VANGUARD FIXED INCOME SECURITIES FUND INC
497, 2000-04-20
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<PAGE>

[SHIP GRAPHIC]


SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
DATED APRIL 20, 2000


VANGUARD(R)
INFLATION-PROTECTED
SECURITIES FUND

Prospectus
May 31, 2000

This is the Fund's initial
prospectus, so it contains
no performance data.

INFORMATION   CONTAINED  HEREIN  IS  SUBJECT  TO  COMPLETION  OR  AMENDMENT.   A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE U.S.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION BUT HAS NOT YET BECOME EFFECTIVE.  SHARES OF
VANGUARD INFLATION-PROTECTED  SECURITIES FUND MAY NOT BE SOLD, NOR MAY OFFERS TO
BUY BE ACCEPTED, PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE.
THIS COMMUNICATION SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN
OFFER TO BUY,  NOR  SHALL  THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE  SECURITIES  IN A STATE IN
WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION,  OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION
OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAW OF THE STATE.

[A MEMBER OF THE VANGUARD GROUP (R)]
<PAGE>

VANGUARD INFLATION-PROTECTED SECURITIES FUND
Prospectus
May 31, 2000
A Bond Mutual Fund

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1 FUND PROFILE                             11 SHARE PRICE

  2 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION                   12 INVESTING WITH VANGUARD

  3 A WORD ABOUT RISK                          12 Services and Account Features

  3 WHO SHOULD INVEST                          13 Types of Accounts

  4 PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES              14 Buying Shares
    AND RISKS
                                               16 Redeeming Shares
  8 THE FUND AND VANGUARD
                                               20 Transferring Registration
  8 INVESTMENT ADVISER
                                               20 Fund and Account Updates
  9 DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS,
    AND TAXES                                  GLOSSARY (inside back cover)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHY READING THIS PROSPECTUS IS IMPORTANT
This  prospectus  explains the  objective,  risks,  and  strategies  of Vanguard
Inflation-Protected  Securities Fund. To highlight terms and concepts  important
to mutual fund investors,  we have provided "Plain Talk(R)"  explanations  along
the way.  Reading the prospectus will help you to decide whether the Fund is the
right investment for you. We suggest that you keep it for future reference.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEITHER  THE  SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  NOR  ANY  STATE  SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED  OF THESE  SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

<PAGE>

                                                                               1

FUND PROFILE

The following  profile  summarizes key features of Vanguard  Inflation-Protected
Securities Fund.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
The Fund seeks to provide investors  inflation  protection and income consistent
with investment in inflation-indexed securities.

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
The Fund will invest  primarily  in  inflation-indexed  bonds issued by the U.S.
government,  its  agencies and  instrumentalities,  and  corporations.  For more
information about the Fund's investments, see "Primary Investment Strategies."

PRIMARY RISKS
The Fund is subject to several  risks,  any of which  could cause an investor to
lose money. These include:
o    Income  fluctuations.  The Fund's quarterly income distributions are likely
     to fluctuate  considerably more than the income  distributions of a typical
     bond fund.
o    Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall, including
     the prices of bonds held by the Fund,  will decline over short or even long
     periods due to rising interest rates.  Interest rate risk is expected to be
     low for the Fund.
o    Credit  risk,  which is the  chance  that a bond  issuer  will  fail to pay
     interest and  principal  in a timely  manner.  Credit  risk,  which has the
     potential to hurt the Fund's performance, should be low for the Fund.
o    Manager risk,  which is the chance that poor security  selection will cause
     the Fund to underperform other funds with similar investment objectives.

PERFORMANCE/RISK INFORMATION
The Fund began operations on May 31, 2000, so performance information (including
annual total returns and average  annual total returns) for a full calendar year
is not yet available.

FEES AND EXPENSES
The following  table  describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the Fund. The expenses shown under Annual Fund Operating Expenses
are based on  estimated  amounts for the current  fiscal  year.  The Fund has no
operating history; actual operating expenses could be different.

      SHAREHOLDER FEES (fees paid directly from your investment)
      Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases:                          None
      Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends:               None
      Redemption Fee:                                                    None
      Exchange Fee:                                                      None


      ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES (expenses deducted from the Fund's assets)
      Management Expenses:                                                 o%
      12b-1 Distribution Fee:                                            None
      Other Expenses:                                                      o%
       TOTAL ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES:                            0.25%


<PAGE>
2

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                                PLAIN TALK ABOUT
                                  FUND EXPENSES

All mutual funds have operating  expenses.  These  expenses,  which are deducted
from a fund's gross  income,  are expressed as a percentage of the net assets of
the fund. We expect the Fund's  expense ratio for the current  fiscal year to be
0.25%,   or  $2.50   per   $1,000   of   average   net   assets.   The   average
inflation-protected securities mutual fund had expenses in 1999 of o%, or $o per
$1,000 of average net assets  (derived from data provided by Lipper Inc.,  which
reports on the mutual fund industry). Management expenses, which are one part of
operating  expenses,  include investment advisory fees as well as other costs of
managing a fund--such as account maintenance,  reporting, accounting, legal, and
other administrative expenses.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing
in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the
hypothetical  expenses  that you would incur over various  periods if you invest
$10,000 in the Fund.  This example assumes that the Fund provides a return of 5%
a year,  and that  operating  expenses  match our estimates for the Fund's first
year of operations.  The results apply whether or not you redeem your investment
at the end of each period.

                      ----------------------------
                          1 YEAR        3 YEARS
                      ----------------------------
                            $.             $.
                      ----------------------------

     THIS  EXAMPLE  SHOULD NOT BE  CONSIDERED  TO REPRESENT  ACTUAL  EXPENSES OR
PERFORMANCE  FROM THE PAST OR FOR THE  FUTURE.  ACTUAL  FUTURE  EXPENSES  MAY BE
HIGHER OR LOWER THAN THOSE SHOWN.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                PLAIN TALK ABOUT
                             THE COSTS OF INVESTING
 Costs are an important  consideration in choosing a mutual fund. That's because
 you, as a shareholder,  pay the costs of operating a fund, plus any transaction
 costs associated with the fund's buying and selling of securities.  These costs
 can erode a substantial  portion of the gross income or capital  appreciation a
 fund  achieves.  Even seemingly  small  differences in expenses can, over time,
 have a dramatic effect on a fund's performance.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS                        MINIMUM INITIAL INVESTMENT
Dividends are distributed in March, June,          $3,000; $1,000 for IRAs and
                                                   custodial accounts for minors

September, and December; capital gains, if any,    NEWSPAPER ABBREVIATION
are distributed in  December                       o

INVESTMENT ADVISER                                 VANGUARD FUND NUMBER
The Vanguard Group, Valley Forge, Pa.,             o
since inception
                                                   CUSIP NUMBER
INCEPTION DATE                                     o
May 31, 2000
                                                   TICKER SYMBOL
SUITABLE FOR IRAS                                  o
Yes
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<PAGE>
                                                                               3
================================================================================
A WORD ABOUT RISK

This  prospectus  describes  risks you would  face as an  investor  in  Vanguard
Inflation- Protected Securities Fund. It is important to keep in mind one of the
main axioms of investing:  The higher the risk of losing  money,  the higher the
potential reward. The reverse,  also, is generally true: The lower the risk, the
lower the  potential  reward.  As you consider an  investment  in the Fund,  you
should also take into account your personal tolerance for the daily fluctuations
in the market.
     Look for this [FLAG] symbol  throughout the prospectus.  It is used to mark
detailed  information  about  each  type of risk that you  would  confront  as a
shareholder of the Fund.
================================================================================

WHO SHOULD INVEST
The Fund may be a suitable investment for you if:
o    You are seeking a bond fund that provides inflation protection.
o    You are willing to accept some volatility in income distributions.
o    You are willing to tolerate some modest fluctuation in share price.
o    You want the additional portfolio  diversification  that  inflation-indexed
     securities can offer.

