Investment

Balanced

Investment details and fees

Fund commenced 20 Oct 1998

Minimum investment amounts

Initial investment$5,000

Additional investment - cheque$1,000

Additional investment - BPAY®$100

Minimum account balance$3,000

Minimum switch or withdrawal$1,000

Fees and costs

Establishment feeNil

Application/contribution feeNil

Withdrawal feeNil

Termination feeNil

Switching feeNil

Management costs

First $50,0000.90% p.a

Next $50,0000.60% p.a

Balance over $100,0000.35% p.a

Buy spread cost (purchase)0.18%

Sell spread cost (withdrawal)0.12%

Download a fund factsheet

Ratings

Standard & Poor'sFour Stars

The Vanguard® LifeStrategy® Balanced Fund is designed for investors with an average tolerance for risk who are seeking a balance between income and capital growth assets.

This fund targets a 50% allocation to income asset classes (cash and fixed interest securities) and a 50% allocation to growth asset classes (property securities and shares).

Who it may suit

medium to long term investors (usually five years plus)
investors seeking a medium risk, balanced portfolio of growth and income assets
investors seeking a balance between capital growth and capital stability
investors seeking a tax-effective investment

Objectives

To match the weighted average return of the target indexes of each of the underlying Vanguard Wholesale Index Funds in which the fund invests, before taking into account fund fees and expenses. The weights used are the strategic asset allocations to each asset class.

Strategic asset allocations are:

Income assets 50%

Australian fixed interest 11%
International fixed interest (hedged) 17%
Australian cash 22%

Growth assets 50%

Australian shares 24%
International shares 17%
Australian property securities 3%
International property securities (hedged) 3%
International small companies (hedged) 2%
Emerging markets shares 1%

Benefits

Diversification

diversified portfolio with a balance of income and growth assets (50:50)
diversified approach lowers risk while providing opportunities for enhanced returns

Income and capital growth

balance between some income producing assets and the potential for long-term capital growth

After-tax investment returns

buy and hold strategy takes advantage of capital gains discounts and deferral of capital gains liabilities, which may result in better after-tax investment returns

Fees

low management fees and no entry or exit fees (other than buy/sell spread costs)
scaled management fees apply to balances over $50,000

Regular savings plan

once you've opened your investment with $5,000 or more, you can use BPAY® to start a regular investment plan with as little as $100

Take the next step

Money Magazine's Best of the Best 2008

Money Magazine award - silver

Voted Best Balanced Fund

Knowledge Centre

Managed funds up to $500,000 - Funds at a Glance*

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Cash Cash funds suit investors who prefer capital stability and regular income to long-term growth.

	Index/ Benchmark	Minimum Initial Application	Application Fee	Access to Funds	Income Distributions	Buy/Sell Spread	Management Costs
	Index/ Benchmark	Minimum Initial Application	Application Fee	Access to Funds	Income Distributions	Buy/Sell Spread	For first $50,000	For next $50,000	Balance over $100,000
Vanguard® Index Cash Plus Fund	A customised Index, the Vanguard Cash Plus Index	$5,000	Nil	Withdrawals are normally paid within four business days	Quarterly	Nil	0.70% p.a	0.50% p.a	0.35% p.a

Fixed Interest Fixed interest funds suit short to medium-term investors seeking a steady and reliable income stream.

	Index/ Benchmark	Minimum Initial Application	Application Fee	Access to Funds	Income Distributions	Buy/Sell Spread	Management Costs
	Index/ Benchmark	Minimum Initial Application	Application Fee	Access to Funds	Income Distributions	Buy/Sell Spread	For first $50,000	For next $50,000	Balance over $100,000
Vanguard® Index Diversified Bond Fund	A customised Index comprising a 40% allocation to Australian fixed interest securities (bonds) and 60% allocation to international bonds.	$5,000	Nil	Withdrawals are normally paid within four business days	Quarterly	0.16%/ 0.16%	0.75% p.a	0.50% p.a	0.35% p.a

PropertyProperty trusts suit investors with a long-term time frame (five years plus).

