Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund (VWLTX)

The fund's main objective is to provide a high and steady flow of current income that is not subject to federal personal income taxes. Although there are no specific limits on the maturity of individual securities within the portfolio, it is structured to maintain a value-weighted average maturity typically ranging from 10 to 25 years. A substantial portion, at least 75%, of the fund's investments are in municipal bonds that are highly rated—meaning they fall into the top three credit-rating tiers from nationally recognized agencies, or are judged to be of equivalent quality by the fund's advisor if unrated. Up to 20% of the assets may be allocated to medium-grade bonds, as determined by a rating agency or the advisor. The final 5% can be invested in securities with lower credit ratings or those assessed as comparable by the advisor. This fund is ideal for investors who are looking for income that is exempt from federal taxes and who are comfortable with potential interest rate risks. It's important to note that the Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Fund is a standalone product, separate from the Vanguard Long-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTEL). Disparities in their size, portfolio management approaches (e.g., active versus index tracking), specific investment methodologies, and the mix of their underlying holdings mean these two offerings are anticipated to deliver different investment returns.