Looking to get the most out of your Vanguard investments? Financial expert Jeff DeMaso has the analysis and research you need. In this The Independent Vanguard Adviser review, we break down DeMaso’s service and reveal how its assessments could considerably boost your retirement portfolio.

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What is Independent Vanguard Advisors?

Independent Vanguard Advisors (IVA) is a research service with a resounding 30+ year history. Jeff DeMaso currently leads it after former head honcho Dan Wiener stepped down in 2023.

The platform independently tracks the stylings of Vanguard mutual funds and ETFs for their money-making potential. IVA goes a step further though, helping its members diversify and build portfolios that jive closely with their investment styles.

Subscribers get a slew of tools to do this. First and foremost are five custom-crafted portfolios from Vanguard’s suite of assets ready for investing in. Some have been around for over 30 years.

You’d be right to assume that the longevity of these portfolios means IVA targets long-term gains. It helps members dodge common traps and come out the other side better than before.

IVA also rates over 100 of Vanguard’s favorite mutual funds and ETFs so you don’t have to spend time researching them yourself. That’s just scraping the surface of the content you’ll find here.

I’ll break down all these features in just a bit. First, let’s take a closer look at the man behind it all.

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Who is Jeff DeMaso?

Jeff DeMaso is the current lead editor and also founder of The Independent Vanguard Adviser.

Before that, Jeff graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University with a B.A. in economics in 2006. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

DeMaso has worn many hats over the years, from intern to CIO at advisory firm Adviser Investments, LLC. Some of that time was spent as research director at a multi-billion dollar investment company.

The last 12 years have found DeMaso right here at IVA. Just last year, his former mentor Dan Wiener stepped down and handed Jeff the reins.

 It’s up to Jeff to carry on IVA’s more than 30-year history as an honest, unbiased voice people can follow.

Is Jeff DeMaso Legit?

DeMaso is not a newcomer to the investment circuit. He’s held some big titles and has been quoted in journals like Barron’s, Kiplinger, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal.

As one of the founders of Independent Vanguard Adviser, it’s clear he knows his stuff. Citywire named him a rising star of manager research a few years back.

What impresses me most about Jeff DeMaso is that he practices what he preaches. He invests in the very same funds he recommends, so you can rest assured that he’s putting his best foot forward.

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How Does The Independent Vanguard Advisor Work?

Independent Vanguard Adviser is your ticket to investing with the confidence of an expert, whether you fancy yourself one or not. Consider it your guide to knowing which Vanguard funds to invest in and which to avoid.

A lot of us go at the market without much of a strategy, flailing our arms at the latest fad. IVA keeps your approach grounded in logic while staying focused on your long-term goals.

It also becomes your go-to source for developments within Vanguard and its assets. After all, who has time to chase down all those leads?

In the end, the system does work. Over the last 30 years Independent Vanguard Adviser has been in business, its returns beat the S&P 3,454% to 2,606%.

Are They Associated with Vanguard the Financial Firm?

You’ll be pleased to hear that Independent Vanguard Adviser has no affiliation with Vanguard the company or any of its funds. It simply provides an expert analysis of Vanguard assets and nothing more.

That independence means DeMaso is never told what to say or make recommendations based on feedback from somewhere else. He gets to offer his own, unsolicited feedback on where he thinks you’ll do best with your money.

Members get nothing but the best research and an honest voice that’s been life-changing to many for over 30 years. DeMaso invests into his own recommendations, leaving little doubt that he’s always doing what he believes is best.

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What’s Included?

Here’s what you get when you join today: Don’t overwrite the red-highlighted text.

Access to 5 Unique Model Portfolios

Members gain access to five unique model portfolios covering a multitude of risk levels. With so many options to choose from, it’s easy to build your own portfolio with the diversity and risk you’re looking for. Plus, they’re all expert-driven.

Each of IVA’s portfolios has a smattering of stock recommendations with current status and share price history. You’re able to view at a moment’s notice how each one performs against metrics like the S&P 500 index.