     THE VANGUARD FUNDS DO NOT PERMIT MARKET-TIMING.  DO NOT INVEST IN THIS FUND
IF YOU ARE A MARKET-TIMER.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                PLAIN TALK ABOUT
                             COSTS AND MARKET-TIMING
 Some  investors  try  to  profit  from   market-timing--switching   money  into
 investments  when they expect  prices to rise,  and taking  money out when they
 expect  the  market to fall.  As money is  shifted  in and out,  a fund  incurs
 expenses for buying and selling  securities.  These costs are borne by all fund
 shareholders,  including the long-term investors who do not generate the costs.
 Therefore,  the Fund  discourages  short-term  trading by, among other  things,
 limiting the number of exchanges it permits.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 The Fund has  adopted the  following  policies,  among  others,  to  discourage
short-term  trading:
o    The Fund  reserves  the right to  reject  any  purchase  request--including
     exchanges from other  Vanguard  funds--that it regards as disruptive to the
     efficient  management  of the Fund.  A purchase  request  could be rejected
     because  of the  timing  of the  investment  or  because  of a  history  of
     excessive trading by the investor.
o    There is a limit to the  number of times you can  exchange  into and out of
     the Fund (see "Redeeming Shares" in the INVESTING WITH VANGUARD section).
o    The Fund reserves the right to stop offering shares at any time.
<PAGE>
4

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                                PLAIN TALK ABOUT
                                  REAL RETURNS
 Inflation-indexed securities are designed to provide a "real rate of return"--a
 return after adjusting for the impact of inflation.  Inflation--a  general rise
 in prices of goods and  services--erodes  the purchasing power of an investor's
 portfolio.  For example,  if an investment provides a "nominal" total return of
 8%  in  a  given  year  and   inflation   is  4%  during   that   period,   the
 inflation-adjusted,  or real,  return  is 4%.  Inflation,  as  measured  by the
 Consumer  Price Index,  has  occurred in 49 of the past 50 years,  so investors
 should be conscious of both nominal and real returns of their  investments.  It
 should be noted  that  investors  in  inflation-indexed  bond  funds who do not
 reinvest  the  portion of the  income  distribution  that comes from  inflation
 adjustments  will not maintain the purchasing  power of the investment over the
 long term.  This is because  interest earned depends on the amount of principal
 invested,  and that principal  won't grow with inflation if the investor spends
 the principal adjustment paid out as part of a fund's income distributions.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

This section explains the strategies that the investment adviser uses in pursuit
of the Fund's objectives--inflation  protection and income. It also explains how
the adviser  implements these  strategies.  In addition,  this section discusses
several  important  risks--income  risk,  interest rate risk,  credit risk,  and
manager  risk--faced  by  investors  in the Fund.  The Fund's  Board of Trustees
oversees the management of the Fund and may change the investment  strategies in
the interest of shareholders.

MARKET EXPOSURE
The  Fund's  primary  strategy  is to  invest  at  least  65% of its  assets  in
inflation-indexed  securities.  The Fund may also invest up to 35% of its assets
in holdings that are not "inflation-indexed."

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                PLAIN TALK ABOUT
                          INFLATION-INDEXED SECURITIES
 Unlike conventional bonds, which make regular fixed interest payments and repay
 the face value of the bonds at maturity, the principal and interest payments of
 inflation-indexed   securities   (IIS)  are  adjusted   over  time  to  reflect
 inflation--a  rise in the general price level. This adjustment is a key feature
 given that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has risen in 49 of the past 50 years.
 Importantly, in the event of sustained deflation, or a drop in prices, the U.S.
 Treasury has guaranteed that it would repay at least the original face value of
 its Inflation-Indexed Securities.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Because  the Fund  invests  primarily  in bonds,  it is  subject to certain
risks.
<PAGE>
                                                                               5

[FLAG] THE FUND IS SUBJECT TO INCOME  FLUCTUATIONS.  THE FUND'S QUARTERLY INCOME
       DISTRIBUTIONS ARE LIKELY  TO  FLUCTUATE  CONSIDERABLY  MORE  THAN  INCOME
       DISTRIBUTIONS OF A TYPICAL BOND FUND. INCOME FLUCTUATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH
       CHANGES IN INTEREST  RATES  ARE  EXPECTED  TO  BE  LOW;  HOWEVER,  INCOME
       FLUCTUATIONS RESULTING FROM CHANGES IN INFLATION ARE EXPECTED TO BE HIGH.
       OVERALL,INVESTORS CAN EXPECT INCOME FLUCTUATIONS TO BE HIGH FOR THE FUND.

     While  fluctuations in quarterly  income  distributions  are expected to be
high,  distributions  should,  over the long term,  provide an income yield that
exceeds inflation.
     Changes in interest rates will affect bond prices as well as bond income.

[FLAG] THE FUND IS SUBJECT TO INTEREST RATE RISK,  WHICH IS THE CHANCE THAT BOND
       PRICES OVERALL WILL DECLINE OVER SHORT OR EVEN LONG PERIODS DUE TO RISING
       INTEREST RATES. INTEREST RATE RISK SHOULD BE LOW FOR THE FUND.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                PLAIN TALK ABOUT
                INFLATION-INDEXED SECURITIES AND INTEREST RATES
 Interest  rates on  conventional  bonds have two primary  components:  a "real"
 yield, plus  an  increment  that  reflects  investor   expectations  of  future
 inflation.  By  contrast,  rates  on  inflation-indexed  securities  (IIS)  are
 adjusted for inflation and therefore aren't affected  meaningfully by inflation
 expectations.  This  leaves only real rates to  influence  the prices of IIS. A
 rise in real rates will  cause  prices of IIS to fall,  while a decline in real
 rates will boost the prices of IIS. In the past, interest rates on conventional
 bonds  have  varied   considerably   more  than  real  rates  because  of  wide
 fluctuations in actual and expected  inflation  (annual changes in the Consumer
 Price Index since 1925 have ranged from -10% to +18% and have  averaged  3.1%).
 Because real interest  yields have been  relatively  stable,  the prices of IIS
 have generally fluctuated less than those of conventional bonds with comparable
 maturity and credit-quality characteristics.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FLAG] THE FUND IS  SUBJECT  TO CREDIT  RISK,  WHICH IS THE  CHANCE  THAT A BOND
       ISSUER WILL FAIL TO PAY INTEREST AND PRINCIPAL IN A TIMELY MANNER.

