VANGUARD STAR FUND
485APOS, 1996-10-29
Previous: 50 OFF STORES INC, 10-Q, 1996-10-29
Next: TRISTAR CORP, SC 13D/A, 1996-10-29



<PAGE>   1
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                                   FORM N-1A
                   REGISTRATION STATEMENT (NO. 2-88373) UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                          PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO.                        [X]
                        POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 18                      [X]
                                      AND
 
              REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY
                                  ACT OF 1940
                                AMENDMENT NO. 20                             [X]
 
                               VANGUARD STAR FUND
               (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)
 
                     P.O. BOX 2600, VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482
                    (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE)
 
                  REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER (610) 669-1000
 
                         RAYMOND J. KLAPINSKY, ESQUIRE
                                  P.O. BOX 876
                             VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482
 
               IT IS REQUESTED THAT THIS FILING BECOME EFFECTIVE
   
           on January 2, 1997 pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 485.
    
 
                 APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING:
  As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
 
     REGISTRANT ELECTS TO REGISTER AN INDEFINITE NUMBER OF SHARES PURSUANT TO
REGULATION 24F-2 UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940. REGISTRANT FILED ITS
RULE 24F-2 NOTICE FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 ON FEBRUARY 28, 1996.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2
 
                               VANGUARD STAR FUND
 
                             CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    FORM N-1A
    ITEM NUMBER                                                LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS
<C>           <S>                                              <C>
    Item 1.   Cover Page....................................   Cover Page
    Item 2.   Synopsis......................................   Not Applicable
    Item 3.   Condensed Financial Information...............   Financial Highlights
    Item 4.   General Description of Registrant.............   Investment Objectives; Investment
                                                               Limitations; Investment Policies;
                                                               General Information
    Item 5.   Management of the Fund........................   Trustees and Officers; Management of
                                                               STAR Fund; Investment Management
    Item 6.   Capital Stock and Other Securities............   Opening an Account and Purchasing
                                                               Shares; Selling Shares; STAR's Share
                                                               Price; Dividends, Capital Gains,
                                                               Distributions and Taxes; General
                                                               Information
    Item 7.   Purchase of Securities Being Offered..........   Cover Page; Opening an Account and
                                                               Purchasing Shares
    Item 8.   Redemption or Repurchase......................   Selling My Shares
    Item 9.   Pending Legal Proceedings.....................   Not Applicable
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   FORM N-1A                                                   LOCATION IN STATEMENT
   ITEM NUMBER                                                 OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
<C>           <S>                                              <C>
   Item 10.   Cover Page....................................   Cover Page
   Item 11.   Table of Contents.............................   Cover Page
   Item 12.   General Information and History...............   Management of STAR Fund; General
                                                               Information
   Item 13.   Investment Objective and Policies.............   Investment Limitations
   Item 14.   Management of the Fund........................   Management of STAR Fund; Investment
                                                               Management
   Item 15.   Control Persons and Principal Holders of
              Securities....................................   Management of STAR Fund; General
                                                               Information
   Item 16.   Investment Advisory and Other Services........   Management of STAR Fund; Investment
                                                               Advisory Services
   Item 17.   Brokerage Allocation..........................   Not Applicable
   Item 18.   Capital Stock and Other Securities............   General Information; Financial
                                                               Statements
   Item 19.   Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Securities
              Being Offered.................................   Purchase of Shares; Redemption of
                                                               Shares
   Item 20.   Tax Status....................................   Appendix
   Item 21.   Underwriters..................................   Not Applicable
   Item 22.   Calculations of Yield Quotations of Money
              Market Fund...................................   Not Applicable
   Item 23.   Financial Statements..........................   Financial Statements
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   3
                  VANGUARD STAR FUND -- LIFESTRATEGY PORTFOLIOS
                              PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

                               January 2, 1997

The Board of Directors has determined that several changes to the investment
policies of the LifeStrategy Portfolios are appropriate. These changes are
intended to simplify the administration of the Portfolios. Note that the
investment objectives and overall asset allocations (which are fundamental
objectives) will not change.

Specifically, the assets of the Portfolios that had been allocated to the bond
component of the LIFEStrategy Portfolios (the Short-Term Corporate,
Intermediate-Term Corporate, Long-Term Corporate, and GNMA Portfolios of
Vanguard Fixed Income Securities Fund) as well as new assets that would have
been invested will now be invested in the Total Bond Market Portfolio of
Vanguard Bond Index Fund. 

Similarly, new assets of the Portfolios that would have previously been invested
in the European and Pacific Portfolios of Vanguard International Equity Index
Fund will now be invested in the Total International Portfolio. In order to
avoid adverse tax consequences, it will be necessary for the Portfolios to
temporarily maintain existing positions in the Europe and Pacific Portfolios.

The transition period that is required to implement this recomposition will
begin on January 2, 1997 and is expected to end around February 15, 1997.
During this transition period, the LIFEStrategies Portfolios may invest
directly in the securities in which each of the underlying Funds would
normally invest.
<PAGE>   4
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
[VANGUARD STAR PORTFOLIO LOGO]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
PROSPECTUS -- JANUARY 2, 1997
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
NEW ACCOUNT INFORMATION: INVESTOR INFORMATION DEPARTMENT -- 1-800-662-7447
(SHIP)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT SERVICES: CLIENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT -- 1-800-662-2739
(CREW)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVE AND
POLICIES              Vanguard STAR Fund (the "Fund") is an open-end
                      non-diversified investment company which seeks to maximize
                      total investment return (i.e., capital growth and income)
                      subject to the investment restrictions and asset
                      allocation policies described in this Prospectus. The Fund
                      consists of six portfolios; however this prospectus
                      relates only to the STAR Portfolio. The STAR Portfolio
                      invests in a diversified portfolio of ten mutual funds
                      (the "Vanguard Funds"), all of which are members of The
                      Vanguard Group of Investment Companies. The STAR Portfolio
                      will invest 60% to 70% of its assets in seven Vanguard
                      Funds which invest primarily in equity securities, and 30%
                      to 40% of its assets in three Vanguard Funds which invest
                      primarily in fixed-income securities. There is no
                      assurance that the STAR Portfolio will achieve its stated
                      objective. Shares of the Fund are neither insured nor
                      guaranteed by any agency of the U.S. Government, including
                      the FDIC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
OPENING AN
ACCOUNT               The STAR Portfolio is designed primarily for
                      tax-advantaged retirement accounts and other long-term
                      investment savings. To open an Individual Retirement
                      Account (IRA), please use a Vanguard IRA Adoption
                      Agreement. To obtain a copy of this form, call
                      1-800-662-7447, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to
                      9:00 p.m. and Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
                      (Eastern time). If you are establishing an investment
                      account outside a Vanguard-sponsored retirement plan,
                      complete the Account Registration Form. If you need
                      assistance in completing these forms, please call the
                      Investor Information Department. The minimum initial
                      investment is $1,000 for all accounts.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
ABOUT THIS
PROSPECTUS            This Prospectus is designed to set forth concisely the
                      information you should know about the STAR Portfolio
                      before you invest. It should be retained for future
                      reference. A "Statement of Additional Information"
                      containing additional information about Vanguard STAR Fund
                      has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
                      Commission. This Statement is dated January 2, 1997 and
                      has been incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. A
                      copy may be obtained without charge by writing to the Fund
                      or by calling the Investor Information Department.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                        <C>                                        <C>
                                 Page                                        Page                                     Page
Portfolio Expenses ................ 2      Investment Limitations ............ 14     SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
Financial Highlights .............. 3      Management of the Portfolio ....... 15     Opening an Account and
Yield and Total Return ............ 4      Investment Management ............. 16          Purchasing Shares .......... 26
        FUND INFORMATION                   Performance Record ................ 22     When Your Account Will
Investment Objective .............. 4      Dividends, Capital Gains                        Be Credited ................ 29
Investment Policies ............... 5           and Taxes .................... 23     Selling Your Shares ............. 30
Investment Risks .................. 6      Share Price of the Portfolio ...... 25     Exchanging Your Shares .......... 32
Who Should Invest ................. 8      General Information ............... 25     Important Information about         
Implementation of Policies ........ 8                                                      Telephone Transactions ..... 33
                                                                                      Transferring Registration ....... 34
                                                                                      Other Vanguard Services ......... 34
</TABLE>
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   5
 
PORTFOLIO
EXPENSES              The following table illustrates ALL expenses and fees that
                      you would incur as a shareholder of the STAR Portfolio.
                      The expenses and fees set forth in the table are for the
                      1995 fiscal year.
 
<TABLE>
                           <S>                                                                <C>       <C>
                                                     SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
                           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Sales Load Imposed on Purchases...............................                None
                           Sales Load Imposed on Reinvested Dividends....................                None
                           Redemption Fees...............................................                None
                           Exchange Fees.................................................                None
                                                      ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
                           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Management & Administrative Expenses..........................                None
                           Investment Advisory Fees......................................                None
                           12b-1 Fees....................................................                None
                           Other Expenses
                             Distribution Costs..........................................      None
                             Miscellaneous Expenses......................................      None
                                                                                              -----
                           Total Other Expenses..........................................                None
                                                                                                        -----
                                    TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES.............................                NONE
                                                                                                        -----
                                                                                                        -----
</TABLE>
 
                      The STAR Portfolio did not incur any expenses in fiscal
                      year 1995, and has not incurred any operating expenses
                      since its inception in 1985. However, while the STAR
                      Portfolio is expected to operate without expenses,
                      shareholders in the STAR Portfolio bear indirectly the
                      expenses of the underlying Vanguard Funds in which the
                      STAR Portfolio invests. The following chart provides the
                      expense ratio for each of the underlying investments of
                      the Portfolio for its 1995 fiscal year as well as the
                      percentage of the STAR Portfolio's net assets invested in
                      each Fund as of December 31, 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                  PERCENTAGE
                                                                                     EXPENSE    OF PORTFOLIO'S
                                                                                      RATIO       NET ASSETS
                                                                                     --------   --------------
                           <S>                                                       <C>        <C>
                           Vanguard/Windsor Fund...................................    0.45%           12%
                           Vanguard/Windsor II.....................................    0.40            36
                           Vanguard Explorer Fund..................................    0.68             3
                           Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund.............................    0.49             3
                           GNMA Portfolio..........................................    0.29            13
                           Long-Term Corporate Portfolio...........................    0.31            13
                           Prime Portfolio.........................................    0.32            12
                           Vanguard/PRIMECAP Fund..................................    0.58             3
                           Vanguard U.S. Growth Portfolio..........................    0.47             5
                                                                                                ---------
                                                                                                      100%
</TABLE>
 
                      Based on these figures, the average weighted expense ratio
                      for the STAR Portfolio's underlying investments on
                      December 31, 1995 was .39 of 1%. This figure is only an
                      approximation of the Portfolio's underlying expense ratio,
                      since the assets of the Portfolio invested in each of the
                      underlying Funds change daily.
 
                      Using an expense ratio of .39% for the STAR Portfolio's
                      underlying funds, the following example illustrates the
                      expenses that you would incur on a $1,000 investment over
                      various periods, assuming (1) a 5% annual rate of return
                      and
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   6
 
                      (2) redemption at the end of each period. As noted in the
                      table showing shareholder transaction expenses, the
                      Portfolio charges no redemption fees of any kind.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        1 YEAR
                        -------       3 YEARS       5 YEARS       10 YEARS
                                      -------       -------       --------
                        <S>           <C>           <C>           <C>
                          $ 4           $13           $22           $ 49
</TABLE>
 
                      THIS EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF
                      PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES OR PERFORMANCE. ACTUAL EXPENSES
                      MAY BE HIGHER OR LOWER THAN THOSE SHOWN.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS            The following financial highlights, insofar as they relate
                      to each of the fiscal periods ended December 31, 1995,
                      have been audited by Price Waterhouse LLP, independent
                      accountants, whose report thereon was unqualified. The
                      information for the six-month period ended June 30, 1996
                      has not been audited by independent accountants. This
                      information should be read in conjunction with the STAR
                      Portfolio's financial statements and notes thereto, which,
                      together with the remaining portions of the Portfolio's
                      1995 Annual Report to Shareholders, are incorporated by
                      reference in the Statement of Additional Information and
                      this Prospectus, and which appear, along with the report
                      of Price Waterhouse LLP, in the Portfolio's 1995 Annual
                      Report to Shareholders. For a more complete discussion of
                      the Portfolio's performance, please see the Fund's 1995
                      Annual Report to Shareholders, which may be obtained
                      without charge by writing to the Fund or by calling our
                      Investor Information Department at 1-800-662-7447.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     SIX MONTHS                                      YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                        ENDED                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                    JUNE 30, 1996    1995     1994      1993     1992     1991     1990      1989     1988     1987     1986
     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                 <C>             <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>    <C>
NET ASSET VALUE,
 BEGINNING OF
 PERIOD...........     $ 15.03      $12.61   $13.41    $12.89   $12.30   $10.73   $12.05    $11.12   $ 9.98   $11.34   $11.45
                      --------       -----    -----     -----    -----    -----    -----     -----    -----    -----    -----
INVESTMENT
 OPERATIONS
 Income
   Distributions
   Received.......         .25        .590      .53       .47      .51      .62      .73       .84      .64      .72      .62
 Capital Gain
   Distributions
   Received.......         .04        .435      .26       .36      .18      .35      .18       .34      .16      .59      .53
                      --------       -----    -----     -----    -----    -----    -----     -----    -----    -----    -----
 Total
   Distributions
   Received.......         .29       1.025      .79       .83      .69      .97      .91      1.18      .80     1.31     1.15
 Net Realized and
   Unrealized Gain
   (Loss)
   on
   Investments....         .62       2.550     (.82)      .56      .59     1.59    (1.34)      .90     1.06    (1.07)     .31
                      --------       -----    -----     -----    -----    -----    -----     -----    -----    -----    -----
   TOTAL FROM
     INVESTMENT
     OPERATIONS...         .91       3.575     (.03)     1.39     1.28     2.56     (.43)     2.08     1.86      .24     1.46
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTIONS
 Dividends From
   Net
   Investment
   Income.........        (.25)      (.590)    (.52)     (.47)    (.51)    (.62)    (.73)     (.77)    (.69)    (.85)    (.86)
 Distributions
   From Realized
   Capital
   Gains..........          --       (.565)    (.25)     (.40)    (.18)    (.37)    (.16)     (.38)    (.03)    (.75)    (.71)
                      --------       -----    -----     -----    -----    -----    -----     -----    -----    -----    -----
   TOTAL
  DISTRIBUTIONS...        (.25)     (1.155)    (.77)     (.87)    (.69)    (.99)    (.89)    (1.15)    (.72)   (1.60)   (1.57)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE,
 END OF PERIOD....     $ 15.69      $15.03   $12.61    $13.41   $12.89   $12.30   $10.73    $12.05   $11.12   $ 9.98   $11.34
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN......        6.06%      28.64%   (0.21)%   10.88%   10.51%   24.18%   (3.62)%   18.80%   19.04%    1.66%   13.93%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL
 DATA
Net Assets, End of
 Period
 (Millions).......     $ 5,332      $4,842   $3,766    $3,628   $2,489   $1,574   $1,038      $949     $681     $567     $455
Ratio of Expenses
 to Average
 Net Assets.......           0%          0%       0%        0%       0%       0%       0%        0%       0%       0%       0%
Ratio of Net
 Investment Income
 to Average
 Net Assets.......        3.28%*      4.12%    4.01%     3.67%    4.36%    5.48%    6.65%     6.42%    5.87%    6.08%    5.44%
Portfolio Turnover
 Rate.............          24%         13%       9%        3%       3%      11%      12%        7%      21%      17%       0%
* Annualized.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   7
 
YIELD AND
TOTAL RETURN          From time to time the STAR Portfolio may advertise its
                      yield and total return. Both yield and total return
                      figures are based on historical earnings and are not
                      intended to indicate future performance. The "total
                      return" of the Portfolio refers to the average annual
                      compounded rates of return over one-, five- and ten- year
                      periods or for the life of the Portfolio (as stated in the
                      advertisement) that would equate an initial amount
                      invested at the beginning of a stated period to the ending
                      redeemable value of the investment, assuming the
                      reinvestment of all dividend and capital gains
                      distributions.
 
                      In accordance with industry guidelines set forth by the
                      U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the "30-day
                      yield" of the Portfolio is calculated by dividing net
                      investment income per share earned during a 30-day period
                      by the net asset value per share on the last day of the
                      period. Net investment income includes interest and
                      dividend income earned on the Portfolio's securities; it
                      is net of all expenses and all recurring and nonrecurring
                      charges that have been applied to all shareholder
                      accounts. The yield calculation assumes that net
                      investment income earned over 30 days is compounded
                      monthly for six months and then annualized. Methods used
                      to calculate advertised yields are standardized for all
                      stock and bond mutual funds. However, these methods differ
                      from the accounting methods used by the Portfolio to
                      maintain its books and records, and so the advertised
                      30-day yield may not fully reflect the income paid to an
                      investor's account.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVE
THE STAR PORTFOLIO
SEEKS TO MAXIMIZE
TOTAL INVESTMENT
RETURN                The objective of the STAR Portfolio is to maximize total
                      investment return (i.e., capital growth and income)
                      subject to the investment restrictions and asset
                      allocation policies described in this Prospectus. The
                      Portfolio invests in a diversified portfolio of ten mutual
                      funds (the "Vanguard Funds"), all of which are members of
                      The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies. There is no
                      assurance that the Portfolio will achieve its stated
                      objective.
 
                      This investment objective is fundamental and so cannot be
                      changed without the approval of a majority of the Fund's
                      shareholders.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   8
 
INVESTMENT
POLICIES
THE STAR PORTFOLIO
INVESTS IN A
DIVERSIFIED PORTFOLIO
OF VANGUARD FUNDS     The Portfolio will invest 60% to 70% of its assets in
                      seven Vanguard Funds which invest primarily in equity
                      securities and 30% to 40% of its assets in three Vanguard
                      Funds which invest primarily in fixed-income securities.
                      The following table shows how the Portfolio's assets are
                      divided among the ten Vanguard Funds:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                 PERCENTAGE
                             INVESTMENT          OF STAR'S                     VANGUARD
                              CATEGORY           NET ASSETS                      FUNDS
                        --------------------    -----------     -----------------------------------
                        <S>                     <C>              <C>
                        Equity Funds               60-70%        Vanguard/Windsor Fund
                                                                 Vanguard/Windsor II
                                                                 Vanguard Explorer Fund
                                                                 Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund
                                                                 Vanguard U.S. Growth Portfolio
                                                                 Vanguard/PRIMECAP Fund
                                                                 500 Portfolio
                        Fixed Income Funds
                          Bond Funds               20-30%        GNMA Portfolio
                                                                 Long-Term Corporate Portfolio
                        Money Market Fund          10-20%        Prime Portfolio
</TABLE>
 
                      As investments for the Portfolio, the Fund's Trustees have
                      chosen Vanguard/ Windsor Fund, Vanguard/Windsor II,
                      Vanguard Explorer Fund, Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund, the
                      Vanguard U.S. Growth Portfolio of Vanguard World Fund,
                      Inc. ("Vanguard U.S. Growth Portfolio"), Vanguard/PRIMECAP
                      Fund, Inc. ("Vanguard/PRIMECAP"), the 500 Portfolio of
                      Vanguard Index Trust ("500 Portfolio"), the GNMA and
                      Long-Term Corporate Portfolios of Vanguard Fixed Income
                      Securities Fund, and the Prime Portfolio of Vanguard Money
                      Market Reserves. The 500 Portfolio, although approved as
                      an additional investment by the Fund's Trustees, is not
                      currently being purchased by the STAR Portfolio. The
                      additions to the Portfolio's Equity component, the
                      Vanguard U.S. Growth Portfolio, Vanguard/PRIMECAP and the
                      500 Portfolio, are not considered Aggressive Growth funds.
                      The selection of the Vanguard Funds in which the Portfolio
                      will invest, as well as the maximum and minimum amounts of
                      the Portfolio's assets which can be invested in each Fund,
                      are fundamental policies and so cannot be changed without
                      the approval of a majority of the Portfolio's
                      shareholders. See "Implementation of Policies" for a
                      description of the ten Vanguard Funds in which the
                      Portfolio invests.
 
THE PORTFOLIO HOLDS A
STEADY BALANCE OF
STOCKS, BONDS AND
CASH RESERVES         The allocation of the Portfolio's assets among the
                      Vanguard Funds will be made by the Officers of the Fund
                      under the supervision of the Fund's Board of Trustees,
                      within the percentage ranges set forth in the table above.
                      The ranges specified for the Portfolio's investments in
                      the underlying Funds are narrow and permit little
                      variation in the Portfolio's investment program. It is
                      expected that the Portfolio's allocation of investments
                      between the "investment categories" listed above will be
                      quite constant.
 
                      Since inception on March 29, 1985, the STAR Portfolio has
                      maintained fixed allocation targets for its investments in
                      equity (stock), bond and money market funds. The
                      Portfolio's investment in equity funds has been targeted
                      at 62.5% of
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   9
 
                      assets, the Portfolio's investment in bond funds has been
                      targeted at 25% of assets, and the Portfolio's investment
                      in the money market fund at 12.5% of assets. This policy
                      reflects the Board of Trustees' belief that holding
                      relatively steady proportions of stocks, bonds and money
                      market instruments is more likely to provide favorable
                      long-term investment returns, with moderate risk, than
                      frequently rebalancing the Portfolio's investment holdings
                      based on short-term events.
 
                      The investment restrictions and asset allocation policies
                      set forth above are designed to assure that the Portfolio
                      maintains a consistent investment approach in pursuit of
                      its objective. Of course, due to the limits set on the
                      Fund's investments, the STAR Portfolio does not have the
                      same flexibility to maximize total return as a mutual fund
                      that is not so constrained in periods when a greater
                      commitment to stocks or to fixed-income securities would
                      provide a higher total investment return.
 
   
                      From time to time, the Portfolio's investments in the
                      underlying Vanguard Funds may be limited by certain
                      factors. The Board of Trustees of any of the underlying
                      Vanguard Funds may impose limits on additional investments
                      in a particular Fund. For example, restrictions on
                      additional investments in Vanguard/Windsor Fund imposed by
                      its Board of Trustees have limited the Portfolio's
                      investment in that Fund. From December 5, 1985 to May 23,
                      1988, the Fund was unable to purchase additional shares of
                      Vanguard/Windsor Fund. After May 23, 1988, the Portfolio
                      was permitted to purchase an additional $50 million in
                      shares of Vanguard/Windsor Fund.
    
 
                      See "Implementation of Policies" for a description of
                      other investment practices of the STAR Portfolio.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT RISKS      Like any investment program, an investment in the STAR
                      Portfolio entails certain risks. The Portfolio invests in
                      common stock funds and fixed-income funds and is therefore
                      subject to stock market risk, bond market risk and
                      inflation risk.
 
MARKET RISK --
STOCKS
                      As a mutual fund investing a little more than 60% of its
                      assets in common stocks, The Portfolio is subject to stock
                      MARKET RISK -- i.e., the possibility that stock prices in
                      general will decline over short or even extended periods.
                      The stock market tends to be cyclical, with periods when
                      stock prices generally rise and periods when stock prices
                      generally decline.
 
                      To illustrate the volatility of stock prices, the
                      following table sets forth the extremes for U.S. stock
                      market returns as well as the average return for the
                      period from 1926 to 1995, as measured by the Standard &
                      Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               AVERAGE ANNUAL U.S. STOCK MARKET RETURNS (1926-1995)
                                            OVER VARIOUS TIME HORIZONS

                                         1 YEAR     5 YEARS     10 YEARS     20 YEARS
                                         ------     -------     --------     --------
                              <S>        <C>        <C>         <C>          <C>
                              Best       +53.9 %     +23.9%       +20.1%       +16.9%
                              Worst      -43.3       -12.5        - 0.9        + 3.1
                              Average    +12.5       +10.3        +10.7        +10.7
</TABLE>
 
                      As shown, common stocks have provided annual total returns
                      (capital appreciation plus dividend income) averaging
                      +10.7% for all 10-year periods from 1926 to 1995.
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   10
 
                      The return in individual years has varied from a low of
                      -43.3% to a high of +53.9%, reflecting the short-term
                      volatility of stock prices. Average return may not be
                      useful for forecasting future returns in any particular
                      period, as stock returns are quite volatile from year to
                      year and interim losses are inevitable. For example, after
                      the "bear market" of 1973-1974, it took four years for
                      many investors to recover their losses (assuming dividends
                      were reinvested). And if you were invested in stocks
                      during the Great Crash of 1929, it would have taken an
                      average of eight years for your investment to return to
                      its original value.
 
MARKET RISK --
BONDS                 The bond market is typically less risky than the stock
                      market, although there have been times when some bonds
                      were just as risky as stocks. For example, bond prices
                      fell 48% from December 1976 to September 1981. The risk of
                      bonds declining in value, however, may be offset in whole
                      or in part by the high level of income that bonds provide.
                      Bond prices are linked to prevailing interest rates in the
                      economy. The price volatility of a bond depends on its
                      maturity; the longer the maturity of a bond, the greater
                      its sensitivity to interest rates. In general, when
                      interest rates rise, the prices of bonds fall; conversely,
                      when interest rates fall, bond prices generally rise.
 
                      From time to time, the stock and bond markets may
                      fluctuate independently of one another. In other words, a
                      decline in the stock market may in certain instances be
                      offset by a rise in the bond market, or vice versa. As a
                      result, the Portfolio, with its balance of common stock,
                      bond and money market investments, is expected in the long
                      run to entail less investment risk (and potentially less
                      investment return) than a mutual fund investing
                      exclusively in common stocks.
 
INFLATION RISK        Like market risk, inflation represents a significant
                      threat to even a well-diversified portfolio because
                      inflation erodes the real return of an investment in
                      stocks, bonds or reserves. Historically, inflation has
                      averaged 3.1%, offsetting most of the return from reserves
                      and bonds, but less than half of the return from stocks.
                      For this reason, stocks are referred to as an "inflation
                      hedge," a way to protect your money against inflation.
 
                      The Portfolio is concentrated in investment companies in
                      The Vanguard Group, so investors should be aware that the
                      Portfolio's performance is directly related to the
                      investment performance of the Vanguard Funds in which it
                      invests. First, changes in the net asset values of the
                      underlying Vanguard Funds affect the Portfolio's net asset
                      value. Second, over the long-term, the Portfolio's ability
                      to meet its investment objective depends on the underlying
                      Vanguard Funds meeting their investment objectives.
 
INVESTORS ARE
EXPOSED TO
MANAGER RISK          The investment advisers manage the underlying Vanguard
                      Funds (except for the 500 Portfolio) according to the
                      traditional methods of "active" investment management,
                      which involve the buying and selling of securities based
                      upon economics, financial and market analysis and
                      investment judgement. MANAGER RISK refers to the
                      possibility that each Fund's investment adviser may fail
                      to execute the
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   11
 
                      Fund's investment strategy effectively. As a result, the
                      Fund may fail to achieve its stated objective.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
WHO SHOULD
INVEST
INVESTORS SEEKING
A BALANCED
RETIREMENT
INVESTMENT PROGRAM    The STAR Portfolio is designed primarily for investors
                      planning for future retirement through investments in
                      certain tax-advantaged accounts. Because of the risks
                      associated with common stock and bond investments, the
                      Portfolio is intended to be a long-term investment vehicle
                      and is not designed to provide investors with a means of
                      speculating on short-term stock and bond market movements.
                      Investors who engage in excessive account activity
                      generate additional costs which are borne by all of the
                      Portfolio's shareholders. In order to minimize such costs
                      the Portfolio has adopted the following policies. The
                      Portfolio reserves the right to reject any purchase
                      request (including exchange purchases from other Vanguard
                      portfolios) that is reasonably deemed to be disruptive to
                      efficient portfolio management, either because of the
                      timing of the investment or previous excessive trading by
                      the investor. Additionally, the Portfolio has adopted
                      exchange privilege limitations as described in the section
                      "Exchange Privilege Limitations." Finally, the Portfolio
                      reserves the right to suspend the offering of its shares.
                      The Portfolio seeks to provide individuals with a
                      diversified investment program consisting of Vanguard
                      Funds which may invest in equity and fixed-income
                      securities. As the Portfolio invests a significant portion
                      of its portfolio (60% to 70% of assets) in mutual funds
                      investing primarily in equity securities, which Vanguard's
                      management believes to offer the best potential for high
                      long-term rewards, investors should consider their
                      investment in the Portfolio as a long-term investment.
 
                      The STAR Portfolio may be especially suitable for
                      tax-advantaged retirement accounts, including: Individual
                      Retirement Accounts (IRAs), Simplified Employee Plans
                      (SEPs), 403(b)(7) tax-sheltered retirement plans for
                      employees of non-profit organizations, 401(k) savings
                      plans, profit-sharing and money-purchase pension plans,
                      and other corporate pension and savings plans. While the
                      Portfolio is specifically designed for tax-advantaged
                      retirement accounts, shares may also be purchased by
                      investors for other long-term investment savings purposes.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPLEMENTATION
OF POLICIES           The Vanguard Funds in which the STAR Portfolio may invest,
                      as well as certain other investment practices of the
                      Portfolio, are described below. Investors desiring more
                      information on a Vanguard Fund described below should call
                      Vanguard's Investor Information Department
                      (1-800-662-7447) for the Fund's prospectus.
 
THE PORTFOLIO INVESTS
IN THREE GROWTH AND
INCOME STOCK FUNDS    Vanguard/Windsor Funds, consisting of Vanguard/Windsor
                      Fund and Vanguard/ Windsor II, and the 500 Portfolio are
                      growth and income mutual funds. All three Funds seek to
                      provide long-term growth of income and capital and, as a
                      secondary objective, to provide current income. The
                      Vanguard/Windsor Funds have different investment advisers
                      and advisory fee structures. Although Vanguard/Windsor
                      Fund and Vanguard/Windsor II invest primarily in common
                      stocks, either Fund may invest in fixed-income securities
                      and preferred stocks when, in the judgment of the Fund's
                      investment adviser, economic and market conditions make
                      such a course desirable.
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   12
 
                      VANGUARD/WINDSOR FUND'S stocks are selected principally on
                      the basis of fundamental economic value. Key to the
                      valuation process is the relationship of a company's
                      earning power and dividend payout to the market price of
                      its stock. Vanguard/Windsor Fund's holdings are usually
                      characterized by relatively low price-earnings ratios and
                      above-average dividend payout yields, and are deemed by
                      the investment adviser at the time of purchase to be
                      overlooked or undervalued by the market in general.
 
                      VANGUARD/WINDSOR II emphasizes income-producing stocks
                      which the investment adviser believes to be undervalued by
                      the market at the time of purchase. Generally, these
                      securities are characterized by below-average
                      price-earnings ratios relative to the stock market, as
                      measured by the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock
                      Price Index. Stocks are selected with greater emphasis on
                      statistical measures of current value (such as low
                      price-earnings and low price-to-book value ratios) than on
                      forecasts of future earnings. If a stock has reached a
                      fully valued position as determined by the adviser,
                      ordinarily the stock will be sold regardless of the time
                      it has been held and replaced with securities that are
                      considered undervalued.
 
                      The 500 PORTFOLIO is one of six Portfolios of Vanguard
                      Index Trust, an open-end diversified investment company.
                      The 500 Portfolio is an "index fund" which seeks to match
                      the investment performance of the Standard & Poor's 500
                      Composite Stock Price Index ("S&P 500"), an index
                      emphasizing large-capitalization stocks. The 500 Portfolio
                      attempts to duplicate the investment results of the S&P
                      500 by holding all 500 stocks in approximately the same
                      proportions as they are represented in the S&P 500.
 
                      The 500 Portfolio is not managed according to traditional
                      methods of "active" investment management, which involve
                      the buying and selling of securities based upon economic,
                      financial and market analysis and investment judgment.
                      Instead, the Portfolio, utilizing a "passive" or
                      "indexing" investment approach, attempts to duplicate the
                      investment performance of the S&P 500 through statistical
                      procedures. The 500 Portfolio pays no advisory fees. All
                      index matching services are provided to the 500 Portfolio
                      on an at-cost basis by the Core Management Group of The
                      Vanguard Group, Inc.
 
