Vanguard is better suited for retail investors and those seeking a broad range of investment options with low expense ratios and user-friendly tools. Bridgewater Associates is geared towards institutional investors with substantial capital, seeking sophisticated and actively managed investment strategies.
| Attribute | Bridgewater Associates | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Assets Under Management (AUM) | Fluctuated. $154 billion in 2020, $123.5 billion on January 31, 2023, around $124 billion in April 2024, and $92.1 billion in 2024. | Approximately $10.4 trillion as of January 31, 2025. |
| Investment Strategies Offered | Pure Alpha, Pure Alpha Major Markets, All Weather, and Optimal Portfolio. Pioneered risk parity investment approach in 1996. | Index funds, actively managed funds, ETFs, and target-retirement portfolios. They cover the main asset classes: U.S. stocks, international stocks, and bonds. |
| Expense Ratios (for Funds) | Not available | Average expense ratio for Vanguard mutual funds and ETFs is 0.07%, which is 84% less than the industry average. |
| Historical Performance | Pure Alpha: Since 1991, annualized in high single digits (at a 12% volatility target) and only had four losing calendar years (annualized return of 12 percent). All Weather: The 10-year return was 43 percent, while the 10-year return on a 60/40 portfolio was 90 percent. | 84% of Vanguard's mutual funds and ETFs outperforming their peer group averages over the past decade. As of June 30, 2025, 92% of Vanguard's active fixed income funds outperformed their peer group averages over the past ten years. Historical performance data, including Sharpe Ratio, is available for specific Vanguard funds like the S&P 500 Index ETF (VFV), Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF (VTI), and Health Care Index Fund ETF (VHT) on sites like YCharts. Curvo provides historical performance for certain Vanguard funds, including compound annual growth rate, standard deviation, and Sharpe ratio. |
| Client Base | Primarily serves institutional clients, including corporate and public pension funds, foreign governments and central banks, university endowments, charitable foundations, family offices, funds of funds, and Union/Taft Hartley plans. Does not have individual clients. | Serves over 30 million investors. Caters to individuals and institutions. |
| Minimum Investment Amount | Generally requires clients to have a minimum of $7.5 billion of investable assets. For new client relationships, standard minimum fees are expected to be $500,000 for All Weather, $6 million for Pure Alpha and Pure Alpha Major Markets, and $2.7 million for Optimal Portfolio. | ETFs: No minimum dollar value, but the minimum investment is the cost of one share. Fractional shares are available for as little as $1. Mutual Funds: Generally $3,000, but some funds like Target Retirement Funds and STAR Fund have a $1,000 minimum. Admiral Shares, which have lower expense ratios, often require higher minimums, between $3,000 and $100,000. |
| Advisory Services Offered | Provides investment management services through managed accounts and commingled fund vehicles. | Vanguard Personal Advisor Services: Combines automated investment management with access to financial advisors. Vanguard Digital Advisor: A robo-advisor providing automated financial planning and investment management. |
| Technological Platform and Tools | No specific details available regarding the user-friendliness and comprehensiveness of their online platform and reporting tools. | User-friendly online platform with tools for investment analysis, retirement planning, and education savings. Unique tools include a Medicare Match tool, Healthcare Estimator tool, and Social Security Strategy tool. |
| Research and Analysis Capabilities | Leverages extensive data analysis. Investment decisions are grounded in quantitative research. Combines historical data with real-time information to identify patterns and adjust strategies. | Employs a global Investment Stewardship team that engages with companies on ESG issues and promotes corporate governance. |
| Regulatory Compliance and History | Not available | The Vanguard Group, Inc. is a registered investment advisor. |
| Geographic Reach | Worldwide. Headquartered in Westport, Connecticut. | Has a global presence with offices in Europe, Australia, and the Americas. |
| ESG Investing Options | Incorporates research insights related to environmental or social issues that they believe would have a material impact on financial performance. They study these topics as an integrated part of their research process. | Offers a variety of ESG funds across different asset classes. These funds consider environmental, social, and governance factors. |