Flagship Reps
Flagship Reps
Say good by to a dedicated rep unless you have 5M or greater in the account. 1M is no longer enough as they are raising the bar.
Just another notch down in customer service.
Just another notch down in customer service.
Re: Flafship Reps
Reference?
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Rob |
Its a dangerous business going out your front door. - J.R.R.Tolkien
Re: Flafship Reps
Notice from Vanguard yesterday. But I didn't see anything about that $5MM. I will now have a Flagship group answer the phone. No big deal, mostly my guy wasn't immediately available so I spoke with whomever. Occasionally I got a new guy who was replaced before I ever even called.
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Re: Flafship Reps
Flagship, not flafship...
Last edited by The Wizard on Sat Jan 14, 2017 9:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- indexfundfan
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Re: Flafship Reps
From email:
We want to make you aware of a change to how you'll interact with Flagship Services. Within the next few weeks, you’ll have direct access to a team of Flagship representatives rather than working exclusively with your assigned representative. You'll still receive the same level of service you've come to expect from our reps ...
My signature has been deleted.
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Re: Flafship Reps
I'm not sure, but it's not worth paying an extra twenty-five cents a month for.PFInterest wrote:What is a flafship?
Admiral shares in everything is just fine...
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Re: Flafship Reps
lol - I love the implication that it's better for you while taking away something..... I would love some honesty for a change. Does seem like another step in the benefit inflation... I guess this huge market is causing too many people to qualify......you’ll have direct access to a team of Flagship representatives rather than working exclusively with your assigned representative
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Rob |
Its a dangerous business going out your front door. - J.R.R.Tolkien
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Re: Flafship Reps
What are they taking away?rob wrote:lol - I love the implication that it's better for you while taking away something..... I would love some honesty for a change. Does seem like another step in the benefit inflation... I guess this huge market is causing too many people to qualify......you’ll have direct access to a team of Flagship representatives rather than working exclusively with your assigned representative
Are you losing 0.10% in Expense Ratio or something?
Or free turbo tax?
Or is it totally intangible?
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Re: Flafship Reps
More than likely with the amount of growth the company has had in the last 5 years the old reps are swamped so they hired new guys they just can't trust by themselves yet so they put them all in a pool and the new learns on the run from the old.
Happens all the time in IT (my field).
Happens all the time in IT (my field).
70% AVGE | 20% FXNAX | 10% T-Bill/Muni
Re: Flafship Reps
I hope I don't lose the nice professional photo of my rep on my vanguard front page.
Re: Flagship Reps
Hmm, I've not received any such notice. I still have my rep. There was an Aug 2016 thread on another forum about a similar message
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/ ... 82937.html
So maybe they are doing this selectively?
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/ ... 82937.html
So maybe they are doing this selectively?
Re: Flafship Reps
Also Vanguard's web page is still saying personal rep for flagship
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/ ... 82937.html
EDIT: Actually it no longer is specifically saying one specific Flagship rep...
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/ ... 82937.html
EDIT: Actually it no longer is specifically saying one specific Flagship rep...
Re: Flafship Reps
I still have my rep. Maybe we will get a group photo on our front page if and when we get a group of reps.
It is all rather silly for me, since I never call my rep. If I have questions I get good answers here.
It is all rather silly for me, since I never call my rep. If I have questions I get good answers here.
Re: Flafship Reps
I wont miss my Flagship rep. But I will miss the free TurboTax I have received for the past 10(?) years. The only real perk of Flagship.
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler - Einstein
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- Phineas J. Whoopee
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Re: Flafship Reps
I speak only for myself.
In terms of my relationship with Vanguard, and what they provide and how I value it, I'm happy with the services they offer everybody. Voyager, which one gets if household Vanguard assets held directly with them as opposed to through somebody else like a 401(k) administrator are at least $50,000, would provide slightly more convenience, but that's it.