   
THE PORTFOLIO INVESTS
IN THREE GROWTH FUNDS
AND ONE AGGRESSIVE
GROWTH STOCK FUND     Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund, the Vanguard U.S. Growth
                      Portfolio and Vanguard/PRIMECAP Fund are growth stock
                      funds, and Vanguard Explorer Fund is an aggressive growth
                      stock fund. Each Fund seeks to provide long-term growth of
                      capital, with dividend income expected to be incidental to
                      this objective. Each Fund generally invests in a
                      diversified portfolio of common stocks but may also, from
                      time to time, hold securities that are convertible into
                      common stocks.
    
 
   
                      VANGUARD/MORGAN GROWTH FUND invests mainly in
                      large-capitalization common stocks. The Fund also includes
                      stocks of smaller companies that -- even though they may
                      not have a long history of growth -- one of the Fund's
                      advisers finds attractive. All stocks are chosen for their
                      above-average earnings growth potential. At times, the
                      Fund may also invest in securities that are convertible
                      into common stocks.
    
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   13
 
   
                      Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund's assets are managed by three
                      unaffiliated investment advisers and by Vanguard's Core
                      Management Group. Each adviser independently chooses
                      common stock investments for the Fund. Wellington
                      Management Company, which is currently responsible for
                      approximately --% of Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund's equity
                      investments, utilizes traditional methods of securities
                      valuation, including fundamental company research and
                      relative valuation techniques, in selecting growth stocks
                      for the Fund. Husic Capital Management, manages
                      approximately --% of the Fund, with an approach that
                      includes investment themes, candidate universes, and
                      event-driven hurdles as key elements. In contrast,
                      Franklin Portfolio Associates Trust and Vanguard's Core
                      Management Group, which are each responsible for
                      approximately --% and --%, respectively, of
                      Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund's equity investments, are
                      "quantitative" investment managers. They utilize
                      computerized techniques attempting to outperform -- the
                      returns of a specific standard, the Growth Fund Stock
                      Index. The Growth Fund Stock Index, a benchmark calculated
                      by Morningstar, Inc. (an independent company which
                      provides mutual fund statistics), is a measure of the
                      composite performance of the common stock holdings of the
                      50 largest growth mutual funds.
    
 
                      The VANGUARD U.S. GROWTH PORTFOLIO is one of two
                      Portfolios of Vanguard World Fund, an open-end diversified
                      investment company. The Vanguard U.S. Growth Portfolio,
                      which invests in equity securities of companies based in
                      the United States, seeks to provide long-term capital
                      appreciation. Dividend income is incidental to this
                      objective. The Vanguard U.S. Growth Portfolio seeks to
                      achieve this objective by investing chiefly in equity
                      securities, including common stocks and securities,
                      convertible into common stocks, which offer favorable
                      prospects for capital growth but little current income.
 
                      The Vanguard U.S. Growth Portfolio invests primarily in
                      equity securities of seasoned U.S. companies with
                      above-average prospects for growth. In selecting
                      securities for the Vanguard U.S. Growth Portfolio, Lincoln
                      Capital Management ("Lincoln") its investment adviser,
                      emphasizes common stocks of high-quality, established
                      growth companies. Such companies tend to have exceptional
                      growth records, strong market positions, reasonable
                      financial strength, and relatively low sensitivity to
                      changing economic conditions. Lincoln seeks to identify
                      common stocks that sell at attractive valuations and
                      companies that have the best prospects for continued
                      above-average growth.
 
                      VANGUARD/PRIMECAP FUND is an open-end diversified
                      investment company that seeks to provide long-term growth
                      of capital by investing principally in common stocks.
                      Dividend income is incidental to this objective.
                      Vanguard/PRIMECAP selects stocks primarily on the basis of
                      above-average earnings growth potential and quality of
                      management. Vanguard/PRIMECAP will invest primarily in
                      common stocks which offer favorable prospects for capital
                      growth but which generally provide little current income.
 
                      Common stocks are selected for Vanguard/PRIMECAP on the
                      basis of several fundamental factors, including
                      above-average growth in corporate earnings, consistency of
                      earnings growth, and earnings quality. These factors for a
                      particular
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   14
 
                      security are evaluated in relationship to stocks in
                      general (as measured, for example, by the Standard &
                      Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index) and to the
                      individual stock's current market price. Companies with
                      cyclically depressed earnings may also be considered as
                      investments for Vanguard/PRIMECAP if, in the opinion of
                      Vanguard/PRIMECAP's investment adviser, such securities
                      are likely to provide above-average growth in earnings in
                      the future.
 
   
                      Securities purchased by VANGUARD EXPLORER FUND may be
                      issued by small or unseasoned companies with speculative
                      risk characteristics. Such securities ordinarily pay
                      negligible dividends, if any, and trade in established
                      over-the-counter markets. The median market capitalization
                      of the companies included in Vanguard Explorer Fund is
                      expected to range from $100 million to $500 million. By
                      comparison, for companies included in the Russell 2000
                      Small Company Index, a benchmark of the market for small
                      company stocks, the average stock market capitalization is
                      approximately $-- million. Also, for companies in the
                      Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index, a
                      widely-used measure of the broad stock market, the average
                      capitalization is approximately $-- billion.
    
 
THE PORTFOLIO INVESTS
IN TWO BOND FUNDS     Both the GNMA and Long-Term Corporate Portfolios of
                      Vanguard Fixed Income Securities Fund are bond funds,
                      which seek to provide a high and stable level of dividend
                      income by investing in fixed-income securities. The two
                      Portfolios have distinct investment policies.
 
                      Under normal circumstances, the GNMA PORTFOLIO invests at
                      least 80% of its assets in Government National Mortgage
                      Association ("GNMA") securities, which offer the combined
                      benefits of a U.S. Government guarantee of timely payment
                      of interest and principal and yields that usually exceed
                      those of comparable U.S. Treasury securities.
 
                      GNMA certificates are mortgage-backed securities
                      representing proportionate ownership of a pool of mortgage
                      loans. These loans -- issued by lenders such as mortgage
                      bankers, commercial banks and savings and loan
                      associations -- are either insured by the Federal Housing
                      Administration (FHA) or guaranteed by the Veterans
                      Administration (VA). A "pool" or group of such mortgages
                      is assembled and, after being approved by GNMA, is offered
                      to investors through securities dealers. Once approved by
                      GNMA, a government corporation within the U.S. Department
                      of Housing and Urban Development, the timely payment of
                      interest and principal on each mortgage is guaranteed by
                      the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.
 
                      As mortgage-backed securities, GNMA certificates differ
                      from ordinary corporate or government bonds in that
                      principal is paid back by the borrower over the length of
                      the loan rather than returned in a lump sum at maturity.
                      GNMA certificates are called "pass through" securities
                      because both interest and principal payments (including
                      prepayments) are passed through to holders of the
                      certificates (such as the Portfolio). Upon receipt,
                      principal payments are used by the GNMA Portfolio to
                      purchase additional GNMA certificates or other U.S.
                      Government guaranteed securities.
 
                      The GNMA Portfolio is exposed to PREPAYMENT RISK.
                      Prepayment risk is the possibility that, as interest rates
                      fall, homeowners are likely to refinance their home
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   15
 
                      mortgages, which causes the principal on GNMA certificates
                      held by the GNMA Portfolio to be "prepaid" earlier than
                      expected. The GNMA must then reinvest the unanticipated
                      principal in new GNMA certificates, which reduces the
                      income earned by the GNMA Portfolio.
 
                      Besides investing in GNMA certificates, the GNMA Portfolio
                      may invest up to 15% of its net assets in restricted
                      securities (securities which are not freely marketable or
                      which are subject to restrictions on sale under the
                      Securities Act of 1933).
 
   
                      The LONG-TERM CORPORATE PORTFOLIO invests in a diversified
                      portfolio of investment grade corporate bonds. Investment
                      grade bonds are generally considered to be those bonds
                      having one of the four highest grades assigned by Moody's
                      Investor Service, Inc. (Aaa, Aa, A, or Baa) or by Standard
                      & Poor's Corporation (AAA, AA, A, or BBB). At least 80% of
                      the Portfolio's assets will be invested in straight debt
                      securities, and at least 70% of the Portfolio's assets
                      will be rated A or better by Moody's Investors Service,
                      Inc. or Standard & Poor's Corporation. Securities rated
                      Baa or BBB are considered as medium-grade obligations.
                      Interest payments and principal are regarded as adequate
                      for the present but certain protective elements found in
                      higher rated bonds may be lacking. Such bonds lack
                      outstanding investment characteristics and, in fact, have
                      speculative characteristics as well.
    
 
THE PORTFOLIO INVESTS
IN ONE MONEY
MARKET FUND           The PRIME PORTFOLIO of Vanguard Money Market Reserves is a
                      money market fund, and so seeks to provide the maximum
                      current income that is consistent with the preservation of
                      capital and liquidity. The Prime Portfolio also seeks to
                      maintain a constant net asset value (price) of $1.00 per
                      share. An investment in the Portfolio is neither insured
                      nor guaranteed by the U.S. Government and there can be no
                      assurance that the Portfolio will be able to maintain a
                      constant net asset value of $1.00 per share.
 
                      The Prime Portfolio invests in the following money market
                      instruments:
 
                      (a) Negotiable certificates of deposit and bankers'
                          acceptances of U.S. banks having total assets in
                          excess of $1 billion.
                      (b) Commercial paper (including variable amount master
                          demand notes) rated Prime-1 by Moody's Investors
                          Service, Inc. or A-1 by Standard & Poor's Corporation
                          or, if unrated, issued by a corporation having an
                          outstanding debt issue rated Aa3 or better by Moody's
                          or AA- or better by Standard & Poor's.
                      (c) Short-term corporate debt obligations rated Aa3 or
                          better by Moody's or AA- or better by Standard &
                          Poor's.
                      (d) Eurodollar and Yankee bank obligations.
                      (e) U.S. Treasury obligations, including bills, notes,
                          bonds and other debt obligations issued by the U.S.
                          Treasury, as well as securities issued or guaranteed
                          by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S.
                          Government, state and municipal governments.
                      (f) Repurchase agreements that are collateralized by
                          securities described in (a) through (e) above.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   16
 
                      In addition, up to 10% of the Prime Portfolio's assets may
                      be invested in certain commercial paper, which is not
                      freely marketable or which is subject to restrictions on
                      sale under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
THE PORTFOLIO AND EACH
UNDERLYING FUND MAY
INVEST IN SHORT-TERM
FIXED INCOME
SECURITIES            The STAR Portfolio and each of its underlying Vanguard
                      Funds are authorized to invest temporarily in certain
                      short-term fixed income securities for defensive purposes.
                      Such securities may be used to invest uncommitted cash
                      balances or to maintain liquidity to meet shareholder
                      redemptions. Each of the Portfolio's underlying Vanguard
                      Funds may also invest in such securities to take a
                      temporary defensive position against potential stock or
                      bond market declines. These securities include:
                      obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies and
                      instrumentalities; commercial paper, bank certificates of
                      deposit, and bankers' acceptances; and repurchase
                      agreements collateralized by these securities.
 
DERIVATIVE
INVESTING             Derivatives are instruments whose values are linked to or
                      derived from an underlying security or index. The most
                      common and conventional types of derivative securities are
                      futures and options.
 
SOME OF THE VANGUARD
FUNDS MAY INVEST IN
FUTURES CONTRACTS AND
OPTIONS               The Portfolio's underlying equity and bond mutual funds
                      (but not the Portfolio itself ) may invest in futures
                      contracts and options to a limited extent. Specifically,
                      the Portfolio's seven equity funds -- Vanguard/Windsor
                      Fund, Vanguard/Windsor II, the 500 Portfolio,
                      Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund, the Vanguard U.S. Growth
                      Portfolio, Vanguard/PRIMECAP Fund and Vanguard Explorer
                      Fund -- may invest in equity futures contracts and
                      options, while the Portfolio's two fixed-income funds --
                      the GNMA and Long-Term Corporate Portfolios -- may invest
                      in bond futures contracts and options. The Portfolio's
                      money market fund, the Prime Portfolio, and the Portfolio
                      itself are not permitted to invest in futures contracts or
                      options.
 
                      Futures contracts and options may be used for several
                      reasons: to simulate full investment in the underlying
                      securities while retaining a cash balance for Fund
                      management purposes, to facilitate trading, to reduce
                      transaction costs, or to seek higher investment returns
                      when a futures contract is priced more attractively than
                      the underlying equity security or index. While futures
                      contracts and options can be used as leveraged
                      instruments, a Fund may not use futures contracts or
                      options transactions to leverage its assets.
 
                      The underlying Vanguard Funds will not use futures
                      contracts or options for speculative purposes or to
                      leverage their net assets. Accordingly, the primary risks
                      associated with the use of futures contracts and options
                      by the underlying Funds are: (i) imperfect correlation
                      between the change in market value of securities held by a
                      Fund and the prices of futures contracts and options; and
                      (ii) possible lack of a liquid secondary market for a
                      futures contract resulting in an inability to close a
                      futures position prior to its maturity date. The risk of
                      imperfect correlation will be minimized by investing only
                      in contracts whose behavior is expected to resemble that
                      of a Fund's underlying securities. The risk that a Fund
                      will be unable to close out a futures position will be
                      minimized by entering into such transactions only on an
                      exchange with an active and liquid secondary market.
                      Additionally, investments
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   17
 
                      in futures contracts and options involve the risk that an
                      investment adviser will incorrectly predict stock market
                      and interest rate trends.
 
                      The underlying Funds may enter into futures contracts
                      provided that not more than 5% of their respective assets
                      are required as a futures contract deposit. In addition
                      the underlying Funds may enter into futures contracts and
                      options transactions to the extent that not more than 20%
                      of their respective assets are committed to such contracts
                      or transactions.
 
EACH OF THE PORTFOLIO'S
FUNDS MAY LEND ITS
SECURITIES            Each of the Portfolio's underlying Funds, except Prime,
                      (and not the Portfolio itself) may lend its investment
                      securities to qualified institutional investors for the
                      purpose of realizing additional net investment income.
                      Loans of securities by a Fund will be collateralized by
                      cash, letters of credit, or securities issued or
                      guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its agencies. The
                      collateral will equal at least 100% of the current market
                      value of the loaned securities.
 
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
IS EXPECTED
TO BE LOW             The Portfolio's turnover rate is not expected to exceed
                      25% annually. A portfolio turnover rate of 25% would occur
                      if one quarter of the Portfolio's investments were sold
                      within a year. The Fund's Officers will purchase or sell
                      securities: (i) to accommodate purchases and sales of
                      Portfolio shares; (ii) on those occasions when they deem
                      that market conditions warrant a change in the percentage
                      of the Portfolio's assets invested in each of the
                      underlying Vanguard Funds; and (iii) to maintain or modify
                      the allocation of the Portfolio's assets between the
                      underlying Vanguard Funds in which the Portfolio invests
                      within the percentage limits described under "Investment
                      Policies."
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT
LIMITATIONS           The Fund has adopted the following fundamental limitations
                      on its investment practices. Specifically, the STAR
                      Portfolio will not:
 
THE FUND HAS
ADOPTED CERTAIN
FUNDAMENTAL
LIMITATIONS           (a) borrow money except from banks for temporary or
                          emergency purposes, and then only in an amount not in
                          excess of 5% of the lower of the market value or cost
                          of its assets, in which case it may pledge, mortgage
                          or hypothecate any of its assets as security for such
                          borrowing, but not to an extent greater than 5% of the
                          market value of its assets; and
                      (b) invest more than 25% of its assets in any one
                          industry, except for investment companies which are
                          members of The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies.
 
                      These investment limitations are considered at the time
                      investment securities are purchased. The limitations 
                      described here and in the Statement of Additional
                      Information may be changed only with the approval of a 
                      majority of the Fund's shareholders.
 
                      NOTICE TO OHIO INVESTORS. Vanguard STAR Fund does not meet
                      the requirements of Ohio Administrative Rule 1301:6-3-09G
                      in that it may invest more than 25% of its assets in a
                      single issuer. However, the Portfolio invests only in
                      Vanguard-sponsored mutual funds which, in turn, are
                      prohibited from investing more than 5% of their total
                      assets in the securities of any single issuer and may not
                      purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting
                      securities of any issuer.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   18
 
MANAGEMENT
OF THE PORTFOLIO
THE OFFICERS MANAGE
THE PORTFOLIO'S
OPERATIONS            The Officers of the Fund manage its day-to-day operations.
                      The Officers are directly responsible to the Fund's Board
                      of Trustees. The Trustees, who are elected by the Fund's
                      shareholders, determine how the assets of the Portfolio
                      should be invested among the Vanguard Funds, set general
                      policies for the Portfolio and choose its Officers. The
                      Officers of the Fund also serve as Officers of each of the
                      Vanguard Funds and of The Vanguard Group, Inc.
                      ("Vanguard"). The Trustees each serve as Directors of The
                      Vanguard Group, Inc. and most of the Funds within the
                      Group. A list of Trustees and Officers of the Fund and a
                      statement of their present positions and principal
                      occupations during the past five years can be found in the
                      Statement of Additional Information.
 
                      The business of the Fund will be conducted by its Officers
                      in accordance with policies and guidelines set up by the
                      Fund's Trustees which were included in an Application for
                      an Exemptive Order subsequently issued by the U.S.
                      Securities and Exchange Commission. As noted above, the
                      Officers and Trustees of the Fund also serve in similar
                      positions in the underlying Funds. If the interests of the
                      Fund and the underlying Funds were ever to become
                      divergent, a concern might arise that this could create a
                      potential conflict of interest which could affect how the
                      Officers or Trustees fulfill their fiduciary duties to
                      Vanguard STAR Fund and the Vanguard Funds. The Trustees
                      believe they have structured the Fund to avoid the
                      concerns which could arise. Conceivably, a situation could
                      occur where proper portfolio or other action for the Fund
                      could be adverse to the interests of an underlying
                      Vanguard Fund, or the reverse could occur. If such a
                      possibility appears likely, the Trustees and Officers will
                      carefully analyze the situation and take all steps they
                      believe reasonable to minimize and, where possible,
                      eliminate the potential conflict. Moreover, limitations on
                      aggregate investments in the underlying Vanguard Funds and
                      other restrictions have been adopted by the Fund to
                      minimize this possibility, and close and continuous
                      monitoring will be exercised to avoid, insofar as
                      possible, these concerns.
 
   
VANGUARD
ADMINISTERS AND
DISTRIBUTES THE
PORTFOLIO             The Fund has entered into a Special Servicing Agreement
                      (the "Agreement") with The Vanguard Group, Inc.
                      ("Vanguard") under which Vanguard will provide all
                      management, administrative and distribution services to
                      the Fund. Vanguard is a jointly-owned subsidiary of more
                      than 30 investment company members (the "Funds") of The
                      Vanguard Group of Investment Companies. The Vanguard Funds
                      offer more than 90 distinct investment portfolios with
                      total assets in excess of $220 billion. Vanguard provides
                      the Fund and other Funds in the Group with corporate
                      management, administrative and distribution services
                      (similar to those provided to Fund) on an at-cost basis.
                      As a result of Vanguard's unique corporate structure,
                      Vanguard Funds have costs substantially lower than those
                      of most competing mutual funds. In 1995, the average
                      expense ratio (annual costs including advisory fees
                      divided by total net assets) for the Vanguard Funds
                      amounted to approximately .31% compared to an average of
                      1.11% for the mutual fund industry (data provided by
                      Lipper Analytical Services).
    
 
                      The Special Servicing Agreement provides that Vanguard
                      STAR Fund will pay for services to be rendered to the Fund
                      by Vanguard on an "out of pocket" basis. The Fund will
                      also bear the expenses of services provided by other
                      parties, including auditors, the custodian, and outside
                      legal counsel, as well as taxes and other direct expenses
                      of the Fund. However, the Agreement provides that the
                      expenses of the
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   19
 
                      Fund will be offset, in whole or in part, by a
                      reimbursement from Vanguard for (a) contributions made by
                      the Fund to the cost of operating the underlying Vanguard
                      Funds the Fund invests in and (b) certain savings in
                      administrative and marketing costs that Vanguard is
                      expected to derive from the operation of the Fund. The
                      Fund's contributions to Vanguard represent revenues
                      Vanguard receives because the Fund bears its pro rata
                      share of the costs of operating the underlying Vanguard
                      Funds. The cost savings realized by Vanguard from the Fund
                      result primarily from the assumed reduction in the number
                      of accounts Vanguard has to maintain due to the existence
                      of the Fund (i.e., one account per investor as opposed to
                      one for each underlying Fund per investor if the investor
                      duplicated Portfolio's investment program by investing
                      directly in the underlying Funds).
 
                      Although such cost savings are not certain, the Trustees
                      believe that the reimbursements to be made by Vanguard to
                      the Fund should be sufficient to offset most, if not all,
                      of the expenses incurred by the Fund. Therefore, the Fund
                      is expected by the Trustees to operate at a very low, or
                      zero, expense ratio. Since its inception in May 1985, the
                      Fund has had an expense ratio of zero. Of course,
                      shareholders of the Portfolio will still bear their fair
                      and proportionate share of the costs of operating the
                      Vanguard Funds owned by the Portfolio. (See "Portfolio
                      Expenses.") In the event that the economic benefits of
                      operating the Portfolio exceed its actual costs, such
                      benefits will be shared by each of the Funds in The
                      Vanguard Group, including the underlying Funds in which
                      the Portfolio invests.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT
THE PORTFOLIO DOES NOT
EMPLOY AN INVESTMENT
ADVISER               The STAR Portfolio does not employ an investment adviser
                      and therefore pays no advisory fees. The Portfolio has no
                      portfolio manager. The determination of how the
                      Portfolio's assets will be invested in certain of the
                      Vanguard Funds is made by the Fund's Officers pursuant to
                      the investment objective and policies set forth in this
                      Prospectus and procedures and guidelines established by
                      the Trustees. However, the Portfolio, as a shareholder of
                      each of the underlying Vanguard Funds, benefits from the
                      investment advisory services of each of the underlying
                      Funds, and will indirectly bear its proportionate share of
                      any investment advisory fees paid by those Funds.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   20
 
                      The STAR Portfolio's underlying Funds are managed by the
                      following investment advisers:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 INVESTMENT ADVISER                       FUNDS MANAGED
                        <S>                                    <C>
                        -------------------------------------  -----------------------------------
                        Wellington Management Company, LLP     Vanguard/Windsor Fund
                                                               Vanguard Explorer Fund
                                                               Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund
                                                               GNMA and Long-Term Corporate
                                                               Portfolios of Vanguard Fixed Income
                                                               Securities Fund
                        Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney &            Vanguard/Windsor II
                          Strauss, Inc.
                        Equinox Capital Management, Inc.       Vanguard/Windsor II
                        Tukman Capital Management, Inc.        Vanguard/Windsor II
                        Granahan Investment Management, Inc.   Vanguard Explorer Fund
                        Franklin Portfolio Associates Trust    Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund
                        Husic Capital Management               Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund
                        Lincoln Capital Management             Vanguard U.S. Growth Portfolio of
                                                               Vanguard World Fund
                        PRIMECAP Management Company            Vanguard/PRIMECAP Fund
                        The Vanguard Group, Inc.               Prime Portfolio of Vanguard
                                                               Money Market Reserves
                                                               500 Portfolio of Vanguard Index
                                                               Trust
                                                               Vanguard/Windsor II
                                                               Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund
                        --------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    
 
                      The investment advisory agreements between the underlying
                      Vanguard Funds and these advisers are described below.
 
   
WELLINGTON
MANAGEMENT
COMPANY, LLP          Wellington Management Company, LLP ("WMC"), 75 State
                      Street, Boston, MA 02109, serves as sole investment
                      adviser to Vanguard/Windsor Fund and the GNMA and Long-
                      Term Corporate Portfolios of Vanguard Fixed Income
                      Securities Fund. WMC also serves as investment adviser for
                      --% of the assets of Vanguard Explorer Fund, and --% of
                      the assets of Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund.
    
 
                      WMC is a professional investment advisory firm which
                      globally provides investment services to investment
                      companies, institutions and individuals. Among the clients
                      of WMC are more than 10 of the Vanguard Funds. As of
                      December 31, 1995, WMC held discretionary management
                      authority with respect to more than $108 billion of
                      assets. WMC and its predecessor organizations have
                      provided investment advisory services to investment
                      companies since 1933 and to investment clients since 1960.
 
   
VANGUARD/WINDSOR
FUND IS MANAGED
BY WMC                Vanguard/Windsor Fund pays WMC an advisory fee equal to
                      .125 of 1% on the first $17.5 billion of Vanguard/Windsor
                      Fund's assets; and .10 of 1% on Vanguard/Windsor Fund's
                      assets in excess of $17.5 billion. This basic advisory fee
                      may be increased or decreased by applying an
                      incentive/penalty fee adjustment based on the investment
                      performance of the Vanguard/Windsor Fund relative to
    
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   21
 
   
                      the investment record of the Standard & Poor's 500
                      Composite Stock Price Index (the "Index").
    
 
   
                      During the fiscal year ended October 31, 1995,
                      Vanguard/Windsor Fund paid WMC total advisory fees
                      representing an annual effective fee rate of .16 of 1% of
                      Vanguard/Windsor Fund's average net assets, before an
                      increase of .06 of 1% based on performance. This fee was
                      paid under the previous fee schedule that provided for a
                      higher rate of fees.
    
 
VANGUARD/WINDSOR II
IS MANAGED BY
BHM&S                 Vanguard/Windsor II employs a "multi-manager" approach
                      utilizing four investment advisers to manage the Fund's
                      assets. Vanguard/Windsor II has investment advisory
                      contracts with: Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc.
                      ("BHM&S"), One McKinney Plaza, 3232 McKinney Avenue, 15th
                      Floor, Dallas, TX 75204-2429; Equinox Capital Management,
                      Inc. ("Equinox"), 399 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022; and
                      Tukman Capital Management, Inc. ("Tukman"), 60 East Sir
                      Francis Drake Boulevard, Larkspur, CA 94939. Additionally,
                      a portion of the Fund's assets are managed on an at-cost
                      basis by Vanguard's Core Management Group. BHM&S, Equinox
                      and Tukman are not affiliated in any way with Wellington
                      Management Company, the investment adviser to
                      Vanguard/Windsor Fund.
 
   
                      Vanguard/Windsor II has entered into an advisory agreement
                      with BHM&S, under which BHM&S manages approximately --% of
                      the assets of Vanguard/Windsor II. BHM&S, a professional
                      investment counseling firm founded in 1979, provides
                      investment services to investment companies, institutions
                      and individuals. Vanguard/Windsor II pays BHM&S an annual
                      basic advisory fee equal to .30 of 1% for the first $200
                      million of assets. The rate decreases to .20 of 1% on the
                      next $300 million of assets; to .15 of 1% on the next $500
                      million of assets; and to .125 of 1% on assets in excess
                      of $1 billion. This basic advisory fee may be increased or
                      decreased (a maximum of 1.25 times the basic fee) by
                      applying an adjustment formula based on the investment
                      performance of the assets of Vanguard/ Windsor II managed
                      by BHM&S relative to the investment record of the Standard
                      & Poor's/BARRA Value Index.
    
 
   
EQUINOX CAPITAL
MANAGEMENT            Equinox is a professional investment counseling firm
                      founded in 1989. As of December 31, 1995, Equinox provided
                      investment advisory services with respect to approximately
                      $5.1 billion of assets. Vanguard/Windsor II pays Equinox
                      an annual basic advisory fee equal to .20 of 1% on the
                      first $400 million of assets managed by Equinox; .15 of 1%
                      on the next $600 million of assets; .125 of 1% on the next
                      $1 billion and .10 of 1% on assets over $2 billion. This
                      basic advisory fee may be increased or decreased by
                      applying an incentive/penalty fee adjustment based on the
                      investment performance of the assets of Vanguard/ Windsor
                      II managed by Equinox relative to the investment
                      performance of the Russell 1000 Value Index.
    
 
TUKMAN CAPITAL
MANAGEMENT            Tukman is a professional counseling firm founded in 1980.
                      As of December 31, 1995, Tukman provided investment
                      advisory services with respect to assets of approximately
                      $2.9 billion. Vanguard/Windsor II pays Tukman an annual
                      basic advisory fee equal to .40 of 1% on the first $25
                      million of assets managed by Tukman; .35 of 1% on the next
                      $125 million of assets; .25 of 1% on the next
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   22
 
                      $350 million of assets; .20 of 1% on the next $500 million
                      of assets, and .15 of 1% on assets greater than $1
                      billion. This basic advisory fee may be increased or
                      decreased (a maximum of 1.50 times the basic fee) by
                      applying an adjustment formula based on the investment
                      record of the S&P 500.
 
AND VANGUARD'S
CORE MANAGEMENT
GROUP                 Vanguard's Core Management Group provides investment
                      advisory services on an at-cost basis with respect to a
                      portion of Vanguard/Windsor II's assets (currently
                      approximately 8%). The Core Management Group also provides
                      investment advisory services to several Vanguard Funds,
                      including Vanguard Index Trust, several Portfolios of the
                      Vanguard Tax-Managed Fund, the Aggressive Growth Portfolio
                      of Vanguard Horizon Fund, a portion of the Vanguard/Morgan
                      Growth Fund, Vanguard International Equity Index Fund,
                      Vanguard Institutional Index Fund, Vanguard Balanced Index
                      Fund and the Equity Index Portfolio of Vanguard Variable
                      Insurance Fund, as well as to several indexed separate
                      accounts. Total assets under management by the Core
                      Management Group were approximately $33 billion as of
                      December 31, 1995.
 
                      For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1995, the aggregate
                      investment advisory fees paid by the Fund to BHM&S,
                      Equinox Capital Management and Tukman Capital Management,
                      Inc., represented an effective annual rate of .14 of 1% of
                      average net assets before an increase of $86,000 based on
                      performance. The investment advisory fees paid by the Fund
                      for this period to BHM&S represented an effective annual
                      rate of .14 of 1% of the average net assets managed by
                      BHM&S. The investment advisory fees paid by the Fund for
                      this period to Equinox and Tukman represented an effective
                      annual rate of .20 of 1% and .24 of 1% of the average net
                      assets managed by Equinox and Tukman, respectively.
 
THE 500 PORTFOLIO
IS MANAGED BY
VANGUARD'S CORE
MANAGEMENT GROUP      The 500 Portfolio receives all investment advisory
                      services on an at-cost basis from Vanguard's Core
                      Management Group. The Trust is not actively managed, but
                      is instead administered by the Core Management Group using
                      computerized, quantitative techniques. The Core Management
                      Group is supervised by the Officers of the Trust.
 
   
VANGUARD/MORGAN
GROWTH FUND IS
MANAGED BY WMC        WMC is also responsible for approximately --% of the
                      equity investments of Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund
                      (formerly W.L. Morgan Growth Fund). Vanguard/Morgan Growth
                      Fund pays WMC a basic advisory fee equal to .175 of 1% of
                      the first $500 million of assets managed by WMC; .10 of 1%
                      on the next $500 million of assets; and .075 of 1% on
                      assets in excess of $1 billion. This basic advisory fee
                      may be increased or decreased by applying an adjustment
                      formula ("incentive/ penalty fee") based on WMC's
                      investment performance relative to the investment record
                      of the Growth Fund Stock Index. The Growth Fund Stock
                      Index represents the composite common stock portfolio of
                      the 50 largest growth mutual funds, as calculated by
                      Morningstar, Inc., an independent company which provides
                      mutual fund statistics. Under the incentive/penalty fee
                      schedule, the basic fee payable to WMC may be increased or
                      decreased by as much as 50% of the basic fee depending on
                      the investment performance of the equity investments
                      managed by WMC.
    
