Vanguard Funds is a company whose goal is to help investors diversify their portfolios by investing in individual stocks. Vanguard is one of the largest mutual funds companies in the world.

Below are six of the best Vanguard Funds to buy and hold.

Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VTSMX) has a long history of investing in stocks outside the United States. It was established in 1976 and had a long-term annualized return of 9%. To qualify as viable investments, they must have been publicly available for at least one year before being invested by the fund. The expense ratio is 0.14% which is very low, and they have an initial investment of $3,000 or more.

Vanguard Balanced Index is the second fund on my list. It is an index fund that invests in the entire US market and uses a chart-based approach to weigh the stock sectors. This fund was established in 1976 and has an annualized return of 10% over 20 years. To qualify as viable investments, they must have been publicly available for at least one year before being invested by the fund. This expense ratio is 0.11% which is very low, and they have an initial investment of $3,000 or more.

Vanguard Small-Cap Index is the third fund on my list. It is a balanced fund that invests in the small-cap segment of the US market and uses a chart-based approach to weigh the stock sectors. This fund was established in 1976 and has an annualized return of 10% over 20 years. To qualify as viable investments, they must have been publicly available for at least one year before being invested by the fund. This expense ratio is 0.11%.

Vanguard International Growth has an annualized return of 9% over 25 years (1% per year). It invests in international markets. To qualify as viable investments, they must have been publicly available for at least one year before being supported by the fund. This expense ratio is 0.12% which is very low, and they have an initial investment of $3,000 or more.

Vanguard Institutional Index has an annualized return of 9% over 20 years (1% per year). It invests in 200 individual stocks of over 800 other companies (small caps). It uses a rotating portfolio approach to weigh the stock sectors based on the past performance of each industry. This fund was established in 1976 and has an expense ratio of 0.12%, which is very low, and they have an initial investment of $3,000 or more.

Vanguard Tax-Managed Balanced fund has an annualized return of 7% over 25 years (1% per year). It invests in the entire US market and uses a chart-based approach to weigh the stock sectors. This fund was established in 1976 and has an expense ratio of 0.17%, which is very low, and they have an initial investment of $3,000 or more.

All these funds are good choices for investors to diversify their portfolios. Choose Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares as your first choice in your investment portfolio.

There’s a lot to love about SUVs! They are practical, useful, sit up higher on the road, and have the cargo room and passenger space that many families need. SUVs fit more people comfortably than sedans and sometimes there’s a third row available for even higher passenger capacity. These days driving an SUV doesn’t mean giving up power, handling, or performance. Modern SUVs ae powerful and considered fun to drive. A brand new SUV on a showroom floor often comes with a pretty big pricetag. But there is a lot of value to be found in purchasing a pre-owned SUV, with all of the style and features but not all of the cost. CarMax is a national chain with 195 locations selling pre-owned cars. The auto experts there say the Nissan Rogue, the Chevrolet Equinox and the Ford Escape are the three best pre-owned SUVs.

A 2017 Nissan Rogue will come with a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine. The Rogue's estimated gas mileage is up to 26 miles per gallon in the city and 33 miles to a gallon on the highway. This SUV had a bit of a body style update from previous years, but it retained the soft-edge shape. The Rogue has quad-beam headlights with LED daytime running lights, 17-inch tires, driver memory and a remote start feature. There were options available on the 2017 that included heated steering wheels, pedestrian detection and lane departure warnings. Consumer Reports says the Rogue is easy-to-drive and comfortable with a roomy back seat. 

A 2017 Chevrolet Equinox has a 2.4 liter 4-cylinder engine. It gets approximately 21 miles to the gallon in the city and 31 miles to the gallon on the highway. The 2017 Chevrolet Equinox is typically equipped with ABS brakes, AM/FM radio with satellite capability, auxiliary audio input,  Bluetooth, a tow hitch, a rear view camera, overhead airbags, a post-collision safety system, emergency braking assistance, dusk-sensing headlamps and traction control. Reviewers say the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox  has a spacious interior and a comfortable and quiet ride. Consumer Reports calls the Chevrolet Equinox a nice option in the category between small SUVs and the larger seven-passenger model vehicles.

A 2017 Ford Escape is powered by a 1.5 liter 4-cylinder engine. Its estimated gas mileage is 23 miles to the gallon in the city and 30 miles to the gallon on the highway. The 2017 Escape typically comes with ABS brakes, a back-up camera, blind spot monitor, tow hitch, traction control, Bluetooth, and AM/FM satellite-ready radio. Other options that were available for brand-new 2017 Ford Escapes included power liftgate, panoramic sun and moonroofs, and rear parking assist. Consumer Reports calls the 2017 Ford Escape solid, sophisticated, athletic and fun to drive.

As SUVs continue to grow in popularity, offerings on the pre-owned market will continue to expand. The 2017 Nissan Rogue, 2017 Chevrolet Equinox and the 2017 Ford Escape all get high marks from vehicle sellers and vehicle drivers that make them the three best pre-owned SUVs on the market.

