Vanguard Ranks Among Top Retirement Providers in JD Power 2026 U.S. Retirement Plan Digital Experience Study

Vanguard ranks third in website experience and fourth in mobile app experience, as participants increasingly engage through digital channels

VALLEY FORGE, Pa., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Vanguard ranked among the top retirement plan providers in the JD Power 2026 U.S. Retirement Plan Digital Experience Study^SM, underscoring its continued focus and investment in delivering intuitive, secure, and engaging digital experiences for retirement savers. Out of 17 retirement plan providers, Vanguard ranked third for its website and fourth for its app, with both channels scoring significantly above industry averages.

"We're encouraged by our ranking and the progress we've made in enhancing the digital experience for the participants we serve," said Lauren Valente, Managing Director, Vanguard Workplace Solutions. "At Vanguard, we believe people deserve simple, intuitive ways to engage with their retirement savings and build confidence in their financial futures. This ranking reflects our team's commitment to helping more investors take meaningful steps toward the retirement they envision."

Vanguard was rated above the industry average across every category including design, system performance, information and content, and tools and capabilities. The results placed Vanguard among the leading retirement plan providers, demonstrating the strength of its digital offering as participants increasingly rely on technology to manage their retirement savings.

Continuous Improvements

As participant expectations continue to evolve, Vanguard introduced a series of digital enhancements over the last year to help simplify key actions, increase personalization, and provide greater visibility for its retirement plan participants.

Recent enhancements include:

• Improved saving features that help participants visualize how contribution changes can impact their retirement outcomes.
• New goal-setting features designed to connect everyday financial decisions with long-term goals.
• New mobile check deposit feature that enables quick and easy asset consolidation within a participant's retirement plan.
• New personalized educational videos designed to engage participants and drive positive actions.
• Simplified access across services through new capabilities for participants with non-qualified plans.
• Expanded balance transparency through tax-source breakdowns.

"Digital experiences play a critical role in helping retirement savers take action and stay on track to achieve stronger outcomes," said Amber Brestowski, Head of Participant Financial Success at Vanguard. "By combining intuitive technology, including AI-powered capabilities, with a longstanding focus on investor outcomes, we are committed to enhancing our digital offerings to help participants save, plan, and prepare for retirement."

Survey Methodology

The JD Power Retirement Plan Digital Experience Study surveyed more than 6,500 retirement plan participants. The survey was fielded between May and July 2026, and measured satisfaction in four key dimensions on a 1,000-point scale: 

• Design 
• System Performance 
• Tools/Capabilities 
• Information/Content

About Vanguard

Founded in 1975, Vanguard is one of the world's leading investment management companies. The firm offers investments, advice, and retirement services to tens of millions of individual investors around the globe—directly, through workplace plans, and through financial intermediaries. Vanguard operates under a unique, investor-owned structure where Vanguard fund shareholders own the funds, which in turn own Vanguard. As such, Vanguard adheres to a simple purpose: To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success. For more information, visit vanguard.com.

About the JD Power 2026 U.S. Retirement Plan Digital Experience Study

The JD Power U.S. Retirement Plan Digital Experience Study measures participant satisfaction with retirement plan providers' digital experiences. The 2026 study evaluated 17 providers and, for the first time, ranked mobile applications and websites separately. Overall satisfaction was measured across four key factors: Design, System Performance, Information/Content, and Tools/Capabilities. The study was fielded from May through July 2026 among U.S. retirement plan participants who used a provider's website or mobile app within the previous 12 months.

SOURCE Vanguard