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   23
 
   
FRANKLIN PORTFOLIO
ASSOCIATES            Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund has also entered into an
                      investment advisory agreement with Franklin Portfolio
                      Associates Trust ("FPA"), One Post Office Square 3660,
                      Boston, MA 02109, under which FPA manages approximately
                      --% of its equity investments. FPA is a professional
                      investment advisory firm which specializes in the
                      management of common stock portfolios through the use of
                      quantitative investment models. Vanguard/Morgan Growth
                      Fund pays FPA a basic advisory fee calculated by applying
                      varying percentage rates to the average net assets of the
                      Fund managed by FPA. The maximum annual rate is .25 of 1%
                      on the first $100 million in assets. The rate decreases to
                      .20 of 1% on the next $200 million in assets, to .15 of 1%
                      on the next $200 million, and to .10 of 1% on assets over
                      $500 million. This basic fee shall be increased or
                      decreased in an amount equal to .100% per annum (.025% per
                      quarter) of the average month-end net assets of the FPA
                      Portfolio if the investment performance of the FPA
                      Portfolio for the thirty-six months preceding the end of
                      the quarter is six percentage points or more above or
                      below, respectively, the investment record of the Growth
                      Fund Stock Index (the "Index") for the same period.
    
 
AND HUSIC CAPITAL
MANAGEMENT            Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund also employs Husic Capital
                      Management ("Husic"), 555 California Street, Suite 2900,
                      San Francisco, California 94104 as an investment adviser
                      for approximately 13% of its equity investments. Husic is
                      a professional investment advisory firm which specializes
                      in the management of common stock portfolios with an
                      approach that includes investment themes, candidate
                      universes, and event driven hurdles as key elements.
                      Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund pays Husic a basic advisory
                      fee calculated by applying varying percentage rates to the
                      average net assets of the Fund managed by Husic. The
                      maximum annual rate is .40 of 1% on the first $25 million
                      in assets. The rate decreases to .35 of 1% on the next
                      $125 million in assets, .25 of 1% on the next $350 million
                      in assets, .20 of 1% on the next $500 million and .15 of
                      1% for assets over $1 billion. The basic advisory fee may
                      be increased or decreased by as much as 75% of the basic
                      fee depending on the investment performance of the equity
                      investments managed by Husic.
 
                      Under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
                      the incentive/penalty fee structure will not be fully
                      operable, with respect to Husic and WMC, until September
                      30, 1996 and March 31, 1999, respectively. Until that date
                      the incentive/penalty fee will be calculated according to
                      certain transition rules. See the Statement of Additional
                      Information for a detailed description of the
                      incentive/penalty fee schedule for WMC, FPA and Husic, as
                      well as the applicable transition rules.
 
                      For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, the aggregate
                      investment advisory fees paid by Vanguard/Morgan Growth
                      Fund represented an effective annual base rate of .19 of
                      1% of average net assets, before a net decrease of .05 of
                      1% based on performance. The investment advisory fees paid
                      by the Fund for this period to WMC, FPA and Husic
                      represented an effective annual rate of .12, .22, and .11
                      of 1%, respectively, of the average net assets managed by
                      WMC, FPA and Husic.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   24
 
THE VANGUARD
U.S. GROWTH PORTFOLIO
IS MANAGED BY
LINCOLN CAPITAL
MANAGEMENT            The Vanguard U.S. Growth Portfolio employs Lincoln Capital
                      Management Company ("Lincoln"), 200 South Wacker Drive,
                      Chicago, IL 60606, as its investment adviser. Lincoln, an
                      investment advisory firm founded in 1967, currently
                      provides investment counseling services to a limited
                      number of clients, most of which are institutional
                      clients, such as pension funds. As of December 31, 1995,
                      Lincoln held discretionary management authority with
                      respect to approximately $37.7 billion in assets. The
                      Vanguard U.S. Growth Portfolio pays Lincoln an advisory
                      fee calculated by applying varying percentage rates to the
                      average net assets of the Portfolio. The maximum annual
                      rate is .40 of 1% for the first $25 million of assets. The
                      rate decreases to .35 of 1% for the next $125 million; to
                      .25 of 1% for the next $350 million; to .20 of 1% for the
                      next $500 million; to .15 of 1% for the next $1.5 billion;
                      and to .10 of 1% on assets in excess of $2.5 billion. For
                      the year ended August 31, 1995, the investment advisory
                      fee paid to Lincoln represented an effective annual rate
                      of .19 of 1% of the Portfolio's average month-end net
                      assets.
 
VANGUARD/PRIMECAP
FUND IS MANAGED BY
PRIMECAP
MANAGEMENT
COMPANY               Vanguard/PRIMECAP Fund employs PRIMECAP Management Company
                      ("PRIME-CAP Management"), 225 South Lake Street, Pasadena,
                      CA 91101, to manage the investment and reinvestment of the
                      assets of Vanguard/PRIMECAP. PRIMECAP Management, a
                      professional investment advisory firm which provides
                      services to employee benefit plans, endowments funds,
                      foundations and other institutions, held discretionary
                      management authority with respect to over $5.7 billion of
                      assets as of December 31, 1995. Vanguard/PRIMECAP pays
                      PRIMECAP Management an advisory fee calculated by applying
                      varying percentage rates to the average net assets of the
                      Fund. The maximum annual rate is .750 of 1% for the first
                      $25 million of assets. The rate decreases to .500 of 1% on
                      the next $225 million; .375 of 1% on the next $250
                      million; and .250 of 1% on assets in excess of $500
                      million. For the year ended December 31, 1995, the
                      investment advisory fee paid by Vanguard/ PRIMECAP
                      represented an effective annual rate of .34 of 1% of
                      average net assets.
 
VANGUARD EXPLORER
FUND IS MANAGED BY
WMC AND GRANAHAN      The assets of Vanguard Explorer Fund are jointly managed
                      by WMC and Granahan Investment Management, Inc.
                      ("Granahan"), 303 Wyman Street, Waltham, MA 02154. WMC is
                      responsible for managing 44% of the assets of Vanguard
                      Explorer Fund and Granahan is responsible for 43% of the
                      Fund's assets.
 
   
                      Vanguard Explorer Fund pays WMC a basic advisory fee equal
                      to .25 of 1% on the first $500 million of assets managed
                      by WMC; .20 of 1% on the next $250 million of assets; .15
                      of 1% on the next $250 million; and .10 of 1% on assets in
                      excess of $1 billion. This basic advisory fee may be
                      increased or decreased by applying an incentive/penalty
                      fee adjustment based on the investment performance of the
                      assets of Vanguard Explorer Fund managed by WMC relative
                      to the investment record of the Russell 2000 Small Stock
                      Index (the "Index").
    
 
   
                      Granahan is a professional counseling firm which offers
                      investment advisory services to employee benefit plans,
                      endowment funds, mutual funds and other institutions.
                      Vanguard Explorer Fund pays Granahan an advisory fee
                      calculated by applying varying percentage rates to the
                      average month-end net assets of the Fund managed by
                      Granahan. The maximum annual rate is .30 of 1% for the
                      first $500 million of assets. The rate decreases to .20 of
                      1% on the next $250 million of
    
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   25
 
   
                      assets; to .15 of 1% on the next $250 million of assets;
                      and to .10 of 1% on assets in excess of $1 billion. This
                      basic advisory fee may be increased or decreased by
                      applying an adjustment formula ("incentive/penalty fee")
                      based on the investment performance of the assets of
                      Vanguard Explorer Fund managed by Granahan relative to the
                      investment record of the Russell 2000, an index of small
                      capitalization common stocks.
    
 
                      For the fiscal year ended October 31, 1995, the aggregate
                      investment advisory fees paid by the Vanguard Explorer
                      Fund to WMC and Granahan represented an effective annual
                      base rate of .27 of 1% of average net assets before an
                      increase of $25,000 based on performance. The investment
                      advisory fees paid by the Fund for this period to WMC
                      represented an effective annual rate of .28 of 1% of the
                      average net assets managed by WMC and the investment
                      advisory fees paid to Granahan represented an effective
                      annual rate of .30 of 1% of the average net assets managed
                      by Granahan.
 
GNMA AND
LONG-TERM CORPORATE
PORTFOLIOS ARE
MANAGED BY WMC        The GNMA Portfolio of Vanguard Fixed Income Securities
                      Fund pays WMC an annual advisory fee equal to .020 of 1%
                      on the first $3 billion of net assets of the Portfolio;
                      .010 of 1% on the next $3 billion of net assets; and .008
                      of 1% on the net assets of the Portfolio over $6 billion.
                      The Long-Term Corporate Portfolio of Vanguard Fixed Income
                      Securities Fund pays WMC an annual advisory fee equal to
                      .04 of 1% on the first $1 billion of net assets of the
                      Portfolio; .03 of 1% on the next $1 billion of net assets;
                      .02 of 1% on the next $1 billion of net assets; and .015
                      of 1% on the net assets of the Portfolio over $3 billion.
                      During the fiscal year ended January 31, 1996, the GNMA
                      and Long-Term Corporate Portfolios paid annual advisory
                      fees equal to .02 of 1% and .04 of 1% of average net
                      assets, respectively.
 
THE PRIME PORTFOLIO
IS MANAGED BY
VANGUARD'S FIXED
INCOME GROUP          The Prime Portfolio of Vanguard Money Market Reserves
                      receives all investment advisory services on an at-cost
                      basis from Vanguard's Fixed Income Group. The Fixed Income
                      Group also provides advisory services to more than 40
                      Vanguard fixed income portfolios, both taxable and
                      tax-exempt. The Fixed Income Group is supervised by the
                      Officers of STAR.
 
                      The Portfolio will purchase and sell the principal portion
                      of its portfolio securities (i.e., shares of certain of
                      the underlying Vanguard Funds) by dealing directly with
                      the issuer. There will be no sales charges or commissions
                      because the underlying Funds are offered on a no-load
                      basis, without sales charges. Investments in short-term
                      money market instruments and repurchase agreements usually
                      will be principal transactions and will generally involve
                      no brokerage commissions.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
PERFORMANCE
RECORD                The table in this section provides investment results for
                      the STAR Portfolio for several periods throughout its
                      lifetime. The results shown represent "total return"
                      investment performance, which assumes the reinvestment of
                      all capital gains and income dividends for the indicated
                      periods. Also included is comparative information with
                      respect to two indexes: a Composite Index, a performance
                      benchmark based upon the average performance of publicly
                      offered stock funds (62.5%), bond funds (25%), and money
                      market funds (12.5%), as reported by Lipper Analytical
                      Services; and the Consumer Price Index, a statistical
                      measure of changes in the
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   26
 
                      prices of goods and services. The table does not make any
                      allowance for federal, state or local income taxes, which
                      shareholders who invest in the Portfolio through regular
                      investment accounts must pay on a current basis.
 
                      The results shown should not be considered a
                      representation of the total return from an investment made
                      in the Portfolio today. This information is provided to
                      help investors better understand the Portfolio and may not
                      provide a basis for comparison with other investments or
                      mutual funds which use a different method to calculate
                      performance.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             AVERAGE ANNUAL RETURNS FOR THE STAR PORTFOLIO
                         -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                      CONSUMER
                        FISCAL PERIODS                   COMPOSITE      PRICE
                        ENDED 12/31/95     PORTFOLIO       INDEX        INDEX
                        ---------------    ---------     ---------    ---------
                        <S>                <C>           <C>           <C>
                        1 Year               +28.6%        +23.9%         +2.6%
                        3 Years              +12.5         +10.5          +2.6
                        5 Years              +14.3         +13.2          +2.8
                        10 Years             +11.9         +10.7          +3.5
                        Lifetime*            +12.5         +11.3          +3.5
                        *March 29, 1985 to December 31, 1995.
</TABLE>
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
DIVIDENDS,
CAPITAL GAINS
AND TAXES
THE PORTFOLIO PAYS
SEMI-ANNUAL DIVIDENDS
AND ANY CAPITAL GAINS
ANNUALLY              The STAR Portfolio expects to pay dividends semi-annually
                      from ordinary income. Capital gains distributions, if any,
                      will be made annually.
 
                      For tax-deferred retirement accounts (such as Individual
                      Retirement Accounts or other retirement plans sponsored by
                      Vanguard), dividend and capital gains distributions from
                      the Portfolio must be reinvested in additional shares. For
                      regular investment accounts, dividend and capital gains
                      distributions may be reinvested in additional shares or
                      received in cash. See "Choosing a Distribution Option" for
                      a description of these distribution methods for regular
                      investment accounts in the Portfolio.
 
                      In addition, in order to satisfy certain distribution
                      requirements of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the Portfolio
                      may declare special year-end dividend and capital gains
                      distributions during December. Such distributions, if
                      received by shareholders by January 31, are deemed to have
                      been paid by the Portfolio and received by shareholders on
                      December 31 of the prior year.
 
                      The Portfolio intends to continue to qualify as a
                      "regulated investment company" under the Internal Revenue
                      Code so that it will not be subject to federal income tax
                      to the extent its income is distributed to shareholders.
                      The tax consequences of distributions from the Portfolio
                      will vary according to the type of account you open in the
                      Portfolio.
 
                      If you open an IRA or other tax-deferred retirement
                      account, dividend and capital gains distributions from the
                      Portfolio will generally be exempt from current taxation.
                      You are advised to consult with a tax professional on the
                      specific rules governing your own tax-deferred
                      arrangement. There are varying restrictions imposed by the
                      Internal Revenue Service on eligibility, contributions and
                      withdrawals, depending on the type of tax-deferred account
                      you have selected. The rules
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   27
 
                      governing tax-deferred retirement plans are complex, and
                      failure to comply with the IRS's rules and regulations
                      governing your specific type of plan may result in a
                      substantial cost to you, including the loss of tax
                      advantages and the imposition of additional taxes and
                      penalties by the IRS.
 
                      If you open an account in the Portfolio outside a
                      tax-deferred retirement account, the following tax rules
                      will generally apply. For regular investment accounts,
                      dividends paid by the Portfolio from net investment income
                      and net short-term capital gains, whether received in cash
                      or reinvested in additional shares, will be taxable as
                      ordinary income. Distributions paid by the Portfolio from
                      long-term capital gains, again whether received in cash or
                      reinvested in additional shares, will also be taxable as
                      long-term capital gains, regardless of the length of time
                      you have owned shares in the Portfolio.
 
                      Capital gains distributions are made when the Portfolio
                      realizes net capital gains on sales of portfolio
                      securities during the year. The Portfolio does not seek to
                      realize any particular amount of capital gains during a
                      year; rather, realized gains are a by-product of portfolio
                      management activities. In addition, the Portfolio receives
                      realized net capital gains distributions from the
                      Portfolio's underlying Funds. Consequently, capital gains
                      distributions may be expected to vary considerably from
                      year to year; there will be no capital gains distributions
                      in years when the Portfolio realizes net capital losses.
 
                      Note that if you accept capital gains distributions in
                      cash, instead of reinvesting them in additional shares,
                      you are in effect reducing the capital at work for you in
                      the Portfolio. In addition, keep in mind that if you
                      purchase shares of the Portfolio shortly before the record
                      date for a dividend or capital gains distribution, a
                      portion of your investment will be returned to you as a
                      taxable distribution, regardless of whether you are
                      reinvesting your distributions or receiving them in cash.
 
                      The Portfolio will notify you annually as to the tax
                      status of dividend and capital gains distributions paid.
 
A CAPITAL GAIN OR
LOSS MAY BE REALIZED
UPON EXCHANGE OR
REDEMPTION            A sale of shares of the Portfolio is a taxable event and
                      may result in a capital gain or loss. A capital gain or
                      loss may be realized from an ordinary redemption of shares
                      or an exchange of shares between two mutual funds (or two
                      portfolios of a mutual fund).
 
                      Dividend distributions, capital gains distributions, and
                      capital gains or losses from redemptions and exchanges may
                      be subject to state and local taxes.
 
                      The Portfolio is required to withhold 31% of taxable
                      dividends, capital gains distributions, and redemptions
                      paid to shareholders who have not complied with IRS
                      taxpayer identification regulations. You may avoid this
                      withholding requirement by certifying on your Account
                      Registration Form your proper Social Security or Taxpayer
                      Identification number and by certifying that you are not
                      subject to backup withholding.
 
                      Vanguard STAR Fund is organized as a Pennsylvania business
                      trust and, in the opinion of counsel, is not liable for
                      any income or franchise tax in the Commonwealth of
                      Pennsylvania. The Portfolio will be subject to
                      Pennsylvania county
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   28
 
                      personal property tax in the county which is the site of
                      its principal office. In the opinion of counsel,
                      shareholders who are Pennsylvania residents will not be
                      subject to county personal property taxes, with the
                      exception of non-exempt holders who are residents of the
                      City and School District of Pittsburgh.
 
                      The tax discussion set forth above is included for general
                      information only. Prospective investors should consult
                      their own tax advisers concerning the tax consequences of
                      an investment in the Portfolio.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SHARE PRICE OF
THE PORTFOLIO         The Portfolio's net asset value per share is determined as
                      of the regular close of the New York Stock Exchange
                      (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day the
                      Exchange is open for trading. The net asset value per
                      share is determined by dividing the total market value of
                      the Portfolio's investments and other assets, less any
                      liabilities, by the total number of outstanding shares of
                      the Portfolio. This determination is made by appraising
                      the Portfolio's underlying investments (i.e., the
                      underlying Vanguard Funds) at the price of each such Fund
                      determined at the close of the Exchange.
 
                      The Portfolio's share price can be found daily in the
                      mutual fund listings of most major newspapers under the
                      heading of Vanguard.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
GENERAL
INFORMATION           Vanguard STAR Fund is a Pennsylvania business trust. The
                      Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an
                      unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, without
                      par value, from an unlimited number of classes of shares.
                      Currently the Fund is offering six classes of shares.
 
                      The shares of the Fund are fully paid and non-assessable;
                      have no preference as to conversion, exchange, dividends,
                      retirement or other features; and have no pre-emptive
                      rights. Such shares have non-cumulative voting rights,
                      meaning that the holders of more than 50% of the shares
                      voting for the election of Trustees can elect 100% of the
                      Trustees if they so choose.
 
                      Annual meetings of shareholders will not be held except as
                      required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other
                      applicable law. An annual meeting will be held to vote on
                      the removal of a Trustee or Trustees of the Fund if
                      requested in writing by the holders of not less than 10%
                      of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
 
                      All securities and cash are held by CoreStates Bank, N.A.,
                      Philadelphia, PA. The Vanguard Group, Inc., Valley Forge,
                      PA, serves as the Fund's Transfer and Dividend Disbursing
                      Agent. Price Waterhouse LLP serves as independent
                      accountants for the Fund and will audit its financial
                      statements annually. The Fund is not involved in any
                      litigation.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   29
 
                               SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
 
OPENING AN
ACCOUNT AND
PURCHASING
SHARES                The Portfolio is designed primarily for tax-advantaged
                      retirement accounts. If you are establishing an Individual
                      Retirement Account ("IRA") or other qualified retirement
                      plan, you must complete the appropriate retirement plan
                      agreement, i.e., the Adoption Agreement. If you are
                      establishing a Portfolio account outside a tax-deferred
                      retirement plan, you may simply complete the Account
                      Registration Form. In either case, please indicate the
                      amount you wish to invest on the appropriate form. Your
                      purchase must be equal to or greater than the $1,000
                      minimum initial investment. (Please refer to the plan
                      agreement for information on the maximum amount you may
                      contribute or rollover to your retirement account.) If you
                      need assistance in completing any forms, please call the
                      Investor Information Department (1-800-662-7447). NOTE:
                      For other types of account registrations (e.g.,
                      corporations, associations, other organizations, trusts or
                      powers of attorney), please call us to determine which
                      additional forms you may need.
 
                      The Portfolio's shares generally are purchased at the
                      next-determined net asset value after your investment has
                      been received. The Portfolio is offered on a no-load basis
                      (i.e., there are no sales commissions or 12b-1 fees).
 
PURCHASE
RESTRICTIONS          1) Because of the risks associated with common stock and
                         bond investments, the Portfolio is intended to be a
                         long-term investment vehicle and is not designed to
                         provide investors with a means of speculating on
                         short-term stock and bond market movements.
                         Consequently, the Portfolio reserves the right to
                         reject any specific purchase (and exchange purchase)
                         request. The Portfolio also reserves the right to
                         suspend the offering of shares for a period of time.
 
                      2) Vanguard will not accept third-party checks to purchase
                         shares of the Portfolio. Please be sure your purchase
                         check is made payable to the Vanguard Group.
 
IMPORTANT NOTE:
IRA AND RETIREMENT
PLAN INVESTORS        This Shareholder Guide describes many of the services
                      available to Vanguard Fund shareholders. Specific services
                      described in this Shareholder Guide may not be available
                      or may only be available in limited form for tax-deferred
                      retirement accounts. If you are investing in the Portfolio
                      through an IRA or other retirement plan, you should
                      consult the retirement plan agreement, disclosure
                      statement, and other Vanguard brochures for the services
                      and procedures which pertain to your account. Please call
                      our Investor Information Department (1-800-662-7447) if
                      you have any questions.
 
ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENTS           Subsequent investments in the Portfolio may be made by
                      mail ($100 minimum), exchange from another Vanguard Fund
                      account ($100 minimum), or Vanguard Fund Express. For
                      regular (non-retirement) accounts, additional purchases
                      may also be made by wire ($1,000 minimum). (In limited
                      instances, contributions to retirement accounts may be
                      accepted by wire. Please call us for more information on
                      this option.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   30
 
<TABLE>
<S>                       <C>                                       <C>
                                                                    ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS
                          NEW ACCOUNT                               TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS
PURCHASING BY MAIL        Please include the amount of              Additional investments should
                          your initial investment on the            include the Invest-by-Mail
Non-Retirement            registration form, make your              remittance form attached to your
Accounts, complete        check payable to The Vanguard             Portfolio confirmation
and sign the enclosed     Group-56, and mail to:                    statements. Please make your
Account Registration                                                check payable to The Vanguard
Form                      VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER                 Group-56, write your account
                          P.O. BOX 2600                             number on your check and, using
                          VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482                    the return envelope provided,
                                                                    mail to the address indicated on
                                                                    the Invest-by-Mail Form.
For express or            VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER                 All written requests should be
registered mail,          455 DEVON PARK DRIVE                      mailed to one of the addresses
send to:                  WAYNE, PA 19087                           indicated for new accounts. Do
                                                                    not send registered or express
                                                                    mail to the post office box
                                                                    address.
For IRAs or retirement    Complete the appropriate retirement plan adoption agreement and any other
plans                     required documents. Make your check payable to Vanguard Fiduciary Trust
                          Company and send application and check to the address indicated on your
                          agreement.
                          --------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
PURCHASING BY WIRE
Money should be
wired to:
BEFORE WIRING
Please contact
Client Services
(1-800-662-2739)                  CORESTATES BANK, N.A.
                                  ABA 031000011
                                  CORESTATES NO. 0101 9897
                                  ATTN VANGUARD
                                  VANGUARD STAR FUND
                                  STAR PORTFOLIO
                                  ACCOUNT NUMBER
                                  ACCOUNT REGISTRATION
 
                      To assure proper receipt, please be sure your bank
                      includes the name of the Portfolio, the account number
                      Vanguard has assigned to you and the eight-digit
                      CoreStates number. If you are opening a new account,
                      please complete the Account Registration Form and mail it
                      to the "New Account" address above after completing your
                      wire arrangement. NOTE: Federal Funds wire purchase orders
                      will be accepted only when the Portfolio and the Custodian
                      Bank are open for business. IRAs and other tax-deferred
                      accounts cannot be opened by wire. Please see "Opening an
                      Account."
 
PURCHASING BY
EXCHANGE (from a
Vanguard account)     You may open an account and purchase shares by making an
                      exchange from an existing Vanguard account. However, the
                      Portfolio reserves the right to refuse any exchange
                      purchase request. To exchange by telephone, call our
                      Client Services Department (1-800-662-2739). The new
                      account will have the same registration as the existing
                      account.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   31
 
PURCHASING BY
FUND EXPRESS
Special Purchase &
Automatic Investment  The Fund Express Special Purchase option lets you move
                      money from your bank account to your Vanguard account on
                      an "as needed" basis. Or if you choose the Automatic
                      Investment option, money will be moved automatically from
                      your bank account to your Vanguard account on the schedule
                      (monthly, bimonthly [every other month], quarterly or
                      yearly) you select. To establish these Fund Express
                      options on regular investment accounts, please provide the
                      appropriate information on the Account Registration Form.
                      To establish Automatic Investment for an IRA or other
                      tax-deferred retirement plan (the Special Purchase option
                      is not available), contact our Investor Information
                      Department (1-800-662-7447) for an application. We will
                      send you a confirmation of your Fund Express enrollment;
                      please wait three weeks before using the service.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
CHOOSING A
DISTRIBUTION
OPTION                If you invest in the Portfolio outside a tax-deferred
                      retirement account, you must select one of three
                      distribution options:
 
                      1. AUTOMATIC REINVESTMENT OPTION -- Both dividends and
                         capital gains distributions will be reinvested in
                         additional shares of the Portfolio. This option will be
                         selected for you automatically unless you specify one
                         of the other options.
 
                      2. CASH DIVIDEND OPTION -- Your dividends will be paid in
                         cash and your capital gains will be reinvested in
                         additional shares of the Portfolio.
 
                      3. ALL CASH OPTION -- Both dividend and capital gains
                         distributions will be paid in cash.
 
                      You may change your option by calling our Client Services
                      Department (1-800-662-2739).
 
                      In addition, an option to invest your cash dividends
                      and/or capital gains distributions in another Vanguard
                      Fund account is available. Please call our Client Services
                      Department (1-800-662-2739) for information. You may also
                      elect Vanguard Dividend Express which allows you to
                      transfer your cash dividends and/or capital gains
                      distributions automatically to your bank account. Please
                      see "Other Vanguard Services" for more information.
 
                      If you invest in the Portfolio through a tax-deferred
                      retirement account, your dividend and capital gains
                      distributions will be automatically reinvested in
                      additional shares of the Portfolio. If you change this
                      automatic reinvestment option, you should be aware that
                      "cash" dividends or capital gains will be considered
                      taxable distributions from your account.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
TAX CAUTION
NON-RETIREMENT
INVESTORS SHOULD
ASK ABOUT THE TIMING
OF CAPITAL GAINS AND
DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTIONS
BEFORE INVESTING      Under Federal tax laws, the Portfolio is required to
                      distribute net capital gains and dividend income to the
                      Portfolio shareholders. These distributions are made to
                      all shareholders who own shares of the Portfolio as of the
                      distribution's record date, regardless of how long the
                      shares have been owned. Purchasing shares just prior to
                      the record date could have a significant impact on your
                      tax liability for the year. For example, if you purchase
                      shares immediately prior to the record date of a sizable
                      capital gain or income dividend distribution, you will be
                      assessed taxes on the amount of the capital gain and/or
                      dividend distribution later paid even though you
 
                                       28
<PAGE>   32
 
                      owned the Portfolio shares for just a short period of
                      time. (Taxes are due on the distributions even if the
                      dividend or gain is reinvested in additional Portfolio
                      shares.) While the total value of your investment will be
                      the same after the distribution -- the amount of the
                      distribution will offset the drop in the net asset value
                      of the shares -- you should be aware of the tax
                      implications the timing of your purchase may have.
 
                      Prospective investors should, therefore, inquire about
                      potential distributions before investing. The Portfolio's
                      annual capital gains distribution normally occurs in
                      December, while income dividends are generally paid
                      semiannually in June and December. For additional
                      information on distributions and taxes, see the section
                      titled "Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes."
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
ESTABLISHING
OPTIONAL SERVICES     The easiest way to establish optional Vanguard services on
                      a regular investment account is to select the options you
                      desire when you complete your Account Registration Form.
                      IF YOU WISH TO ADD SHAREHOLDER OPTIONS LATER, YOU MAY NEED
                      TO PROVIDE VANGUARD WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND A
                      SIGNATURE GUARANTEE. PLEASE CALL OUR CLIENT SERVICES
                      DEPARTMENT (1-800-662-2739) FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE.
 
SIGNATURE
GUARANTEES            For our mutual protection, we may require a signature
                      guarantee on certain written transaction requests. A
                      signature guarantee verifies the authenticity of your
                      signature and may be obtained from banks, brokers and any
                      other guarantor that Vanguard deems acceptable. A
                      SIGNATURE GUARANTEE CANNOT BE PROVIDED BY A NOTARY PUBLIC.
 
CERTIFICATES          Share certificates will be issued upon request for regular
                      investment accounts. If a certificate is lost, you may
                      incur an expense to replace it. Share certificates will
                      not be issued for retirement accounts.
 
BROKER-DEALER
PURCHASES             If you purchase shares in Vanguard Funds through a
                      registered broker-dealer or investment adviser, the
                      broker-dealer or adviser may charge a service fee.
 
CANCELLING
TRADES                The Fund will not cancel any trade (e.g., purchase,
                      redemption or exchange) believed to be authentic, received
                      in writing or by telephone, once the trade request has
                      been received.
 
ELECTRONIC
PROSPECTUS
DELIVERY              If you would prefer to receive a prospectus for the Fund
                      or any of the Vanguard Funds in an electronic format,
                      please call 1-800-231-7870 for additional information. If
                      you elect to do so, you may also receive a paper copy of
                      the prospectus, by calling 1-800-662-7447.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
WHEN YOUR
ACCOUNT WILL
BE CREDITED           Your trade date is the date on which your account is
                      credited. If your purchase is made by check, Federal Funds
                      wire or exchange, and is received by the close of the New
                      York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time),
                      your trade date is the day of receipt. If your purchase is
                      received after the close of the Exchange, your trade date
                      is the next business day. Your shares are purchased at the
                      net asset value determined on your trade date.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>   33
 
                      In order to prevent lengthy processing delays caused by
                      the clearing of foreign checks, Vanguard will only accept
                      a foreign check which has been drawn in U.S. dollars and
                      has been issued by a foreign bank with a U.S.
                      correspondent bank. The name of the U.S. correspondent
                      bank must be printed on the face of the foreign check.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SELLING YOUR
SHARES                You may withdraw any portion of the funds in your account
                      by redeeming shares at any time. For a regular investment
                      account in the Portfolio, you generally may initiate a
                      request by writing or by telephoning. For an IRA or other
                      tax-deferred account, you must make your redemption
                      request in writing. Your redemption proceeds are normally
                      mailed within two business days after the receipt of the
                      request in Good Order.
 
                      If you invest in the Portfolio through an IRA or other
                      tax-deferred retirement plan, you should be aware that any
                      distributions prior to age 59 1/2 are generally subject to
                      a 10% penalty tax, as well as ordinary income taxes. To
                      avoid the 10% penalty, you must generally roll over your
                      distribution to another IRA or qualified plan within 60
                      days.
 
SELLING BY MAIL       Requests should be mailed to VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER,
                      VANGUARD STAR FUND, P.O. BOX 1120, VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482.
                      (For express or registered mail, send your request to
                      Vanguard Financial Center, Vanguard STAR Fund, 455 Devon
                      Park Drive, Wayne, PA 19087.)
 
                      The redemption price of shares will be the Portfolio's net
                      asset value next determined after Vanguard has received
                      all required documents in Good Order.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
DEFINITION OF
GOOD ORDER            GOOD ORDER means that the request includes the following:
 
                      1. The account number and Fund name.
                      2. The amount of the transaction (specified in dollars or
                         shares).
                      3. Signatures of all owners EXACTLY as they are registered
                         on the account.
                      4. Any required signature guarantees.
                      5. Other supporting legal documentation that might be
                         required, in the case of estates, corporations, trusts,
                         and certain other accounts.
                      6. Any certificates that you hold for the account.
 
                      IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS DEFINITION AS IT PERTAINS
                      TO YOUR REQUEST, PLEASE CALL OUR CLIENT SERVICES
                      DEPARTMENT (1-800-662-2739).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SELLING BY
TELEPHONE             To sell shares by telephone, you or your pre-authorized
                      representative may call our Client Services Department at
                      1-800-662-2739. The proceeds will be sent to you by mail.
                      PLEASE NOTE: As a protection against fraud, your telephone
                      mail redemption privilege will be suspended for 15
                      calendar days following any expedited address change to
                      your account. An expedited address change is one that is
                      made by telephone, by Vanguard Online or, in writing,
                      without the signatures of all account owners. Please see
                      "Important Information About Telephone Transactions."
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       30
<PAGE>   34
 
SELLING BY FUND
EXPRESS
Automatic Withdrawal
& Special Redemption  If you select the Fund Express Automatic Withdrawal
                      option, money will be automatically moved from your
                      Vanguard Fund account to your bank account according to
                      the schedule you have selected. The Special Redemption
                      option (not available for IRAs or other retirement
                      accounts) lets you move money from your Vanguard account
                      to your bank account on an "as needed" basis. To establish
                      these Fund Express options, please provide the appropriate
                      information on the Account Registration Form. We will send
                      you a confirmation of your Fund Express service; please
                      wait three weeks before using the service.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SELLING BY EXCHANGE   You may sell shares by making an exchange into another
                      Vanguard Fund account. Please see "Exchanging Your Shares"
                      for details.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPORTANT
REDEMPTION
INFORMATION           Shares purchased by check or Fund Express may be redeemed
                      at any time. However, your redemption proceeds will not be
                      paid until payment for the purchase is collected, which
                      may take up to ten calendar days.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
DELIVERY OF
REDEMPTION
PROCEEDS              Redemption requests received by telephone prior to the
                      close of the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m.
                      Eastern time) are processed on the day of receipt and the
                      redemption proceeds are normally sent on the following
                      business day. Please note: the telephone redemption option
                      is available only for non-retirement accounts. Redemptions
                      from retirement accounts must be made in writing.
 
