Thanks to their extremely low management fees, Vanguard's exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are consistently on the radars of investors keen on maximizing the returns on their investments -- and not losing money to fund managers.

These companies, also known as the "Magnificent Seven," led the stock market to new heights in 2023 and 2024, but have underperformed the S&P 500 so far in 2025. In other words, being heavily concentrated in just a handful of stocks is a double-edged sword that can lead to higher than historical gains, but also accelerate a sell-off.

Vanguard exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a fantastic choice for retired investors looking to play the long game with their portfolios. Undoubtedly, Vanguard is a name that passive investors can put their trust in.

The Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF, which owns large-cap U.S. growth stocks, is the best-performing Vanguard ETF since its inception. I suspect the fund will continue its winning ways over the next decade and beyond, especially with several of its top holdings poised to benefit from increased adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).