The Voyager Super Duper Select enhancement wouldn't help me at all. The same goes for Flagship. Flagship Super Duper Select would help me no more than First Lord of the Admiralty and Mr. McNabb will spend all afternoon detailing your car by hand.
Others may appreciate and use the services. Some might revel in the prestige. If I told anybody which level I'm at it would be nothing other than bragging negative bragging self-aggrandizement self-deprecation an unjustified claim of moral superiority.
Vanguard status as a humble vegetable, that grows in the ground, meets my needs.
On the other hand, owning enough assets to qualify for Vanguard First Lord of the Admiralty Super Duper Select would help me a lot.
PJW
In terms of my relationship with Vanguard, and what they provide and how I value it, I'm happy with the services they offer everybody. Voyager, which one gets if household Vanguard assets held directly with them as opposed to through somebody else like a 401(k) administrator are at least $50,000, would provide slightly more convenience, but that's it.
The Voyager Super Duper Select enhancement wouldn't help me at all. The same goes for Flagship. Flagship Super Duper Select would help me no more than First Lord of the Admiralty and Mr. McNabb will spend all afternoon detailing your car by hand.
Others may appreciate and use the services. Some might revel in the prestige. If I told anybody which level I'm at it would be nothing other than bragging negative bragging self-aggrandizement self-deprecation an unjustified claim of moral superiority.
Vanguard status as a humble vegetable, that grows in the ground, meets my needs.
On the other hand, owning enough assets to qualify for Vanguard First Lord of the Admiralty Super Duper Select would help me a lot.
PJW
Re: Flafship Reps
So, reconciling several threads, it sounds like now instead of a specific rep not answering your call, it will be a whole team of reps not answering your call.
I am not a lawyer, accountant or financial advisor. Any advice or suggestions that I may provide shall be considered for entertainment purposes only.
Re: Flafship Reps
I will not miss my flagship rep. I really, really, really miss the free tax software. I'm not sure I trust creditKarma with my tax data. Bring it back Vanguard!
Re: Flafship Reps
wow, unbelievable how bad it is getting at vanguard.
Re: Flafship Reps
I haven't received any notice yet but if the change is correct it won't bother me. I do feel it will make a difference to some, however. My sister enjoys having one rep. call her every year to make annual recommendations on asset allocation and RMD amounts. Talking to someone different (with perhaps different ideas) each year will be a reduction of services.
Being a skeptic I wonder if the change may be a way to encourage more people to go with their new personal advisor service? Perhaps too many people were using their Flagship Rep. as a substitute.
Being a skeptic I wonder if the change may be a way to encourage more people to go with their new personal advisor service? Perhaps too many people were using their Flagship Rep. as a substitute.
Re: Flagship Reps
I think Vanguard is getting so BIG now that it no longer cares about any customer with asset levels below $5 million. Maybe Vanguard just wants to run off all such pathetic small investors because they are nothing but money losers and pain in the neck.
Where is Saint Bogle when we need him?
Where is Saint Bogle when we need him?
Re: Flafship Reps
You have Bogleheads, who needs Flagship reps?
Low ER is the name of the game, Vangaurd can save on payroll and pass those savings on to us via lower ER's.
I am at Jon Boat level, but at least I have oars!
Low ER is the name of the game, Vangaurd can save on payroll and pass those savings on to us via lower ER's.
I am at Jon Boat level, but at least I have oars!
Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.
Re: Flafship Reps
Given my Flagship representatives change with the wind, I might as well have a team. I have yet to find value with this service.
Emotionless, prognostication free investing. Ignoring the noise and economists since 1979. Getting rich off of "smart people's" behavioral mistakes.
Re: Flafship Reps
I don't see mention of a dedicated rep for above $5mm, just a relationship team. https://investor.vanguard.com/wealth-management/Bonnan wrote:Say good by to a dedicated rep unless you have 5M or greater in the account. 1M is no longer enough as they are raising the bar.
Just another notch down in customer service.