                      Redemption requests received by telephone after the close
                      of the Exchange are processed on the business day
                      following receipt and the proceeds are normally sent on
                      the second business day following receipt.
 
                      Redemption proceeds must be sent to you within seven days
                      of receipt of your request in Good Order, except as
                      described above in "Important Redemption Information."
 
                      If you experience difficulty in making a telephone
                      redemption during periods of drastic economic or market
                      changes, your redemption request may be made by regular or
                      express mail. It will be implemented at the net asset
                      value next determined after your request has been received
                      by Vanguard in Good Order. The Fund reserves the right to
                      revise or terminate the telephone redemption privilege at
                      any time.
 
                      The Fund may suspend the redemption right or postpone
                      payment at times when the New York Stock Exchange is
                      closed or under any emergency circumstances as determined
                      by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
                      If the Board of Trustees determines that it would be
                      detrimental to the best interests of the Portfolio's
                      remaining shareholders to make payment in cash, the
                      Portfolio may pay redemption proceeds in whole or in part
                      by a distribution in kind of readily marketable
                      securities.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       31
<PAGE>   35
 
VANGUARD'S AVERAGE
COST STATEMENT        If you make a redemption from a qualifying account,
                      Vanguard will send you an Average Cost Statement which
                      provides you with the tax basis of the shares you
                      redeemed. Please see "Statements and Reports" for
                      additional information.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
LOW BALANCE FEE
AND MINIMUM ACCOUNT
BALANCE REQUIREMENT   Due to the relatively high cost of maintaining smaller
                      accounts, the Portfolio will automatically deduct a $10
                      annual fee from non-retirement accounts with balances
                      falling below $500. This fee deduction will occur
                      mid-year, beginning in 1996. The fee generally will be
                      waived for investors whose aggregate Vanguard assets
                      exceed $50,000.
 
                      In addition, the Portfolio reserves the right to liquidate
                      any non-retirement account that is below the minimum
                      initial investment amount of $1,000. If at any time the
                      total investment does not have a value of at least $1,000,
                      you may be notified that the value of your account is
                      below the Portfolio's minimum account balance requirement.
                      You would then be allowed 60 days to make an additional
                      investment before the account is liquidated. Proceeds
                      would be promptly paid to the shareholder.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
EXCHANGING YOUR
SHARES
EXCHANGING BY
TELEPHONE
Call Client Services
(1-800-662-2739)      Should your investment goals change, you may exchange your
                      shares of the Portfolio for those of other available
                      Vanguard Funds.
 
                      When exchanging shares by telephone, please have ready the
                      Portfolio name, account number, Social Security Number or
                      Employer Identification number listed on the account, and
                      exact name and address in which the account is registered.
                      Only the registered shareholder may complete such an
                      exchange. Requests for telephone exchanges received prior
                      to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange
                      (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) are processed at the
                      close of business that same day. Requests received after
                      the close of the Exchange are processed the next business
                      day. FOR REGULAR INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS, TELEPHONE EXCHANGES
                      ARE NOT ACCEPTED INTO OR FROM VANGUARD BALANCED INDEX
                      FUND, VANGUARD INDEX TRUST, VANGUARD INTERNATIONAL EQUITY
                      INDEX FUND, AND VANGUARD QUANTITATIVE PORTFOLIOS. If you
                      experience difficulty in making a telephone exchange, your
                      exchange request may be made by regular or express mail,
                      and it will be implemented at the closing net asset value
                      on the date received by Vanguard, provided the request is
                      received in Good Order.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
EXCHANGING BY MAIL    Please be sure to include on your exchange request the
                      name and account number of your current Fund, the name of
                      the Fund you wish to exchange into, the amount you wish to
                      exchange, and the signatures of all registered account
                      holders. Send your request to VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER,
                      VANGUARD STAR FUND, P.O. BOX 1120, VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482.
                      (For express or registered mail, send your request to
                      Vanguard Financial Center, Vanguard STAR Fund, 455 Devon
                      Park Drive, Wayne, PA 19087.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       32
<PAGE>   36
 
IMPORTANT EXCHANGE
INFORMATION           Before you make an exchange, you should consider the
                      following:
 
                      - Please read the Fund's prospectus before making an
                        exchange. For a copy and for answers to any questions
                        you may have, call our Investor Information Department
                        (1-800-662-7447).
 
                      - An exchange between non-retirement accounts is treated
                        as a redemption and a purchase. Therefore, you could
                        realize a taxable gain or loss on the transaction.
 
                      - Exchanges are accepted only if the registrations and the
                        Taxpayer Identification numbers of the two accounts are
                        identical.
 
                      - The shares to be exchanged must be on deposit and not
                        held in certificate form.
 
   
                      - New accounts are not currently accepted in the Vanguard/
                        Windsor Fund.
    
 
                      - The redemption price of shares redeemed by exchange is
                        the net asset value next determined after Vanguard has
                        received all required documentation in Good Order.
 
                      - When opening a new account by exchange, you must meet
                        the minimum investment requirement of the new Fund.
 
                      Every effort will be made to maintain the exchange
                      privilege. However, the Portfolio reserves the right to
                      revise or terminate its provisions, limit the amount of or
                      reject any exchange, as deemed necessary, at any time.
                      Shareholders would be notified prior to any material
                      change in the Portfolio's exchange policy.
 
                      The exchange privilege is only available in states in
                      which the shares of the Portfolio are registered for sale.
                      The Portfolio's shares are currently registered for sale
                      in all 50 states and the Portfolio intends to maintain
                      such registration.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
EXCHANGE
PRIVILEGE
LIMITATIONS           The Portfolio's exchange privilege is not intended to
                      afford shareholders a way to speculate on short-term
                      movements in the market. Accordingly, in order to prevent
                      excessive use of the exchange privilege that may
                      potentially disrupt the management of the Portfolio and
                      increase transaction costs, the Portfolio has established
                      a policy of limiting excessive exchange activity.
 
                      Exchange activity generally will not be deemed excessive
                      if limited to TWO SUBSTANTIVE EXCHANGE REDEMPTIONS (AT
                      LEAST 30 DAYS APART) from the Portfolio during any
                      twelve-month period. Notwithstanding these limitations,
                      the Portfolio reserves the right to reject any purchase
                      request (including exchange purchases from other Vanguard
                      portfolios) that is reasonably deemed to be disruptive to
                      efficient portfolio management.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
ABOUT TELEPHONE
TRANSACTIONS          The ability to initiate redemptions (except wire
                      redemptions) and exchanges is automatically established on
                      your non-retirement investment account unless you request
                      in writing that telephone transactions on your account not
                      be permitted. The telephone exchange option is
                      automatically established on retirement accounts.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>   37
 
                      To protect your account from losses resulting from
                      unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions,
                      Vanguard adheres to the following security procedures:
 
                      1. SECURITY CHECK.  To request a transaction by telephone,
                         the caller must know (i) the name of the Portfolio;
                         (ii) the 10-digit account number; (iii) the exact name
                         and address used in the registration; and (iv) the
                         Social Security or Employer Identification number
                         listed on the account.
 
                      2. PAYMENT POLICY.  The proceeds of any telephone
                         redemption by mail will be made payable to the
                         registered shareowner and mailed to the address of
                         record only.
 
                      Neither the Portfolio nor Vanguard will be responsible for
                      the authenticity of transaction instructions received by
                      telephone, provided that reasonable security procedures
                      have been followed. Vanguard believes that the security
                      procedures described above are reasonable, and that if
                      such procedures are followed, you will bear the risk of
                      any losses resulting from unauthorized or fraudulent
                      telephone transactions on your account. If Vanguard fails
                      to follow reasonable security procedures, it may be liable
                      for any losses resulting from unauthorized or fraudulent
                      telephone transactions on your account.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
TRANSFERRING
REGISTRATION          You may transfer the registration of any of your
                      non-retirement account shares to another person by
                      completing a transfer form and sending it to: VANGUARD
                      FINANCIAL CENTER, P.O. BOX 1110, VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482,
                      ATTENTION: TRANSFER DEPARTMENT. The request must be in
                      Good Order. To request a transfer form and full
                      instructions, please call our Client Services Department
                      (1-800-662-2739).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
STATEMENTS AND
REPORTS               Vanguard will send you a confirmation statement each time
                      you initiate a transaction in your account (except for
                      checkwriting redemptions from Vanguard money market
                      accounts). You will also receive a comprehensive account
                      statement at the end of each calendar quarter. The
                      fourth-quarter statement will be a year-end statement,
                      listing all transaction activity for the entire calendar
                      year.
 
                      Vanguard's Average Cost Statement provides you with the
                      average cost of shares redeemed from your account, using
                      the average cost single category method. This service is
                      available for most taxable accounts opened since January
                      1, 1986. In general, investors who redeemed shares from a
                      qualifying Vanguard account may expect to receive their
                      Average Cost Statement along with their Fund Summary
                      Statement. Please call our Client Services Department
                      (1-800-662-2739) for information.
 
                      Financial reports on the Fund will be mailed to you
                      semiannually, according to the Fund's fiscal year-end.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
OTHER VANGUARD
SERVICES              Many of these services are not available to (or
                      appropriate for) retirement account shareholders. For more
                      information about any of these services, please call our
                      Investor Information Department at 1-800-662-7447.
 
VANGUARD DIRECT
DEPOSIT SERVICE       With Vanguard's Direct Deposit Service, most U.S.
                      Government checks (including Social Security and military
                      pension checks) and private payroll checks may be
 
                                       34
<PAGE>   38
 
                      automatically deposited into your Vanguard Fund account.
                      Separate brochures and forms are available for direct
                      deposit of U.S. Government and private payroll checks.
 
VANGUARD AUTOMATIC
EXCHANGE SERVICE      Vanguard's Automatic Exchange Service allows you to move
                      money automatically among your Vanguard Fund accounts. For
                      instance, the service can be used to "dollar cost average"
                      from a money market portfolio into a stock or bond fund or
                      to contribute to an IRA or other retirement plan. Please
                      contact our Client Services Department at 1-800-662-2739
                      for additional information.
 
VANGUARD FUND
EXPRESS               Vanguard's Fund Express allows you to transfer money
                      between your Fund account and your account at a bank,
                      savings and loan association, or a credit union that is a
                      member of the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system. You
                      may elect this service on the Account Registration Form or
                      call our Investor Information Department (1-800-662-7447)
                      for a Fund Express application.
 
                      Special rules govern how your Fund Express purchases or
                      redemptions are credited to your account. In addition,
                      some services of Fund Express cannot be used with specific
                      Vanguard Funds. For more information, please refer to the
                      Vanguard Fund Express brochure.
 
VANGUARD DIVIDEND
EXPRESS               Vanguard's Dividend Express allows you to transfer your
                      dividends and/or capital gains distributions automatically
                      from your Fund account, one business day after the Fund's
                      payable date, to your account at a bank, savings and loan
                      association, or a credit union that is a member of the
                      Automated Clearing House (ACH) system. You may elect this
                      service on the Account Registration Form or call our
                      Investor Information Department (1-800-662-7447) for a
                      Vanguard Dividend Express application.
 
VANGUARD
TELE-ACCOUNT          Vanguard's Tele-Account is a convenient, automated service
                      that provides share price, price change and yield
                      quotations on Vanguard Funds through any TouchTone(TM)
                      telephone. This service also lets you obtain information
                      about your account balance, your last transaction, and
                      your most recent dividend or capital gains payment. To
                      contact Vanguard's Tele-Account service, dial
                      1-800-ON-BOARD (1-800-662-6273). A brochure offering
                      detailed operating instructions is available from our
                      Investor Information Department (1-800-662-7447).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       35
<PAGE>   39
 
                     [THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
<PAGE>   40
 
                     [THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
<PAGE>   41
 
                     [THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
<PAGE>   42
 
                     [THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
<PAGE>   43
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>                                    <C>
                                                                                              [FLAG LOGO]
                                 [VANGUARD STAR PORTFOLIO LOGO]                      [VANGUARD STAR PORTFOLIO LOGO]         
                                 ---------------------------                      P   R   O   S   P   E   C   T   U   S
                                 THE VANGUARD GROUP
                                 Vanguard Financial Center                                   JANUARY 2, 1997
                                 P.O. Box 2600                                          [THE VANGUARD GROUP LOGO]
                                 Valley Forge, PA 19482 

                                 INVESTOR INFORMATION
                                    DEPARTMENT:
                                 1-800-662-7447 (SHIP)
   
                                 CLIENT SERVICES
                                    DEPARTMENT:
                                 1-800-662-2739 (CREW)
      
                                 TELE-ACCOUNT FOR
                                    24-HOUR ACCESS:
                                 1-800-662-6273 (ON-BOARD)
         
                                 TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE
                                    FOR THE HEARING-IMPAIRED:
                                 1-800-662-2738
            
                                 TRANSFER AGENT:
                                 The Vanguard Group, Inc.
                                 Vanguard Financial Center
                                 Valley Forge, PA 19482
</TABLE>
    
 
        P056
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   44
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   [FLAG LOGO]
   
                               [NEW LOGO TO COME]
    
 
                    P  R  O  S  P  E  C  T  U  S
   
                                JANUARY 2, 1997
    
 

                                INCOME PORTFOLIO
                         CONSERVATIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO
                           MODERATE GROWTH PORTFOLIO
                                GROWTH PORTFOLIO


        Vanguard LIFEStrategy Funds are Portfolios of Vanguard STAR Fund
 
                           [THE VANGUARD GROUP LOGO]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   45
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
[NEW LOGO TO COME]
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
PROSPECTUS -- JANUARY 2, 1997
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
NEW ACCOUNT INFORMATION: INVESTOR INFORMATION DEPARTMENT -- 1-800-662-7447
(SHIP)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNT SERVICES: CLIENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT -- 1-800-662-2739
(CREW)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVES AND
POLICIES           Vanguard STAR Fund is an open-end non-diversified investment
                   company which seeks to maximize total investment return
                   (i.e., capital growth and income) subject to the investment
                   restrictions and asset allocation policies described in this
                   Prospectus. The Fund consists of six portfolios; however,
                   this prospectus relates only to four portfolios, Income,
                   Conservative Growth, Moderate Growth, and Growth Portfolios
                   (the "Portfolios"). These four Portfolios invest in up to
                   nine Vanguard mutual funds, representing different
                   combinations of stocks, bonds and reserves and reflecting
                   varying degrees of potential investment risk and reward.
                   There is no assurance that the Portfolios will achieve their
                   stated objectives. Shares of the Fund are neither insured nor
                   guaranteed by any agency of the U.S. Government, including
                   the FDIC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
OPENING AN
ACCOUNT            The Portfolios are designed primarily for tax-advantaged
                   retirement accounts and other long-term investment savings.
                   To open an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), please use a
                   Vanguard IRA Adoption Agreement. To obtain a copy of this
                   form, call 1-800-662-7447, Monday through Friday, from 8:00
                   a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
                   (Eastern time). If you are establishing an investment account
                   outside a Vanguard-sponsored retirement plan, complete the
                   Account Registration Form. If you need assistance in
                   completing these forms, please call the Investor Information
                   Department. The minimum initial investment is $3,000 ($1,000
                   for Individual Retirement Accounts and Uniform
                   Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act Accounts).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
ABOUT THIS
PROSPECTUS         This Prospectus is designed to set forth concisely the
                   information you should know about the Portfolios before you
                   invest. It should be retained for future reference. A
                   "Statement of Additional Information" containing additional
                   information about the Vanguard STAR Fund has been filed with
                   the Securities and Exchange Commission. This Statement is
                   dated January 2, 1997 and has been incorporated by reference
                   into this Prospectus. A copy may be obtained without charge
                   by writing to the Fund or by calling the Investor Information
                   Department.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                    <C>                                    <C>
                                Page                                  Page                                   Page
Highlights ..................... 2     Management of the                      SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
Portfolio Expenses ............. 4       Portfolios ................. 18      Opening an Account and
Financial Highlights ........... 5     Investment Management ........ 20        Purchasing Shares ............ 25
Yield and Total Return ......... 7     Dividends, Capital Gains               When Your Account Will
       PORTFOLIO INFORMATION             and Taxes .................. 21        Be Credited .................. 29
Investment Objectives .......... 8     The Share Price of                     Selling Your Shares ............ 29
Investment Policies ............ 9       Each Portfolio ............. 23      Exchanging Your Shares ......... 32
Investment Risks .............. 10     General Information .......... 24      Important Information about
Who Should Invest ............. 13                                              Telephone Transactions ....... 33
Implementation of                                                             Transferring Registration ...... 34
  Policies .................... 14                                            Other Vanguard Services ........ 34              
Investment Limitations ........ 17                                           
                                                                              
</TABLE>
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   46
 
                                   HIGHLIGHTS
 
   
OBJECTIVES AND
POLICIES                Vanguard STAR Fund is an open-end non-diversified
                        investment company which seeks to maximize total
                        investment return subject to the investment restrictions
                        and asset allocation policies described in the
                        prospectus. The Fund consists of six portfolios; however
                        this prospectus relates only to the Income, Conservative
                        Growth, Moderate Growth, and Growth Portfolios. These
                        four Portfolios invest in up to eight Vanguard mutual
                        funds representing different combinations of stocks,
                        bonds, and reserves and reflecting varying degrees of
                        potential investment risk and reward. The Portfolios do
                        not invest directly in a portfolio of securities,
                        rather, in order to meet their objectives the Portfolios
                        invest in shares of other Vanguard Funds.         PAGE 8
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
FOUR SEPARATE
PORTFOLIOS              Investors may choose to invest in any of the four
                        Portfolios, collectively known as the Vanguard
                        LIFEStrategy Portfolios, based on personal objectives,
                        time horizons, risk tolerances, and financial
                        circumstances:
    
 
                        Income Portfolio -- seeks to provide current income.
 
                        Conservative Growth Portfolio -- seeks to provide
                        current income and low to moderate growth of capital.
 
                        Moderate Growth Portfolio -- seeks to provide growth of
                        capital and a reasonable level of current income.
 
   
                        Growth Portfolio -- seeks to provide growth of
                        capital.                                          PAGE 8
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
RISK
CHARACTERISTICS         The Portfolios differ in terms of stock market risk,
                        bond market risk, and inflation risk. STOCK MARKET RISK
                        is the possibility that stock prices in general will
                        decline over short or extended periods. Stock markets
                        tend to be cyclical with periods when stock prices
                        generally rise or fall. The Conservative Growth,
                        Moderate Growth and Growth Portfolios also will have
                        exposure to foreign stock markets, which are generally
                        thought to be riskier than domestic markets. BOND MARKET
                        RISK is the possibility that bond prices will decline
                        over short or long periods due primarily to changes in
                        market interest rates. INFLATION RISK is the possibility
                        that rising prices for goods and services will erode the
                        real return of an investment in stocks, bonds or
                        reserves.
 
                        Two of the Portfolios, Moderate Growth and Growth, will
                        have a higher exposure to stock market risk because of
                        the significant investment these Portfolios have in
                        stock funds. While the other two Portfolios, Income and
                        Conservative Growth, will have higher exposure to bond
                        market risk because of the significant investment
                        exposure these Portfolios have in bond funds. These two
                        Portfolios are also considered to have greater inflation
                        risk because of their significant exposure to bonds and
                        reserves.                                        PAGE 10
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   47
 
THE VANGUARD
GROUP                   The Officers of the Fund manage the Portfolios'
                        day-to-day operations. The Officers are directly
                        responsible to the Fund's Board of Trustees. The
                        Officers of the Fund also serve as Officers of each of
                        the Vanguard Funds and of The Vanguard Group, Inc.
                        ("Vanguard"). The Trustees each serve as Directors of
                        The Vanguard Group and most of the Funds within the
                        Group. For important information regarding the structure
                        of the Fund, please see "Management of the
                        Portfolios."                                     PAGE 18
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT              The Portfolios do not currently employ investment
                        advisers and therefore do not pay advisory fees. The
                        Portfolios currently do not have portfolio managers. The
                        determination of how the Portfolios' assets will be
                        invested in certain Vanguard funds is made by the Fund's
                        Officers pursuant to the investment objectives and
                        policies. However, the Portfolios as shareholders of
                        each of the underlying Vanguard funds, benefit from the
                        investment advisory services of each of the underlying
                        funds and will indirectly bear their proportionate share
                        of any investment advisory fees paid by those
                        Funds.                                           PAGE 19
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL
GAINS AND TAXES         The Income and Conservative Growth Portfolios will make
                        quarterly dividend distributions; while the Moderate
                        Growth and Growth Portfolios will make semi-annual
                        dividend distributions. Capital gains distributions, if
                        any, will be made annually for each Portfolio. Also, a
                        sale of shares -- whether made by redemption or
                        exchange -- is a taxable event and may result in a
                        capital gain or loss.                            PAGE 21
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
PURCHASING
SHARES                  You may purchase shares by mail, wire, or exchange from
                        another Vanguard Fund. The minimum initial investment is
                        $3,000 per Portfolio; the minimum for subsequent
                        investments is $100. There are no sales commissions or
                        12b-1 fees.                                      PAGE 25
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SELLING SHARES          You may redeem shares of the Portfolio by mail or by
                        telephone. Each Portfolio's share price is expected to
                        fluctuate, and at the time of redemption may be more or
                        less than at the time of initial purchase, resulting in
                        a gain or loss.                                  PAGE 29
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SERVICES TO
SHAREHOLDERS            The Fund offers a number of special services including:
                        Fund Express, for electronic transfers between the Fund
                        and your bank account; Tele-Account, for round-the-clock
                        telephone access to your Fund account; Direct Deposit,
                        for automatic deposit of payroll checks; Average Cost
                        Statement, for determination of the average cost of
                        shares redeemed for tax purposes; and Dividend Express
                        for automatic transfer of dividends and/or capital gains
                        to a bank account.                               PAGE 34
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   48
 
PORTFOLIO
EXPENSES                The following table illustrates ALL expenses and fees
                        that you would incur as a shareholder of the Portfolios.
                        The expenses and fees set forth in the table are for the
                        1995 fiscal year.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 SHAREHOLDER                       CONSERVATIVE    MODERATE     
                                 TRANSACTION          INCOME          GROWTH        GROWTH       GROWTH
                                   EXPENSES         PORTFOLIO       PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO    PORTFOLIO
                           ------------------------  --------      ------------    --------     ---------
                           <S>                        <C>          <C>             <C>          <C>
                           Sales Load Imposed
                             on Purchases..........      None          None           None         None
                           Sales Load Imposed
                             on Reinvested
                             Dividends.............      None          None           None         None
                           Redemption Fees.........      None          None           None         None
                           Exchange Fees...........      None          None           None         None
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 ANNUAL FUND                       CONSERVATIVE    MODERATE      
                                  OPERATING            INCOME         GROWTH        GROWTH      GROWTH
                                   EXPENSES          PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO    PORTFOLIO
                           ------------------------   --------     ------------    --------     --------
                           <S>                        <C>          <C>             <C>          <C>
                           Management &
                             Administrative
                             Expenses..............      None          None           None         None
                           Investment
                             Advisory Fees.........      None          None           None         None
                           12b-1 Fees..............      None          None           None         None
                           Other Expenses
                             Distribution Costs....      None          None           None         None
                             Miscellaneous
                               Expenses............      None          None           None
                           Total Other Expenses....      None          None           None         None
                                                      -------      ---------       -------      -------
                                    TOTAL
                                    OPERATING
                                    EXPENSES.......      NONE          NONE           NONE         NONE
                                                      -------      ---------       -------      -------
                                                      -------      ---------       -------      -------
</TABLE>
 
                        The purpose of these tables is to assist you in
                        understanding the various costs and expenses that you
                        would bear directly or indirectly as an investor in the
                        Portfolios.
 
                        The Portfolios did not incur any expenses in fiscal year
                        1995, and have not incurred any operating expenses since
                        their inception on September 30, 1994. However, while
                        the Portfolios are expected to operate without expenses,
                        shareholders in the Portfolios bear indirectly the
                        expenses of the underlying Vanguard Funds in which the
                        Portfolios invest.
 
                        The following chart illustrates the indirect expense
                        ratio that each Portfolio incurred, based on its
                        investments in the underlying Vanguard Funds, for the
                        year ended December 31, 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   CONSERVATIVE    MODERATE
                                                       INCOME         GROWTH        GROWTH       GROWTH
                                                       PORTFOLIO    PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO    PORTFOLIO
                                                      ----------    ------------    --------     --------
                           <S>                        <C>          <C>             <C>          <C>
                           Indirect
                           Expense Ratio...........      0.33%         0.33%          0.33%        0.33%
</TABLE>
 
                        Using the above indirect expense ratios for the
                        Portfolios, the following example illustrates the
                        expenses that you would incur on a $1,000 investment
                        over various periods, assuming (1) a 5% annual rate of
                        return
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   49
 
                        and (2) redemption at the end of each period. As noted
                        previously, the Portfolios charge no redemption fees of
                        any kind.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               1 YEAR      3 YEARS     5 YEARS     10 YEARS
                                               -------     -------     -------     --------
                        <S>                    <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
                        Income Portfolio.....    $ 3         $11         $19         $ 42
                        Conservative Growth
                          Portfolio..........    $ 3         $11         $19         $ 42
                        Moderate Growth
                          Portfolio..........    $ 3         $11         $19         $ 42
                        Growth Portfolio.....    $ 3         $11         $19         $ 42
</TABLE>
 
                        THIS EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION
                        OF PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES OR PERFORMANCE. ACTUAL
                        EXPENSES MAY BE HIGHER OR LOWER THAN THOSE SHOWN.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS              The following financial highlights for each of the
                        fiscal periods ended December 31, 1995 have been audited
                        by Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants, whose
                        report on the financial statements which contain this
                        information, was unqualified. The information for the
                        six-month period ended June 30, 1996 has not been
                        audited by independent accountants. This information
                        should be read in conjunction with the LIFEStrategy
                        Fund's financial statements and notes thereto, which,
                        together with the remaining portions of the Fund's 1995
                        Annual Report to Shareholders, are incorporated by
                        reference in the Statement of Additional Information and
                        this Prospectus, and which appear, along with the report
                        of Price Waterhouse LLP, in the Fund's 1995 Annual
                        Report to Shareholders. For a more complete discussion
                        of the Fund's performance, please see the Fund's 1995
                        Annual Report to Shareholders, which may be obtained
                        without charge by writing to the Fund or by calling our
                        Investor Information Department at 1-800-662-7447.
    
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   50
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                INCOME PORTFOLIO                  CONSERVATIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO
                                         ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      SIX MONTHS                              SIX MONTHS
                                        ENDED      YEAR ENDED    SEPT. 30+      ENDED      YEAR ENDED    SEPT. 30+
                                       JUNE 30,     DEC. 31,    TO DEC. 31,    JUNE 30,     DEC. 31,    TO DEC. 31,
                                         1996         1995         1994          1996         1995         1994
<S>                                   <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF
  PERIOD............................     $11.54      $ 9.88       $ 10.00        $11.68      $ 9.89       $ 10.03
                                        -------    --------      --------       -------    --------      --------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS
  Income Distributions Received.....        .29         .49           .14           .22         .47           .14
  Capital Gain Distributions
    Received........................        .01         .09            --           .02         .11           .01
                                        -------    --------      --------       -------    --------      --------
  Total Distributions Received......        .30         .58           .14           .24         .58           .15
  Net Realized and Unrealized Gain
    (Loss) on Investments...........       (.16)       1.66          (.12)          .14        1.80          (.14)
                                        -------    --------      --------       -------    --------      --------
    TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT
      OPERATIONS....................        .14        2.24           .02           .38        2.38           .01
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTIONS
  Dividends From Net Investment
    Income..........................       (.29)       (.49)         (.14)         (.22)       (.47)         (.14)
  Distributions From Realized
    Capital Gains...................         --        (.09)           --            --        (.12)         (.01)
                                        -------    --------      --------       -------    --------      --------
    TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS.............       (.29)       (.58)         (.14)         (.22)       (.59)         (.15)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD......     $11.39      $11.54         $9.88        $11.84      $11.68         $9.89
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN........................      +1.23%      22.99%         0.20%        +3.27%      24.35%         0.10%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net Assets, End of Period
  (Millions)........................       $139        $121           $11          $356        $219           $41
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net
  Assets............................          0%          0%            0%            0%          0%            0%
Ratio of Net Investment Income to
  Average Net Assets................       5.20%*      5.76%         7.31%*        4.13%*      5.14%         7.07%*
Portfolio Turnover Rate.............         19%          4%            1%            1%          1%            0%
* Annualized.
+ Commencement of operations.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
    
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   51
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            MODERATE GROWTH PORTFOLIO                   GROWTH PORTFOLIO
                                         ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      SIX MONTHS                              SIX MONTHS
                                        ENDED      YEAR ENDED    SEPT. 30+      ENDED      YEAR ENDED    SEPT. 30+
                                       JUNE 30,     DEC. 31,    TO DEC. 31,    JUNE 30,     DEC. 31,    TO DEC. 31,
                                         1996         1995         1994          1996         1995         1994
<S>                                   <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF
  PERIOD............................   $  12.11      $ 9.86       $ 10.08      $  12.36      $ 9.93       $ 10.10
                                        -------    --------      --------       -------    --------      --------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS
  Income Distributions Received.....        .17         .36           .14           .11         .32           .13
  Capital Gain Distributions
    Received........................        .01         .13           .01           .02         .14           .02
                                        -------    --------      --------       -------    --------      --------
  Total Distributions Received......        .18         .49           .15           .13         .46           .15
  Net Realized and Unrealized Gain
    (Loss) on Investments...........        .40        2.25          (.22)          .68        2.43          (.16)
                                        -------    --------      --------       -------    --------      --------
    TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT
      OPERATIONS....................        .58        2.74          (.07)          .81        2.89          (.01)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTIONS
  Dividends From Net Investment
    Income..........................       (.17)       (.36)         (.14)         (.11)       (.31)         (.14)
  Distributions From Realized
    Capital Gains...................         --        (.13)         (.01)           --        (.15)         (.02)
                                        -------    --------      --------       -------    --------      --------
    TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS.............       (.17)       (.49)         (.15)         (.11)       (.46)         (.16)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF PERIOD......     $12.52      $12.11         $9.86        $13.09      $12.36         $9.93
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN........................      +4.80%      27.94%        (0.70)%       +6.80%      29.24%        (0.10)%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net Assets, End of Period
  (Millions)........................       $521        $235           $35          $453        $217           $38
Ratio of Expenses to Average Net
  Assets............................          0%          0%            0%            0%          0%            0%
Ratio of Net Investment Income to
  Average Net Assets................       3.20%*      4.42%         7.10%*        2.15%*      3.67%         7.06%*
Portfolio Turnover Rate.............          1%          1%            0%            0%          1%            1%
* Annualized.
+ Commencement of operations.
</TABLE>
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
YIELD AND
TOTAL RETURN            From time to time the Portfolios may advertise their
                        yield and total return. Both yield and total return
                        figures are based on historical earnings and are not
                        intended to indicate future performance. The "total
                        return" of the Portfolios refers to the average annual
                        compounded rates of return over one-, five- and ten-
                        year periods or for the life of the Portfolios (as
                        stated in the advertisement) that would equate an
                        initial amount invested at the beginning of a stated
                        period to the ending redeemable value of the investment,
                        assuming the reinvestment of all dividend and capital
                        gains distributions.
 
