People

Jack Bogle

Jack Bogle

Formal First Name
John (Jack)
Nick Name
Father of Indexing
Link
Dates
1929 - 2019

Jack Bogle was the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of The Vanguard Group, one of the world's largest providers of mutual funds. Bogle was a Wall Street legend and business magnate often called the "Father of Indexing." He was best known for revolutionizing the mutual fund world by pioneering index investing. He became highly renowned in the investment community for being a champion for the little guy investor, and making investing and retirement affordable for millions of people. After retiring from The Vanguard Group in 2000, he worked tirelessly as an investor advocate. His civic work also extended to organizations involved in education, leadership, and public affairs. Bogle passed away in January 2019 at the age of 89.

Professional Experience


Academic History

THE VANGUARD GROUP

  • In 1976, Bogle introduced the Vanguard 500 fund, which tracks the returns of the S&P 500 and marked the first index fund marketed to retail 

  • He conceptualized, developed and introduced the world's first index fund for the individual investor which revolutionized the financial marketplace.

  • A champion of the individual investor, he is widely credited with helping to bring increased disclosure about mutual fund costs and performance to the public.

  • Bogle was also known for his line: "Don't look for the needle in the haystack. Just buy the haystack."


WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT

  • He climbed the ranks within Wellington, holding executive positions such as Administrative Vice President, Executive Vice President, and President.

  • He became the driving force behind the firm's growth into a mutual fund family after starting an equity fund that would complement Wellington Fund.

  • He also led the merger of Wellington Management Company with Thorndike, Doran, Paine & Lewis. He later formed Vanguard to handle the administrative functions of Wellington's funds.


PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS

  • He served as the first chairman of the board of trustees and chairman emeritus for the National Constitution Center. 

  • He was a member of the American Philosophical Society, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, The Conference Board’s Commission on Public Trust and Private Enterprise, and the investment committee of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. 

  • He served as a trustee of the American Indian College Fund, The American College, and Blair Academy.

  • He also wrote numerous articles and commentaries for trade and business publications.


RECOGNITION

  • 2016 Pennsylvania Society Gold Medal for Distinguished Achievement

  • 2016 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Lifetime Achievement Award

  • 2007 National Council on Economic Education Visionary Award

  • 2006 Center for Corporate Excellence Exemplary Leader Award

  • 2004 TIME's 100 Most Powerful and Influential People

  • 2004 Institutional Investor's Lifetime Achievement Award

  • 2003 Yale School of Management's Legends of Leadership

  • 1999 Barron's Hall of Fame

  • 1999 Fixed Income Analysts Society’ Hall of Fame

  • 1999 Fortune's Giants of the 20th Century

  • In 2010, Forbes magazine described him as the person who “has done more good for investors than any other financier of the past century.”

  • In 2012, some of the nation’s most respected financial leaders celebrated his career at the John C. Bogle Legacy Forum.