Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities Fund Investor Shares (VIPSX)

This fund is designed to protect investors from the eroding effect of inflation by investing primarily in securities that seek to provide a ”real” return. The fund focuses on investments in inflation-protected bonds that are backed by the full faith and credit of the federal government and whose principal is adjusted based on inflation. The fund has moderate to high interest rate risk, meaning that changes in interest rates, both up and down, can affect the fund by resulting in lower bond prices or an eventual decrease in income. In addition to typical movement in bond prices, income can fluctuate more in this fund because payments depend on inflation changes. Investors with a long-term time horizon may wish to consider this fund as a complement to an already diversified fixed income portfolio.