     The credit  quality of the Fund depends on the quality of its  investments.
Since the Fund  invests  primarily  in  securities  backed by the full faith and
credit of the U.S. government, the average credit quality of the Fund's holdings
is expected to be high, and consequently credit risk should be low for the Fund.
The expected  dollar-weighted  average credit quality of the Fund's holdings, as
rated by Moody's Investors Service, will be Treasury/AAA.

<PAGE>
6
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                PLAIN TALK ABOUT
                                 CREDIT QUALITY
 A bond's credit quality depends on the issuer's  ability to pay interest on the
 bond and,  ultimately,  to repay the debt.  The lower the  rating by one of the
 independent  bond-rating agencies (for example,  Moody's or Standard & Poor's),
 the greater the chance (in the rating  agency's  opinion)  that the bond issuer
 will default, or fail to meet its payment obligations.  All things being equal,
 the lower a bond's credit rating,  the higher its yield should be to compensate
 investors for assuming  additional risk. Bonds rated in one of the four highest
 rating  categories are considered  "investment  grade." The Fund's Statement of
 Additional  Information  includes a detailed  description of the  credit-rating
 scales used by major, independent bond-rating agencies.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                PLAIN TALK ABOUT
                    TAXES AND INFLATION-INDEXED SECURITIES
 Any increase in principal for an  inflation-indexed  security  (IIS)  resulting
 from  inflation  adjustments  is  considered by IRS  regulations  to be taxable
 income in the year it occurs. For holders of an IIS, this means that taxes must
 be paid on income that is not received until the bond matures.  By contrast,  a
 mutual fund holding  these  securities  pays out both  interest  income and the
 income  attributable to inflation  adjustments each quarter in the form of cash
 or reinvested shares.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SECURITY SELECTION
The Vanguard Group, adviser to the Fund through its Fixed Income Group, buys and
sells  securities  based  on its  judgment  about  issuers,  the  prices  of the
securities,  and other economic  factors.  The Fund is generally managed without
regard to tax ramifications.

[FLAG] THE  FUND IS  SUBJECT  TO  MANAGER  RISK,  WHICH IS THE  CHANCE  THAT THE
       ADVISERS MAY DO A POOR JOB OF SELECTING STOCKS.

OTHER INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS
The Fund may invest,  to a limited  extent,  in the following types of financial
instruments:  corporate debt; U.S.  government and agency bonds;  cash reserves;
futures, options, and other derivatives; and restricted or illiquid securities.
o    Corporate  debt. As the name implies,  corporate debt  obligations--usually
     called bonds--represent loans by an investor to a corporation.
o    U.S.  government  and  agency  bonds.  These  bonds  represent  loans by an
     investor to the U.S. Treasury  Department or a wide variety of governmental
     agencies and instrumentalities. Timely payment of principal and interest on
     U.S.  Treasury  bonds is always  guaranteed by the full faith and credit of
     the  U.S.  government;  many  (but  not  all)  agency  bonds  have the same
     guarantee.
o    Cash  reserves.  This  blanket  term  describes  a  variety  of  short-term
     fixed-income  investments,  including money market instruments,  commercial
     paper, bank certificates of deposit,  banker's acceptances,  and repurchase
     agreements. Repurchase agreements represent short-term (normally overnight)
     loans by a Fund to commercial banks or large securities dealers.
o    Futures,  options, and other derivatives.  The Fund may invest up to 20% of
     its total assets in bond futures contracts, options, credit swaps, interest
     rate swaps, and other types of
<PAGE>

                                                                               7

 derivatives.  Losses (or gains)  involving  futures  contracts can sometimes be
 substantial--in  part  because a relatively  small price  movement in a futures
 contract may result in an immediate and substantial  loss (or gain) for a fund.
 Similar risks exist for other types of derivatives.  For this reason,  the Fund
 will not use futures, options, or other derivatives for speculative purposes or
 as leverage investments that magnify the gains or losses of an investment.
     The reasons for which the Fund will invest in futures and options are:
     --To keep cash on hand to meet shareholder redemptions or other needs while
       simulating full investment in bonds.
     --To reduce the Fund's transaction  costs, for hedging purposes,  or to add
       value when these instruments are favorably priced.
o    Restricted  or illiquid  securities.  Restricted  securities  are privately
     placed  securities  that,  pursuant  to the  rules  of the  Securities  and
     Exchange Commission,  generally can only be sold to qualified institutional
     buyers.   Because  these   securities  can  only  be  resold  to  qualified
     institutional investors,  they are considered illiquid securities--that is,
     they could be  difficult  for the Fund to convert to cash,  if needed.  The
     Fund  will  not  invest  more  than  15%  of its  net  assets  in  illiquid
     securities.  The Fund's Board of Trustees may, from time to time, determine
     that certain restricted  securities are liquid;  such securities would then
     not be subject to the 15% limitation.  In other words,  the Fund may invest
     in restricted  securities that are deemed to be liquid securities,  without
     limit.

RISK OF NONDIVERSIFICATION

[FLAG] THE SEC  REQUIRES  ALL FUNDS TO CLASSIFY  THEMSELVES  AS  DIVERSIFIED  OR
       NONDIVERSIFIED.A DIVERSIFIED FUND MAY NOT INVEST A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE
       OF ITS ASSETS IN A SMALL  NUMBER OF  SECURITIES. THE  INFLATION-PROTECTED
       SECURITIES FUND'S  PORTFOLIO  IS EXPECTED  TO BE  DIVERSIFIED  UNDER  SEC
       STANDARDS, AND REMAIN THAT WAY  INDEFINITELY. NEVERTHELESS,  THE FUND HAS
       CLASSIFIED ITSELF AS NONDIVERSIFIED SO THAT, IN  THE  UNLIKELY EVENT THAT
       THE INFLATION-PROTECTED SECURITIES MARKET BECOMES DOMINATED BY JUST A FEW
       CORPORATE ISSUERS, THE FUND CAN CONTINUE TO FULFILL ITS  MANDATE.  IF THE
       FUND'S PORTFOLIO WERE TO  BECOME  NONDIVERSIFIED,  SHAREHOLDERS  WOULD BE
       SUBJECT  TO THE  RISK  THAT  THE   FUND'S   PERFORMANCE   COULD  BE  HURT
       DISPROPORTIONATELY BY A DECLINE IN THE PRICES OF JUST A FEW SECURITIES.

TEMPORARY INVESTMENT MEASURES
The  Fund  may  temporarily  depart  from its  normal  investment  policies--for
instance,   by  investing   substantially  in  cash  reserves--in   response  to
extraordinary market, economic, political, or other conditions. In doing so, the
Fund may succeed in avoiding losses but otherwise fail to achieve its investment
objective.

TURNOVER RATE
Although the Fund  generally  seeks to invest for the long term,  it retains the
right to sell  securities  regardless of how long the securities have been held.
Longer-term  bonds will  mature--and need to be  replaced--less  frequently than
shorter-term  bonds.  As a result,  longer-term  bond  funds  tend to have lower
turnover rates than shorter-term bond funds.
<PAGE>
8


THE FUND AND VANGUARD
The Fund is a member of The Vanguard  Group, a family of more than 35 investment
companies  with more than 100 funds holding assets worth more than $550 billion.
All of the  Vanguard  funds  share  in the  expenses  associated  with  business
operations, such as personnel, office space, equipment, and advertising.
     Vanguard  also  provides   marketing   services  to  the  funds.   Although
shareholders do not pay sales commissions or 12b-1  distribution fees, each fund
pays its allocated share of The Vanguard Group's marketing costs.