As others have written, it probably doesn't matter.
Re: Flafship Reps
How often do you speak with your Flagship rep? Twice in last ten years for me.sambb wrote:wow, unbelievable how bad it is getting at vanguard.
I always wanted to be a procrastinator.
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Re: Flafship Reps
I have been flagship for years, not a big deal, certainly not a case of:
The only time I think it helped was when I was in China for a year and my rep reimbursed me for some FedEx documents I had to send in to complete some matters for an estate for which I was personal representative.sambb wrote:wow, unbelievable how bad it is getting at vanguard.
"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." H.G. Wells
Re: Flafship Reps
In the past there were real benefits... For example, talking to a CFP on topics but that has already been cut in an effort to juice more dollars out of people with the AUM charges. Unlike most here, my rep has been the same and is decently knowledgable. I find the "team" (i.e. some random rep) less knowledgable and the general nbr truly hopeless. I only call when I have something that is not working (lost rollover, missing txn etc.), so having a specific person instead of allowing the random person run around has value to me.The Wizard wrote: What are they taking away?
Are you losing 0.10% in Expense Ratio or something?
Or free turbo tax?
Or is it totally intangible?
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Rob |
Its a dangerous business going out your front door. - J.R.R.Tolkien
Re: Flafship Reps
I am not sure I have ever spoken with my flagship rep. On the rare occasions that I call I talk to whoever answers the phone. I always get a message that my rep is unavailable. Who cares? I have no idea who it is anyway.
But I care about low prices. How about two tiers? Basic level -deal with whoever at rock bottom prices. For a higher price you get your own rep. I know which one I would pick.
But I care about low prices. How about two tiers? Basic level -deal with whoever at rock bottom prices. For a higher price you get your own rep. I know which one I would pick.
We don't know how to beat the market on a risk-adjusted basis, and we don't know anyone that does know either |
--Swedroe |
We assume that markets are efficient, that prices are right |
--Fama
Re: Flafship Reps
How often did you talk to your specific flagship rep anyway? I think the move a few years ago to lower the minimum account values to get Admiral shares on index funds was far more material - and a benefit to far more investors. I am certainly willing to sacrifice an individual contact point for a rotating team as long as I get the rock-bottom expense ratios that VG offers.Bonnan wrote:Say good by to a dedicated rep unless you have 5M or greater in the account. 1M is no longer enough as they are raising the bar.
Just another notch down in customer service.
Re: Flafship Reps
I've found this board more knowledgeable and astute than any Vanguard CFP. What have you gotten from their CFPs that you couldn't get here?rob wrote:...In the past there were real benefits... For example, talking to a CFP on topics but that has already been cut...
Re: Flafship Reps
I have tried the consultation with a CFP enough out of curiosity to think I have a good sample. Much more knowledgeable sources are available here on Bogleheads.
For free, the CFP access is worth what I am paying for it. I would not pay one basis point in expense ratio for the service.
For free, the CFP access is worth what I am paying for it. I would not pay one basis point in expense ratio for the service.
We don't know how to beat the market on a risk-adjusted basis, and we don't know anyone that does know either |
--Swedroe |
We assume that markets are efficient, that prices are right |
--Fama
Re: Flafship Reps
My perspective is that anytime a need can't be satisfied by an online interaction, that is a failing. I would rather they fix and improve the website and save money on CSRs.
Re: Flafship Reps
I watched a Vanguard broadcast discussion with CEO Bill McNabb and CIO Tim Buckley last night. Mr. McNabb stated that in 2016 Vanguard received close to 10 million phone calls. He went on to say that Vanguard was in the process of hiring 1700 new employees.
We'll have to see how this will all play out.
We'll have to see how this will all play out.
"..the cavalry ain't comin' kid, you're on your own..."
Re: Flafship Reps
Vanguard's website has been optimized over 20+ years now and just about everything that needs to be done is self-explanatory and requests through their website are mostly reliable and accurate. That's good and for me has mostly eliminated the need to interact with a person at Vanguard.
