Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Fund (VWSTX)

The primary objective of this fund is to generate ongoing income that is exempt from federal personal income taxes, while striving for limited fluctuations in its share price. A substantial portion, specifically at least 75%, of the fund's holdings consists of high-quality municipal bonds. These are defined as securities within the top three credit-rating tiers from nationally recognized statistical rating organizations, or those deemed of comparable quality by the advisor if unrated. Up to 20% of the portfolio may be allocated to medium-grade quality bonds, as determined by either a rating agency or the advisor. The final 5% can be invested in securities with lower credit ratings or those assessed by the advisor as having similar quality, even without a formal rating. This fund offers the potential for a higher yield than a typical money market fund, primarily because it invests in longer-maturity securities. However, this increased yield potential is accompanied by a correspondingly greater level of risk. Changes in interest rates can affect the fund: declining rates may lead to reduced income for its short-term bond holdings, while rising rates could exert downward pressure on the fund's share price. This offering may appeal to investors who desire a modest, federally tax-exempt income stream and are comfortable with some degree of income and share price volatility.