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                PLAIN TALK ABOUT
                      VANGUARD'S UNIQUE CORPORATE STRUCTURE
 The Vanguard  Group is truly a MUTUAL mutual fund company.  It is owned jointly
 by the funds it  oversees  and thus  indirectly  by the  shareholders  in those
 funds. Most other mutual funds are operated by for-profit  management companies
 that may be owned by one person, by a group of individuals, or by investors who
 own the management company's stock. By contrast, Vanguard provides its services
 on an "at-cost"  basis, and the funds' expense ratios reflect only these costs.
 No separate  management  company reaps profits or absorbs losses from operating
 the funds.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INVESTMENT ADVISER

The Vanguard Group (Vanguard), P.O. Box 2600, Valley Forge, PA 19482, founded in
1975, serves as the Fund's adviser through its Fixed Income Group. As of January
31, 2000,  Vanguard  served as adviser for about $. billion in assets.  Vanguard
manages the Fund on an at-cost basis, subject to the control of the Trustees and
officers of the Fund.  The Fund began  operations on May 31, 2000;  its advisory
expenses for the first fiscal year are estimated at an effective  annual rate of
0.01%.
     The adviser is authorized to choose  broker-dealers  to handle the purchase
and sale of the Fund's securities,  and to seek out the best available price and
most  favorable  execution for all  transactions.  Also, the Fund may direct the
adviser to use a  particular  broker for certain  transactions  in exchange  for
commission rebates or research services provided to the Fund.
     In the interest of obtaining better execution of a transaction, the adviser
may at times  choose  brokers who charge  higher  commissions.  If more than one
broker can obtain the best available  price and most favorable  execution,  then
the adviser is  authorized  to choose a broker who, in addition to executing the
transaction, will provide research services to the adviser or the Fund.
<PAGE>
                                                                               9
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                PLAIN TALK ABOUT
                               THE FUND'S ADVISER

The managers responsible for the Fund's investments are:

IAN A.  MACKINNON,  Managing  Director of Vanguard and head of Vanguard's  Fixed
Income  Group;  has  worked  in  investment   management  since  1974;   primary
responsibility for Vanguard's  internal  fixed-income  policy and strategy since
1981; B.A., Lafayette College; M.B.A., Pennsylvania State University.

JOHN HOLLYER,  Principal of Vanguard and Fund Manager;  has worked in investment
management  since 1987;  has managed  portfolio  investments  since 1989;  B.S.,
University of Pennsylvania.

KENNETH E. VOLPERT, CFA, Principal of Vanguard,  and Fund Manager; has worked in
investment  management since 1981; has managed portfolio investments since 1982;
B.S., University of Illinois; M.B.A., University of Chicago.

Mr. Hollyer and Mr. Volpert manage the Fund on a day-to-day basis. Mr. MacKinnon
is  responsible  for  setting  the  Fund's  broad  investment  policies  and for
overseeing the Fund Managers.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL GAINS, AND TAXES

FUND DISTRIBUTIONS
The Fund  distributes to shareholders  virtually all of its net income (interest
less  expenses),  as well as any  capital  gains  realized  from the sale of its
holdings.  Income dividends generally are distributed in March, June, September,
and  December;  capital  gains  distributions  generally  occur in December.  In
addition, the Fund may occasionally be required to make supplemental dividend or
capital gains  distributions at some other time during the year. You can receive
distributions of income dividends or capital gains in cash, or you can have them
automatically reinvested in more shares of the Fund.

BASIC TAX POINTS
Vanguard will send you a statement  each year showing the tax status of all your
distributions.  In addition,  taxable investors should be aware of the following
basic tax points:
o    Distributions are taxable to you for federal income tax purposes whether or
     not you reinvest these amounts in additional Fund shares.
o    Distributions   declared  in  December--if  paid  to  you  by  the  end  of
     January--are  taxable  for  federal  income tax  purposes as if received in
     December.
o    Any dividends and short-term  capital gains that you receive are taxable to
     you as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.
o    Any  distributions  of net  long-term  capital  gains are taxable to you as
     long-term capital gains for federal income tax purposes, no matter how long
     you've owned shares in the Fund.
o    Capital gains  distributions  may vary  considerably from year to year as a
     result of the Fund's normal investment activities and cash flows.
o    A sale or exchange of Fund shares is a taxable  event.  This means that you
     may have a capital gain to report as income, or a capital loss to report as
     a deduction, when you complete your federal income tax return.
<PAGE>
10

o    Dividend and capital gains  distributions that you receive, as well as your
     gains or losses from any sale or exchange of Fund shares, may be subject to
     state or local income taxes.  Depending on your state's rules, however, any
     dividends attributable to interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S.
     Treasury may be exempt from state and local taxes. Vanguard will notify you
     each  year  how  much,  if any,  of your  dividends  may  qualify  for this
     exemption.

GENERAL INFORMATION

BACKUP  WITHHOLDING.   By  law,  Vanguard  must  withhold  31%  of  any  taxable
distributions  or redemptions from your account if you do not:
o    provide us with your correct taxpayer identification number;
o    certify that the taxpayer identification number is correct; and
o    confirm that you are not subject to backup withholding.
Similarly,  Vanguard  must withhold from your account if the IRS instructs us to
do so.
FOREIGN  INVESTORS.  The Vanguard funds  generally do not offer their shares for
sale outside of the United States.  Foreign  investors should be aware that U.S.
withholding and estate taxes may apply to any investments in Vanguard funds.
INVALID  ADDRESSES.  If a dividend or capital gains distribution check mailed to
your address of record is returned as undeliverable, Vanguard will automatically
reinvest  all future  distributions  until you  provide us with a valid  mailing
address.
TAX CONSEQUENCES.  This prospectus provides general tax information only. If you
are investing through a tax-deferred retirement account, such as an IRA, special
tax rules apply. Please consult your tax adviser for detailed  information about
a fund's tax consequences for you.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                PLAIN TALK ABOUT
                                  DISTRIBUTIONS

 As a  shareholder,  you are  entitled  to your share of the fund's  income from
 interest and  dividends,  and gains from the sale of  investments.  You receive
 such  earnings as either an income  dividend or a capital  gains  distribution.
 Income  dividends  come from both the  dividends  that the fund  earns from its
 holdings  and  the  interest  it  receives  from  its  money  market  and  bond
 investments.  Capital gains are realized whenever the fund sells securities for
 higher prices than it paid for them. These capital gains are either  short-term
 or long-term, depending on whether the fund held the securities for one year or
 less, or more than one year.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                PLAIN TALK ABOUT
                               "BUYING A DIVIDEND"

 Unless you are investing through a tax-deferred  retirement account (such as an
 IRA),  it is not to your  advantage to buy shares of a fund  shortly  before it
 makes a  distribution,  because  doing so can cost you money in taxes.  This is
 known as "buying a dividend."  For example:  on December 15, you invest $5,000,
 buying 250 shares for $20 each. If the fund pays a distribution of $1 per share
 on December 16, its share price would drop to $19 (not counting market change).
 You still have only $5,000 (250 shares x $19 = $4,750 in share value,  plus 250
 shares x $1 = $250 in distributions),  but you owe tax on the $250 distribution
 you  received--even  if you  reinvest  it in more  shares.  To avoid  "buying a
 dividend," check a fund's distribution schedule before you invest.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>
                                                                              11