I do agree it is frustrating to have to dial into a call center when there is a problem and each time talk to a different phone rep who is only empowered to type into a ticketing system. My designated Flagship rep has never been available when I have called. I found the call center rep did not capture our conversation accurately or did not know additional information was needed. Instead of calling me to ask questions Vanguard waited for me to call back to ask for status several times until it got elevated in priority. That was frustrating. It's been a few years since I've had a problem that required human intervention but once my problem got elevated to someone who understood it and could work it I got his/her phone number and was able to interact directly.
I do agree it is frustrating to have to dial into a call center when there is a problem and each time talk to a different phone rep who is only empowered to type into a ticketing system. My designated Flagship rep has never been available when I have called. I found the call center rep did not capture our conversation accurately or did not know additional information was needed. Instead of calling me to ask questions Vanguard waited for me to call back to ask for status several times until it got elevated in priority. That was frustrating. It's been a few years since I've had a problem that required human intervention but once my problem got elevated to someone who understood it and could work it I got his/her phone number and was able to interact directly.
Warning: I am about 80% satisficer (accepting of good enough) and 20% maximizer
Re: Flagship Reps
Excuse me, but that statement is totally unsubstantiated. You can get rock bottom ERs (i.e., Admiral shares) with only $10K in an index fund. That is a far cry from $5 Million.HueyLD wrote:I think Vanguard is getting so BIG now that it no longer cares about any customer with asset levels below $5 million. Maybe Vanguard just wants to run off all such pathetic small investors because they are nothing but money losers and pain in the neck.
Re: Flagship Reps
I fixed it, thanks.The Wizard wrote:Flagship, not flafship...
Re: Flagship Reps
Thus far, no one has mentioned that you can always talk with your Flagship representative if you make an appointment. With just one day's lead time, I have found that my rep always has at least one time slot available. If something is more urgent, I can take my chances and talk with whichever rep is available. With so many Vanguard clients and with the online appointment reservation system, doesn't it make sense that your Flagship rep isn't just sitting there drumming his or her fingers on the desk, waiting for your particular call?
"We don't see things as they are; we see them as we are." Anais Nin |
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"Sometimes the first duty of intelligent men is the restatement of the obvious." George Orwell
Re: Flagship Reps
This is what I do. I also try to schedule time sensitive transactions (like a ROTH conversion) with enough recovery time to enable me to reach them by phone if I need to do some corrective action. So, I don't leave my ROTH conversion to the last week of December. If I am donating shares to my DAF, I don't wait until the last week before their cutoff.cinghiale wrote:Thus far, no one has mentioned that you can always talk with your Flagship representative if you make an appointment.
Don't trust me, look it up. https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions-and-publications
Re: Flagship Reps
I’m more interested in having continuity when I have an issue than in having a single representative listed as the “contact.” However, my need for contacts are rare enough and turnover in the assigned rep has been frequent enough that some have come and gone without our having any interaction.
As with others, I have contacted my representative to make an appointment or by secure email most of the time. That works better than a cold call that understandably might arrive when the rep is busy.
Dealing with Vanguard has its annoyances (but this is true of every financial institution with which I do business). The nature of Flagship reps is not one of them.
As with others, I have contacted my representative to make an appointment or by secure email most of the time. That works better than a cold call that understandably might arrive when the rep is busy.
Dealing with Vanguard has its annoyances (but this is true of every financial institution with which I do business). The nature of Flagship reps is not one of them.
Re: Flagship Reps
My contacts have always been non-urgent. I try to summarize "on paper" my issue and questions and attach a PDF to my request for an appointment. That way, the rep has time to do some homework. I have some questions this year about consolidating and re-titling some accounts. I'll do the same - type it up, create a PDF and attach it to an secure email. This can save time. One time we had some specific issues around an inherited IRA so the rep arranged for their IRA specialist to be available for the call. We handled the whole issue with one 20 minute call.