	Index/ Benchmark	Minimum Initial Application	Application Fee	Access to Funds	Income Distributions	Buy/Sell Spread	Management Costs
	Index/ Benchmark	Minimum Initial Application	Application Fee	Access to Funds	Income Distributions	Buy/Sell Spread	For first $50,000	For next $50,000	Balance over $100,000
Vanguard® Index Australian Property Securities Fund	S&P/ASX 300 A-REIT Index	$5,000	Nil	Withdrawals are normally paid within four business days	Half Yearly	0.20%/ 0.20%	0.90% p.a	0.60% p.a	0.35% p.a

Australian Shares Shares are high risk and generally suited to longer-term investors (seven years plus)

	Index/ Benchmark	Minimum Initial Application	Application Fee	Access to Funds	Income Distributions	Buy/Sell Spread	Management Costs
	Index/ Benchmark	Minimum Initial Application	Application Fee	Access to Funds	Income Distributions	Buy/Sell Spread	For first $50,000	For next $50,000	Balance over $100,000
Vanguard® Index Australian Shares Fund	S&P/ASX 300 Index	$5,000	Nil	Withdrawals are normally paid within four business days	Half Yearly	0.20%/ 0.10%	0.75% p.a	0.50% p.a	0.35% p.a
Vanguard® High Yield Australian Shares Fund	FTSE ASFA Australia High Dividend Yield Index	$5,000	Nil	Withdrawals are normally paid within four business days	Quarterly	0.20%/ 0.10%	0.90% p.a	0.60% p.a	0.45% p.a

International Shares International shares are high risk generally suited to longer-term investors (seven years plus)

	Index/ Benchmark	Minimum Initial Application	Application Fee	Access to Funds	Income Distributions	Buy/Sell Spread	Management Costs
	Index/ Benchmark	Minimum Initial Application	Application Fee	Access to Funds	Income Distributions	Buy/Sell Spread	For first $50,000	For next $50,000	Balance over $100,000
Vanguard® Index International Shares Fund	MSCI World ex-Australia Index in AUD	$5,000	Nil	Withdrawals are normally paid within four business days	Half Yearly	0.30%/ 0.10%	0.90% p.a	0.60% p.a	0.35% p.a
Vanguard® Index Hedged International Shares Fund	MSCI World ex-Australia Index hedged to AUD	$5,000	Nil	Withdrawals are normally paid within four business days	Half Yearly	0.35%/ 0.15%	0.90% p.a	0.60% p.a	0.35% p.a

Diversified Diversified funds allow investors to select the portfolio that best matches their risk profile.

	Index/ Benchmark	Minimum Initial Application	Application Fee	Access to Funds	Income Distributions	Buy/Sell Spread	Management Costs
	Index/ Benchmark	Minimum Initial Application	Application Fee	Access to Funds	Income Distributions	Buy/Sell Spread	For first $50,000	For next $50,000	Balance over $100,000
Vanguard® LifeStrategy® Conservative Fund	70% income and 30% growth (Weighted average of target indexes of the underlying Vanguard Wholesale Index Funds)	$5,000	Nil	Withdrawals are normally paid within four business days	Half Yearly	0.12%/ 0.09%	0.90% p.a	0.60% p.a	0.35% p.a
Vanguard® LifeStrategy® Balanced Fund	50% income and 50% growth (Weighted average of target indexes of the underlying Vanguard Wholesale Index Funds)	$5,000	Nil	Withdrawals are normally paid within four business days	Half Yearly	0.18%/ 0.12%	0.90% p.a	0.60% p.a	0.35% p.a
Vanguard® LifeStrategy® Growth Fund	30% income and 70% growth (Weighted average of target indexes of the underlying Vanguard Wholesale Index Funds)	$5,000	Nil	Withdrawals are normally paid within four business days	Half Yearly	0.23%/ 0.15%	0.90% p.a	0.60% p.a	0.35% p.a
Vanguard® LifeStrategy® High Growth Fund	10% income and 90% growth (Weighted average of target indexes of the underlying Vanguard Wholesale Index Funds)	$5,000	Nil	Withdrawals are normally paid within four business days	Half Yearly	0.26%/ 0.15%	0.90% p.a	0.60% p.a	0.35% p.a

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The funds or securities referred to herein are not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by MSCI, and MSCI bears no liability with respect to any such funds or securities. The Prospectus contains a more detailed description of the limited relationship MSCI has with The Vanguard Group and any related funds. ”FTSE®”, “FT-SE®” and “Footsie®” are trade marks jointly owned by the London Stock Exchange Plc and The Financial Times Limited and are used by FTSE International Limited under licence. “All-World” is a trade mark of FTSE International Limited. The FTSE All-World ex-US Index is calculated by FTSE International Limited. FTSE International Limited does not sponsor, endorse or promote this product and is not in any way connected to it and does not accept any liability in relation to its issue, operation and trading.