SHARE PRICE

The Fund's share price,  called its net asset value,  or NAV, is calculated each
business day after the close of regular  trading on the New York Stock  Exchange
(the NAV is not  calculated  on  holidays  or other  days when the  Exchange  is
closed).  Net asset  value per share is computed by adding up the total value of
the Fund's  investments  and other assets,  subtracting  any of its  liabilities
(debts), and then dividing by the number of Fund shares outstanding:

                                 TOTAL ASSETS - LIABILITIES
            NET ASSET VALUE = -------------------------------
                                 NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING

     Knowing the daily net asset value is useful to you as a shareholder because
it indicates the current value of your investment. The Fund's NAV, multiplied by
the  number of  shares  you own,  gives you the  dollar  amount  you would  have
received had you sold all of your shares back to the Fund that day.
     A NOTE ON PRICING:  The Fund's  investments  will be priced at their market
value when market  quotations are readily  available.  When these quotations are
not  readily  available,  investments  will  be  priced  at  their  fair  value,
calculated according to procedures adopted by the Fund's Board of Trustees.
     The Fund's  share price can be found  daily in the mutual fund  listings of
most major newspapers under the heading "Vanguard  Funds." Different  newspapers
use different abbreviations of the Fund's name, but the most common is ..

"Standard & Poor's(R),"  "S&P(R),"  "S&P  500(R),"  "Standard & Poor's 500," and
"500" are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

<PAGE>

12
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTING WITH VANGUARD
Are you looking for the most  convenient  way to open or add money to a Vanguard
account?  Obtain instant access to fund information?  Establish an account for a
minor child or for your retirement savings?
     Vanguard  can help.  Our goal is to make it easy and pleasant for you to do
business with us.
     The following  sections of the prospectus briefly explain the many services
we offer.  Booklets providing detailed information are available on the services
marked with a [BOOK]. Please call us to request copies.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SERVICES AND ACCOUNT FEATURES

Vanguard  offers many services that make it convenient to buy, sell, or exchange
shares, or to obtain fund or account information.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TELEPHONE REDEMPTIONS (SALES AND EXCHANGES)
Automatically set up for this Fund unless you notify us otherwise.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECKWRITING [CHECK]
Method for drawing money from your account by writing a check for $250 or more.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VANGUARD(R) DIRECT DEPOSIT SERVICE [BOOK]
Automatic  method  for  depositing  your  paycheck  or U.S.  government  payment
(including Social Security and government pension checks) into your account.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VANGUARD(R) AUTOMATIC EXCHANGE SERVICE [BOOK]
Automatic  method for  moving a fixed  amount of money  from one  Vanguard  fund
account to another.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VANGUARD FUND EXPRESS(R)[BOOK]
Electronic  method for buying or selling shares.  You can transfer money between
your  Vanguard  fund account and an account at your bank,  savings and loan,  or
credit union on a systematic schedule or whenever you wish.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VANGUARD DIVIDEND EXPRESS TM [BOOK]
Electronic method for transferring  dividend and/or capital gains  distributions
directly  from your  Vanguard  fund account to your bank,  savings and loan,  or
credit union account.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VANGUARD TELE-ACCOUNT(R) 1-800-662-6273 (ON-BOARD)[BOOK]
Toll-free  24-hour access to Vanguard fund and account  information--as  well as
some  transactions--by  using any touch-tone phone.  Tele-Account provides total
return,  share price, price change, and yield quotations for all Vanguard funds;
gives your account balances and history (e.g., last transaction, latest dividend
distribution);  and  allows  you to sell or   exchange  shares  to and from most
Vanguard funds.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACCESS VANGUARD TM www.vanguard.com [PC]
You can use your  personal  computer to perform  certain  transactions  for most
Vanguard  funds by accessing our website.  To establish  this service,  you must
register  through our website.  We will then mail you an account access password
that  allows  you  to  process  the  following   financial  and   administrative
transactions  online:
o    Open a new account.*
o    Buy, sell, or exchange shares of most funds.
o    Change your name/address.
<PAGE>

                                                                              13

o    Add/change fund options (including dividend options, Vanguard Fund Express,
     bank instructions,  checkwriting, and Vanguard Automatic Exchange Service).
     (Some  restrictions may apply.) Please call our Client Services  Department
     for assistance.

*Only current Vanguard shareholders can open a new account online, by exchanging
 shares from other existing Vanguard accounts.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTOR INFORMATION DEPARTMENT: 1-800-662-7447 (SHIP)
TEXT TELEPHONE: 1-800-952-3335
Call  Vanguard for  information  on our funds,  fund  services,  and  retirement
accounts, and to request literature.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLIENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT: 1-800-662-2739 (CREW) TEXT TELEPHONE: 1-800-749-7273
Call Vanguard for information on your account, account transactions, and account
statements.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SERVICES  FOR  CLIENTS  OF  VANGUARD'S  INSTITUTIONAL  DIVISION:  1-888-809-8102
Vanguard's  Institutional  Division offers a variety of specialized services for
large  institutional   investors,   including  the  ability  to  effect  account
transactions through private electronic networks and third-party recordkeepers.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TYPES OF ACCOUNTS

Individuals and institutions can establish a variety of accounts with Vanguard.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR ONE OR MORE PEOPLE
Open an account in the name of one (individual) or more (joint tenants) people.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR HOLDING PERSONAL TRUST ASSETS [BOOK]
Invest assets held in an existing personal trust.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS [BOOK]
Open a  traditional  IRA account or a Roth IRA  account.  Eligibility  and other
requirements  are  established  by federal law and  Vanguard  custodial  account
agreements. For more information, please call 1-800-662-7447 (SHIP).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR AN ORGANIZATION [BOOK]
Open an account as a corporation,  partnership,  endowment, foundation, or other
entity.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THIRD-PARTY TRUSTEE RETIREMENT INVESTMENTS
Open an account as a retirement trust or plan based on an existing  corporate or
institutional  plan.  These  accounts  are  established  by the  trustee  of the
existing plan.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VANGUARD PROTOTYPE PLANS
Open a  variety  of  retirement  accounts  using  Vanguard  prototype  plans for
individuals,  sole proprietorships,  and small businesses. For more information,
please call 1-800-662-2003.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A NOTE ON INVESTING WITH VANGUARD THROUGH OTHER FIRMS
You may purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial  intermediary such as a
bank,  broker,  or investment  adviser.  If you invest with Vanguard  through an
intermediary,  please read that firm's program  materials  carefully to learn of
any  special  rules  that may apply.  For  example,  special  terms may apply to
additional service features, fees, or other policies.  Consult your intermediary
to determine when your order will be priced.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
14

BUYING SHARES


You buy your shares at the Fund's next-determined net asset value after Vanguard
receives your request.  As long as your request is received  before the close of
trading on the New York Stock  Exchange,  generally 4:00 p.m.  Eastern time, you
will buy your shares at that day's net asset value.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MINIMUM INVESTMENT TO . . .
open a new account
$3,000 (regular account); $1,000 (traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs.

add to an existing account
$100 by mail or exchange; $1,000 by wire.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A NOTE ON LOW BALANCES
The Fund  reserves  the  right to close any  nonretirement  fund  account  whose
balance falls below the minimum initial  investment.  The Fund will deduct a $10
annual fee in June if your  nonretirement  account balance at that time is below
$o.  The  low  balance  fee  is waived for investors who have aggregate Vanguard
account assets of $50,000 or more.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BY MAIL TO . . .[ENVELOPE]
open a new account
Complete and sign the account registration form and enclose your check.

add to an existing account
Mail your check with an  Invest-By-Mail  form  detached  from your  confirmation
statement to the address listed on the form. Please do not alter  Invest-By-Mail
forms, since they are fund- and account-specific.

