- For over 15 years, Vanguard has remained steadfast in its commitment to lowering costs and delivering even greater value to investors in the UK.
- As investment providers, we have listened to financial advisers about what you need to deliver to your clients.
- In an ongoing effort to expand choice, we’re giving financial advisers even greater flexibility to cater for different client goals and preferences.
This enhancement to LifeStrategy® underscores Vanguard’s commitment to delivering greater value to investors and responding to feedback from advisers with meaningful action.
Head of UK Adviser Solutions, Vanguard
As clients’ needs and expectations continue to evolve, we’re pleased to announce the beginning of an exciting new chapter for UK investors with a significant evolution of our popular LifeStrategy® offering.
For over 15 years, LifeStrategy® has been a cornerstone of many UK investors’ portfolios, and a benchmark for simplicity and accessibility. Now, we’re building on this foundation by reducing fees and broadening choice.
These enhancements to LifeStrategy® underscore Vanguard’s commitment to delivering greater value to investors and responding to feedback from advisers with meaningful action. At the same time, it expands flexibility for you and your clients while preserving the qualities that investors rely on: simplicity, transparency, and a deliberate focus on long-term success.
A commitment to lower costs
Since it was founded in the US in 1975, Vanguard has remained steadfast in its purpose to help financial advisers drive optimal client and business outcomes by offering low-cost, high-quality funds and ETFs.
In the UK, we have championed low-cost investing through our LifeStrategy® funds and model portfolio services (MPS). Now we are reinforcing our commitment to lowering costs by reducing the OCF1 of our LifeStrategy® funds, with changes to our model portfolio pricing to follow later in the year.
We’re able to do this because of Vanguard’s distinctive structure and client-focused philosophy. Similar to a building society, profits go back into the business. Our investor-owned structure2 and scale allow us to consistently reduce fees globally. In the UK and Europe more broadly, we’ve delivered more than 90 fee reductions across our funds and ETFs since 20093. And following our entry into the UK and other European markets, we have also seen significant fee reductions by other asset managers to stay competitive as local firms are forced to respond to our low expense ratios – known as “The Vanguard Effect”4.
A drive to act on feedback
Guided by Vanguard’s long-held belief in the importance of diversification—and reflecting the growing confidence of UK investors in global markets—the asset allocation of LifeStrategy® has steadily evolved over time to have a more global focus.
From March through to June this year, in response to adviser feedback for broader global exposure, we’re taking steps to further reduce the UK exposure of the LifeStrategy® fund range and LifeStrategy® Classic Model Portfolio range.
These changes will allow investors to benefit from greater diversification through global equities and bonds, while still maintaining a meaningful allocation to their home market.
An ongoing effort to expand choice
Furthermore, we are launching the LifeStrategy® Global fund range as a direct response to adviser feedback. Advisers also told us they wanted solutions that offer the option to fully reflect global markets—without the traditional UK home bias—and we’ve listened.
By introducing the LifeStrategy Global fund range, we’re giving advisers and their clients the flexibility to select the approach that best fits their needs. Whether their preference is for the original LifeStrategy® funds with a meaningful UK allocation, or for a globally aligned portfolio, the decision is theirs.
When it comes to tax efficiency, for example, a multi-asset fund can offer advantages over a MPS. Now, advisers have the freedom to choose the LifeStrategy® option with the approach that best meets their clients’ needs.
We understand that investors have different needs and objectives. Our mission is to help all investors generate long-term returns and achieve their financial goals. We do this by listening and delivering choice. Our investment philosophy and process remain consistent—and now we offer access to Vanguard’s investment expertise through a wider range of multi-asset solutions, and at lower cost—to deliver even more value to UK investors.
1 The Ongoing Charges Figure (OCF) captures management and service costs, including administrative, audit, custodial, legal, registration, and regulatory costs, incurred by the fund.
2 The Vanguard Inc. (VGI) is owned by Vanguard’s US-domiciled mutual funds and ETFs. While VGI’s ownership structure can’t be replicated outside of the US (due to regulatory restrictions), this structure aligns Vanguard’s interests with those of our investors globally.
3 Up to and including the current LifeStrategy® fee reductions. Source. Vanguard, as at 22 January 2026.
4 Source: Broadridge, January 2025. All funds & ETFs, domiciled in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain and the UK. Funds of funds excluded; money market included. Calculations based on weighted assets and only on available TER data (2001 – 2025).
Investment risk information
The value of investments, and the income from them, may fall or rise and investors may get back less than they invested.
Some funds invest in emerging markets which can be more volatile than more established markets. As a result the value of your investment may rise or fall.
Investments in smaller companies may be more volatile than investments in well-established blue chip companies.
The Vanguard LifeStrategy® Funds may invest in Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) shares.
ETF shares can be bought or sold only through a broker. Investing in ETFs entails stockbroker commission and a bid- offer spread which should be considered fully before investing.
Funds investing in fixed interest securities carry the risk of default on repayment and erosion of the capital value of your investment and the level of income may fluctuate. Movements in interest rates are likely to affect the capital value of fixed interest securities. Corporate bonds may provide higher yields but as such may carry greater credit risk increasing the risk of default on repayment and erosion of the capital value of your investment. The level of income may fluctuate and movements in interest rates are likely to affect the capital value of bonds.
The Funds may use derivatives in order to reduce risk or cost and/or generate extra income or growth. The use of derivatives could increase or reduce exposure to underlying assets and result in greater fluctuations of the Fund's net asset value. A derivative is a financial contract whose value is based on the value of a financial asset (such as a share, bond, or currency) or a market index.
Some funds invest in securities which are denominated in different currencies. Movements in currency exchange rates can affect the return of investments.
For further information on the model portfolio(s) risks please see the Understanding the Risks: Vanguard LifeStrategy model portfolio solutions document as well as the “Risk Factors” section of the prospectus of the underlying funds on our website.
For further information on risks please see the “Risk Factors” section of the prospectus on our website.
For further information on the model portfolio risks, please see the "Risk Factors" section of the prospectus of the underlying funds on our website.
Important information
This is directed at professional investors and should not be distributed to, or relied upon by retail investors.
For further information on the investment policies and risks of the model portfolio(s), please refer to the prospectus and KIID of the underlying funds before making any final investment decisions. The KIID for each fund is available, alongside the prospectus, which is available in English only, via Vanguard’s website.
For further information on the fund's investment policies and risks, please refer to the prospectus of the NURS and to the KII before making any final investment decisions. The KII for this fund is available, alongside the prospectus via Vanguard’s website.
This is designed for use by, and is directed only at persons resident in the UK.
The information contained herein is not to be regarded as an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy or sell securities in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation is against the law, or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation, or if the person making the offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so. The information is general in nature and does not constitute legal, tax, or investment advice.
Potential investors are urged to consult their professional advisers on the implications of making an investment in, holding or disposing of shares and /or units of, and the receipt of distribution from any investment.
The Authorised Corporate Director for Vanguard LifeStrategy Funds ICVC is Vanguard Investments UK, Limited. Vanguard Asset Management, Limited is a distributor of Vanguard LifeStrategy Funds ICVC.
For investors in UK domiciled funds, a summary of investor rights can be obtained here and is available in English.
Issued by Vanguard Asset Management Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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