You’ll know exactly what you’re getting into before you make any kind of investment. Let’s look at each one in more detail now.

Aggressive Portfolio

The IVA Aggressive Portfolio has been cruising along since 1991. It’s for anyone playing the long game that can withstand the frequent bumps the stock market throws our way.

Despite the occasional dips that come with a more aggressive approach, this portfolio has the highest returns of any in IVA’s collection. At the time of writing, it’s up roughly 3,500% in the last 30 years.

You may not have as much success if you plan to hold assets in this portfolio for only a short time. It’s always been faithful at recovering from slumps, but that may not happen in time if you don’t allow a long enough runway.

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Growth Portfolio

Another portfolio around since the early 90s, the Growth Portfolio prioritizes capital appreciation while trying to smooth out some of the stock market ruffles.

You’re likely going to see fewer ups and downs than the Aggressive Portfolio, but these shifts do still exist. Recovery typically takes less time after a drop, offering a little more flexibility in pulling out funds without getting burned in the process.

Gains are up around 2,200% since inception right now, with an impressive 13.9% rise in 2023 alone. It’s done well to match or exceed the market almost step for step.

Consider plugging in here if you’re not a fan of the risk more aggressive approaches bring and are okay with a smaller payout.

Moderate Portfolio

Independent Vanguard Advisers’ Moderate Portfolio strives to be a beautiful blend of growth and income. It’s stacked with 40% bonds for earning interest while the stocks inside blossom.

First introduced in 1991, returns of the bond/stock mix are just under 1,500% overall. It saw 11.2% growth last year.

This portfolio might appeal to folks who enjoy the fixed rates of return and less risk bonds bring. Of course, that also puts a limit on the amount you can hope to earn.

The stocks within help to offset that, but don’t expect this portfolio to ever perform as highly as one with a more aggressive approach.

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Conservative Portfolio

The Conservative Portfolio is the newest in IVA’s growing list. It launched in October 2022 with a heavy weight on income.

I’d dare say it’s the least risky of all the portfolios IVA offers and may be perfect for those who favor caution. There are still some opportunities for capital growth here, but those play a minority role.

Although new, the Conservative Portfolio is on the up and up. It jumped approximately 7% in the final months of 2022 and increased another 9.4% in 2023.

As I mentioned earlier, placing faith in income tends to incur less risk. Gains will almost assuredly never come near the heights often seen with riskier strategies.

Aggressive ETF

Your final portfolio option marries an aggressive investment approach with the perks that come with exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

ETFs are effectively a basket of securities looking to reproduce the results of an index and its respective gains. In the Aggressive ETF portfolio’s case, it paints a path very similar to the S&P 500 itself.

Established in 1995, the Aggressive ETF remains rather faithful to its index counterpart. Gains are somewhere in the 1,300% range since inception, with a nearly 18% rise last year.

This portfolio might be a good fit for you if the S&P 500 is your goal. You’ll just need to be prepared for the same ups and downs the stock market sees on a nearly cyclical basis.

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Buy, Hold, and Sell Ratings on Vanguard Funds and ETFs

As you plan out your investments, Independent Vanguard Adviser provides over 100 buy, hold, and sell ratings on top funds and ETFs. The research is all taken care of for you, with a specific column telling you which way to lean for each asset.

You can choose to take IVA’s assessment at face value or dig deeper into the numbers. These ratings also reveal a fund’s returns at various time stamps, risk, and yield data.

There’s an obvious correlation between a fund’s success and IVA’s recommendation, but this can be a great place to discover underlying patterns that could spark gains or show a downward trend.

All the information here is completely unbiased and based on computation and expert analysis. You’ll get the real scoop without wondering if there’s a hidden agenda here.

Weekly Analysis and Updates

I’m a sucker for the latest market news, but I don’t always have time to search for material that pertains to me. IVA makes this easy with feedback on the economy, Vanguard, and other factors playing into obvious or unforeseen movements.