Don't trust me, look it up. https://www.irs.gov/forms-instructions-and-publications
Re: Flafship Reps
I think that's gone now anyway isn't it?Prokofiev wrote:I wont miss my Flagship rep. But I will miss the free TurboTax I have received for the past 10(?) years. The only real perk of Flagship.
I wonder if Vanguard hasn't used its pool of experienced Flagship Advisors to fulfill its need for Personal Service Advisors. Like others above I'd rely more on the group wisdom of this forum in addition to or in lieu of that of the current Vanguard advisors.
- House Blend
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Re: Flafship Reps
I haven't used the CFP service. However,...Quark wrote:I've found this board more knowledgeable and astute than any Vanguard CFP. What have you gotten from their CFPs that you couldn't get here?rob wrote:...In the past there were real benefits... For example, talking to a CFP on topics but that has already been cut...
Some people may be more willing to share income details, state of residence, age, profession, employer (for details about what's available in their 401(k)) with a CFP than in a public semi-anonymous forum.
Re: Flagship Reps
For those who use the appointment method currently to access dedicated reps: you will likely lose that privilege once you no longer have one specifically assigned to you. Of course the new system does not apply to Flagship Select customers.
- House Blend
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Re: Flagship Reps
FWIW, the email I received about this last week saidHueyLD wrote:For those who use the appointment method currently to access dedicated reps: you will likely lose that privilege once you no longer have one specifically assigned to you. Of course the new system does not apply to Flagship Select customers.
Seems to me that folks who want to keep their rep can continue to do so. Unclear to me whether this is a grandfathering situation--perhaps new arrivals to Flagship won't get this option?If at any time you'd like to have an assigned representative again, please let us know.
Re: Flafship Reps
Yeah.... I used them a couple of time when I already was pretty certain about the answer but wanted a confirmation and a second check without the hassle of making up stuff for a public forum (I know you can request a 2nd id here for specific questions but still).House Blend wrote:I haven't used the CFP service. However,...Quark wrote:I've found this board more knowledgeable and astute than any Vanguard CFP. What have you gotten from their CFPs that you couldn't get here?rob wrote:...In the past there were real benefits... For example, talking to a CFP on topics but that has already been cut...
Some people may be more willing to share income details, state of residence, age, profession, employer (for details about what's available in their 401(k)) with a CFP than in a public semi-anonymous forum.
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Rob |
Its a dangerous business going out your front door. - J.R.R.Tolkien
Re: Flagship Reps
I am Flagship level and it means nothing to me. I liked the free Turbotax but that's already been gone for awhile. To me it's a nonevent.
- Phineas J. Whoopee
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Re: Flagship Reps
Now I get it. The definition of rich and privileged is anyone whose net worth is substantially greater than mine.HueyLD wrote:For those who use the appointment method currently to access dedicated reps: you will likely lose that privilege once you no longer have one specifically assigned to you. Of course the new system does not apply to Flagship Select customers.
PJW
- Mel Lindauer
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Re: Flafship Reps
Based on the comments on this thread, you're not alone in missing the free TurboTax. Add my name to that list, too.Prokofiev wrote:I wont miss my Flagship rep. But I will miss the free TurboTax I have received for the past 10(?) years. The only real perk of Flagship.
Best Regards - Mel |
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Semper Fi
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Re: Flafship Reps
I just have to stir the pot here a bit ...Mel Lindauer wrote:Based on the comments on this thread, you're not alone in missing the free TurboTax. Add my name to that list, too.Prokofiev wrote:I wont miss my Flagship rep. But I will miss the free TurboTax I have received for the past 10(?) years. The only real perk of Flagship.
I got my free Premier copy over at Fidelity as a Premium Services customer ($250k+) not Private ($1mil club)
70% AVGE | 20% FXNAX | 10% T-Bill/Muni