                        In accordance with industry guidelines set forth by the
                        U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the "30-day
                        yield" of a Portfolio is calculated by dividing net
                        investment income per share earned during a 30-day
                        period by the net asset value per share on the last day
                        of the period. Net investment income includes interest
                        and dividend income earned on the Portfolio's
                        securities; it is net of all expenses and all recurring
                        and nonrecurring charges that have been applied to all
                        shareholder accounts. The yield calculation assumes that
                        net investment income earned over 30 days is compounded
                        monthly for six months and then annualized. Methods used
                        to calculate advertised yields are standardized for all
                        stock and bond mutual funds. However, these methods
                        differ from the accounting methods used by the
                        Portfolios
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   52
 
                        to maintain their books and records, and so the
                        advertised 30-day yield may not fully reflect the income
                        paid to an investor's account.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVES              The objective of the Portfolios is to maximize total
                        investment return (i.e., capital growth and income)
                        subject to the investment restrictions and asset
                        allocation policies described in this Prospectus.
                        Specifically:
 
                        - The INCOME PORTFOLIO seeks to provide current income.
 
                        - The CONSERVATIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO seeks to provide
                          current income and low to moderate growth of capital.
 
                        - The MODERATE GROWTH PORTFOLIO seeks to provide growth
                          of capital and a reasonable level of current income.
 
                        - The GROWTH PORTFOLIO seeks to provide growth of
                          capital.
 
                        The investment objectives of the Portfolios are
                        summarized below in a chart that illustrates the degree
                        to which each Portfolio seeks to obtain income, growth
                        of capital and risk of principal:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        INCOME   GROWTH OF CAPITAL   RISK OF PRINCIPAL
                                  PORTFOLIO NAME        -------  -----------------   -----------------
                                 ---------------
                            <S>                         <C>     <C>                  <C>
                            Income Portfolio..........  High     Negligible          Medium
                            Conservative Growth
                            Portfolio.................  Medium   Low                 Medium
                            Moderate Growth
                            Portfolio.................  Medium   Low to Medium       Medium
                            Growth Portfolio..........  Low      Medium to High      High
</TABLE>
 
                        There is no assurance that the Portfolios will achieve
                        their stated objectives.
 
                        The investment objective of each Portfolio is
                        fundamental and so cannot be changed without the
                        approval of a majority of each Portfolio's shareholders.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
ASSET ALLOCATION
FRAMEWORK               Asset allocation between stocks, bonds and reserves is
                        the most critical investment decision an investor makes.
                        Selecting the appropriate mix should be based on
                        personal objectives, time horizons and risk tolerances.
                        These Portfolios provide different types of investors
                        with a way to meet target asset allocations.
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   53
                        In order to achieve their investment objectives, the
                        Portfolios maintain different allocations of stocks,
                        bonds and reserves(1), reflecting varying degrees of
                        potential investment risk and reward. These asset class
                        allocations provide investors with four diversified,
                        distinct options that meet a wide array of investor
                        needs. The pie charts below, illustrate the expected
                        asset allocation for each Portfolio:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        <S>         <C>
                                        Income Portfolio
                                        Bonds       60%
                                        Reserves    20%
                                        Equity      20%

                                        Allocation Ranges
                                        -----------------
                                        Stocks....... 5%-30%
                                        Bonds........50%-75%
                                        Reserves.....20%-45%

                                        Conservative Growth Portfolio
                                        Bonds       40%
                                        Reserves    20%
                                        Equity      40%

                                        Allocation Ranges
                                        -----------------
                                        Stocks........25%-50%
                                        Bonds.........30%-55%
                                        Reserves......20%-45%

                                        Moderate Growth Portfolio
                                        Bonds       40%
                                        Equity      60%

                                        Allocation Ranges
                                        -----------------
                                        Stocks........45%-70%
                                        Bonds.........30%-55%
                                        Reserves...... 0%-25%

                                        Growth Portfolio
                                        Bonds       20%
                                        Equity      80%

                                        Allocation Ranges
                                        -----------------
                                        Stocks........65%-90%
                                        Bonds.........10%-35%
                                        Reserves...... 0%-25%
</TABLE>

                        (1)"Reserves" will consist of the VFISF Short-Term
                        Corporate Portfolio and cash instruments held by VAAF.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
INVESTMENT
POLICIES
THE PORTFOLIOS INVEST
IN A DIVERSIFIED
PORTFOLIO OF
VANGUARD FUNDS          Each Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective by
                        investing in a different combination of other Vanguard
                        Funds. As investments for the Portfolios, the Trustees
                        have chosen Vanguard Index Trust ("VIT") -- Total 
                        Stock Market Portfolio, Vanguard STAR Fund -- Total
                        International Portfolio ("TIP"), Vanguard 
                        International Equity Index Fund -- Europe, Pacific, 
                        and Emerging Markets Portfolios, Vanguard Asset 
                        Allocation Fund ("VAAF"), and Vanguard Fixed Income 
                        Securities Fund ("VFISF") -- Short-Term Corporate 
                        Portfolio and Vanguard Bond Index Fund -- Total Bond 
                        Market Portfolio to be the underlying investments of 
                        the Portfolios. Each Portfolio invests in these
                        Funds using fixed formulas in order to provide 
                        investors with the expected asset allocation. The 
                        table below shows, by asset class, how the Portfolios 
                        will invest in the selected Vanguard Funds.
    

                                                9
<PAGE>   54
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              INVESTMENTS IN THE UNDERLYING VANGUARD FUNDS


                                                                       PERCENT OF    PERCENT OF
                            INVESTMENT     UNDERLYING    PERCENT OF    CONSERVATIVE   MODERATE    PERCENT OF
                             CATEGORY       VANGUARD      INCOME         GROWTH        GROWTH       GROWTH
                                             FUNDS       PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO     PORTFOLIO   PORTFOLIO
                           ------------   ------------   ---------     ---------    ---------     ---------

                           <S>              <C>            <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>
                           Stocks           VIT -- Total
                           - US             Stock Market
                                            Portfolio....       5%           20%           35%          50%
                           - International  Vanguard
                                            Total
                                            International
                                            Portfolio(1)...     0%            5%           10%          15%
                           Bonds            Total Bond
                                            Market
                                            Portfolio....      50%           30%           30%          10%
                           Reserves         VFISF --
                                            STCorp
                                            Portfolio(2)...    20%           20%            0%           0%
                           Asset            Vanguard
                           Allocation       Asset
                           Component        Allocation
                                            Fund.........      25%           25%           25%          25%
                                                           --------     ---------      --------     --------
                                            Total........     100%          100%          100%         100%
</TABLE>
    
 
   
                      (1) The Portfolio will invest in the European, Pacific and
                          Emerging Markets Portfolios of Vanguard International
                          Equity Index Fund, Inc. so that the combined weights
                          parallel the Morgan Stanley Capital International --
                          EAFE + EMF Index. As described on page 15, a
                          transition period during which assets will continue to
                          be invested directly in the European, Pacific and
                          Emerging Markets Portfolios will be necessary.

    
 
   
                      (2) "Reserves" are neither cash nor money market
                          instruments. The Short-Term Corporate Portfolio
                          invests in short-term corporate bonds and has
                          experienced fluctuations in its net asset value equal
                          to approximately 18% since its inception. Accordingly,
                          the Portfolios' indirect investment in "reserves" can
                          be expected to fluctuate within a similar range.
    
 
                        The allocation of each Portfolio's assets among the
                        Vanguard Funds was made by the Officers of the Fund
                        under the supervision of the Fund's Board of Trustees,
                        and was based on prudent asset allocation guidelines.
 
                        The investment restrictions and asset allocation
                        policies set forth above are designed to assure that the
                        Portfolios maintain consistent investment approaches in
                        pursuit of their objectives.
 
                        From time to time, the Portfolios' investments in the
                        underlying Vanguard Funds may be limited by certain
                        factors. For example, the Board of Directors of any of
                        the underlying Vanguard Funds may impose limits on
                        additional investments in a particular Fund.
 
                        See "Implementation of Policies" for a description of
                        other investment practices of the Portfolios.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT RISKS        Like any investment program, an investment in one or
                        more of the Portfolios entails certain risks. As mutual
                        funds investing in different
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   55
 
                        combinations of stocks, bonds and reserves, the
                        Portfolios are subject to different levels of stock
                        market, bond market and inflation risks.
 
MARKET RISK -- STOCKS   Stock MARKET RISK is the possibility that stock prices
                        in general will decline over short or even extended
                        periods. The stock market tends to be cyclical, with
                        periods when stock prices generally rise and periods
                        when stock prices generally decline. Also, investments
                        in foreign stock markets can be volatile, if not more
                        volatile than investments in US markets.
 
                        To illustrate the volatility of stock prices, the
                        following table sets forth the extremes for U.S. stock
                        market returns as well as the average return for the
                        period from 1926 to 1995, as measured by the Standard &
                        Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          AVERAGE ANNUAL U.S. STOCK MARKET RETURNS (1926-1995)
                                       OVER VARIOUS TIME HORIZONS
                                    1 YEAR     5 YEARS     10 YEARS     20 YEARS
                                    ------     -------     --------     --------
                        <S>         <C>        <C>         <C>          <C>
                        Best        +53.9 %     +23.9%       +20.1%       +16.9%
                        Worst       -43.3       -12.5        - 0.9        + 3.1
                        Average     +12.5       +10.3        +10.7        +10.7
</TABLE>
 
                        As shown, common stocks have provided annual total
                        returns (capital appreciation plus dividend income)
                        averaging +10.7% for all 10-year periods from 1926 to
                        1995. The return in individual years has varied from a
                        low of -43.3% to a high of +53.9%, reflecting the
                        short-term volatility of stock prices. Average return
                        may not be useful for forecasting future returns in any
                        particular period, as stock returns are quite volatile
                        from year to year and interim losses are inevitable. For
                        example, after the "bear market" of 1973-1974, it took
                        four years for many investors to recover their losses
                        (assuming dividends were reinvested). And if you were
                        invested in stocks during the Great Crash of 1929, it
                        would have taken an average of eight years for your
                        investment to return to its original value.
 
MARKET RISK -- BONDS    The bond market is typically less risky than the stock
                        market, although there have been times when some bonds
                        were just as risky as stocks. For example, bond prices
                        fell 48% from December 1976 to September 1981. The risk
                        of bonds declining in value, however, may be offset in
                        whole or in part by the high level of income that bonds
                        provide. Bond prices are linked to prevailing interest
                        rates in the economy. The price volatility of a bond
                        depends on its maturity; the longer the maturity of a
                        bond, the greater its sensitivity to interest rates. In
                        general, when interest rates rise, the prices of bonds
                        fall; conversely, when interest rates fall, bond prices
                        generally rise.
 
                        From time to time, the stock and bond markets may
                        fluctuate independently of one another. In other words,
                        a decline in the stock market may in certain instances
                        be offset by a rise in the bond market, or vice versa.
                        As a result, each Portfolio, with its unique balance of
                        common stocks, bonds and reserves, is expected in the
                        long run to entail less investment
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   56
 
                        risk (and potentially less investment return) than a
                        mutual fund investing exclusively in common stocks.
 
INFLATION RISK          Like market risk, inflation represents a significant
                        threat to even a well-diversified portfolio because
                        inflation erodes the real return of an investment in
                        stocks, bonds or reserves. Historically, inflation has
                        averaged 3.1%, offsetting most of the return from
                        reserves and bonds, but less than half of the return
                        from stocks. For this reason, stocks are referred to as
                        an "inflation hedge," a way to protect your money
                        against inflation.
 
FOREIGN
SECURITIES' RISK        The Conservative Growth, Moderate Growth and Growth
                        Portfolios may invest in Foreign securities. For U.S.
                        investors, the returns of foreign investments are
                        influenced by not only the returns on foreign common
                        stocks themselves, but also by CURRENCY RISK -- i.e.,
                        changes in the value of the currencies in which the
                        stocks are denominated. In a period when the U.S. dollar
                        generally rises against foreign currencies, the returns
                        on foreign stocks for a U.S. investor may be diminished.
                        By contrast, in a period when the U.S. dollar generally
                        declines, the returns on foreign stocks may be enhanced.
 
                        Other risks and considerations of international
                        investing include the following: differences in
                        accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards;
                        generally higher commission rates on foreign portfolio
                        transactions; the smaller trading volumes and generally
                        lower liquidity of foreign stock markets, which may
                        result in greater price volatility; foreign withholding
                        taxes payable on a Portfolio's foreign securities, which
                        may reduce dividend income payable to shareholders; the
                        possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation;
                        adverse changes in investment or exchange control
                        regulations; difficulty in obtaining a judgment from a
                        foreign court; political instability which could affect
                        U.S. investment in foreign countries; and potential
                        restrictions on the flow of international capital.
 
                        The Portfolios are concentrated in investment companies
                        of The Vanguard Group, so investors should be aware that
                        each Portfolio's performance is directly related to the
                        investment performance of the Vanguard Funds in which it
                        invests and each Portfolio's allocation among the Funds.
                        First, changes in the net asset values of the underlying
                        Vanguard Funds affect each Portfolio's net asset value.
                        Second, over the long-term, each Portfolio's ability to
                        meet its investment objective depends on the underlying
                        Vanguard Funds meeting their investment objectives.
 
INVESTORS ARE
SUBJECT TO
MANAGER RISK            While the Portfolios do not hold securities directly,
                        the Portfolios are subject to manager risk of the
                        underlying Funds, which is the possibility that the
                        underlying Funds' portfolio managers may fail to execute
                        the underlying Funds' investment strategies effectively.
                        As a result, the Portfolios may fail to meet their
                        stated objectives.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   57
 
WHO SHOULD
INVEST
INVESTORS SEEKING
A BALANCED
RETIREMENT
INVESTMENT PROGRAM      The Portfolios are designed for investors who are
                        planning for retirement or who are in retirement and
                        maintain investments in certain tax-advantaged accounts
                        and/or other long-term investment savings. Because of
                        the risks associated with common stock and bond
                        investments, the Portfolios are intended to be long-term
                        investment vehicles and are not designed to provide
                        investors with a means of speculating on market
                        movements. Specifically:
 
                        - The INCOME PORTFOLIO may be suitable for investors
                          seeking current income. Investors should have
                          sufficient time and tolerance for investment
                          volatility to accept periodic, though moderate,
                          declines. The Portfolio is most suitable for investors
                          with a lower tolerance for risk or with a shorter time
                          horizon (at least 3-5 years). Example: investors who
                          are investing during late retirement.
 
                        - The CONSERVATIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO is suitable for
                          investors who are seeking current income and low to
                          moderate growth of capital. Investors should have both
                          sufficient time and tolerance for investment
                          volatility to accept periodic declines. The Portfolio
                          is most appropriate for investors with a reasonably
                          long time horizon. Example: investors who are
                          investing during early retirement.
 
                        - The MODERATE GROWTH PORTFOLIO is suitable for
                          investors who are still seeking reasonable stock
                          market exposure, but who are not willing to take the
                          substantial market risks of the Growth Portfolio.
                          Investors should have both the time and tolerance for
                          investment volatility to accept possibly large
                          declines. The Portfolio is most appropriate for
                          investors with a long time horizon. Example: investors
                          in their 50s who are saving on a regular basis for
                          retirement and who plan to retire in their early to
                          mid 60s.
 
                        - The GROWTH PORTFOLIO is suitable for investors seeking
                          the potential for capital growth that a fund investing
                          predominantly in common stocks may offer. Investors
                          should have both the time and tolerance for investment
                          volatility to accept substantial declines. The
                          Portfolio is most appropriate for investors with a
                          very long time horizon. Example: investors in their
                          20s, 30s, or 40s who are saving for retirement and who
                          plan to retire in their early to mid 60s.
 
                        Investors can choose any of these four Portfolios,
                        depending on personal investment objectives, time
                        horizons and risk tolerances. For example: investors in
                        their 40s who are sensitive to market risk may choose
                        the Moderate Growth Portfolio; while investors in their
                        40s who are not as sensitive to market risk may choose
                        the Growth Portfolio.
 
                        The Portfolios may be especially suitable for
                        tax-advantaged retirement accounts, including:
                        Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), Simplified
                        Employee Plans (SEPs), 403(b)(7) tax-sheltered
                        retirement plans for employees of non-profit
                        organizations, 401(k) savings plans, profit-sharing and
                        money-purchase pension plans, and other corporate
                        pension and savings plans. While the Portfolios are
                        specifically designed for
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   58
 
                        tax-advantaged retirement accounts, shares may also be
                        purchased by investors for other long-term general
                        retirement savings purposes.
 
                        Investors who engage in excessive account activity
                        generate additional costs which are borne by all of the
                        Portfolios' shareholders. In order to minimize such
                        costs the Portfolios have adopted the following
                        policies. The Portfolios reserve the right to reject any
                        purchase request (including exchange purchases from
                        other Vanguard portfolios) that is reasonably deemed to
                        be disruptive to efficient portfolio management, either
                        because of the timing of the investment or previous
                        excessive trading by the investor. Additionally, the
                        Portfolios have adopted exchange privilege limitations
                        as described in the section "Exchange Privilege
                        Limitations." Finally, the Portfolios reserve the right
                        to suspend the offering of their shares.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPLEMENTATION
OF POLICIES             The Vanguard Funds in which the Portfolios invest, as
                        well as certain other investment practices of the
                        Portfolios, are described below. Investors desiring more
                        information on an underlying Vanguard Fund described
                        below should call Vanguard's Investor Information
                        Department (1-800-662-7447) for the underlying Fund's
                        prospectus.
 
   
THE PORTFOLIOS
INVEST IN SEVERAL
EQUITY FUNDS            The TOTAL STOCK MARKET PORTFOLIO is one of six
                        Portfolios of Vanguard Index Trust, an open-end
                        diversified investment company. The Total Stock Market
                        Portfolio is an index fund which seeks to match the
                        investment performance of the Wilshire 5000 Index, an
                        index consisting of all regularly and publicly traded US
                        stocks. The Total Stock Market Portfolio attempts to
                        match the Wilshire 5000 Index by investing in a
                        statistically selected sample of the more than 6,000
                        stocks included in the Index.
    
 
   
                        The TOTAL INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIO is a "Fund of Funds"
                        that invests in each of the three Portfolios (European,
                        Pacific and Emerging Markets) of Vanguard International
                        Equity Index Fund, an open-end diversified investment
                        company. Approximately 45% of the assets of the Total
                        International Portfolio are invested in the European
                        Portfolio, 45% are invested in the Pacific Portfolio and
                        10% are invested in the Emerging Markets Portfolio. The
                        European Portfolio is an index fund which seeks to
                        replicate the aggregate price and yield performance of
                        the MSCI-Europe (Free) Index, a diversified,
                        capitalization-weighted index comprised of companies
                        located in 14 European countries (Austria, Belgium,
                        Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,
                        Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and
                        United Kingdom). The Pacific Portfolio is an index fund
                        which seeks to replicate the aggregate price and yield
                        performance of the MSCI-Pacific Index, a diversified,
                        capitalization-weighted index comprised of companies
                        located in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand and
                        Singapore. Both the European and Pacific Portfolios
                        attempt to match their indexes by investing in
                        statistically selected samples of the stocks included in
                        their respective indexes. The EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO
                        is an index fund which seeks to track the performance of
                        the Morgan Stanley Capital International
    
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   59
 
   
                        (MSCI) -- Select Emerging Markets (Free) Index, which is
                        made up of common stocks of companies located in 14
                        emerging markets within Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin
                        America (Argentina, Brazil, Greece, Hong Kong,
                        Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines,
                        Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, and
                        Turkey).
    
 
   
                        The Portfolios investments in the European and Pacific
                        Portfolios will not be replaced by an investment in the
                        Total International Portfolio in the near term for tax
                        purposes. Instead, the portion of new cash flow that
                        should be invested in international stocks will be
                        directed to the Emerging Markets Portfolio until the
                        proper weightings among the European, Pacific, and
                        Emerging Markets portfolios are achieved. Thereafter,
                        the LIFEStrategy Portfolios international stock
                        investments will be directed to the Total International
                        Portfolio. This means that the LIFEStrategy Portfolios
                        with international stock investments will hold shares of
                        the European, Pacific, Emerging Markets and Total
                        International Portfolios. When the tax consequences
                        associated with selling shares of the European, Pacific
                        and Emerging Markets portfolios are less significant,
                        they will be replaced by shares of the Total
                        International Portfolio.
    
 
   
                        All four Portfolios will invest a portion of their
                        assets in the Total Stock Market Portfolio. However,
                        only the Conservative Growth, Moderate Growth, and
                        Growth Portfolios will invest in the Total International
                        Portfolio.
    
 
                        These three equity index funds are not managed according
                        to traditional methods of active investment management,
                        which involve the buying and selling of securities based
                        upon economic, financial, and market analyses and
                        investment judgment. Instead, the funds use a "passive"
                        or indexing investment approach to duplicate the results
                        of their respective indexes. The three index funds do
                        not pay advisory fees. All index matching services are
                        provided to the three funds on an at-cost basis by the
                        Core Management Group of The Vanguard Group.
 
   
THE PORTFOLIOS
INVEST IN TWO
VANGUARD BOND
PORTFOLIOS              The Short-Term Corporate Portfolio of Vanguard Fixed
                        Income Securities Fund and the Total Bond Market
                        Portfolio of Vanguard Bond Index Fund are bond funds,
                        which seek to provide current income by investing in
                        fixed-income securities. These Portfolios have distinct
                        investment policies.
    
 
   
                        The SHORT-TERM CORPORATE PORTFOLIO invests in a
                        diversified portfolio of investment grade quality
                        corporate bonds with an expected dollar-weighted average
                        maturity of one to three years. The TOTAL BOND MARKET
                        PORTFOLIO will invest in a portfolio of fixed-income
                        securities selected to match the Lehman Brothers
                        Aggregate Bond Index (the "Aggregate Bond Index"). The
                        Aggregate Bond Index is a broad market-weighted index
                        which encompasses four major classes of investment grade
                        fixed-income securities in the United States: U.S.
                        Treasury and agency securities, corporate bonds,
                        international (dollar-denominated) bonds, and
                        mortgage-backed securities, with maturities greater than
                        one year.
    
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   60
 
   
                        Each Portfolio will invest a portion of its assets in
                        the Total Bond Market Portfolio, while only the Income
                        Portfolio and Conservative Growth Portfolio will invest
                        in the Short-Term Corporate Portfolio.
    
 
ALL FOUR PORTFOLIOS
INVEST IN VANGUARD
ASSET ALLOCATION
FUND                    VANGUARD ASSET ALLOCATION FUND, an open-end diversified
                        investment company, which allocates its assets among a
                        common stock portfolio, a bond portfolio and money
                        market instruments. The investment adviser allocates the
                        Fund's assets among stocks, bonds, and money market
                        instruments in proportions which reflect the anticipated
                        returns and risks of each asset class. The estimates of
                        return and risk are developed based upon the adviser's
                        disciplined valuation methodology. There are no
                        limitations on the amount of the Fund's assets which may
                        be allocated to each of the three asset classes (stocks,
                        bonds, and money market instruments).
 
THE PORTFOLIOS AND
EACH UNDERLYING FUND
MAY INVEST IN
SHORT-TERM FIXED
INCOME SECURITIES       The Portfolios and their underlying Vanguard Funds are
                        authorized to invest temporarily in certain short-term
                        fixed income securities for defensive purposes. Such
                        securities may be used to invest uncommitted cash
                        balances or to maintain liquidity to meet shareholder
                        redemptions. Each of the Portfolio's underlying Vanguard
                        Funds may also invest in such securities to take a
                        temporary defensive position against potential stock or
                        bond market declines. These securities include:
                        obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies and
                        instrumentalities; commercial paper, bank certificates
                        of deposit, and bankers' acceptances; and repurchase
                        agreements collateralized by these securities.
 
DERIVATIVE
INVESTING               Derivatives are instruments whose values are linked to
                        or derived from an underlying security or index. The
                        most common and conventional types of derivative
                        securities are futures and options.
 
   
THE PORTFOLIOS AND
EACH UNDERLYING FUND
MAY INVEST IN FUTURES
CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS   The Portfolios and their underlying Vanguard Funds may
                        invest in futures contracts and options to a limited
                        extent. Specifically, the Portfolios' underlying funds
                        including Total Stock Market Portfolio, Total
                        International Portfolio, VIEIF -- European, Pacific and
                        Emerging Markets Portfolios, Short-Term Corporate
                        Portfolio, Total Bond Market Portfolio, and Vanguard
                        Asset Allocation Fund may invest in futures contracts
                        and options. The Portfolios have no present intention of
                        investing directly in futures contracts and options, but
                        if they were to do so, investment decisions regarding
                        such instruments would be made by Vanguard's Core
                        Management or Fixed Income Group.
    
 
                        Futures contracts and options may be used for several
                        reasons: to simulate full investment in the underlying
                        securities while retaining a cash balance for Fund
                        management purposes, to facilitate trading, to reduce
                        transaction costs, or to seek higher investment returns
                        when a futures contract is priced more attractively than
                        the underlying security or index. While futures
                        contracts and options can be used as leveraged
                        instruments, neither the Portfolios nor the underlying
                        Funds may use futures contracts or options transactions
                        to leverage their assets.
 
                        The Portfolios and their underlying Funds will not use
                        futures contracts or options for speculative purposes or
                        to leverage their net assets. Accordingly,
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   61
 
                        the primary risks associated with the use of futures
                        contracts and options by the underlying Funds are: (i)
                        imperfect correlation between the change in market value
                        of securities held by a Fund and the prices of futures
                        contracts and options; and (ii) possible lack of a
                        liquid secondary market for a futures contract resulting
                        in an inability to close a futures position prior to its
                        maturity date. The risk of imperfect correlation will be
                        minimized by investing only in contracts whose behavior
                        is expected to resemble that of a Fund's underlying
                        securities. The risk that a Fund will be unable to close
                        out a futures position will be minimized by entering
                        into such transactions only on an exchange with an
                        active and liquid secondary market. Additionally,
                        investments in futures contracts and options involve the
                        risk that an investment adviser will incorrectly predict
                        stock market and interest rate trends.
 
                        The Portfolios and their underlying Funds may enter into
                        futures contracts provided that not more than 5% of
                        their respective assets are required as a futures
                        contract deposit; in addition the Portfolios and their
                        underlying Funds may enter into futures contracts and
                        options transactions to the extent that not more than
                        20% of their respective assets (50% with respect to
                        Vanguard Asset Allocation Fund) are committed to such
                        contracts or transactions.
 
EACH OF THE
PORTFOLIOS' UNDERLYING
FUNDS MAY LEND ITS
SECURITIES              Each of the Portfolios' underlying Funds may lend their
                        investment securities to qualified institutional
                        investors for the purpose of realizing additional net
                        investment income. Loans of securities by a Fund will be
                        collateralized by cash, letters of credit, or securities
                        issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its
                        agencies. The collateral will equal at least 100% of the
                        current market value of the loaned securities.
 
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
IS EXPECTED
TO BE LOW               The portfolio turnover rate is not expected to exceed
                        25% annually. A portfolio turnover rate of 25% for a
                        Portfolio would occur if one quarter of a Portfolio's
                        investments were sold within a year. The Fund's Officers
                        will purchase or sell securities: (i) to accommodate
                        purchases and sales of Portfolio shares; and (ii) to
                        maintain or modify the allocation of the Portfolios'
                        assets between the underlying Vanguard Funds in which
                        the Portfolios invest within the percentage limits
                        described under "Investment Policies."
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT
LIMITATIONS             The Portfolios have adopted the following fundamental
                        limitations on its investment practices. Specifically,
                        the Portfolios will not:
 
THE PORTFOLIOS HAVE
ADOPTED CERTAIN
FUNDAMENTAL
LIMITATIONS             (a)  borrow money except from banks for temporary or
                             emergency purposes, and then only in an amount not
                             in excess of 5% of the lower of the market value or
                             cost of its assets, in which case it may pledge,
                             mortgage or hypothecate any of its assets as
                             security for such borrowing, but not to an extent
                             greater than 5% of the market value of its assets;
                             and
                        (b)  invest more than 25% of its assets in any one
                             industry, except for investment companies which are
                             members of The Vanguard Group of Investment
                             Companies.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   62
 
                        These investment limitations are considered at the time
                        investment securities are purchased. The limitations
                        described here and in the Statement of Additional
                        Information may be changed only with the approval of a
                        majority of the Fund's shareholders.
 
                        NOTICE TO OHIO INVESTORS. Vanguard STAR Fund does not
                        meet the requirements of Ohio Administrative Rule
                        1301:6-3-09G in that it may invest more than 25% of its
                        assets in a single issuer. However, the Fund's
                        Portfolios invest only in Vanguard-sponsored mutual
                        funds which, in turn, are prohibited from investing more
                        than 5% of their total assets in the securities of any
                        single issuer and may not purchase more than 10% of the
                        outstanding voting securities of any issuer.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
MANAGEMENT OF
THE PORTFOLIOS
THE OFFICERS
MANAGE THE
PORTFOLIOS'
OPERATIONS              The Officers of the Fund manage the day-to-day operation
                        of the Portfolios. The Officers are directly responsible
                        to the Fund's Board of Trustees. The Trustees, who are
                        elected by the Fund's shareholders, determine how the
                        assets of each Portfolio should be invested among the
                        Vanguard Funds, set general policies for the Fund and
                        choose its Officers. The Officers of the Fund also serve
                        as Officers of each of the Vanguard Funds and of The
                        Vanguard Group, Inc. ("Vanguard"). The Trustees each
                        serve as Directors of The Vanguard Group, Inc. and most
                        of the Vanguard Funds within the Group. A list of
                        Trustees and Officers of the Fund and a statement of
                        their present positions and principal occupations during
                        the past five years can be found in the Statement of
                        Additional Information.
 
                        The business of the Fund will be conducted by its
                        Officers in accordance with policies and guidelines set
                        up by the Fund's Trustees which were included in an
                        Application for an Exemptive Order subsequently issued
                        by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. As noted
                        above, the Officers and Trustees of the Fund also serve
                        in similar positions in the underlying Funds. If the
                        interests of the Portfolios and the underlying Funds
                        were ever to become divergent, a concern might arise
                        that this could create a potential conflict of interest
                        which could affect how the Officers or Trustees fulfill
                        their fiduciary duties to the Portfolios and the
                        Vanguard Funds. The Trustees believe they have
                        structured the Fund to avoid the concerns which could
                        arise. Conceivably, a situation could occur where proper
                        portfolio or other action for the Portfolios could be
                        adverse to the interests of an underlying Vanguard Fund,
                        or the reverse could occur. If such a possibility
                        appears likely, the Trustees and Officers will carefully
                        analyze the situation and take all steps they believe
                        reasonable to minimize and, where possible, eliminate
                        the potential conflict. Moreover, limitations on
                        aggregate investments in the underlying Vanguard Funds
                        and other restrictions have been adopted by the Fund to
                        minimize this possibility, and close and continuous
                        monitoring will be exercised to avoid, insofar as
                        possible, these concerns.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   63
 
VANGUARD
ADMINISTERS AND
DISTRIBUTES
THE PORTFOLIOS          The Fund has entered into a Special Servicing Agreement
                        (the "Agreement") with Vanguard under which Vanguard
                        will provide all management, administrative and
                        distribution services to the Portfolios of the Fund.
                        Vanguard is a jointly-owned subsidiary of more than 30
                        investment company members (the "Funds") of The Vanguard
                        Group of Investment Companies. The Vanguard Funds offer
                        over 90 distinct investment portfolios with total assets
                        in excess of $190 billion. Vanguard provides the
                        Portfolios and other Funds in the Group with corporate
                        management, administrative and distribution services
                        (similar to those provided to the Portfolios) on an
                        at-cost basis. As a result of Vanguard's unique
                        corporate structure, Vanguard Funds have costs
                        substantially lower than those of most competing mutual
                        funds. In 1995, the average expense ratio (annual costs
                        including advisory fees divided by total net assets) for
                        the Vanguard Funds amounted to approximately .31%
                        compared to an average of 1.11% for the mutual fund
                        industry (data provided by Lipper Analytical Services).
 
