total International Stock ETF, and Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. </div></div>

Vanguard offers three low-cost ETFs ideal for retirement investing: the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), which holds 500 large U.S. companies; the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG), focusing on stocks with a history of increasing dividends; and the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND), providing a diversified bond portfolio. These ETFs are designed to simplify retirement investing and can serve as core components of a retirement portfolio, although additional international exposure may be needed for diversification.

3 Low Cost Vanguard ETFs That Make Retirement Investing Easier