If You're 25 and Just Starting Out, This Is the Only Vanguard ETF You Need for the Next Decade

For young investors starting out, the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is recommended as a simple, low-cost core portfolio holding. It invests in approximately 3,500 U.S. stocks across all market caps, providing better diversification than the S&P 500 ETF which focuses only on large-cap stocks. With small-cap earnings expected to outpace large caps in 2027 and historically outperforming over time, VTI offers enhanced long-term return potential with a minimal 0.03% expense ratio.