                        The Special Servicing Agreement provides that the
                        Portfolios will pay for services to be rendered to the
                        Portfolios by Vanguard on an "out of pocket" basis. The
                        Portfolios will also bear the expenses of services
                        provided by other parties, including auditors, the
                        custodian, and outside legal counsel, as well as taxes
                        and other direct expenses of the Portfolios. However,
                        the Agreement provides that the expenses of the
                        Portfolios will be offset, in whole or in part, by a
                        reimbursement from Vanguard for (a) contributions made
                        by each Portfolio to the cost of operating the
                        underlying Vanguard Funds the Portfolios invest in and
                        (b) certain savings in administrative and marketing
                        costs that Vanguard is expected to derive from the
                        operation of the Portfolios. The Portfolios'
                        contributions to Vanguard represent revenues Vanguard
                        receives because the Portfolios bear their pro rata
                        share of the costs of operating the underlying Vanguard
                        Funds. The cost savings realized by Vanguard from the
                        Portfolios result primarily from the assumed reduction
                        in the number of accounts Vanguard has to maintain due
                        to the existence of the Portfolios (i.e., one account
                        per investor as opposed to one for each underlying Fund
                        per investor if the investor duplicated the Portfolio's
                        investment program by investing directly in the
                        underlying Funds).
 
                        Although such cost savings are not certain, the Trustees
                        believe that the reimbursements to be made by Vanguard
                        to the Portfolios should be sufficient to offset most,
                        if not all, of the expenses incurred by the Portfolios.
                        Therefore, the Portfolios are expected by the Trustees
                        to operate at a very low, or zero, expense ratio. In the
                        event that the economic benefits of operating the
                        Portfolios exceed their actual costs, such benefits will
                        be shared by each of the Funds in The Vanguard Group,
                        including the underlying Funds in which the Portfolios
                        invest.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   64
 
INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT
THE FUND DOES NOT
EMPLOY AN
INVESTMENT
ADVISER                 The Portfolios do not employ an investment adviser and
                        therefore do not pay advisory fees. The Portfolios do
                        not have portfolio managers at this time. The
                        determination of how the Portfolios' assets will be
                        invested in certain of the Vanguard Funds is made by the
                        Fund's Officers pursuant to the investment objective and
                        policies set forth in this Prospectus and procedures and
                        guidelines established by the Trustees. However, the
                        Portfolios, as shareholders of each of the underlying
                        Vanguard Funds, benefit from the investment advisory
                        services of each of the underlying Funds, and will
                        indirectly bear their proportionate share of any
                        investment advisory fees paid by those Funds.
 
                        The Portfolios' underlying Funds are managed by the
                        following investment advisers:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            INVESTMENT ADVISER          PORTFOLIO'S UNDERLYING FUNDS
                        <S>                          <C>
                        ---------------------------  -----------------------------------
                        The Vanguard Group, Inc.     Short-Term Corporate Portfolio
                                                       of Vanguard Fixed Income
                                                       Securities Fund
                                                     Total Bond Market Portfolio
                                                       of Vanguard Bond Index Fund
                                                     Total Stock Market Portfolio
                                                       of Vanguard Index Trust
                                                     Total International Portfolio
                                                       of Vanguard STAR Fund
                                                     European, Pacific and
                                                       Emerging Markets Portfolios
                                                       of Vanguard, International Equity
                                                       Index Fund
                        Mellon Capital Management    Vanguard Asset Allocation Fund
</TABLE>
    
 
   
VANGUARD'S
CORE MANAGEMENT
GROUP                   Vanguard's Core Management Group provides investment
                        advisory services on an at-cost basis with respect to
                        Vanguard Index Trust -- Total Stock Market Portfolio,
                        Total International Portfolio of Vanguard STAR Fund and
                        the European, Pacific and Emerging Markets Portfolios of
                        Vanguard International Equity Index Fund. The Core
                        Management Group also provides investment advisory
                        services to other Vanguard Funds, including the
                        remaining five Portfolios of Vanguard Index Trust,
                        Vanguard Institutional Index Fund, Vanguard Balanced
                        Index Fund and the Equity Index Portfolio of Vanguard
                        Variable Insurance Fund, several Portfolios of the
                        Vanguard Tax-Managed Fund, the Aggressive Growth
                        Portfolio of Vanguard Horizon Fund, a portion of
                        Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund, a portion of
                        Vanguard/Windsor II's assets, as well as to several
                        indexed separate accounts. Total assets under management
                        by the Core Management Group were approximately $51
                        billion as of September 30, 1996.
    
 
   
VANGUARD'S
FIXED INCOME
GROUP                   Vanguard's Fixed Income Group provides investment
                        advisory services on an at-cost basis with respect to
                        the Short-Term Corporate of Vanguard Fixed Income
                        Securities Fund and the Total Bond Market Portfolio of
    
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   65
 
   
                        Vanguard Bond Index Fund. The Fixed Income Group
                        provides advisory services to more than 40 Vanguard
                        fixed-income portfolios, both taxable and tax-exempt.
                        Total assets under management by the Fixed Income Group
                        were approximately $75 billion as of September 30, 1996.
    
 
   
MELLON CAPITAL
MANAGEMENT              Mellon Capital Management is a professional counseling
                        firm which manages well-diversified stock and bond
                        portfolios for institutional clients. As of September
                        30, 1996 the adviser provided investment advisory
                        services to 211 clients and managed assets with an
                        approximate value of $46.2 billion. The adviser's asset
                        allocation strategy was developed by the adviser's
                        Chairman, William Fouse, in 1972, and is used by 74 of
                        its clients and accounts for approximately $12.2 billion
                        of the assets that it manages. For its asset allocation
                        clients, including the Fund, the adviser employs a
                        proprietary asset allocation model in managing client
                        investment portfolios and an indexing approach in
                        selecting individual equity securities. The Fund is one
                        of the adviser's two investment company clients.
    
 
                        Vanguard Asset Allocation Fund pays Mellon Capital
                        Management an annual basic fee equal to 0.20% on the
                        first $100 million of assets; .15 of 1% on the next $900
                        million of assets; .125 of 1% on the next $500 million
                        of assets; and .10% of 1% on assets greater than $1.5
                        billion. This fee may be increased or decreased by
                        applying an adjustment formula based on the performance
                        of the Fund relative to the investment record of the S&P
                        500 Index. The fee payment will be increased (decreased)
                        by an incentive (penalty) of 0.05% of average net assets
                        if the Fund's cumulative investment performance for the
                        thirty-six months preceding the end of the quarter is at
                        least six percentage points above (below) the cumulative
                        investment record of the S&P 500 Index for the same
                        period.
 
   
                        Each Portfolio will purchase and sell the principal
                        portion of its portfolio securities (i.e., shares of
                        certain of the underlying Vanguard Funds) by dealing
                        directly with the issuer. There will be no sales charges
                        or commissions because the underlying Funds are offered
                        on a no-load basis, without sales charges. Investments
                        in short-term money market instruments and repurchase
                        agreements usually will be principal transactions and
                        will generally involve no brokerage commissions.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
DIVIDENDS,
CAPITAL GAINS
AND TAXES               The Income and Conservative Growth Portfolios expect to
                        pay dividends quarterly from ordinary income, while the
                        Moderate Growth and Growth Portfolios expect to pay
                        dividends semi-annually from ordinary income. Capital
                        gains distribution from the Portfolios, if any, will be
                        made annually.
 
                        For tax-deferred retirement accounts (such as Individual
                        Retirement Accounts or other retirement plans sponsored
                        by Vanguard), dividend and capital gains distributions
                        from the Portfolios must be reinvested in additional
                        shares. For regular investment accounts, dividend and
                        capital gains distributions may be reinvested in
                        additional shares or received in
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   66
 
                        cash. See "Choosing a Distribution Option" for a
                        description of these distribution methods for regular
                        investment accounts in the Portfolios.
 
                        In addition, in order to satisfy certain distribution
                        requirements of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the
                        Portfolios may declare special year-end dividend and
                        capital gains distributions during December. Such
                        distributions, if received by shareholders by January
                        31, are deemed to have been paid by the Portfolios and
                        received by shareholders on December 31 of the prior
                        year.
 
                        Each Portfolio intends to continue to qualify as a
                        "regulated investment company" under the Internal
                        Revenue Code so that it will not be subject to federal
                        income tax to the extent its income is distributed to
                        shareholders. The tax consequences of distributions from
                        the Portfolios will vary according to the type of
                        account you open.
 
                        If you open an IRA or other tax-deferred retirement
                        account, dividend and capital gains distributions from
                        the Portfolios will generally be exempt from current
                        taxation. You are advised to consult with a tax
                        professional on the specific rules governing your own
                        tax-deferred arrangement. There are varying restrictions
                        imposed by the Internal Revenue Service on eligibility,
                        contributions and withdrawals, depending on the type of
                        tax-deferred account you have selected. The rules
                        governing tax-deferred retirement plans are complex, and
                        failure to comply with the IRS's rules and regulations
                        governing your specific type of plan may result in a
                        substantial cost to you, including the loss of tax
                        advantages and the imposition of additional taxes and
                        penalties by the IRS.
 
                        If you open an account in one or more of the Portfolios
                        outside a tax-deferred retirement account, the following
                        tax rules will generally apply. For regular investment
                        accounts, dividends paid by the Portfolios from net
                        investment income and net short-term capital gains,
                        whether received in cash or reinvested in additional
                        shares, will be taxable as ordinary income.
                        Distributions paid by the Portfolios from long-term
                        capital gains, again whether received in cash or
                        reinvested in additional shares, will also be taxable as
                        long-term capital gains, regardless of the length of
                        time you have owned shares of the Portfolios.
 
                        Capital gains distributions are made when one or more of
                        the Portfolios realizes net capital gains on sales of
                        portfolio securities during the year. The Portfolios do
                        not seek to realize any particular amount of capital
                        gains during a year; rather, realized gains are a
                        by-product of portfolio management activities. In
                        addition, the Portfolios receive realized net capital
                        gains distributions from the Portfolio's underlying
                        Funds. Consequently, capital gains distributions may be
                        expected to vary considerably from year to year; there
                        will be no capital gains distributions in years when a
                        Portfolio realizes net capital losses.
 
                        Note that if you accept capital gains distributions in
                        cash, instead of reinvesting them in additional shares,
                        you are in effect reducing the
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   67
 
                        capital at work for you in the Portfolios. In addition,
                        keep in mind that if you purchase shares of a Portfolio
                        shortly before the record date for a dividend or capital
                        gains distribution, a portion of your investment will be
                        returned to you as a taxable distribution, regardless of
                        whether you are reinvesting your distributions or
                        receiving them in cash.
 
                        The Portfolios will notify you annually as to the tax
                        status of dividend and capital gains distributions paid
                        by the Portfolios.
 
A CAPITAL GAIN OR
LOSS MAY BE REALIZED
UPON EXCHANGE OR
REDEMPTION              A sale of shares of a Portfolio is a taxable event and
                        may result in a capital gain or loss. A capital gain or
                        loss may be realized from an ordinary redemption of
                        shares or an exchange of shares between two mutual funds
                        (or two portfolios of a mutual fund).
 
                        Dividend distributions, capital gains distributions,
                        and capital gains or losses from redemptions and
                        exchanges may be subject to state and local taxes.
 
                        Each Portfolio is required to withhold 31% of taxable
                        dividends, capital gains distributions, and redemptions
                        paid to shareholders who have not complied with IRS
                        taxpayer identification regulations. You may avoid this
                        withholding requirement by certifying on your Account
                        Registration Form your proper Social Security or
                        Taxpayer Identification number and by certifying that
                        you are not subject to backup withholding.
 
                        Vanguard STAR Fund is organized as a Pennsylvania
                        business trust and, in the opinion of counsel, is not
                        liable for any income or franchise tax in the
                        Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Each Portfolio will be
                        subject to Pennsylvania county personal property tax in
                        the county which is the site of its principal office. In
                        the opinion of counsel, shareholders who are
                        Pennsylvania residents will not be subject to county
                        personal property taxes, with the exception of
                        non-exempt holders who are residents of the City and
                        School District of Pittsburgh.
 
                        The tax discussion set forth above is included for
                        general information only. Prospective investors should
                        consult their own tax advisers concerning the tax
                        consequences of an investment in the Portfolios.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
THE SHARE PRICE
OF EACH
PORTFOLIO               The net asset value per share for each Portfolio is
                        determined as of the regular close of the New York
                        Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on
                        each day that the Exchange is open for trading. The net
                        asset value per share is determined by dividing the
                        total market value of each Portfolio's investments and
                        other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number
                        of outstanding shares of each Portfolio. This
                        determination is made by appraising each Portfolio's
                        underlying investments (i.e., the underlying Vanguard
                        Funds) at the price of each such Fund determined at the
                        close of the Exchange.
 
                        Each Portfolio's share price can be found daily in the
                        mutual fund listings of most major newspapers under the
                        heading of Vanguard.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   68
 
GENERAL
INFORMATION             Vanguard STAR Fund is a Pennsylvania business trust. The
                        Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an
                        unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest,
                        without par value, from an unlimited number of classes
                        of shares. Currently the Fund is offering six classes of
                        shares.
 
                        The shares of the Fund are fully paid and
                        non-assessable; have no preference as to conversion,
                        exchange, dividends, retirement or other features; and
                        have no pre-emptive rights. Such shares have non-
                        cumulative voting rights, meaning that the holders of
                        more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of
                        Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees if they so
                        choose.
 
                        Annual meetings of shareholders will not be held except
                        as required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 and
                        other applicable law. An annual meeting will be held to
                        vote on the removal of a Trustee or Trustees of the Fund
                        if requested in writing by the holders of not less than
                        10% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
 
                        All securities and cash are held by Morgan Guaranty
                        Trust Company, New York, N.Y. CoreStates Bank, N.A.,
                        holds daily cash balances that are used by the Fund's
                        Portfolios to invest in repurchase agreements or
                        securities acquired in these transactions. The Vanguard
                        Group, Inc., Valley Forge, PA, serves as the Fund's
                        Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent. Price Waterhouse
                        LLP serves as independent accountants for the Fund and
                        will audit its financial statements annually. The Fund
                        is not involved in any litigation.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   69
 
                               SHAREHOLDER GUIDE
 
OPENING AN
ACCOUNT AND
PURCHASING
SHARES                  The Portfolios are designed primarily for tax-advantaged
                        retirement accounts as well as other long-term
                        investment savings plans. If you are establishing an
                        Individual Retirement Account ("IRA") or other qualified
                        retirement plan, you must complete the appropriate
                        retirement plan agreement, i.e., the Adoption Agreement.
                        If you are establishing a Portfolio account outside a
                        Vanguard tax-deferred retirement plan, you may simply
                        complete the Account Registration Form. In either case,
                        please indicate the amount you wish to invest on the
                        appropriate form. Your purchase must be equal to or
                        greater than the $3,000 minimum initial investment
                        ($1,000 for IRAs). (Please refer to the plan agreement
                        for information on the maximum amount you may contribute
                        or rollover to your retirement account.) If you need
                        assistance in completing any forms, please call the
                        Investor Information Department (1-800-662-7447). NOTE:
                        For other types of account registrations (e.g.,
                        corporations, associations, other organizations, trusts
                        or powers of attorney), please call us to determine
                        which additional forms you may need.
 
                        Portfolio shares are purchased at the next-determined
                        net asset value after your investment has been received.
                        The Portfolios are offered on a no-load basis (i.e.,
                        there are no sales commissions or 12b-1 fees).
 
PURCHASE
RESTRICTIONS
                        1) Because of the risks associated with common stock and
                           bond investments, the Portfolios are intended to be
                           long-term investment vehicles and are not designed to
                           provide investors with means of speculating on
                           short-term stock and bond market movements.
                           Consequently, the Portfolios reserve the right to
                           reject any specific purchase (and exchange purchase)
                           request. The Portfolios also reserve the right to
                           suspend the offering of shares for a period of time.
 
                        2) Vanguard will not accept third-party checks to
                           purchase shares of the Portfolios. Please be sure
                           your purchase check is made payable to the Vanguard
                           Group.
 
   
IMPORTANT NOTE
ON EXPENSES             Purchases by LifeStrategy Portfolios; of VIEIF -- 
                        European and Pacific Portfolios are subject to a
                        portfolio transaction fee of 1%, and purchases of
                        VIEIF -- Emerging Markets Portfolio are subject to 
                        a 2% portfolio transaction fee.
    
 
IMPORTANT NOTE:
IRA AND
RETIREMENT PLAN
INVESTORS               This Shareholder Guide describes many of the services
                        available to Vanguard fund shareholders. Specific
                        services described in this Shareholder Guide may not be
                        available or may only be available in limited form for
                        tax-deferred retirement accounts. If you are investing
                        in a Portfolio through an IRA or other retirement plan,
                        you should consult the retirement plan agreement,
                        disclosure statement, and other Vanguard brochures for
                        the services and procedures which pertain to your
                        account. Please call our Investor Information Department
                        (1-800-662-7447) if you have any questions.
 
ADDITIONAL
INVESTMENTS             Subsequent investments in the Portfolios may be made by
                        mail ($100 minimum), exchange from another Vanguard
                        Fund account ($100
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   70
 
                        minimum), or Vanguard Fund Express. For regular
                        (non-retirement) accounts, additional purchases may
                        also be made by wire ($1,000 minimum). In limited
                        instances, contributions to retirement accounts may be
                        accepted by wire. Please call us for more information on
                        this option.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                       <C>                                  <C>
                                                               ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS
                          NEW ACCOUNT                          TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS
PURCHASING BY MAIL        Please include the amount            Additional investments
                          of your initial investment           should include the
Non-Retirement            on the registration form,            Invest-by-Mail remittance
Accounts, complete        make your check payable to           form attached to your
and sign the enclosed     The Vanguard                         Portfolio confirmation
Account Registration      Group-(Portfolio number),            statements. Please make
Form                      see below for appropriate            your check payable to The
                          number and mail to:                  Vanguard Group -(Portfolio
                                                               number), see below for
                          VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER            appropriate number, write
                          P.O. BOX 2600                        your account number on your
                          VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482               check and, using the return
                                                               envelope provided, mail to
                                                               the address indicated on
                                                               the Invest-by-Mail Form.
For express or            VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER            All written requests should
registered mail,          455 DEVON PARK DRIVE                 be mailed to one of the
send to:                  WAYNE, PA 19087                      addresses indicated for new
                                                               accounts. Do not send
                                                               registered or express mail
                                                               to the post office box
                                                               address.
</TABLE>
 
For IRAs or retirement
plans                   Complete the appropriate retirement plan adoption
                        agreement and any other required documents. Make your
                        check payable to Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company and
                        send application and check to the address indicated on
                        your agreement.
 
                                     VANGUARD STAR FUND
                                     Income Portfolio -- 723
                                     Conservative Growth Portfolio -- 724
                                     Moderate Growth Portfolio -- 914
                                     Growth Portfolio -- 122
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
PURCHASING BY WIRE
Money should be
wired to:
BEFORE WIRING
Please contact
Client Services
(1-800-662-2739)                     CORESTATES BANK, N.A.
                                     ABA 031000011
                                     CORESTATES NO. 0101 9897
                                     ATTN VANGUARD
                                     VANGUARD STAR FUND
                                     NAME OF PORTFOLIO
                                     ACCOUNT NUMBER
                                     ACCOUNT REGISTRATION
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   71
 
                        To assure proper receipt, please be sure your bank
                        includes the name of the Fund, the account number
                        Vanguard has assigned to you and the eight-digit
                        CoreStates number. If you are opening a new account,
                        please complete the Account Registration Form and mail
                        it to the "New Account" address above after completing
                        your wire arrangement. NOTE: Federal Funds wire purchase
                        orders will be accepted only when the Fund and the
                        Custodian Bank are open for business. IRAs and other
                        tax-deferred accounts cannot be opened by wire. Please
                        see "Opening an Account."
 
PURCHASING BY
EXCHANGE (from a
Vanguard account)       You may open an account and purchase shares by making an
                        exchange from an existing Vanguard account. However, the
                        Portfolios reserve the right to refuse any exchange
                        purchase request. To exchange by telephone, call our
                        Client Services Department (1-800-662-2739). The new
                        account will have the same registration as the existing
                        account.
 
PURCHASING BY
FUND EXPRESS
Special Purchase &
Automatic Investment    The Fund Express Special Purchase option lets you move
                        money from your bank account to your Vanguard account on
                        an "as needed" basis. Or if you choose the Automatic
                        Investment option, money will be moved automatically
                        from your bank account to your Vanguard account on the
                        schedule (monthly, bimonthly [every other month],
                        quarterly or yearly) you select. To establish these Fund
                        Express options on regular investment accounts, please
                        provide the appropriate information on the Account
                        Registration Form. To establish Automatic Investment for
                        an IRA or other tax-deferred retirement plan (the
                        Special Purchase option is not available), contact our
                        Investor Information Department (1-800-662-7447) for an
                        application. We will send you a confirmation of your
                        Fund Express enrollment; please wait three weeks before
                        using the service.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
CHOOSING A
DISTRIBUTION
OPTION                  If you invest in a Portfolio outside a tax-deferred
                        retirement account, you must select one of three
                        distribution options:
 
                        1. AUTOMATIC REINVESTMENT OPTION -- Both dividends and
                           capital gains distributions will be reinvested in
                           additional shares of the Portfolio. This option will
                           be selected for you automatically unless you specify
                           one of the other options.
 
                        2. CASH DIVIDEND OPTION -- Your dividends will be paid
                           in cash and your capital gains will be reinvested in
                           additional shares of the Portfolio.
 
                        3. ALL CASH OPTION -- Both dividend and capital gains
                           distributions will be paid in cash.
 
                        You may change your option by calling our Client
                        Services Department (1-800-662-2739).
 
                        In addition, an option to invest your cash dividends
                        and/or capital gains distributions in another Vanguard
                        Fund account is available. Please call our Client
                        Services Department (1-800-662-2739) for information.
                        You may also elect Vanguard Dividend Express which
                        allows you to transfer your cash dividends and/or
                        capital gains distributions
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   72
 
                        automatically to your bank account. Please see "Other
                        Vanguard Services" for more information.
 
                        If you invest in a Portfolio through a tax-deferred
                        retirement account, your dividend and capital gains
                        distributions will be automatically reinvested in
                        additional shares of the Portfolio. If you change this
                        automatic reinvestment option, you should be aware that
                        "cash" dividends or capital gains will be considered
                        taxable distributions from your account.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
TAX CAUTION
NON-RETIREMENT
INVESTORS SHOULD
ASK ABOUT THE TIMING
OF CAPITAL GAINS AND
DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTIONS
BEFORE INVESTING        Under Federal tax laws, the Portfolios are required to
                        distribute net capital gains and dividend income to
                        Portfolio shareholders. These distributions are made to
                        all shareholders who own shares of the Portfolios as of
                        the distribution's record date, regardless of how long
                        the shares have been owned. Purchasing shares just prior
                        to the record date could have a significant impact on
                        your tax liability for the year. For example, if you
                        purchase shares immediately prior to the record date of
                        a sizable capital gain or income dividend distribution,
                        you will be assessed taxes on the amount of the capital
                        gain and/or dividend distribution later paid even though
                        you owned the Portfolio shares for just a short period
                        of time. (Taxes are due on the distributions even if the
                        dividend or gain is reinvested in additional Portfolio
                        shares.) While the total value of your investment will
                        be the same after the distribution -- the amount of the
                        distribution will offset the drop in the net asset value
                        of the shares -- you should be aware of the tax
                        implications the timing of your purchase may have.
 
                        Prospective investors should, therefore, inquire about
                        potential distributions before investing. The
                        Portfolios' annual capital gains distributions normally
                        occur in December, while income dividends are generally
                        paid quarterly in March, June, September, and December
                        for the Income and Conservative Growth Portfolio and
                        semi-annually in June and December for the Moderate
                        Growth and Growth Portfolios. For additional information
                        on distributions and taxes, see the section titled
                        "Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes."
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
ESTABLISHING
OPTIONAL SERVICES       The easiest way to establish optional Vanguard services
                        on a regular investment account is to select the options
                        you desire when you complete your Account Registration
                        Form. IF YOU WISH TO ADD SHAREHOLDER OPTIONS LATER, YOU
                        MAY NEED TO PROVIDE VANGUARD WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                        AND A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE. PLEASE CALL OUR CLIENT
                        SERVICES DEPARTMENT (1-800-662-2739) FOR FURTHER
                        ASSISTANCE.
 
SIGNATURE
GUARANTEES              For our mutual protection, we may require a signature
                        guarantee on certain written transaction requests. A
                        signature guarantee verifies the authenticity of your
                        signature and may be obtained from banks, brokers and
                        any other guarantor that Vanguard deems acceptable. A
                        SIGNATURE GUARANTEE CANNOT BE PROVIDED BY A NOTARY
                        PUBLIC.
 
CERTIFICATES            Share certificates will not be available for the
                        Portfolios.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>   73
 
BROKER-DEALER
PURCHASES               If you purchase shares in Vanguard Funds through a
                        registered broker-dealer or investment adviser, the
                        broker-dealer or adviser may charge a service fee.
 
CANCELLING
TRADES                  The Fund will not cancel any trade (e.g., purchase,
                        redemption or exchange) believed to be authentic,
                        received in writing or by telephone, once the trade
                        request has been received.
 
ELECTRONIC
PROSPECTUS
DELIVERY                If you would prefer to receive a prospectus for the Fund
                        or any of the Vanguard Funds in an electronic format,
                        please call 1-800-231-7870 for additional information.
                        If you elect to do so, you may also receive a paper copy
                        of the prospectus, by calling 1-800-662-7447.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
WHEN YOUR
ACCOUNT WILL
BE CREDITED             Your trade date is the date on which your account is
                        credited. If your purchase is made by check, Federal
                        Funds wire or exchange, and is received by the close of
                        the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern
                        time), your trade date is the day of receipt. If your
                        purchase is received after the close of the Exchange,
                        your trade date is the next business day. Your shares
                        are purchased at the net asset value determined on your
                        trade date.
 
                        In order to prevent lengthy processing delays caused by
                        the clearing of foreign checks, Vanguard will only
                        accept a foreign check which has been drawn in U.S.
                        dollars and has been issued by a foreign bank with a
                        U.S. correspondent bank. The name of the U.S.
                        correspondent bank must be printed on the face of the
                        foreign check.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SELLING YOUR
SHARES                  You may withdraw any portion of the funds in your
                        account by redeeming shares at any time. For a regular
                        investment account in the Portfolios, you generally may
                        initiate a request by writing or by telephoning. For an
                        IRA or other tax-deferred account, you must make your
                        redemption request in writing. Your redemption proceeds
                        are normally mailed within two business days after the
                        receipt of the request in Good Order.
 
                        If you invest in the Portfolios through an IRA or other
                        tax-deferred retirement plan, you should be aware that
                        any distributions prior to age 59 1/2 are generally
                        subject to a 10% penalty tax, as well as ordinary income
                        taxes. To avoid the 10% penalty, you must generally roll
                        over your distribution to another IRA or qualified plan
                        within 60 days.
 
SELLING BY MAIL         Requests should be mailed to VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER,
                        VANGUARD STAR FUND, P.O. BOX 1120, VALLEY FORGE, PA
                        19482. (For express or registered mail, send your
                        request to Vanguard Financial Center, Vanguard STAR
                        Fund, 455 Devon Park Drive, Wayne, PA 19087.)
 
                        The redemption price of shares will be a Portfolio's net
                        asset value next determined after Vanguard has received
                        all required documents in Good Order.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       29
<PAGE>   74
 
DEFINITION OF
GOOD ORDER              GOOD ORDER means that the request includes the
                        following:
 
                        1. The account number and Fund and Portfolio name.
                        2. The amount of the transaction (specified in dollars
                           or shares).
                        3. Signatures of all owners EXACTLY as they are
                           registered on the account.
                        4. Any required signature guarantees.
                        5. Other supporting legal documentation that might be
                           required, in the case of estates, corporations,
                           trusts, and certain other accounts.
 
                        IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS DEFINITION AS IT
                        PERTAINS TO YOUR REQUEST, PLEASE CALL OUR CLIENT
                        SERVICES DEPARTMENT (1-800-662-2739).
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
SELLING BY
TELEPHONE               To sell shares by telephone, you or your pre-authorized
                        representative may call our Client Services Department
                        at 1-800-662-2739. The proceeds will be sent to you by
                        mail. PLEASE NOTE: As a protection against fraud, your
                        telephone mail redemption privilege will be suspended
                        for 15 calendar days following any expedited address
                        change to your account. An expedited address change is
                        one that is made by telephone, by Vanguard Online or, in
                        writing, without the signatures of all account owners.
                        Please see "Important Information About Telephone
                        Transactions."
    
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SELLING BY FUND
EXPRESS
Automatic Withdrawal
& Special Redemption    If you select the Fund Express Automatic Withdrawal
                        option, money will be automatically moved from your
                        Vanguard Fund account to your bank account according to
                        the schedule you have selected. The Special Redemption
                        option (not available for IRAs or other retirement
                        accounts) lets you move money from your Vanguard account
                        to your bank account on an "as needed" basis. To
                        establish these Fund Express options, please provide the
                        appropriate information on the Account Registration
                        Form. We will send you a confirmation of your Fund
                        Express service; please wait three weeks before using
                        the service.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
SELLING BY EXCHANGE     You may sell shares by making an exchange into another
                        Vanguard Fund account. Please see "Exchanging Your
                        Shares" for details.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPORTANT
REDEMPTION
INFORMATION             Shares purchased by check or Fund Express may be
                        redeemed at any time. However, your redemption proceeds
                        will not be paid until payment for the purchase is
                        collected, which may take up to ten calendar days.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
DELIVERY OF
REDEMPTION
PROCEEDS                Redemption requests received by telephone prior to the
                        close of the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00
                        p.m. Eastern time) are processed on the day of receipt
                        and the redemption proceeds are normally sent on the
                        following business day. Please note: the telephone
                        redemption option is available only for non-retirement
                        accounts. Redemptions from retirement accounts must be
                        made in writing.
 
                        Redemption requests received by telephone after the
                        close of the Exchange are processed on the business day
                        following receipt and the proceeds are normally sent on
                        the second business day following receipt.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>   75
 
                        Redemption proceeds must be sent to you within seven
                        days of receipt of your request in Good Order, except as
                        described above in "Important Redemption Information."
 
                        If you experience difficulty in making a telephone
                        redemption during periods of drastic economic or market
                        changes, your redemption request may be made by regular
                        or express mail. It will be implemented at the net asset
                        value next determined after your request has been
                        received by Vanguard in Good Order. The Fund reserves
                        the right to revise or terminate the telephone
                        redemption privilege at any time.
 
                        The Fund may suspend the redemption right or postpone
                        payment at times when the New York Stock Exchange is
                        closed or under any emergency circumstances as
                        determined by the United States Securities and Exchange
                        Commission.
 
                        If the Board of Trustees determines that it would be
                        detrimental to the best interests of the Portfolio's
                        remaining shareholders to make payment in cash, the
                        Portfolios may pay redemption proceeds in whole or in
                        part by a distribution in kind of readily marketable
                        securities.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
VANGUARD'S AVERAGE
COST STATEMENT          If you make a redemption from a qualifying account,
                        Vanguard will send you an Average Cost Statement which
                        provides you with the tax basis of the shares you
                        redeemed. Please see "Statements and Reports" for
                        additional information.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
LOW BALANCE FEE AND
MINIMUM ACCOUNT
BALANCE REQUIREMENT     Due to the relatively high cost of maintaining smaller
                        accounts, each Portfolio will automatically deduct a $10
                        annual fee from non-retirement accounts with balances
                        falling below $2,500 ($500 for Uniform/transfers to
                        Minors Act accounts). This fee deduction will occur
                        mid-year, beginning in 1996. The fee generally will be
                        waived for investors whose aggregate Vanguard assets
                        exceed $50,000.
 
                        In addition, the Portfolios reserve the right to
                        liquidate any non-retirement account that is below the
                        minimum initial investment amount of $3,000. If at any
                        time your total investment does not have a value of at
                        least $3,000, you may be notified that the value of your
                        account is below the Fund's minimum account balance
                        requirement. You would then be allowed 60 days to make
                        an additional investment before the account is
                        liquidated. Proceeds would be promptly paid to the
                        registered shareholder.
 