This info could come in the form of an article, commentary, or insights in the form of charts and graphs. It’s all explained well, so I can quickly pull out what I need and move on.

If even that’s too much for you, IVA updates what’s good and bad at a glance every month for easy reference.

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Trade Alerts

You’re not left to fend for yourself once you invest in any of the assets Independent Vanguard Advisor recommends. The team lets you know any time a move should be made in your portfolio.

These trade alerts don’t come as often as you may think, since the lion’s share of IVA’s strategies revolve around long-term gains. Still, the last thing anyone wants is to be on a sinking ship any longer than needed.

Not every bit of news on an asset will spark a change, but have peace of mind that IVA’s experts are watching.

VIP Website Access with Archives

Subscribers have unlimited VIP access to all the Independent Vanguard Adviser’s past issues for reference and review. The markets frequently change, but many of the tips and tricks IVA shares with its customer base are always valuable.

You’ll similarly find new issues right here shortly after they’re released so you can peruse all the research in one place. I definitely prefer this to trying to manage all the content in my inbox or PC.

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Pros and Cons of The Independent Vanguard Advisor

The Independent Vanguard Advisor Reviews by Real Members

Folks seem to love the research and guidance Independent Vanguard Adviser provides. Several of the above reviews pointed out that IVA acted like a rudder when they felt lost with their investments.

I’m also impressed with how long people stick with this platform. It must be working well for one gentleman to remain a subscriber for over 20 years!

These reviews did come straight from the publisher, so I do encourage you to take them with a grain of salt. I’m still appreciative of the insights these users add to the mix.

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How Much Is It?

As part of this deal, you’ll pay just $175 for an annual subscription to Independent Vanguard Adviser and all its features. That’s just $14.60 per month!

It’s worth noting that your first month of the service is completely free if you join right now. You’re able to cancel anywhere during those first 30 days if there’s something you don’t like and not pay a penny.

There are no restrictions, even during the free trial phase. The IVA team sends out a reminder on day 23 letting you know when your trial ends.

Another way to put your foot in the water is through a monthly membership, but it’s not as cost-effective. Should you go that route, expect to pay $20 until you switch to the yearly plan.

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Is The Independent Vanguard Advisor Worth It?

After a thorough investigation of DeMaso’s service, I’m happy to report that the Independent Vanguard Advisor is top-tier.

I’m a big fan of the five investment portfolios and the flexibility users have to pick what suits them best. It doesn’t matter if you embrace risk or run from it; you’ll find something here that matches your style.

This may not be my first rodeo, but having all this expert-level analysis right at my fingertips is a huge win. The ratings, news, and insights are off the charts and save me a ton of time searching.

Trade alerts are the icing on the cake so I don’t have to watch my portfolios like a hawk. If a message comes through, I have time to adjust accordingly.

The only thing I don’t understand is how DeMaso can offer all this content for just $175. That price point is a total steal.

Plus, you’ve got a 30-day trial to test the service out. Don’t like your experience on day 29? Cancel and it won’t cost you anything.

If you’ve been wanting to get the most out of your Vanguard investments, look no further than the Independent Vanguard Advisor. Get started right away so you can maximize those returns.

Independent Vanguard Adviser FAQ: How Jeff DeMaso’s Five Model Portfolios Work and Who This Service Is Actually Right For

How Do the Five IVA Model Portfolios Differ From Each Other and How Do You Choose Which One Fits Your Situation?

