My husband passed away 2 years ago. I had many 'to do's' with his estate - including a Form 706 and many administrative tasks that put a widow in a weaker position then when they were married. I engaged a CFP certified financial planner with a fee-based comp. Much cheaper than Vanguard for me and local. She prepares my taxes, does yearly tax planning. Found an error in the CPA prepared Form 706 - over $1M error in the Deceased Spousal Unused Exclusion (DSUE), recommended switching from mutual funds to ETFs to avoid capital gains ('saved' $17K in 2026 taxes) and have not had to touch my 401k (which I think I would have done solo) instead using dividend withdrawals off my investment account at the lower tax rate. I would have not done this on my own - despite managing my Vanguard account for over 30 years... I would encourage widows to get support - you don't have your spouse to confer with or get advice. Yes, you need to be careful but the tax code is so complicated now that I do believe you need an experienced professional to assist..
If Humble Dollar is supposed to be about personal finance and how to manage your money - I don't see the relevance of independent physician offices and their struggles with insurance companies.
Can we stick to the mission?
Actually a lot has changed at Vanguard - fee based personal advisors / wealth management based on a % of portfolio, private equity offerings, and loaning funds from your account??? I wonder what Mr. Bogle would think about some of these 'products'.
My experience was last year.
I am a 25+ yr investor with Vanguard and consider myself a Boglehead. All of my investments are with Vanguard. I do want to share a big issue I faced with the liquidation of my husbands accounts on his passing. He had an investment account at Vanguard and his 401k at Fidelity. With Fidelity I was transferred to an 'Estates Department' straight away. I was given the name and phone number of a representative who was obviously trained to work with grieving and distressed people. She was efficient, explained the process and scheduled a follow up call in 2 weeks to check on whether the beneficiaries had contacted Fidelity. She said she was available if I had any questions. She checked back in 2 weeks. Very impressed - white glove support.
Vanguard - not so much. And I have given my Relationship Manager this feedback - there is no department of trained individuals - you rely on the customer service line and they were not as supportive - no contact info, no follow up and they even asked the beneficiaries for death certificates which was not necessary. All beneficiaries felt Fidelity did a better job handing the process and one switched their account from Vanguard to Fidelity because they had such a bad experience.
I recommended to my Relationship Manager that they should have a dedicated department or team to handle these transactions. Disbursement of investment accounts is a certainty and for most grieving beneficiaries an experience they never thought they would have to do. There is a big opportunity for Vanguard to improve in this area.
Comments
My husband passed away 2 years ago. I had many 'to do's' with his estate - including a Form 706 and many administrative tasks that put a widow in a weaker position then when they were married. I engaged a CFP certified financial planner with a fee-based comp. Much cheaper than Vanguard for me and local. She prepares my taxes, does yearly tax planning. Found an error in the CPA prepared Form 706 - over $1M error in the Deceased Spousal Unused Exclusion (DSUE), recommended switching from mutual funds to ETFs to avoid capital gains ('saved' $17K in 2026 taxes) and have not had to touch my 401k (which I think I would have done solo) instead using dividend withdrawals off my investment account at the lower tax rate. I would have not done this on my own - despite managing my Vanguard account for over 30 years... I would encourage widows to get support - you don't have your spouse to confer with or get advice. Yes, you need to be careful but the tax code is so complicated now that I do believe you need an experienced professional to assist..
Post: Financial Planning
Link to comment from April 13, 2026
I contribute to my Donor Advised Fund to cancel out Roth conversion tax liability.
Post: What is the best way to donate to charity in 2026?
Link to comment from March 5, 2026
I appreciate that Dan - I commented on it because I don't think this article would have gotten past Jonathan's desk.
Post: Overpaid?
Link to comment from January 21, 2026
If Humble Dollar is supposed to be about personal finance and how to manage your money - I don't see the relevance of independent physician offices and their struggles with insurance companies. Can we stick to the mission?
Post: Overpaid?
Link to comment from January 20, 2026
Actually a lot has changed at Vanguard - fee based personal advisors / wealth management based on a % of portfolio, private equity offerings, and loaning funds from your account??? I wonder what Mr. Bogle would think about some of these 'products'. My experience was last year.
Post: Vanguard Complaints?
Link to comment from July 20, 2025
I am a 25+ yr investor with Vanguard and consider myself a Boglehead. All of my investments are with Vanguard. I do want to share a big issue I faced with the liquidation of my husbands accounts on his passing. He had an investment account at Vanguard and his 401k at Fidelity. With Fidelity I was transferred to an 'Estates Department' straight away. I was given the name and phone number of a representative who was obviously trained to work with grieving and distressed people. She was efficient, explained the process and scheduled a follow up call in 2 weeks to check on whether the beneficiaries had contacted Fidelity. She said she was available if I had any questions. She checked back in 2 weeks. Very impressed - white glove support. Vanguard - not so much. And I have given my Relationship Manager this feedback - there is no department of trained individuals - you rely on the customer service line and they were not as supportive - no contact info, no follow up and they even asked the beneficiaries for death certificates which was not necessary. All beneficiaries felt Fidelity did a better job handing the process and one switched their account from Vanguard to Fidelity because they had such a bad experience. I recommended to my Relationship Manager that they should have a dedicated department or team to handle these transactions. Disbursement of investment accounts is a certainty and for most grieving beneficiaries an experience they never thought they would have to do. There is a big opportunity for Vanguard to improve in this area.
Post: Vanguard Complaints?
Link to comment from July 20, 2025