Buying the whole haystack–Vanguard's Total World Fund
From Shared Lunch by Sharesies
April 15, 2026 · 24 min
About this episode
Kathy Kellert discusses the benefits of Vanguard's Total World Fund and strategies for navigating market volatility.
Could diversification across 10,000 global companies can help protect your wealth against volatility? Kathy Kellert, Vanguard’s Head of Equity Index Product, talks to us about Vanguard Total World Fund (VT), and responding to supply shocks and inflation without compromising long-term strategy. Hear why Kathy believes timing the market is "paralyzing," and the hidden costs of holding cash during a recession. We explore the classic "core-satellite" strategy, which pairs steady index funds with high-growth bets like AI, and why VT’s global portfolio remains 60% US investments, while keeping an eye on markets like India and Brazil. Plus, Kathy traces how geopolitical events, from 1960s shocks to modern conflicts, typically result in positive returns within twelve months. For more places to follow Shared Lunch—check out http://linktr.ee/sharedlunch Shared Lunch is brought to you by Sharesies Limited (NZ) in New Zealand. It is not financial advice. Information provided is general only and current at the time it’s provided, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation and needs. We do not provide recommendations and you should always read…
People in this episode
Guest: Kathy Kellert
Topics covered
- diversification
- global investing
- market volatility
- core-satellite strategy
- geopolitical events
- long-term strategy
Keywords
- Vanguard
- Total World Fund
- diversification
- market timing
- core-satellite strategy
- geopolitical events
- inflation
- investing
Sponsors
Sharesies
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Vanguard
Products: Vanguard Total World Fund
Places: US, India, Brazil
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