                        Vanguard will not liquidate your account if it has
                        fallen below $3,000 solely as a result of declining
                        markets (i.e., a decline in a Portfolio's net asset
                        value).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       31
<PAGE>   76
 
EXCHANGING YOUR
SHARES                  Should your investment goals change, you may exchange
                        your shares of a Portfolio for those of other available
                        Vanguard Funds.
 
EXCHANGING BY
TELEPHONE
Call Client Services
(1-800-662-2739)        When exchanging shares by telephone, please have ready
                        the Portfolio name, account number, Social Security
                        Number or Employer Identification number listed on the
                        account and exact name and address in which the account
                        is registered. Only the registered shareholder may
                        complete such an exchange. Requests for telephone
                        exchanges received prior to the close of trading on the
                        New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern
                        time) are processed at the close of business that same
                        day. Requests received after the close of the Exchange
                        are processed the next business day. FOR REGULAR
                        INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS, TELEPHONE EXCHANGES ARE NOT
                        ACCEPTED INTO OR FROM VANGUARD BALANCED INDEX FUND,
                        VANGUARD INDEX TRUST, VANGUARD INTERNATIONAL EQUITY
                        INDEX FUND AND VANGUARD QUANTITATIVE PORTFOLIOS. If you
                        experience difficulty in making a telephone exchange,
                        your exchange request may be made by regular or express
                        mail, and it will be implemented at the closing net
                        asset value on the date received by Vanguard, provided
                        the request is received in Good Order.
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
EXCHANGING BY MAIL      Please be sure to include on your exchange request the
                        name and account number of your current Fund, the name
                        of the Fund you wish to exchange into, the amount you
                        wish to exchange, and the signatures of all registered
                        account holders. Send your request to VANGUARD FINANCIAL
                        CENTER, VANGUARD STAR FUND, P.O. BOX 1120, VALLEY FORGE,
                        PA 19482. (For express or registered mail, send your
                        request to Vanguard Financial Center, Vanguard STAR
                        Fund, 455 Devon Park Drive, Wayne, PA 19087.)
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPORTANT EXCHANGE
INFORMATION             Before you make an exchange, you should consider the
                        following:
 
                        - Please read the Fund's prospectus before making an
                          exchange. For a copy and for answers to any questions
                          you may have, call our Investor Information Department
                          (1-800-662-7447).
 
                        - An exchange between non-retirement accounts is treated
                          as a redemption and a purchase. Therefore, you could
                          realize a taxable gain or loss on the transaction.
 
                        - Exchanges are accepted only if the registrations and
                          the Taxpayer Identification numbers of the two
                          accounts are identical.
 
                        - The shares to be exchanged must be on deposit and not
                          held in certificate form.
 
   
                        - New accounts are not currently accepted in the
                          Vanguard/ Windsor Fund.
    
 
                        - The redemption price of shares redeemed by exchange is
                          the net asset value next determined after Vanguard has
                          received all required documentation in Good Order.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>   77
 
                        - When opening a new account by exchange, you must meet
                          the minimum investment requirement of the new Fund.
 
                        Every effort will be made to maintain the exchange
                        privilege. However, the Portfolios reserve the right to
                        revise or terminate their provisions, limit the amount
                        of or reject any exchange, as deemed necessary, at any
                        time. Shareholders would be notified prior to any
                        material change in the Fund's exchange policy.
 
                        The exchange privilege is only available in states in
                        which the shares of the Portfolio are registered for
                        sale. The Portfolio's shares are currently registered
                        for sale in all 50 states and the Portfolio intends to
                        maintain such registration.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
EXCHANGE
PRIVILEGE
LIMITATIONS             The Portfolios' exchange privileges are not intended to
                        afford shareholders a way to speculate on short-term
                        movements in the market. Accordingly, in order to
                        prevent excessive use of the exchange privilege that may
                        potentially disrupt the management of the Portfolios and
                        increase transaction costs, the Portfolios have
                        established a policy of limiting excessive exchange
                        activity.
 
                        Exchange activity generally will not be deemed excessive
                        if limited to TWO SUBSTANTIVE EXCHANGE REDEMPTIONS (AT
                        LEAST 30 DAYS APART) from the Portfolios during any
                        twelve-month period. Notwithstanding these limitations,
                        the Portfolios reserve the right to reject any purchase
                        request (including exchange purchases from other
                        Vanguard portfolios) that is reasonably deemed to be
                        disruptive to efficient portfolio management.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
ABOUT TELEPHONE
TRANSACTIONS            The ability to initiate redemptions (except wire
                        redemptions) and exchanges is automatically established
                        on your non-retirement investment account unless you
                        request in writing that telephone transactions on your
                        account not be permitted. The telephone exchange option
                        is automatically established on retirement accounts.
 
                        To protect your account from losses resulting from
                        unauthorized or fraudulent telephone instructions,
                        Vanguard adheres to the following security procedures:
 
                        1. SECURITY CHECK. To request a transaction by
                           telephone, the caller must know (i) the name of the
                           Portfolio; (ii) the 10-digit account number; (iii)
                           the exact name and address used in the registration;
                           and (iv) the Social Security or Employer
                           Identification number listed on the account.
 
                        2. PAYMENT POLICY. The proceeds of any telephone
                           redemption by mail will be made payable to the
                           registered shareowner and mailed to the address of
                           record only.
 
                        Neither the Portfolios nor Vanguard will be responsible
                        for the authenticity of transaction instructions
                        received by telephone, provided that reasonable security
                        procedures have been followed. Vanguard believes that
                        the security procedures described above are reasonable,
                        and that if
 
                                       33
<PAGE>   78
 
                        such procedures are followed, you will bear the risk of
                        any losses resulting from unauthorized or fraudulent
                        telephone transactions on your account. If Vanguard
                        fails to follow reasonable security procedures, it may
                        be liable for any losses resulting from unauthorized or
                        fraudulent telephone transactions on your account.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
TRANSFERRING
REGISTRATION            You may transfer the registration of any of your
                        Portfolio non-retirement account shares to another
                        person by completing a transfer form and sending it to:
                        VANGUARD FINANCIAL CENTER, P.O. BOX 1110, VALLEY FORGE,
                        PA 19482, ATTENTION: TRANSFER DEPARTMENT. The request
                        must be in Good Order. To request a transfer form and
                        full instructions, please call our Client Services
                        Department (1-800-662-2739).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
STATEMENTS AND
REPORTS                 Vanguard will send you a confirmation statement each
                        time you initiate a transaction in your account (except
                        for checkwriting redemptions from Vanguard money market
                        accounts). You will also receive a comprehensive account
                        statement at the end of each calendar quarter. The
                        fourth-quarter statement will be a year-end statement,
                        listing all transaction activity for the entire calendar
                        year.
 
                        Vanguard's Average Cost Statement provides you with the
                        average cost of shares redeemed from your account,
                        using the average cost single category method. This
                        service is available for most taxable accounts opened
                        since January 1, 1986. In general, investors who
                        redeemed shares from a qualifying Vanguard account may
                        expect to receive their Average Cost Statement along
                        with their Portfolio Summary Statement. Please call our
                        Client Services Department (1-800-662-2739) for
                        information.
 
                        Financial reports on the Fund will be mailed to you
                        semiannually, according to the Fund's fiscal year-end.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
OTHER VANGUARD
SERVICES                Many of these services are not available to (or
                        appropriate for) retirement account shareholders. For
                        more information about any of these services, please
                        call our Investor Information Department at
                        1-800-662-7447.
 
VANGUARD DIRECT
DEPOSIT SERVICE         With Vanguard's Direct Deposit Service, most U.S.
                        Government checks (including Social Security and
                        military pension checks) and private payroll checks may
                        be automatically deposited into your Vanguard Fund
                        account. Separate brochures and forms are available for
                        direct deposit of U.S. Government and private payroll
                        checks.
 
VANGUARD AUTOMATIC
EXCHANGE SERVICE        Vanguard's Automatic Exchange Service allows you to move
                        money automatically among your Vanguard Fund accounts.
                        For instance, the service can be used to "dollar cost
                        average" from a money market portfolio into a stock or
                        bond fund or to contribute to an IRA or other retirement
                        plan. Please contact our Client Services Department at
                        1-800-662-2739 for additional information.
 
                                       34
<PAGE>   79
 
VANGUARD FUND
EXPRESS                 Vanguard's Fund Express allows you to transfer money
                        between your Fund account and your account at a bank,
                        savings and loan association, or a credit union that is
                        a member of the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system.
                        You may elect this service on the Account Registration
                        Form or call our Investor Information Department
                        (1-800-662-7447) for a Fund Express application.
 
                        Special rules govern how your Fund Express purchases or
                        redemptions are credited to your account. In addition,
                        some services of Fund Express cannot be used with
                        specific Vanguard Funds. For more information, please
                        refer to the Vanguard Fund Express brochure.
 
VANGUARD DIVIDEND
EXPRESS                 Vanguard's Dividend Express allows you to transfer your
                        dividends and/or capital gains distributions
                        automatically from your Fund account, one business day
                        after the Fund's payable date, to your account at a
                        bank, savings and loan association, or a credit union
                        that is a member of the Automated Clearing House (ACH)
                        system. You may elect this service on the Account
                        Registration Form or call our Investor Information
                        Department (1-800-662-7447) for a Vanguard Dividend
                        Express application.
 
VANGUARD
TELE-ACCOUNT            Vanguard's Tele-Account is a convenient, automated
                        service that provides share price, price change and
                        yield quotations on Vanguard Funds through any
                        TouchTone(TM) telephone. This service also lets you
                        obtain information about your account balance, your last
                        transaction, and your most recent dividend or capital
                        gains payment. To contact Vanguard's Tele-Account
                        service, dial 1-800-ON-BOARD (1-800-662-6273). A
                        brochure offering detailed operating instructions is
                        available from our Investor Information Department
                        (1-800-662-7447).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       35
<PAGE>   80
 
                     [THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
<PAGE>   81
 
                     [THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
<PAGE>   82
 
                     [THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
<PAGE>   83
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>              <C>                                    <C>
                 ---------------------------
                 THE VANGUARD GROUP
                 Vanguard Financial Center
                 P.O. Box 2600
                 Valley Forge, PA 19482

                 INVESTOR INFORMATION
                   DEPARTMENT:
                 1-800-662-7447 (SHIP)
  
                 CLIENT SERVICES
                   DEPARTMENT:
                 1-800-662-2739 (CREW)
    
                 TELE-ACCOUNT FOR
                   24-HOUR ACCESS:
                 1-800-662-6273 (ON-BOARD)
      
                 TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE
                   FOR THE HEARING-IMPAIRED:
                 1-800-662-2738
        
                 TRANSFER AGENT:
                 The Vanguard Group, Inc.
                 Vanguard Financial Center
                 Valley Forge, PA 19482
     P088                                                                                                     010297
</TABLE>
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   84
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
PROSPECTUS -- JANUARY 2, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
PARTICIPANT SERVICES -- 1-800-523-1188
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVES AND
POLICIES              Vanguard STAR Fund is an open-end non-diversified
                      investment company which seeks to maximize total
                      investment return (i.e., capital growth and income)
                      subject to the investment restrictions and asset
                      allocation policies described in this Prospectus. The Fund
                      consists of six portfolios; however, this prospectus
                      relates only to four Portfolios, Income, Conservative
                      Growth, Moderate Growth, and Growth Portfolios (the
                      "Portfolios"). These four Portfolios invest in up to nine
                      Vanguard mutual funds, representing different combinations
                      of stocks, bonds and reserves and reflecting varying
                      degrees of potential investment risk and reward. There is
                      no assurance that the Portfolios will achieve their stated
                      objectives. Shares of the Fund are neither insured nor
                      guaranteed by any agency of the U.S. Government, including
                      the FDIC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
OPENING AN
ACCOUNT               The Portfolios are investment options under a retirement
                      or savings program sponsored by your employer. The
                      administrator of your retirement plan or your employee
                      benefits office can provide you with detailed information
                      on how to participate in your plan and how to elect a
                      Portfolio as an investment option.
 
                      If you have any questions about these Portfolios, please
                      contact Participant Services at 1-800-523-1188. If you
                      have any questions about your plan account, contact your
                      plan administrator or the organization that provides
                      recordkeeping services for your plan.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
ABOUT THIS
PROSPECTUS            This Prospectus is designed to set forth concisely the
                      information you should know about the Portfolios before
                      you invest. It should be retained for future reference. A
                      "Statement of Additional Information" containing
                      additional information about Vanguard STAR Fund has been
                      filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This
                      Statement is dated January 2, 1997 and has been
                      incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. A copy may
                      be obtained without charge by writing to the Fund or by
                      calling Participant Services at 1-800-523-1188.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                        <C>                                        <C>
                                  Page                                       Page                                       Page
Highlights ........................  2     Investment Risks .................  9      Dividends, Capital Gains
Portfolio Expenses ................  4     Who Should Invest ................ 11        and Taxes ...................... 19
Financial Highlights ..............  5     Implementation of Policies ....... 13      The Share Price of Each 
Yield and Total Return ............  6     Investment Limitations ........... 16        Portfolio ...................... 20
        PORTFOLIO INFORMATION              Management of the Portfolios ..... 16      General Information .............. 20
Investment Objectives .............  7     Investment Management ............ 18                   SERVICE GUIDE
Investment Policies ...............  8                                                Participating in Your Plan ....... 21
</TABLE>
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   85
 
                                   HIGHLIGHTS
 
OBJECTIVES AND
POLICIES              Vanguard STAR Fund is an open-end non-diversified
                      investment company which seeks to maximize total
                      investment return subject to the investment restrictions
                      and asset allocation policies described in the prospectus.
                      The Fund consists of six portfolios; however this
                      prospectus relates to only the Income, Conservative
                      Growth, Moderate Growth, and Growth Portfolios. These four
                      Portfolios invest
   
                      in up to eight Vanguard mutual funds, representing
                      different combinations of stocks, bonds, and reserves and
                      reflecting varying degrees of potential investment risk
                      and reward. In order to meet their objectives the
                      Portfolios invest in other Vanguard Funds.          PAGE 7
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
FOUR SEPARATE
PORTFOLIOS            Investors may choose to invest in any of the four
                      Portfolios, collectively known as Vanguard LIFEStrategy
                      Funds, based on personal objectives, time horizons, risk
                      tolerances, and financial circumstances:
 
                      Income Portfolio -- seeks to provide current income.
 
                      Conservative Growth Portfolio -- seeks to provide current
                      income and low to moderate growth of capital.
 
                      Moderate Growth Portfolio -- seeks to provide growth of
                      capital and a reasonable level of current income.
 
                      Growth Portfolio -- seeks to provide growth of
                      capital.                                            PAGE 7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
RISK
CHARACTERISTICS       The Portfolios differ in terms of stock market risk, bond
                      market risk, and inflation risk. STOCK MARKET RISK is the
                      possibility that stock prices in general will decline over
                      short or extended periods. Stock markets tend to be
                      cyclical with periods when stock prices generally rise or
                      fall. The Conservative Growth, Moderate Growth and Growth
                      Portfolios also will have exposure to foreign stock
                      markets, which are generally thought to be riskier than
                      domestic markets. BOND MARKET RISK is the possibility that
                      bond prices will decline over short or long periods due
                      primarily to changes in market interest rates. INFLATION
                      RISK is the possibility that rising prices for goods and
                      services will erode the real return of an investment in
                      stocks, bonds or reserves.
 
                      Two of the Portfolios, Moderate Growth and Growth, will
                      have a higher exposure to stock market risk because of the
                      significant investments these Portfolios have in stock
                      funds. While the other two Portfolios, Income and
                      Conservative Growth, will have higher exposure to bond
                      market risk because of the significant investment exposure
                      these Portfolios have in bond funds. These two Portfolios
                      are also considered to have greater inflation risk because
                      of their significant exposure to bonds and reserves.  PAGE
                      9
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
THE VANGUARD
GROUP                 The Officers of the Fund manage the Portfolios' day-to-day
                      operations. The Officers are directly responsible to the
                      Fund's Board of Trustees. The Officers of the Fund also
                      serve as Officers of each of the Vanguard Funds and of The
                      Vanguard Group,
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   86
 
   
                      Inc. ("Vanguard"). The Trustees each serve as Directors of
                      The Vanguard Group and most of the Funds within the
                      Group.                                             PAGE 18
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT            The Portfolios do not currently employ investment advisers
                      and therefore do not pay advisory fees. The Portfolios
                      currently do not have portfolio managers. The
                      determination of how the Portfolios' assets will be
                      invested in certain Vanguard funds is made by the Fund's
                      Officers pursuant to the investment objectives and
                      policies. However, the Portfolios as shareholders of each
                      of the underlying Vanguard funds, benefit from the
                      investment advisory services of each of the underlying
                      funds and will indirectly bear their proportionate share
                      of any investment advisory fees paid by those Funds.  PAGE
                      18
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
DIVIDENDS, CAPITAL
GAINS AND TAXES       The Income and Conservative Growth Portfolios will make
                      quarterly dividend distributions; while the Moderate
                      Growth and Growth Portfolios will make semi-annual
                      dividend distributions. Capital gains distributions, if
                      any, will be made annually for each Portfolio.     PAGE 19
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   87
 
PORTFOLIO
EXPENSES              The following table illustrates ALL expenses and fees that
                      you would incur as a shareholder of the Portfolios. The
                      expenses and fees set forth in the table are for the 1995
                      fiscal year.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   SHAREHOLDER                      CONSERVATIVE     MODERATE 
                                   TRANSACTION         INCOME         GROWTH          GROWTH        GROWTH
                                     EXPENSES         PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO 
                                  ------------        ---------     ------------    ---------      ---------
                           <S>                       <C>           <C>              <C>           <C>
                           Sales Load Imposed on
                             Purchases...............    None          None            None          None
                           Sales Load Imposed on
                             Reinvested Dividends....    None          None            None          None
                           Redemption Fees...........    None          None            None          None
                           Exchange Fees.............    None          None            None          None
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    CONSERVATIVE     MODERATE 
                                   ANNUAL FUND          INCOME         GROWTH         GROWTH        GROWTH
                               OPERATING EXPENSES     PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO 
                                  ------------        ---------     ------------    ---------      ---------
                           <S>                       <C>           <C>              <C>           <C>
                           Management &
                             Administrative
                             Expenses................    None          None            None          None
                           Investment Advisory
                             Fees....................    None          None            None          None
                           12b-1 Fees................    None          None            None          None
                           Other Expenses
                             Distribution Costs......    None          None            None          None
                             Miscellaneous
                               Expenses..............    None          None            None          None
                           Total Other Expenses......    None          None            None          None
                                                     -------       ---------        -------       -------
                                    TOTAL OPERATING
                                      EXPENSES.......    NONE          NONE            NONE          NONE
                                                     -------       ---------        -------       -------
                                                     -------       ---------        -------       -------
</TABLE>
 
                      The purpose of these tables is to assist you in
                      understanding the various costs and expenses that you
                      would bear directly or indirectly as an investor in the
                      Portfolios.
 
                      The Portfolios did not incur any expenses in fiscal year
                      1995, and have not incurred any operating expenses since
                      their inception on September 30, 1994. However, while the
                      Portfolios are expected to operate without expenses,
                      shareholders in the Portfolios bear indirectly the
                      expenses of the underlying Vanguard Funds in which the
                      Portfolios invest.
 
                      The following chart provides the indirect expense ratio
                      for each Portfolio based on its investments in the
                      underlying Vanguard Funds, for the year ended December 31,
                      1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    CONSERVATIVE     MODERATE 
                                                       INCOME         GROWTH          GROWTH        GROWTH
                                                      PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO 
                                                      ---------     ------------    ---------      ---------
                           <S>                       <C>           <C>              <C>           <C>
                           Indirect Expense Ratio....    0.33%         0.33%           0.33%         0.33%
</TABLE>
 
                      Using the above indirect expense ratios for the
                      Portfolios, the following example illustrates the expenses
                      that you would incur on a $1,000 investment over various
                      periods, assuming (1) a 5% annual rate of return and (2)
                      redemption at the end of each period. As noted previously,
                      the Portfolios charge no redemption fees of any kind.
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   88
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         1 YEAR      3 YEARS     5 YEARS     10 YEARS
                                                         -------     -------     -------     --------
                        <S>                              <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
                        Income Portfolio...............    $ 3         $11         $19         $ 42
                        Conservative Growth
                          Portfolio....................    $ 3         $11         $19         $ 42
                        Moderate Growth Portfolio......    $ 3         $11         $19         $ 42
                        Growth Portfolio...............    $ 3         $11         $19         $ 42
</TABLE>
 
                      THIS EXAMPLE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF
                      PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES OR PERFORMANCE. ACTUAL EXPENSES
                      MAY BE HIGHER OR LOWER THAN THOSE SHOWN.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS            The following financial highlights for each of the fiscal
                      periods ended December 31, 1995 have been audited by Price
                      Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants, whose report on
                      the financial statements which contain this information
                      was unqualified. The information for the six-month period
                      ended June 30, 1996 has not been audited by independent
                      accountants. This information should be read in
                      conjunction with the LIFEStrategy Fund's financial
                      statements and notes thereto, which are incorporated by
                      reference in the Statement of Additional Information and
                      this Prospectus, and which appear, along with the report
                      of Price Waterhouse LLP, in the Fund's 1995 Annual Report
                      to Shareholders. For a more complete discussion of the
                      Fund's performance, please see the Fund's 1995 Annual
                      Report to Shareholders, which may be obtained without
                      charge by writing to the Fund or by calling our Investor
                      Information Department at 1-800-662-7447.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               INCOME PORTFOLIO                            CONSERVATIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO
                                       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  SIX MONTHS      YEAR ENDED     SEPTEMBER 30+      SIX MONTHS      YEAR ENDED     SEPTEMBER 30+
                                ENDED JUNE 30,   DECEMBER 31,   TO DECEMBER 31,   ENDED JUNE 30,   DECEMBER 31,   TO DECEMBER 31,
                                     1996            1995            1994              1996            1995            1994
<S>                             <C>              <C>            <C>               <C>              <C>            <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF
 PERIOD........................     $11.54           $9.88          $ 10.00           $11.68           $9.89          $ 10.03
                                 ---------        --------        ---------        ---------        --------        ---------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS
 Income Distributions
   Received....................        .29             .49              .14              .22             .47              .14
 Capital Gain Distributions
   Received....................        .01             .09               --              .02             .11              .01
                                 ---------        --------        ---------        ---------        --------        ---------
 Total Distributions
   Received....................        .30             .58              .14              .24             .58              .15
 Net Realized and Unrealized
   Gain (Loss) on Investments..       (.16)           1.66             (.12)             .14            1.80             (.14)
                                 ---------        --------        ---------        ---------        --------        ---------
   TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT
     OPERATIONS................        .14            2.24              .02              .38            2.38              .01
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTIONS
 Dividends From Net Investment
   Income......................       (.29)           (.49)            (.14)            (.22)           (.47)            (.14)
 Distributions From Realized
   Capital Gains...............         --            (.09)              --               --            (.12)            (.01)
                                 ---------        --------        ---------        ---------        --------        ---------
   TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS.........       (.29)           (.58)            (.14)            (.22)           (.59)            (.15)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF
 PERIOD........................     $11.39          $11.54            $9.88           $11.84          $11.68            $9.89
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN...................      +1.23%          22.99%            0.20%           +3.27%          24.35%            0.10%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net Assets, End of Period
 (Millions)....................       $139            $121              $11             $356            $219              $41
Ratio of Expenses to Average
 Net Assets....................          0%              0%               0%               0%              0%               0%
Ratio of Net Investment Income
 to Average Net Assets.........       5.20%*          5.76%            7.31%*           4.13%*          5.14%            7.07%*
Portfolio Turnover Rate........         19%              4%               1%               1%              1%               0%
* Annualized.
+ Commencement of Operations.
</TABLE>
    
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   89
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           MODERATE GROWTH PORTFOLIO                             GROWTH PORTFOLIO
                                       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  SIX MONTHS      YEAR ENDED     SEPTEMBER 30+      SIX MONTHS      YEAR ENDED     SEPTEMBER 30+
                                ENDED JUNE 30,   DECEMBER 31,   TO DECEMBER 31,   ENDED JUNE 30,   DECEMBER 31,   TO DECEMBER 31,
                                     1996            1995            1994              1996            1995            1994
<S>                             <C>              <C>            <C>               <C>              <C>            <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE, BEGINNING OF
 PERIOD........................     $12.11           $9.86          $ 10.08           $12.36           $9.93          $ 10.10
                                 ---------        --------        ---------        ---------        --------        ---------
INVESTMENT OPERATIONS
 Income Distributions
   Received....................        .17             .36              .14              .11             .32              .13
 Capital Gain Distributions
   Received....................        .01             .13              .01              .02             .14              .02
                                 ---------        --------        ---------        ---------        --------        ---------
 Total Distributions
   Received....................        .18             .49              .15              .13             .46              .15
 Net Realized and Unrealized
   Gain (Loss) on Investments..        .40            2.25             (.22)             .68            2.43             (.16)
                                 ---------        --------        ---------        ---------        --------        ---------
   TOTAL FROM INVESTMENT
     OPERATIONS................        .58            2.74             (.07)             .81            2.89             (.01)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISTRIBUTIONS
 Dividends From Net Investment
   Income......................       (.17)           (.36)            (.14)            (.11)           (.31)            (.14)
 Distributions From Realized
   Capital Gains...............         --            (.13)            (.01)              --            (.15)            (.02)
                                 ---------        --------        ---------        ---------        --------        ---------
   TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS.........       (.17)           (.49)            (.15)            (.11)           (.46)            (.16)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSET VALUE, END OF
 PERIOD........................     $12.52          $12.11            $9.86           $13.09          $12.36            $9.93
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RETURN...................      +4.80%          27.94%           (0.70)%          +6.80%          29.24%           (0.10)%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Net Assets, End of Period
 (Millions)....................       $521            $235              $35             $453            $217              $38
Ratio of Expenses to Average
 Net Assets....................          0%              0%               0%               0%              0%               0%
Ratio of Net Investment Income
 to Average Net Assets.........       3.20%*          4.42%            7.10%*           2.15%*          3.67%            7.06%*
Portfolio Turnover Rate........          1%              1%               0%               0%              1%               1%
* Annualized.
+ Commencement of Operations.
</TABLE>
    
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
YIELD AND
TOTAL RETURN          From time to time the Portfolios may advertise their yield
                      and total return. Both yield and total return figures are
                      based on historical earnings and are not intended to
                      indicate future performance. The "total return" of the
                      Portfolios refers to the average annual compounded rates
                      of return over one-, five- and ten-year periods or for the
                      life of the Portfolios (as stated in the advertisement)
                      that would equate an initial amount invested at the
                      beginning of a stated period to the ending redeemable
                      value of the investment, assuming the reinvestment of all
                      dividend and capital gains distributions.
 
                      In accordance with industry guidelines set forth by the
                      U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the "30-day
                      yield" of a Portfolio is calculated by dividing net
                      investment income per share earned during a 30-day period
                      by the net asset value per share on the last day of the
                      period. Net investment income includes interest and
                      dividend income earned on the Portfolio's securities; it
                      is net of all expenses and all recurring and nonrecurring
                      charges that have been applied to all shareholder
                      accounts. The yield calculation assumes that net
                      investment income earned over 30 days is compounded
                      monthly for six months and then annualized. Methods used
                      to calculate advertised yields are standardized for all
                      stock and bond mutual funds. However, these methods differ
                      from the accounting methods used by the Portfolios to
                      maintain their books and records, and so the advertised
                      30-day yield may not fully reflect the income paid an
                      investor's account.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   90
 
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVES            The objective of the Portfolios is to maximize total
                      investment return (i.e., capital growth and income)
                      subject to the investment restrictions and asset
                      allocation policies described in this Prospectus.
                      Specifically:
 
                      - The INCOME PORTFOLIO seeks to provide current income.
 
                      - The CONSERVATIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO seeks to provide
                        current income and low to moderate growth of capital.
 
                      - The MODERATE GROWTH PORTFOLIO seeks to provide growth of
                        capital and a reasonable level of current income.
 
                      - The GROWTH PORTFOLIO seeks to provide growth of capital.
 
                      The investment objectives of the Portfolios are summarized
                      below in a chart that illustrates the degree to which each
                      Portfolio seeks to obtain income, growth of capital and
                      stability of principal:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       PORTFOLIO NAME             INCOME   GROWTH OF CAPITAL   RISK OF PRINCIPAL
                                      ---------------             -------  -----------------   ----------------
<S>                         <C>                                   <C>      <C>                 <C>
                            Income Portfolio....................  High     Negligible          Medium
                            Conservative Growth Portfolio.......  Medium   Low                 Low
                            Moderate Growth Portfolio...........  Medium   Low to Medium       Low
                            Growth Portfolio....................  Low      Medium to High      Very Low
</TABLE>
 
                      There is no assurance that the Portfolios will achieve
                      their stated objectives.
 
                      The investment objective of each Portfolio is fundamental
                      and so cannot be changed without the approval of a
                      majority of shareholders.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
ASSET ALLOCATION
FRAMEWORK             Asset allocation between stocks, bonds and reserves is the
                      most critical investment decision an investor makes.
                      Selecting the appropriate mix should be based on personal
                      objectives, time horizons and risk tolerances. These
                      Portfolios provide different types of investors with a
                      simple way to meet target asset allocations.
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   91
 
                      In order to achieve their investment objectives, the
                      Portfolios maintain different allocations of stocks, bonds
                      and reserves(1), reflecting varying degrees of potential
                      investment risk and reward. These asset class allocations
                      provide investors with four diversified, distinct options
                      that meet a wide array of investor needs. The pie charts
                      below, illustrate the expected asset allocation for each
                      Portfolio:
 

                                             Income Portfolio
                                             Bonds        60%
                                             Reserves     20%
                                             Equity       20%

                                             Allocation Ranges
                                             -----------------
                                          Stocks .......... 5%-30%
                                          Bonds ...........45%-75%
                                          Reserves ........20%-50%

                                        Conservative Growth Portfolio
                                             Bonds        40%
                                             Reserves     20%
                                             Equity       40%

                                             Allocation Ranges
                                             -----------------
                                          Stocks ..........25%-50%
                                          Bonds ...........30%-55%
                                          Reserves ........20%-45%


                                          Moderate Growth Portfolio
                                             Bonds        40%
                                             Equity       60%

                                             Allocation Ranges
                                             -----------------
                                          Stocks ..........45%-70%
                                          Bonds ...........30%-55%
                                          Reserves ........ 0%-25%


                                             Growth Portfolio
                                             Bonds        20%
                                             Equity       80%

                                             Allocation Ranges
                                             -----------------
                                          Stocks ..........65%-90%
                                          Bonds ...........10%-35%
                                          Reserves ........ 0%-25%


                    (1) "Reserves" will consist of the VFISF Short-Term
                        Corporate Portfolio and cash instruments held by VAAF.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
   
INVESTMENT
POLICIES
THE PORTFOLIOS INVEST
IN A DIVERSIFIED
PORTFOLIO OF
VANGUARD FUNDS        Each Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective by investing
                      in a different combination of other Vanguard Funds. As
                      investments for the Portfolios, the Trustees have chosen
                      Vanguard Index Trust ("VIT") -- Total Stock Market
                      Portfolio, Vanguard STAR Fund -- Total International
                      Portfolio ("TIP"), Vanguard International Equity Index
                      Fund -- Europe, Pacific and Emerging Markets Portfolios,
                      Vanguard Asset Allocation Fund ("VAAF"), and Vanguard
                      Fixed Income Securities Fund ("VFISF") -- Short-Term
                      Corporate Portfolio and Vanguard Bond Index Fund -- Total
                      Bond Market Portfolio to be the underlying investments of
                      the Portfolios. Each Portfolio invests in these Funds
                      using fixed formulas in order to provide investors
    
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   92
 
                      with the targeted asset allocation. Below is a table
                      showing, by investment category, how the Portfolios will
                      invest in the selected Vanguard Funds.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    INVESTMENTS IN THE UNDERLYING VANGUARD FUNDS

                                                                                    PERCENT OF    PERCENT OF   
                                                                     PERCENT OF    CONSERVATIVE    MODERATE       PERCENT OF
                              INVESTMENT            UNDERLYING         INCOME         GROWTH        GROWTH          GROWTH 
                               CATEGORY           VANGUARD FUNDS      PORTFOLIO     PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO
                              ----------          --------------      ---------     -----------    ---------      ----------

                           <S>                <C>                     <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>
                           Stocks             VIT -- Total Stock
                           - US               Market Portfolio......       5%           20%           35%          50%

                                              Vanguard Total
                                              International
                           - International    Portfolio(1)..........       0%            5%           10%          15%

                                              Total Bond Market
                           Bonds              Portfolio.............      50%           30%           30%          10%
                                              VFISF -- STCorp

                           Reserves           Portfolio(2)..........      20%           20%            0%           0%

                           Asset Allocation   Vanguard Asset
                           Component          Allocation Fund.......      25%           25%           25%          25%
                                                                      --------     ---------      --------     --------
                                              Total.................     100%          100%          100%         100%

                         (1) The Portfolio will invest in the European, Pacific and Emerging Markets Portfolios of
                             Vanguard International Equity Index Fund, Inc. so that the combined weights parallel the
                             Morgan Stanley Capital International -- EAFE + EMF Index. As described on page 13, a
                             transition period during which assets will continue to be invested directly in the European,
                             Pacific and Emerging Markets Portfolios will be necessary.
                         (2) "Reserves" are neither cash nor money market instruments. The Short-Term Corporate Portfolio
                             invests in short-term corporate bonds and has experienced fluctuations in its net asset
                             value equal to approximately 18% since its inception. Accordingly, the Portfolios' indirect
                             investment in "reserves" can be expected to fluctuate within a similar range.
</TABLE>
    
 
   
                      The allocation of each Portfolio's assets among the
                      Vanguard Funds was made by the Officers of the Fund under
                      the supervision of the Fund's Board of Trustees, and was
                      based on prudent asset allocation guidelines.
    
