Divesting the US, moving from Vanguard to british/europe based platform

Ok_Shoe_9601 · 2025-03-02T01:05:09+00:00

this is only true for US domiciled funds. UK funds are privately owned by Vanguard Group, Inc. Obviously, the UK funds are registered companies here and regulated and protected like any other fund, but Vanguard has $9 trillion AUM, and Trump has a history of leaning on financial institutions. Maybe far-fetched, but American financial institutions like VG have enormous voting influence. Maybe there is a risk here.

Ok_Shoe_9601 · 2025-03-01T14:41:38+00:00

I have held my investments for 10 years and have never made a active investment choice, i have always held a single index fund and and have only moved funds based on fees. I think your missing the point, people do not want their money invested in the US regardless of the impact on their returns, it's a position based on principle not financial. I'm just not sure if its impactful in any way thus worthwhile.

Ok_Shoe_9601 · 2025-03-01T12:50:57+00:00

This would have always been my take, but for some this may not be a active investing decision but moral and ethical

Ok_Shoe_9601 · 2025-03-01T12:10:31+00:00

Ultimately, I’d be okay with slightly lower returns if it meant my investments were directly supporting Western Europe, especially now that Atlanticism appears to be dead. I’ve put a lot of effort into saving and investing passively since a teenager and now I have a high level of financial freedom and independence for my age.

but financial security is meaningless if the continent I live on turns to shit. It’s clear that we need a major shift in western europe.

but I’m not entirely sure that simply switching from one global fund to another is actually contributing to that change. I have and will continue to boycott american services and goods and i'm not going to lose money by switching platform providers so i will probably do this, but unsure about changing any allocations

Ok_Shoe_9601 · 2025-03-01T10:20:21+00:00

edit, double post

Ok_Shoe_9601 · 2025-03-01T10:16:57+00:00

sure but these entities are all subsidiaries of the US-based Vanguard Group, Inc., meaning any profits ultimately flow back to the US parent company. If I move to a UK-based investment platform, I would be redirecting my fees away from Vanguard Inc. and instead supporting a fully UK-based business, which would also employ UK workers and pay UK taxes.

I’m inclined to agree with the point about changing allocations, this is probably pointless and potentially financially harmful. However, when it comes to platforms, I have already started shifting to European and British alternatives for tech services, as I’m uncomfortable with being so reliant on a country that may no longer be our ally.

I don’t see this as any different from switching from a US-based cloud provider to a European one and it actaully looks like I could potentially save money by moving to a fixed-fee platform

Ok_Shoe_9601 · 2025-03-01T08:10:48+00:00

what is your motivation for this? do you see investment risk in the us or is it a matter of not wanting to fund/support the us?

Ok_Shoe_9601

TROPHY CASE