BNDX — Vanguard Total International Bond ETF
Vanguard · Expense Ratio: 0.07% · US Bonds · roughly average for its US Bonds category
Key Facts
| Ticker | BNDX |
| Full Name | Vanguard Total International Bond ETF |
| Provider | Vanguard |
| Expense Ratio | 0.07% |
| Category | US Bonds |
| Assets Under Management | $60B |
| Inception Year | 2013 (13 years ago) |
| Number of Holdings | 7,000 |
| Dividend Yield | ~1.8% (moderate) |
| Top Holdings | Japan Govt, France Govt, Germany Govt |
What Is BNDX?
BNDX, managed by Vanguard, launched in 2013, is a major ETF with deep liquidity and tight bid-ask spreads in the US Bonds category. US bond market ETF providing fixed income exposure to government and corporate bonds. With $60B in assets under management, it benefits from deep institutional liquidity and tight bid-ask spreads.
BNDX in a FIRE Portfolio
Bonds and inflation-protected securities act as portfolio ballast — reducing volatility and providing stability during the distribution phase for FIRE investors.
Bonds stabilize your portfolio during stock market crashes. In a FIRE portfolio, a common allocation is 107% stocks / -7% bonds (the "107 minus your age" rule). Bond funds like BNDX provide the fixed-income portion of this allocation.
Cost Analysis: How BNDX's 0.07% Fee Affects Your FIRE Timeline
At 0.07%, BNDX is very cost-effective. Annual fees on a $100K investment: $70. Over 30 years, the fee drag shaves approximately 0.4% off your total returns. For a $1M FIRE portfolio, that's about $7,000 in cumulative fees — noticeable but reasonable for most investors.
Dividend Income Potential
With a moderate dividend yield of approximately 1.8%, here's what BNDX could generate in annual income at different portfolio sizes:
| Portfolio Value | Annual Dividend Income | Monthly Income |
|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $1,800/year | $150/month |
| $250,000 | $4,500/year | $375/month |
| $500,000 | $9,000/year | $750/month |
| $1,000,000 | $18,000/year | $1,500/month |
Frequently Asked Questions About BNDX
What is the expense ratio for BNDX?
BNDX has an expense ratio of 0.07%. This is very cost-effective — on a $100K portfolio, annual fees are $70. Roughly average for its us bonds category.
Is BNDX good for a FIRE portfolio?
Bonds and inflation-protected securities act as portfolio ballast — reducing volatility and providing stability during the distribution phase for FIRE investors. Its 0.07% expense ratio is very cost-effective for the US Bonds category.
How does the 0.07% fee affect long-term returns?
At 0.07%, you'll pay $70/year per $100K invested. Over 30 years, fees reduce total returns by approximately 0.4%. Use the embedded calculator below to model the exact impact on your specific portfolio.
Similar ETFs in US Bonds
- BND — Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (0.03% · Portfolio Hedge)
- AGG — iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (0.03% · Portfolio Hedge)
- BIV — Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond ETF (0.04% · Portfolio Hedge)
- BSV — Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF (0.04% · Portfolio Hedge)
- VCIT — Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (0.04% · Portfolio Hedge)
- VCSH — Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (0.04% · Portfolio Hedge)
- MUB — iShares National Muni Bond ETF (0.05% · Portfolio Hedge)
- VTEB — Vanguard Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (0.05% · Portfolio Hedge)
- SHY — iShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF (0.15% · Portfolio Hedge)
- IEI — iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (0.15% · Portfolio Hedge)
- TLT — iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (0.15% · Portfolio Hedge)
- GOVT — iShares US Treasury Bond ETF (0.05% · Portfolio Hedge)