Make your check payable to: The Vanguard Group-.
All  purchases  must be made in U.S.  dollars,  and checks must be drawn on U.S.
banks.

First-class mail to:               Express or Registered mail to:
The Vanguard Group                 The Vanguard Group
P.O. Box 1110                      455 Devon Park Drive
Valley Forge, PA 19482-1110        Wayne, PA 19087-1815

For clients of Vanguard's Institutional Division . . .

First-class mail to:               Express or Registered mail to:
The Vanguard Group                 The Vanguard Group
P.O. Box 2900                      455 Devon Park Drive
Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900        Wayne, PA 19087-1815

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMPORTANT  NOTE:  To prevent  check fraud,  Vanguard will not accept checks made
payable to third parties.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BY TELEPHONE TO . . .[TELEPHONE]
open a new account
Call Vanguard  Tele-Account*  24 hours a day--or Client Services during business
hours--to exchange from another Vanguard fund account with the same registration
(name, address,  taxpayer  identification  number, and account type). (Note that
some restrictions apply to index fund accounts.)

<PAGE>
                                                                              15

add to an existing account
Call Vanguard  Tele-Account*  24 hours a day--or Client Services during business
hours--to exchange from another Vanguard fund account with the same registration
(name, address,  taxpayer  identification  number, and account type). (Note that
some restrictions  apply to index fund accounts.) Use Vanguard Fund Express (see
"Services and Account Features") to transfer assets from your bank account. Call
Client Services before your first use to verify that this option is available.

Vanguard Tele-Account              Client Services
1-800-662-6273                     1-800-662-2739

*You must obtain a Personal  Identification Number (PIN) through Tele-Account at
 least seven days before you request your first exchange.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMPORTANT  NOTE:  Once  you  have  initiated  a  telephone   transaction  and  a
confirmation  number has been assigned,  the transaction  cannot be revoked.  We
reserve the right to refuse any purchase request.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BY WIRE TO OPEN A NEW ACCOUNT OR ADD TO AN EXISTING ACCOUNT [WIRE]
Call Client  Services to arrange your wire  transaction.  Wire  transactions  to
retirement  accounts are only  available for asset  transfers and rollovers from
other financial institutions.  Individual IRA contributions will not be accepted
by wire.

Wire to:
FRB ABA 021001088
HSBC Bank USA

For credit to:
Account: 000112046
Vanguard Incoming Wire Account

In favor of:
Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities Fund-.
[Account number, or temporary number for a new account]
[Registered account owner(s)]
[Registered address]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can redeem (that is, sell or exchange) shares purchased by check or Vanguard
Fund  Express  at any time.  However,  while  your  redemption  request  will be
processed  at the  next-determined  net asset value after it is  received,  your
redemption  proceeds  will not be available  until  payment for your purchase is
collected, which may take up to ten calendar days.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A NOTE ON LARGE  PURCHASES It is  important  that you call  Vanguard  before you
invest a large dollar amount. It is our responsibility to consider the interests
of all Fund  shareholders,  and so we reserve  the right to refuse any  purchase
that may disrupt the Fund's operation or performance.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

16

REDEEMING SHARES

This section describes how you can redeem--that is, sell or exchange--the Fund's
shares.

When Selling Shares:
o    Vanguard sends the redemption proceeds to you or a designated third party.*
o    You can sell all or part of your Fund shares at any time.
*May require a signature guarantee; see footnote on page 20.

When Exchanging Shares:
o    The redemption proceeds are used to purchase shares of a different Vanguard
     fund.
o    You must meet the receiving fund's minimum investment requirements.
o    Vanguard reserves the right to revise or terminate the exchange  privilege,
     limit the amount of an exchange, or reject an exchange at any time, without
     notice.
o    In  order  to  exchange  into  an  account  with a  different  registration
     (including a different name, address, or taxpayer  identification  number),
     you must include the guaranteed signatures of all current account owners on
     your written instructions.

In both  cases,  your  transaction  will be based on the Fund's  next-determined
share price, subject to any special rules discussed in this prospectus.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE:  Once a redemption  is initiated  and a  confirmation  number  given,  the
transaction CANNOT be canceled.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOW TO REQUEST A REDEMPTION
You can request a  redemption  from your Fund  account in any one of three ways:
online, by telephone, or by mail. You can also sell shares by check.
     The Vanguard funds whose shares you cannot  exchange online or by telephone
are:  VANGUARD U.S. STOCK INDEX FUNDS,  VANGUARD  BALANCED INDEX FUND,  VANGUARD
INTERNATIONAL  STOCK INDEX FUNDS,  VANGUARD REIT INDEX FUND, and VANGUARD GROWTH
AND INCOME FUND. These funds do, however,  permit online and telephone exchanges
within  IRAs and other  retirement  accounts.  If you sell shares of these funds
online, a redemption check will be sent to your address of record.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ONLINE REQUESTS [PC]
ACCESS VANGUARD at www.vanguard.com
You can use your personal  computer to sell or exchange  shares of most Vanguard
funds by accessing our website.  To establish  this  service,  you must register
through our website.  We will then mail you an account access password that will
enable  you to sell  or  exchange  shares  online  (as  well  as  perform  other
transactions).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TELEPHONE REQUESTS [TELEPHONE]
All Account Types Except Retirement:
Call Vanguard  Tele-Account  24 hours a day--or Client  Services during business
hours-- to sell or exchange  shares.  You can exchange  shares from this Fund to
open an account in another Vanguard fund or to add to an existing  Vanguard fund
account with an identical registration.

<PAGE>

                                                                              17

Retirement Accounts:
You can  exchange--but  not  sell--shares  by  calling  Tele-Account  or  Client
Services.

