John Bogle, the Founder of Vanguard
John Bogle, the founder of Vanguard, is one of the most inspirational and impactful Americans of this generation. Born in 1929 in Montclair, New Jersey, Bogle was subject to the Great Depression. His parents were modest, working-class citizens and in order to make ends meet, he was forced to take up a job as a newspaper boy delivering papers on the route as early as 6:00 in the morning. It was during this time that his passion for investing began.
From a young age, Bogle was fascinated by the stock market and decided to become an entrepreneur. He obtained an undergraduate degree from Princeton in economics and investment management and started the Vanguard Group in 1974. For over 40 years, Bogle has been relentless in his efforts to create the most user-friendly and cost-efficient fund management experience for the Vanguard family.
The Vanguard Group has been a leader in the investment world. By creating and popularizing index funds, low-expense funds, and no-load funds, Bogle has revolutionized the financial services industry. He believes in keeping the costs low to benefit the investor. He often refers to himself as a “Cost-Fund Manager”. Not only has John Bogle provided incredible value to the investors, but he has also used his business platform to do social good.
John was a passionate advocate for corporate governance and consumer rights. He was the public face of shareholder rights and a key player in reforming mutual fund regulations. He spoke openly about reforms such as banning market-timing for mutual fund investments and requiring mutual funds to adopt a “plain vanilla” approach to investments. Bogle was also an ardent supporter of financial education and championed initiatives that improved the understanding of investments among the general public and investors.
John Bogle has been a leader, mentor, and innovator for the finance world. Due to his influence, investors are now offered low-cost investments that are much easier to understand and research. Bogle’s message regarding the importance of low management fees, transparency, and investor education, still resonates today and has become a guiding light for many financial advisors, planners, and investors.
John Bogle continues to remain active in the Vanguard family, playing mentor and advocate for nearly five decades. Bogle’s passion and enduring spirit continues to be a source of inspiration for many. He will be long remembered for his tireless dedication to the industry and is often referred to as a “Rockstart” of the financial sector.
