Making Cents Sense

TL;DR Both VYM (Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF) and SCHD (Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF) are excellent dividend vehicles with similar fees. But as of late August 2025, SCHD offers a higher current SEC yield , a tighter, quality-screened portfolio , and has delivered slightly better long-run total returns —all without a fee advantage for VYM to compensate. I’m downgrading VYM from a core holding to Hold/Underweight , and I’m upgrading SCHD to my preferred large-cap U.S. dividend ETF for new money. (Data and dates throughout noted explicitly; citations follow each load-bearing claim.) Price snapshot: VYM Price snapshot: SCHD What Changed—and Why the Call Today In dividend investing, the edge comes from: What you own (index methodology and factor tilts), What you pay (fees), and What you earn (current yield and the durability of dividend growth). On those three, SCHD now looks better: Income, today: As of August 28, 2025 , SCHD’s 30-day SEC yield is ...

Investing in the stock market can feel overwhelming, especially if you're new to the game. However, if you're looking for a simple way to build wealth with minimal effort, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are one of the best options available. ETFs allow you to invest in a diverse collection of stocks with a single purchase, providing an easy way to grow your portfolio over time. In this article, we'll explore how ETFs work, why they’re an excellent investment choice, and two of the best Vanguard ETFs to consider for long-term wealth accumulation. Understanding ETFs: The Basics An exchange-traded fund (ETF) is a type of investment fund that holds a collection of stocks, bonds, or other assets. ETFs trade on stock exchanges just like individual stocks, meaning you can buy and sell them throughout the trading day at market prices. The key advantage of ETFs is their diversification. Unlike buying individual stocks, which can expose you to high levels of risk, an ETF spreads your i...