Vanguard Tele-Account              Client Services
1-800-662-6273                     1-800-662-2739
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL  INFORMATION:  We will automatically  establish the telephone redemption
option for your  account,  unless you instruct us  otherwise  in writing.  While
telephone  redemption is easy and convenient,  this account  feature  involves a
risk of loss from  unauthorized or fraudulent  transactions.  Vanguard will take
reasonable  precautions  to protect your  account from fraud.  You should do the
same by keeping your account information  private and immediately  reviewing any
account  statements  that  we  send  to  you.  Make  sure  to  contact  Vanguard
immediately about any transaction you believe to be unauthorized.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We reserve the right to refuse a telephone redemption if the caller is unable to
provide:
o    The ten-digit account number.
o    The name and address exactly as registered on the account.
o    The primary Social Security or employer identification number as registered
     on the account.
o    The Personal  Identification  Number (PIN),  if applicable  (for  instance,
     Tele-Account).  Please note that Vanguard will not be  responsible  for any
     account losses due to telephone  fraud, so long as we have taken reasonable
     steps to verify the caller's identity.  If you wish to remove the telephone
     redemption feature from your account, please notify us in writing.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A NOTE ON  UNUSUAL  CIRCUMSTANCES  Vanguard  reserves  the  right to  revise  or
terminate the telephone  redemption  privilege at any time,  without notice.  In
addition, Vanguard can stop selling shares or postpone payment at times when the
New York  Stock  Exchange  is  closed or under any  emergency  circumstances  as
determined by the U.S.  Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  If you experience
difficulty  making a telephone  redemption during periods of drastic economic or
market change,  you can send us your request by regular or express mail.  Follow
the instructions on selling or exchanging shares by mail in this section.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAIL REQUESTS [ENVELOPE]
All Account Types Except Retirement:

Send a letter of instruction signed by all registered  account holders.  Include
the fund name and  account  number and (if you are  selling) a dollar  amount or
number  of shares  OR (if you are  exchanging)  the name of the fund you want to
exchange  into and a dollar  amount or number of  shares.  To  exchange  into an
account  with a different  registration  (including a different  name,  address,
taxpayer identification number, or account type), you must provide Vanguard with
written  instructions  that  include the  guaranteed  signatures  of all current
owners of the fund from which you wish to redeem.

Vanguard Retirement Accounts:
For information on how to request distributions from:
o    Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs--call Client Services.
o    SEP-IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, 403(b)(7) custodial accounts, and Profit-Sharing and
     Money Purchase Pension (Keogh) Plans--call  Individual  Retirement Plans at
     1-800-662-2003.

Depending on your account  registration  type,  additional  documentation may be
required.

<PAGE>

18

First-class mail to:               Express or Registered mail to:
The Vanguard Group                 The Vanguard Group
P.O. Box 1110                      455 Devon Park Drive
Valley Forge, PA 19482-1110        Wayne, PA 19087-1815

For clients of Vanguard's Institutional Division . . .

First-class mail to:               Express or Registered mail to:
The Vanguard Group                 The Vanguard Group
P.O. Box 2900                      455 Devon Park Drive
Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900        Wayne, PA 19087-1815
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK REQUESTS [CHECK]
You can sell shares by writing a check for $250 or more.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A NOTE ON LARGE REDEMPTIONS

It is important that you call Vanguard  before you redeem a large dollar amount.
It is our responsibility to consider the interests of all fund shareholders, and
so we reserve the right to delay  delivery of your  redemption  proceeds--up  to
seven days--if the amount may disrupt the Fund's operation or performance.
     If you redeem more than  $250,000  worth of Fund  shares  within any 90-day
period,  the  Fund  reserves  the  right  to pay  part or all of the  redemption
proceeds above $250,000  in-kind,  i.e., in securities,  rather than in cash. If
payment is made in-kind,  you may incur  brokerage  commissions  if you elect to
sell the securities for cash.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPTIONS FOR REDEMPTION PROCEEDS
You may receive your redemption proceeds in one of four ways: check, wire (money
market funds and other daily dividend funds only),  exchange to another Vanguard
fund, or Fund Express Redemption.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK REDEMPTIONS
Normally,  Vanguard  will  mail  your  check  within  two  business  days  of  a
redemption.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WIRE REDEMPTIONS [WIRE]
The wire redemption option is not automatic; you must establish it by completing
a special  form or the  appropriate  section of your account  application.  Wire
redemptions can be initiated by mail or by telephone during Vanguard's  business
hours, but not online.


For telephone  requests made by 4:00 p.m.  Eastern time, the wire will arrive at
your bank by the close of business on the following business day.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXCHANGE REDEMPTIONS
As described  above, an exchange  involves using the proceeds of your redemption
to purchase shares of another Vanguard fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUND EXPRESS REDEMPTIONS
Vanguard  will  electronically  transfer  funds to your  pre-linked  checking or
savings account.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOR OUR MUTUAL PROTECTION
For your best interests and ours, Vanguard applies these additional requirements
to redemptions:
<PAGE>

                                                                              19

REQUEST IN "GOOD ORDER"
All redemption requests must be received by Vanguard in "good order." This means
that your request must include:
o    The Fund name and account number.
o    The amount of the transaction (in dollars or shares).
o    Signatures  of all owners  exactly as  registered  on the account (for mail
     requests).
o    Signature  guarantees (if required).*
o    Any supporting legal documentation that may be required.
o    Any outstanding certificates representing shares to be redeemed.

*For instance,  a signature guarantee must be provided by all registered account
 shareholders  when redemption  proceeds are to be sent to a different person or
 address. A signature guarantee can be obtained from most commercial and savings
 banks,  credit  unions,  trust  companies,  or  member  firms  of a U.S.  stock
 exchange.

TRANSACTIONS ARE PROCESSED AT THE NEXT-DETERMINED SHARE PRICE AFTER VANGUARD HAS
RECEIVED ALL REQUIRED INFORMATION.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIMITS ON ACCOUNT ACTIVITY

Because  excessive account  transactions can disrupt  management of the Fund and
increase the Fund's costs for all shareholders, Vanguard limits account activity
as follows:
o    You may make no more than TWO  SUBSTANTIVE  "ROUND TRIPS"  THROUGH THE FUND
     during any 12-month period.
o    Your round trips through the Fund must be at least 30 days apart.
o    The Fund may refuse a share purchase at any time, for any reason.
o    Vanguard may revoke an investor's telephone exchange privilege at any time,
     for any reason.

     A "round trip" is a redemption  from the Fund  followed by a purchase  back
into the Fund.  Also,  a "round trip" covers  transactions  accomplished  by any
combination  of methods,  including  transactions  conducted by check,  wire, or
exchange to/from another Vanguard fund. "Substantive" means a dollar amount that
Vanguard  determines,  in  its  sole  discretion,  could  adversely  affect  the
management of the Fund.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RETURN YOUR SHARE CERTIFICATES

Any portion of your account represented by share certificates cannot be redeemed
until you return the  certificates  to Vanguard.  Certificates  must be returned
(unsigned),  along with a letter  requesting  the sale or  exchange  you wish to
process, via certified mail to:

The Vanguard Group
455 Devon Park Drive
Wayne, PA 19087-1815

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALL TRADES ARE FINAL
Vanguard  will not cancel any  transaction  request  (including  any purchase or
redemption)  that we believe to be authentic once the request has been initiated
and a confirmation number assigned.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNCASHED CHECKS
Please cash your distribution or redemption  checks promptly.  Vanguard will not
pay interest on uncashed checks.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

20

TRANSFERRING REGISTRATION

You can  transfer  the  registration  of your Fund  shares to  another  owner by
completing a transfer form and sending it to Vanguard.

First-class mail to:               Express or Registered mail to:
The Vanguard Group                 The Vanguard Group
P.O. Box 1110                      455 Devon Park Drive
Valley Forge, PA 19482-1110        Wayne, PA 19087-1815

For clients of Vanguard's Institutional Division . . .