The five Independent Vanguard Adviser model portfolios are designed to serve different investor profiles based primarily on risk tolerance, investment timeline, and income versus growth priorities. The Aggressive Portfolio has been running since 1991 and is built for investors with long timelines who can tolerate regular market volatility — it has the highest cumulative returns in IVA’s history at approximately 3,500% since inception but also experiences the steepest drawdowns during market downturns. This is the right fit if you have a 15- to 20-year runway and are not alarmed by seeing significant paper losses during bear markets. The Growth Portfolio, also dating from the early 1990s, tries to deliver strong capital appreciation while smoothing out some of the volatility inherent in a fully aggressive approach — it has returned approximately 2,200% since inception and posted 13.9% in 2023 alone. Recovery after drops tends to be faster here than in the Aggressive Portfolio, giving investors slightly more flexibility to access funds without catching a major dip. The Moderate Portfolio blends growth and income with a 40% bond allocation — since 1991, returns are just under 1,500% overall — making it suitable for investors who want the stability of fixed-income alongside stock exposure, at the cost of lower overall ceiling returns. The Conservative Portfolio, launched in October 2022, is the newest and most income-weighted option — it gained approximately 7% in its first few months and 9.4% in 2023, with an emphasis on capital preservation over growth. The Aggressive ETF portfolio, dating from 1995, mirrors the S&P 500 closely and suits investors who want broad market exposure through ETFs rather than actively managed funds, with returns around 1,300% since inception and a nearly 18% gain last year. Choosing between them generally comes down to how many years you have before you need the money, how much of a drawdown you can realistically tolerate without selling, and whether you want income-generating assets to cushion volatility.

What Does IVA’s 30-Year Track Record Actually Mean and How Does It Compare to Just Buying Vanguard Index Funds Directly?

The 3,454% service-level return cited in the article represents the cumulative gain across IVA’s model portfolios compared to the S&P 500’s 2,606% over the same period — a meaningful outperformance across three decades, though it is worth contextualizing what that comparison involves. The S&P 500 figure represents a passive, unmanaged index strategy, so IVA’s outperformance suggests that Jeff DeMaso’s active fund selection, allocation decisions, and timing of occasional portfolio adjustments have added genuine value relative to the most common benchmark. However, it is important to note that individual portfolio results vary significantly — the Aggressive Portfolio at ~3,500% is the primary driver of that headline figure, while the Moderate Portfolio at ~1,500% and the newer Conservative Portfolio sit well below the S&P comparison. The question of whether to use IVA versus simply buying Vanguard index funds directly is not purely a performance question — it is also about whether you want someone to manage the research, alerting, and rebalancing decisions for you. IVA does not replace Vanguard as your investment vehicle; you still hold your money in Vanguard funds and accounts. What IVA provides is the guidance layer — which funds to own, when to add or reduce, how to allocate across fund types, and when conditions suggest reducing exposure. For the $175/year cost, that guidance layer has historically produced better results than the benchmark, and for investors who lack the time, expertise, or confidence to make those decisions independently, the value proposition is straightforward.

How Does the 30-Day Free Trial Work and What Happens at the End of the Trial Period?

The Independent Vanguard Adviser’s 30-day free trial is a full-access, no-restrictions entry point — from day one, trial members receive everything included in a paid subscription: access to all five model portfolios, the full fund ratings database, weekly analysis and updates, trade alerts, and the complete VIP archive of past issues. There is no limited trial version or gated content during the 30 days. This means a new subscriber can immediately review the portfolio allocations, read through archived research, evaluate the fund ratings, and even begin investing based on IVA’s recommendations before paying anything. The only commitment required at signup is providing payment information, which is not charged until after the 30-day trial period ends. To remove any ambiguity around the billing date, IVA sends a reminder email on day 23 — seven days before the trial expires — so members have a clear window to evaluate their experience and cancel if needed without accidentally rolling into a paid subscription. If you choose to cancel before day 30, no charge is incurred and the process is described as straightforward. If you do nothing, the annual subscription at $175 or the monthly plan at $20 begins automatically depending on the option you selected at signup. The day-23 reminder is a meaningful detail — it shows IVA is not relying on trial members forgetting to cancel, which is a common criticism of free-trial subscription models across the industry. For investors considering IVA, the trial structure removes essentially all financial risk from the evaluation process: you can access the full research, review real fund ratings and model portfolio data, and make an informed decision about whether the Vanguard-focused guidance model fits your investment approach before spending a dollar.

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