Vanguard vs Fidelity

Vanguard is investor-owned and emphasizes low-cost index funds with expense ratios averaging 0.08%, while Fidelity is publicly traded and offers more diverse investment options including actively managed funds (averaging 0.67% expense ratios) and robust trading platforms. The core difference is cost philosophy: Vanguard prioritizes minimizing fees, while Fidelity balances fees with breadth of services.