First-class mail to:               Express or Registered mail to:
The Vanguard Group                 The Vanguard Group
P.O. Box 2900                      455 Devon Park Drive
Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900        Wayne, PA 19087-1815
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FUND AND ACCOUNT UPDATES

STATEMENTS AND REPORTS

We will send you account and tax  statements to help you keep track of your Fund
account  throughout  the year as well as when you are preparing  your income tax
returns.
     In addition,  you will  receive  financial  reports  about the Fund twice a
year.  These   comprehensive   reports  include  an  assessment  of  the  Fund's
performance  (and a comparison  to its industry  benchmark),  an overview of the
financial  markets,  a  report  from  the  advisers,  and the  Fund's  financial
statements which include a listing of the Fund's holdings.
     To keep  the  Fund's  costs  as low as  possible  (so  that  you and  other
shareholders can keep more of the Fund's investment earnings), Vanguard attempts
to  eliminate  duplicate  mailings  to the same  address.  When two or more Fund
shareholders  have the same last name and address,  we send just one Fund report
to that address--instead of mailing separate reports to each shareholder. If you
want us to send  separate  reports,  notify our Client  Services  Department  at
1-800-662-2739.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONFIRMATION STATEMENT
Sent each time you buy,  sell, or exchange  shares;  confirms the trade date and
the amount of your transaction.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORTFOLIO SUMMARY [BOOK]
Mailed  quarterly for most  accounts;  shows the market value of your account at
the close of the statement period, as well as distributions,  purchases,  sales,
and exchanges for the current calendar year.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUND FINANCIAL REPORTS
Mailed in December and June for this Fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAX STATEMENTS
Generally  mailed in January;  report previous year's dividend and capital gains
distributions,  proceeds from the sale of shares, and distributions from IRAs or
other retirement accounts.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>

                                                                              21

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AVERAGE COST REVIEW STATEMENT [BOOK]
Issued quarterly for most taxable accounts (accompanies your Portfolio Summary);
shows the average  cost of shares that you redeemed  during the  calendar  year,
using only the average cost single category method.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECKWRITING STATEMENT
Sent monthly to shareholders using Vanguard's checkwriting option. Our statement
provides  images of the front and back of each  checkwriting  draft  paid in the
previous  month.  This  consolidated  statement  is sent instead of the original
canceled drafts, which will not be returned.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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GLOSSARY OF INVESTMENT TERMS

AVERAGE MATURITY
The  average  length of time until bonds held by a fund reach  maturity  (or are
called) and are repaid. In general, the longer the average maturity,  the more a
fund's  share price will  fluctuate  in  response to changes in market  interest
rates.

BOND
A debt security (IOU) issued by a corporation,  government, or government agency
in exchange for the money you lend it. In most  instances,  the issuer agrees to
pay back the loan by a specific date and make regular  interest  payments  until
that date.

CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTION
Payment to mutual fund  shareholders  of gains  realized on securities  that the
fund has sold at a profit, minus any realized losses.

CASH RESERVES
Cash deposits,  short-term  bank deposits,  and money market  instruments  which
include U.S.  Treasury bills,  bank  certificates  of deposit (CDs),  repurchase
agreements, commercial paper, and banker's acceptances.

DIVIDEND INCOME
Payment to  shareholders  of income from  interest or  dividends  generated by a
fund's investments.

EXPENSE RATIO
The  percentage  of a fund's  average net assets used to pay its  expenses.  The
expense ratio  includes  management  fees,  administrative  fees,  and any 12b-1
distribution fees.

FACE VALUE
The  amount to be paid at  maturity  of a bond;  also  known as the par value or
principal.

FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES
Investments,  such as bonds, that have a fixed payment schedule. While the level
of income  offered  by these  securities  is  predetermined,  their  prices  may
fluctuate.

INVESTMENT ADVISER
An  organization  that  makes  the  day-to-day   decisions  regarding  a  fund's
investments.

INVESTMENT GRADE
A bond whose credit quality is considered by independent bond-rating agencies to
be sufficient to ensure timely  payment of principal and interest  under current
economic circumstances.

MATURITY
The date when a bond issuer agrees to repay the bond's principal, or face value,
to the bond's buyer.

NET ASSET VALUE (NAV)
The market value of a mutual fund's total assets, minus liabilities,  divided by
the  number of shares  outstanding.  The value of a single  share is called  its
share value or share price.

PRICE/EARNINGS (P/E) RATIO
The current share price of a stock,  divided by its per-share earnings (profits)
from the past year. A stock selling for $20, with earnings of $2 per share,  has
a price/earnings ratio of 10.

PRINCIPAL
The amount of money you put into an investment.

SECURITIES
Stocks,  bonds,  money market  instruments,  and  interests in other  investment
vehicles.

TOTAL RETURN
A percentage change,  over a specified time period, in a mutual fund's net asset
value,  with the ending net asset value adjusted to account for the reinvestment
of all distributions of dividends and capital gains.

VOLATILITY
The  fluctuations  in value of a mutual  fund or other  security.  The greater a
fund's volatility, the wider the fluctuations between its high and low prices.

YIELD
Income  (interest  or  dividends)  earned  by  an  investment,  expressed  as  a
percentage of the investment's price.

<PAGE>
[SHIP LOGO]
[THE VANGUARD GROUP (R) LOGO]
Post Office Box 2600
Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

FOR MORE INFORMATION

If you'd like more information about
Vanguard Inflation-Protected
Securities Fund, the following
documents are available free
upon request:

ANNUAL/SEMIANNUAL REPORTS TO
SHAREHOLDERS
Additional  information about the
Fund's  investments is available in
the Fund's annual and semiannual
reports to shareholders.

STATEMENT  OF  ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION  (SAI)
The SAI provides more detailed
information about the Fund.

The  current  annual and  semiannual
reports  and the SAI
are  incorporated  by reference  into
(and are thus legally a part of)
this  prospectus.

To receive a free copy of the latest
annual or  semiannual  report or the
SAI, or to request additional
information about the Fund or other
Vanguard funds, please contact us
as follows:

THE VANGUARD GROUP
INVESTOR INFORMATION
DEPARTMENT
P.O. BOX 2600
VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482-2600

TELEPHONE:
1-800-662-7447 (SHIP)

TEXT TELEPHONE:
1-800-952-3335

WORLD WIDE WEB:
WWW.VANGUARD.COM

If you are a current  Fund  shareholder
and would like  information  about
your account, account transactions,
and/or account statements,
please call:

CLIENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
TELEPHONE:
1-800-662-2739 (CREW)

TEXT TELEPHONE:
1-800-749-7273


INFORMATION  PROVIDED BY THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION  (SEC)
You can review  and copy
information  about the Fund
(including  the SAI) at the SEC's
Public  Reference  Room in
Washington,  DC. To find out more
about this public service, call the
SEC at 1-202-942-8090. Reports and
other information about the Fund are
also available on the SEC's website
(www.sec.gov), or you can receive
copies of this information, for a fee,
by electronic request at the
following e-mail address:
[email protected], or by writing the
Public Reference Section, Securities
and Exchange Commission,
Washington, DC 20549-0102.



Fund's Investment Company Act
file number: .

(C) 2000 The Vanguard Group, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Vanguard Marketing Corporation,
Distributor.

P0.N-05/31/2000
<PAGE>


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