It is always important for people of all ages to get their vision checked on a regular basis. Getting regular eye exams and updating any necessary prescriptions is vital as people go through their daily lives. Because many individuals rely so heavily on their vision for driving, reading, and even binge-watching Netflix shows - among other things - having 20/20 vision makes a huge difference. Those who are low-income and think they cannot afford glasses can still get their vision corrected when needed. National health care programs and even non-profit organizations can help individuals and their families get eyeglasses. With the help of these programs, nobody has to live with anything less than 20/20 vision. Three of the best places to find assistance for vision services include CHIP, Medicaid, and non-profit organizations. Read on to learn more about getting help for eyeglasses.

CHIP is a program that offers vision coverage for children. CHIP coverage is intended for children with parents who do not qualify for Medicaid, but otherwise have a relatively low income. Under CHIP coverage, children will have coverage for a pair of eyeglasses or two pairs of eyeglasses as needed. CHIP will cover frames, lenses, fittings, and repairs. Children under the age of 19 will qualify for CHIP if they do not have insurance. While most families will have few to no out of pocket costs, higher income families may be faced with low-premiums and copays.

Functioning as a social health program, Medicaid offers medical insurance coverage for families with low-incomes. The great part about this is that Medicaid even includes vision coverage. Medicaid will cover individuals 21 and older for one pair of glasses per year. Vision coverage for eyeglasses includes the frames, lenses, fittings, and even repairs. Individuals under the age of 21 may have their eyeglasses replaced twice if stolen, lost or broken, but individuals over 21 may only get eyeglasses replaced once. Bifocals and trifocals may also be covered if needed; otherwise individuals may elect to get separate pairs of eyeglasses for near-sighted and far-sighted vision. However, transition lenses and progressive multifocal lenses are not covered by Medicaid.

Non-profit organizations are another great way for individuals to get help getting eyeglasses for themselves and their families. New Eyes is one excellent source for getting eyeglasses. New Eyes for the Needy will purchase prescription glasses for low-income families via a voucher program. Individuals in need of eyeglasses can contact a social worker or other social service agent, who will then go onto the program website and fill out an online application. It should be noted that the voucher is good only for basic prescription eyeglasses which cannot be upgraded nor charged additional payments. With so many ways to get free or affordable eyeglasses, there’s little reason for individuals and their families to go without. Social programs and non-profit organizations make it easier than ever for low-income families to get the eyeglasses they need.

Antigua is a Caribbean island in the Lesser Antilles, an archipelago of small islands forming part of the West Indies. It has been inhabited since before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1493 and was once home to various indigenous groups, including the Arawak and Carib Indians. The island was colonized by the British in 1632 and made St. John's, which still stands today as one of the most historically important cities in the Caribbean. Although two devastating hurricanes heavily damaged it in 1899 and 1924, Antigua has continued to thrive, with a population estimated at nearly 91,000 people.

Antigua is a country with a stable representative democracy in place. The constitution guarantees the right to freely elect representatives to serve in the government and hold executive power through regular elections. Antigua has two foremost political groups, the ruling United Progressive Party (UPP) and the opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP), which have enjoyed peaceful electoral competition since 1951. Each party has held office multiple times throughout its history, surpassing successful democratic transitions of power. The Parliament of Antigua is comprised of 19 members, which are directly elected by popular vote with terms of five years for each term limit. Additionally, citizens have protection under several human rights conventions like freedom from torture and other civil and political rights. This helps ensure that citizens have adequate representation and enjoy equality before the law in a secure and safe environment.

Tourism is one of Antiguas main industries, and there is an abundance of activities for visitors to enjoy. Some of these include swimming in its secluded coves, exploring its rainforest-covered hillsides, or taking a leisurely walk along its white sand beaches. There are also several historical sites, such as Nelson's Dockyard National Park and Shirley Heights Lookout both UNESCO World Heritage Sites - where visitors can learn about Antigua's colonial past.

The economy of Antigua is largely driven by tourism, but other sectors also contribute greatly to GDP. These include agriculture (in particular sugarcane production), fishing, and manufacturing (especially rum distilling). Financial services also play an important role, with many international banks having offices on the island.

Aside from its economic activities, Antigua is also home to some unique natural attractions such as Devils Bridge National Park an awe-inspiring site that features sea stacks cut out from the limestone cliffs or the dormant volcano Mount Obama which overlooks English Harbour from a height over 2200 feet above sea level.

In addition to its many attractions, Antigua is also known for being culturally vibrant with a rich heritage evident in everything from music festivals like Calypso Fete and Carnival celebrations to traditional cuisine like ducana (a sweet potato pudding) that can be found everywhere on the island.

This diversity has led to respected international recognition for Antiguans, such as calypsonian Mighty Sparrow who won seven consecutive Road March titles at Trinidads world-famous carnival parade, or Nobel laureate Vidia Naipaul who wrote extensively about his homeland after leaving it at age 18 in 1948. All this combines to make this vibrant island nation truly unique among all others in the Caribbean region guaranteeing visitors will have plenty of experiences they won't soon forget.