 
                      The investment restrictions and asset allocation policies
                      set forth above are designed to assure that the Portfolios
                      maintain consistent investment approaches in pursuit of
                      their objectives.
 
                      From time to time, the Portfolios' investments in the
                      underlying Vanguard Funds may be limited by certain
                      factors. For example, the Board of Directors of any of the
                      underlying Vanguard Funds may impose limits on additional
                      investments in a particular Fund.
 
                      See "Implementation of Policies" for a description of
                      other investment practices of the Portfolios.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT RISKS      Like any investment program, an investment in one or more
                      of the Portfolios entails certain risks. As mutual funds
                      investing in different combinations of stocks, bonds and
                      reserves, the Portfolios are subject to different levels
                      of stock market, bond market and inflation risks.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   93
 
MARKET RISK --
STOCKS
                      Stock MARKET RISK is the possibility that stock prices in
                      general will decline over short or even extended periods.
                      The stock market tends to be cyclical, with periods when
                      stock prices generally rise and periods when stock prices
                      generally decline. Also, investments in foreign stock
                      markets can be volatile, if not more volatile than
                      investments in US markets.
 
                      To illustrate the volatility of stock prices, the
                      following table sets forth the extremes for U.S. stock
                      market returns as well as the average return for the
                      period from 1926 to 1995, as measured by the Standard &
                      Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          AVERAGE ANNUAL U.S. STOCK MARKET RETURNS (1926-1995)
                                       OVER VARIOUS TIME HORIZONS

                                    1 YEAR     5 YEARS     10 YEARS     20 YEARS
                                    ------     -------     --------     --------
                        <S>         <C>        <C>         <C>          <C>
                        Best        +53.9 %     +23.9%       +20.1%       +16.9%
                        Worst       -43.3       -12.5        - 0.9        + 3.1
                        Average     +12.5       +10.3        +10.7        +10.7
</TABLE>
 
                      As shown, common stocks have provided annual total returns
                      (capital appreciation plus dividend income) averaging
                      +10.7% for all 10-year periods from 1926 to 1995. The
                      return in individual years has varied from a low of -43.3%
                      to a high of +53.9%, reflecting the short-term volatility
                      of stock prices. Average return may not be useful for
                      forecasting future returns in any particular period, as
                      stock returns are quite volatile from year to year and
                      interim losses are inevitable. For example, after the
                      "bear market" of 1973-1974, it took four years for many
                      investors to recover their losses (assuming dividends were
                      reinvested). And if you invested in stocks during the
                      Great Crash of 1929, it would have taken an average of
                      eight years for your investment to return to its original
                      value.
 
MARKET RISK --
BONDS
                      The bond market is typically less risky than the stock
                      market, although there have been times when some bonds
                      were just as risky as stocks. For example, bond prices
                      fell 48% from December 1976 to September 1981. The risk of
                      bonds declining in value, however, may be offset in whole
                      or in part by the high level of income that bonds provide.
                      Bond prices are linked to prevailing interest rates in the
                      economy. The price volatility of a bond depends on its
                      maturity; the longer the maturity of a bond, the greater
                      its sensitivity to interest rates. In general, when
                      interest rates rise, the prices of bonds fall; conversely,
                      when interest rates fall, bond prices generally rise.
 
                      From time to time, the stock and bond markets may
                      fluctuate independently of one another. In other words, a
                      decline in the stock market may in certain instances be
                      offset by a rise in the bond market, or vice versa. As a
                      result, each Portfolio, with its unique balance of common
                      stocks, bonds and reserves, is expected in the long run to
                      entail less investment risk (and potentially less
                      investment return) than a mutual fund investing
                      exclusively in common stocks.
 
INFLATION RISK        Like market risk, inflation represents a significant
                      threat to even a well-diversified portfolio because
                      inflation erodes the real return of an investment in
                      stocks, bonds or reserves. Historically, inflation has
                      averaged 3.1%, offsetting most of the return from reserves
                      and bonds, but less than half of the return from stocks.
                      For this
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   94
 
                      reason, stocks are referred to as an "inflation hedge," a
                      way to protect your money against inflation.
 
FOREIGN
SECURITIES' RISK      The Conservative Growth, Moderate Growth and Growth
                      Portfolios may invest in Foreign securities. For U.S.
                      investors, the returns of foreign investments are
                      influenced by not only the returns on foreign common
                      stocks themselves, but also by CURRENCY RISK -- i.e.,
                      changes in the value of the currencies in which the stocks
                      are denominated. In a period when the U.S. dollar
                      generally rises against foreign currencies, the returns on
                      foreign stocks for a U.S. investor may be diminished. By
                      contrast, in a period when the U.S. dollar generally
                      declines, the returns on foreign stocks may be enhanced.
 
                      Other risks and considerations of international investing
                      include the following: differences in accounting, auditing
                      and financial reporting standards; generally higher
                      commission rates on foreign portfolio transactions; the
                      smaller trading volumes and generally lower liquidity of
                      foreign stock markets, which may result in greater price
                      volatility; foreign withholding taxes payable on a
                      Portfolio's foreign securities, which may reduce dividend
                      income payable to shareholders; the possibility of
                      expropriation or confiscatory taxation; adverse changes in
                      investment or exchange control regulations; difficulty in
                      obtaining a judgment from a foreign court; political
                      instability which could affect U.S. investment in foreign
                      countries; and potential restrictions on the flow of
                      international capital.
 
                      The Portfolios are concentrated in investment companies of
                      The Vanguard Group, so investors should be aware that each
                      Portfolio's performance is directly related to the
                      investment performance of the Vanguard Funds in which it
                      invests and each Portfolio's allocation among the Funds.
                      First, changes in the net asset values of the underlying
                      Vanguard Funds affect each Portfolio's net asset value.
                      Second, over the long-term, each Portfolio's ability to
                      meet its investment objective depends on the underlying
                      Vanguard Funds meeting their investment objectives.
 
INVESTORS ARE
SUBJECT TO
MANAGER RISK          While the Portfolios do not directly hold securities, the
                      Portfolios are subject to MANAGER RISK of the underlying
                      Funds, which is the possibility that the underlying Funds'
                      portfolio managers may fail to execute the underlying
                      Funds' investment strategies effectively. As a result, the
                      Portfolios may fail to meet their stated objectives.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
WHO SHOULD
INVEST
INVESTORS SEEKING
A BALANCED
RETIREMENT
INVESTMENT PROGRAM    The Portfolios are designed for investors who are planning
                      for retirement or who are in retirement and maintain
                      investments in certain tax-advantaged accounts and/or
                      other long-term investment savings. Because of the risks
                      associated with common stock and bond investments, the
                      Portfolios are intended to be long-term investment
                      vehicles and are not designed to provide investors with a
                      means of speculating on market movements. Specifically:
 
                      - The INCOME PORTFOLIO may be suitable for investors
                        seeking current income. Investors should have sufficient
                        time and tolerance for investment volatility to accept
                        periodic, though moderate, declines. The Portfolio is
                        most suitable for
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   95
 
                       investors with a lower tolerance for risk or with a
                       shorter time horizon (at least 3-5 years). Example:
                       investors who are investing during late retirement.
 
                      - The CONSERVATIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO is suitable for
                        investors who are seeking current income and low to
                        moderate growth of capital. Investors should have both
                        sufficient time and tolerance for investment volatility
                        to accept periodic declines. The Portfolio is most
                        appropriate for investors with a reasonably long time
                        horizon. Example: investors who are investing during
                        early retirement.
 
                      - The MODERATE GROWTH PORTFOLIO is suitable for investors
                        who are still seeking reasonable stock market exposure,
                        but who are not willing to take the substantial market
                        risks of the Growth Portfolio. Investors should have
                        both the time and tolerance for investment volatility to
                        accept possibly large declines. The Portfolio is most
                        appropriate for investors with a long time horizon.
                        Example: investors in their 50s who are saving on a
                        regular basis for retirement and who plan to retire in
                        their early to mid 60s.
 
                      - The GROWTH PORTFOLIO is suitable for investors seeking
                        the potential for capital growth that a fund investing
                        predominantly in common stocks may offer. Investors
                        should have both the time and tolerance for investment
                        volatility to accept substantial declines. The Portfolio
                        is most appropriate for investors with a very long time
                        horizon. Example: investors in their 20s, 30s, or 40s
                        who are saving for retirement and who plan to retire in
                        their early to mid 60s.
 
                      Investors can choose any of these four Portfolios,
                      depending on personal investment objectives, time horizons
                      and risk tolerances. For example: investors in their 40s
                      who are sensitive to market risk may choose the Moderate
                      Growth Portfolio; while investors in their 40s who are not
                      as sensitive to market risk may choose the Growth
                      Portfolio.
 
                      The Portfolios may be especially suitable for
                      tax-advantaged retirement accounts, including: Individual
                      Retirement Accounts (IRAs), Simplified Employee Plans
                      (SEPs), 403(b)(7) tax-sheltered retirement plans for
                      employees of non-profit organizations, 401(k) savings
                      plans, profit-sharing and money-purchase pension plans,
                      and other corporate pension and savings plans. While the
                      Portfolios are specifically designed for tax-advantaged
                      retirement accounts, shares may also be purchased by
                      investors for other long-term general retirement savings
                      purposes.
 
                      Investors who engage in excessive account activity
                      generate additional costs which are borne by all of the
                      Portfolios' shareholders. In order to minimize such costs
                      the Portfolios have adopted the following policies. The
                      Portfolios reserve the right to reject any purchase
                      request (including exchange purchases from other Vanguard
                      portfolios) that is reasonably deemed to be disruptive to
                      efficient portfolio management, either because of the
                      timing of the investment or previous excessive trading by
                      the investor. Additionally, the Portfolios reserve the
                      right to suspend the offering of their shares.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   96
 
IMPLEMENTATION
OF POLICIES           The Vanguard Funds in which the Portfolios invest, as well
                      as certain other investment practices of the Portfolios,
                      are described below. Investors desiring more information
                      on an underlying Vanguard Fund described below should call
                      Vanguard's Participant Services Department at
                      (1-800-523-1188) for the prospectus.
 
   
THE PORTFOLIOS
INVEST IN SEVERAL
EQUITY FUNDS
                      The TOTAL STOCK MARKET PORTFOLIO is one of six Portfolios
                      of Vanguard Index Trust, an open-end diversified
                      investment company. The Total Stock Market Portfolio is an
                      index fund which seeks to match the investment performance
                      of the Wilshire 5000 Index, an index consisting of all
                      regularly and publicly traded US stocks. The Total Stock
                      Market Portfolio attempts to match the Wilshire 5000 Index
                      by investing in a statistically selected sample of the
                      more than 6,000 stocks included in the Index.
    
 
   
                      The TOTAL INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIO is a "Fund of Funds"
                      that invests in each of the three Portfolios (European,
                      Pacific and Emerging Markets) of Vanguard International
                      Equity Index Fund, an open-end diversified investment
                      company. Approximately 45% of the assets of the Total
                      International Portfolio are invested in the European
                      Portfolio, 45% are invested in the Pacific Portfolio and
                      10% are invested in the Emerging Markets Portfolio. The
                      European Portfolio is an index fund which seeks to
                      replicate the aggregate price and yield performance of the
                      MSCI-Europe (Free) Index, a diversified,
                      capitalization-weighted index comprised of companies
                      located in 14 European countries (Austria, Belgium,
                      Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,
                      Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and
                      United Kingdom). The Pacific Portfolio is an index fund
                      which seeks to replicate the aggregate price and yield
                      performance of the MSCI-Pacific Index, a diversified,
                      capitalization-weighted index comprised of companies
                      located in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand and
                      Singapore. Both the European and Pacific Portfolios
                      attempt to match their indexes by investing in
                      statistically selected samples of the stocks included in
                      their respective indexes. The EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO
                      is an index fund which seeks to track the performance of
                      the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) -- Select
                      Emerging Markets (Free) Index, which is made up of common
                      stocks of companies located in 14 emerging markets within
                      Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America (Argentina, Brazil,
                      Greece, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico,
                      Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand,
                      and Turkey).
    
 
   
                      The Portfolios investments in the European and Pacific
                      Portfolios will not be replaced by an investment in the
                      Total International Portfolio in the near term for tax
                      purposes. Instead, the portion of new cash flow that
                      should be invested in international stocks will be
                      directed to the Emerging Markets Portfolio until the
                      proper weightings among the European, Pacific, and
                      Emerging Markets portfolios are achieved. Thereafter, the
                      LIFEStrategy Portfolios international stock investments
                      will be directed to the Total International Portfolio.
                      This means that the LIFEStrategy Portfolios with
                      international stock investments will hold shares of the
                      European, Pacific, Emerging Markets and Total
                      International Portfolios. When the tax consequences
                      associated with selling shares of the European, Pacific
                      and Emerging Markets portfolios are less significant, they
                      will be replaced by shares of the Total International
                      Portfolio.
    
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   97
 
   
                      All four Portfolios will invest a portion of their assets
                      in the Total Stock Market Portfolio. However, only the
                      Conservative Growth, Moderate Growth, and Growth
                      Portfolios will invest in the Total International
                      Portfolio.
    
 
                      These three equity index funds are not managed according
                      to traditional methods of active investment management,
                      which involve the buying and selling of securities based
                      upon economic, financial, and market analyses and
                      investment judgment. Instead, the funds use a "passive" or
                      indexing investment approach to duplicate the results of
                      their respective indexes. The three index funds do not pay
                      advisory fees. All index matching services are provided to
                      the three funds on an at-cost basis by the Core Management
                      Group of The Vanguard Group.
 
   
THE PORTFOLIOS
INVEST IN TWO
VANGUARD BOND
PORTFOLIOS
                      The Short-Term Corporate Portfolio of Vanguard Fixed
                      Income Securities Fund and the Total Bond Market Portfolio
                      of Vanguard Bond Index Fund are bond funds, which seek to
                      provide current income by investing in fixed-income
                      securities. These Portfolios have distinct investment
                      policies.
    
 
   
                      The SHORT-TERM CORPORATE PORTFOLIO invests in a
                      diversified portfolio of investment grade quality
                      corporate bonds with an expected dollar-weighted average
                      maturity of one to three years. The TOTAL BOND MARKET
                      PORTFOLIO will invest in a portfolio of fixed-income
                      securities selected to match the Lehman Brothers Aggregate
                      Bond Index (the "Aggregate Bond Index"). The Aggregate
                      Bond Index is a broad market-weighted index which
                      encompasses four major classes of investment grade fixed-
                      income securities in the United States: U.S. Treasury and
                      agency securities, corporate bonds, international
                      (dollar-denominated) bonds, and mortgage-backed
                      securities, with maturities greater than one year.
    
 
   
                      Each Portfolio will invest a portion of its assets in the
                      Total Bond Market Portfolio, while only the Income
                      Portfolio and Conservative Growth Portfolio will invest in
                      the Short-Term Corporate Portfolio.
    
 
ALL FOUR PORTFOLIOS
INVEST IN AN ASSET
ALLOCATION COMPONENT  VANGUARD ASSET ALLOCATION FUND, an open-end diversified
                      investment company, allocates its assets among a common
                      stock portfolio, a bond portfolio and money market
                      instruments. The investment adviser allocates the Fund's
                      assets among stocks, bonds, and money market instruments
                      in proportions which reflect the anticipated returns and
                      risks of each asset class. The estimates of return and
                      risk are developed based upon the adviser's disciplined
                      valuation methodology. There are no limitations on the
                      amount of the Fund's assets which may be allocated to each
                      of the three asset classes (stocks, bonds, and money
                      market instruments).
 
THE PORTFOLIOS AND
EACH UNDERLYING FUND
MAY INVEST IN
SHORT-TERM FIXED
INCOME SECURITIES     The Portfolios and their underlying Vanguard Funds are
                      authorized to invest temporarily in certain short-term
                      fixed income securities for defensive purposes. Such
                      securities may be used to invest uncommitted cash balances
                      or to maintain liquidity to meet shareholder redemptions.
                      Each of the Portfolio's underlying Vanguard Funds may also
                      invest in such securities to take a temporary defensive
                      position against potential stock or bond market declines.
                      These securities include: obligations of the U.S.
                      Government and its agencies and instrumentalities;
                      commercial paper, bank certificates of deposit, and
                      bankers' acceptances; and repurchase agreements
                      collateralized by these securities.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   98
 
DERIVATIVE
INVESTING
                      Derivatives are instruments whose values are linked to or
                      derived from an underlying security or index. The most
                      common and conventional types of derivative securities are
                      futures and options.
 
   
THE PORTFOLIOS AND
EACH UNDERLYING FUND
MAY INVEST IN FUTURES
CONTRACTS AND OPTIONS The Portfolios and their underlying Vanguard Funds may
                      invest in futures contracts and options to a limited
                      extent. Specifically, the Portfolios' underlying funds
                      including Total Stock Market Portfolio, Total
                      International Portfolio, VIEIF-- European, Pacific and
                      Emerging Markets Portfolios, Short-Term Corporate
                      Portfolio, Total Bond Market Portfolio, and Vanguard Asset
                      Allocation Fund may invest in futures contracts and
                      options.
    
 
                      Futures contracts and options may be used for several
                      reasons: to simulate full investment in the underlying
                      securities while retaining a cash balance for Fund
                      management purposes, to facilitate trading, to reduce
                      transaction costs, or to seek higher investment returns
                      when a futures contract is priced more attractively than
                      the underlying security or index. While futures contracts
                      and options can be used as leveraged instruments, neither
                      the Portfolios nor the underlying Funds may use futures
                      contracts or options transactions to leverage their
                      assets.
 
                      The Portfolios and their underlying Funds will not use
                      futures contracts or options for speculative purposes or
                      to leverage their net assets. Accordingly, the primary
                      risks associated with the use of futures contracts and
                      options by the underlying Funds are: (i) imperfect
                      correlation between the change in market value of
                      securities held by a Fund and the prices of futures
                      contracts and options; and (ii) possible lack of a liquid
                      secondary market for a futures contract resulting in an
                      inability to close a futures position prior to its
                      maturity date. The risk of imperfect correlation will be
                      minimized by investing only in contracts whose behavior is
                      expected to resemble that of a Fund's underlying
                      securities. The risk that a Fund will be unable to close
                      out a futures position will be minimized by entering into
                      such transactions only on an exchange with an active and
                      liquid secondary market. Additionally, investments in
                      futures contracts and options involve the risk that an
                      investment adviser will incorrectly predict stock market
                      and interest rate trends.
 
                      The Portfolios and their underlying Funds may enter into
                      futures contracts provided that not more than 5% of their
                      respective assets are required as a futures contract
                      deposit. In addition the Portfolios and their underlying
                      Funds may enter into futures contracts and options
                      transactions to the extent that not more than 20% of their
                      respective assets (50% with respect to Vanguard Asset
                      Allocation Fund) are committed to such contracts or
                      transactions.
 
EACH OF THE
PORTFOLIOS' UNDERLYING
FUNDS MAY LEND ITS
SECURITIES
                      Each of the Portfolios' underlying Funds may lend their
                      investment securities to qualified institutional investors
                      for the purpose of realizing additional net investment
                      income. Loans of securities by a Fund will be
                      collateralized by cash, letters of credit, or securities
                      issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or its
                      agencies. The collateral will equal at least 100% of the
                      current market value of the loaned securities.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   99
 
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
IS EXPECTED
TO BE LOW
                      The portfolio turnover rate is not expected to exceed 25%
                      annually. A portfolio turnover rate of 25% for a Portfolio
                      would occur if one quarter of a Portfolio's investments
                      were sold within a year. The Fund's Officers will purchase
                      or sell securities: (i) to accommodate purchases and sales
                      of Portfolio shares; and (ii) to maintain or modify the
                      allocation of the Portfolios' assets between the
                      underlying Vanguard Funds in which the Portfolios invest
                      within the percentage limits described under "Investment
                      Policies."
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT
LIMITATIONS           The Portfolios have adopted the following fundamental
                      limitations on its investment practices. Specifically, the
                      Portfolios will not:
 
THE PORTFOLIOS HAVE
ADOPTED CERTAIN
FUNDAMENTAL
LIMITATIONS
                      (a) borrow money except from banks for temporary or
                          emergency purposes, and then only in an amount not in
                          excess of 5% of the lower of the market value or cost
                          of its assets, in which case it may pledge, mortgage
                          or hypothecate any of its assets as security for such
                          borrowing, but not to an extent greater than 5% of the
                          market value of its assets; and
 
                      (b) invest more than 25% of its assets in any one
                          industry, except for investment companies which are
                          members of The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies.
 
                      These investment limitations are considered at the time
                      investment securities are purchased. The limitations
                      described here and in the Statement of Additional
                      Information may be changed only with the approval of a
                      majority of the Fund's shareholders.
 
                      NOTICE TO OHIO INVESTORS. Vanguard STAR Fund does not meet
                      the requirements of Ohio Administrative Rule 1301:6-3-09G
                      in that it may invest more than 25% of its assets in a
                      single issuer. However, the Fund's Portfolios invest only
                      in Vanguard-sponsored mutual funds which, in turn, are
                      prohibited from investing more than 5% of their total
                      assets in the securities of any single issuer and may not
                      purchase more than 10% of the outstanding voting
                      securities of any issuer.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
MANAGEMENT
OF THE PORTFOLIOS
THE OFFICERS MANAGE
THE PORTFOLIOS'
OPERATIONS
                      The Officers of the Fund manage their day-to-day
                      operations. The Officers are directly responsible to the
                      Fund's Board of Trustees. The Trustees, who are elected by
                      the Fund's shareholders, determine how the assets of the
                      Portfolios should be invested among the Vanguard Funds,
                      set general policies for the Fund and choose its Officers.
                      The Officers of the Fund also serve as Officers of each of
                      the Vanguard Funds and of The Vanguard Group, Inc.
                      ("Vanguard"). The Trustees each serve as Directors of The
                      Vanguard Group, Inc. and most of the Vanguard Funds within
                      the Group. A list of Trustees and Officers of the Fund and
                      a statement of their present positions and principal
                      occupations during the past five years can be found in the
                      Statement of Additional Information.
 
                      The business of Vanguard STAR Fund will be conducted by
                      its Officers in accordance with policies and guidelines
                      set up by the Fund's Trustees which were included in an
                      Application for an Exemptive Order subsequently issued by
                      the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. As noted
                      above, the Officers and Trustees of the Fund
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   100
 
                      also serve in similar positions in the underlying Funds.
                      If the interests of the Portfolios and the underlying
                      Funds were ever to become divergent, a concern might arise
                      that this could create a potential conflict of interest
                      which could affect how the Officers or Trustees fulfill
                      their fiduciary duties to the Portfolios and the Vanguard
                      Funds. The Trustees believe they have structured the Fund
                      to avoid the concerns which could arise. Conceivably, a
                      situation could occur where proper portfolio or other
                      action for the Portfolios could be adverse to the
                      interests of an underlying Vanguard Fund, or the reverse
                      could occur. If such a possibility appears likely, the
                      Trustees and Officers will carefully analyze the situation
                      and take all steps they believe reasonable to minimize
                      and, where possible, eliminate the potential conflict.
                      Moreover, limitations on aggregate investments in the
                      underlying Vanguard Funds and other restrictions have been
                      adopted by the Fund to minimize this possibility, and
                      close and continuous monitoring will be exercised to
                      avoid, insofar as possible, these concerns.
 
VANGUARD
ADMINISTERS AND
DISTRIBUTES
THE PORTFOLIOS        Vanguard STAR Fund has entered into a Special Servicing
                      Agreement (the "Agreement") with Vanguard under which
                      Vanguard will provide all management, administrative and
                      distribution services to the Portfolios of the Fund.
                      Vanguard is a jointly-owned subsidiary of more than 30
                      investment company members (the "Funds") of The Vanguard
                      Group of Investment Companies. The Vanguard Funds offer
                      more than 90 distinct investment portfolios with total
                      assets in excess of $190 billion. Vanguard provides the
                      Portfolios and other Funds in the Group with corporate
                      management, administrative and distribution services
                      (similar to those provided to the Portfolios) on an
                      at-cost basis. As a result of Vanguard's unique corporate
                      structure, Vanguard Funds have costs substantially lower
                      than those of most competing mutual funds. In 1995, the
                      average expense ratio (annual costs including advisory
                      fees divided by total net assets) for the Vanguard Funds
                      amounted to approximately .31% compared to an average of
                      1.11% for the mutual fund industry (data provided by
                      Lipper Analytical Services).
 
                      The Special Servicing Agreement provides that the
                      Portfolios will pay for services to be rendered to the
                      Portfolios by Vanguard on an "out of pocket" basis. The
                      Portfolios will also bear the expenses of services
                      provided by other parties, including auditors, the
                      custodian, and outside legal counsel, as well as taxes and
                      other direct expenses of the Portfolios. However, the
                      Agreement provides that the expenses of the Portfolios
                      will be offset, in whole or in part, by a reimbursement
                      from Vanguard for (a) contributions made by each Portfolio
                      to the cost of operating the underlying Vanguard Funds the
                      Portfolios invest in and (b) certain savings in
                      administrative and marketing costs that Vanguard is
                      expected to derive from the operation of the Portfolios.
                      The Portfolios' contributions to Vanguard represent
                      revenues Vanguard receives because the Portfolios bear
                      their pro rata share of the costs of operating the
                      underlying Vanguard Funds. The cost savings realized by
                      Vanguard from the Portfolios result primarily from the
                      assumed reduction in the number of accounts Vanguard has
                      to maintain due to the existence of the Portfolios (i.e.,
                      one account per investor as opposed to one for each
                      underlying Fund per investor if the investor duplicated
                      the Portfolio's investment program by investing directly
                      in the underlying Funds).
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   101
 
                      Although such cost savings are not certain, the Trustees
                      believe that the reimbursements to be made by Vanguard to
                      the Portfolios should be sufficient to offset most, if not
                      all, of the expenses incurred by the Portfolios.
                      Therefore, the Portfolios are expected by the Trustees to
                      operate at a very low, or zero, expense ratio. In the
                      event that the economic benefits of operating the
                      Portfolios exceed their actual costs, such benefits will
                      be shared by each of the Funds in The Vanguard Group,
                      including the underlying Funds in which the Portfolios
                      invest.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT
THE FUND DOES
NOT EMPLOY AN
INVESTMENT
ADVISER
                      The Portfolios do not employ an investment adviser and
                      therefore do not pay advisory fees. The Portfolios do not
                      have portfolio managers at this time. The determination of
                      how the Portfolios' assets will be invested in certain of
                      the Vanguard Funds is made by the Fund's Officers pursuant
                      to the investment objective and policies set forth in this
                      Prospectus and procedures and guidelines established by
                      the Trustees. However, the Portfolios, as shareholders of
                      each of the underlying Vanguard Funds, benefit from the
                      investment advisory services of each of the underlying
                      Funds, and will indirectly bear their proportionate share
                      of any investment advisory fees paid by those Funds.
 
                      The Portfolios' underlying Funds are managed by the
                      following investment advisers:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 INVESTMENT ADVISER               PORTFOLIOS' UNDERLYING FUNDS
                        <S>                                    <C>
                        -------------------------------------  -----------------------------------
                        The Vanguard Group, Inc.               Short-Term Corporate Portfolio
                                                                 of Vanguard Fixed Income
                                                                 Securities Fund
                                                               Total Bond Market Portfolio of
                                                                 Vanguard Bond Index Fund
                                                               Total Stock Market Portfolio
                                                                 of Vanguard Index Trust
                                                               Total International Portfolio of
                                                                 Vanguard STAR Fund
                                                               European, Pacific and Emerging
                                                                 Markets Portfolios of Vanguard
                                                                 International Equity Index Fund
                        Mellon Capital Management              Vanguard Asset Allocation Fund
</TABLE>
    
 
   
VANGUARD'S
CORE MANAGEMENT
GROUP
                      Vanguard's Core Management Group provides investment
                      advisory services on an at-cost basis with respect to
                      Vanguard Index Trust -- Total Stock Market Portfolio,
                      Total International Portfolio of Vanguard STAR Fund and
                      the European, Pacific and Emerging Markets Portfolios of
                      Vanguard International Equity Index Fund. The Core
                      Management Group also provides investment advisory
                      services to other Vanguard Funds, including the remaining
                      five Portfolios of Vanguard Index Trust, Vanguard
                      Institutional Index Fund, Vanguard Balanced Index Fund and
                      the Equity Index Portfolio of Vanguard Variable Insurance
                      Fund, several Portfolios of the Vanguard Tax-Managed Fund,
                      the Aggressive Growth Portfolio of Vanguard Horizon Fund,
                      a portion of Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund, a portion of
                      Vanguard/Windsor II's assets, as well as to several
                      indexed separate accounts. Total assets under
    
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   102
 
   
                      management by the Core Management Group were approximately
                      $51 billion as of September 30, 1996.
    
 
   
VANGUARD'S
FIXED INCOME
GROUP                 Vanguard's Fixed Income Group provides investment advisory
                      services on an at-cost basis with respect to the
                      Short-Term Corporate of Vanguard Fixed Income Securities
                      Fund and the Total Bond Market Portfolio of Vanguard Bond
                      Index Fund. The Fixed Income Group provides advisory
                      services to more than 40 Vanguard fixed-income portfolios,
                      both taxable and tax-exempt. Total assets under management
                      by the Fixed Income Group were approximately $75 billion
                      as of September 30, 1996.
    
 
   
MELLON CAPITAL
MANAGEMENT            Mellon Capital Management is a professional counseling
                      firm which manages well-diversified stock and bond
                      portfolios for institutional clients. As of September 30,
                      1996 the adviser provided investment advisory services to
                      211 clients and managed assets with an approximate value
                      of $46.2 billion. The adviser's asset allocation strategy
                      was developed by the adviser's Chairman, William Fouse, in
                      1972, and is used by 74 of its clients and accounts for
                      approximately $12.2 billion of the assets that it manages.
                      For its asset allocation clients, including the Fund, the
                      adviser employs a proprietary asset allocation model in
                      managing client investment portfolios and an indexing
                      approach in selecting individual equity securities. The
                      Fund is one of the adviser's two investment company
                      clients.
    
 
                      Vanguard Asset Allocation Fund pays Mellon Capital
                      Management an annual basic fee equal to 0.20% on the first
                      $100 million of assets; .15% of 1% on the next $900
                      million of assets; .125 of 1% on the next $500 million of
                      assets; and .10 of 1% on assets greater than $1.5 billion.
                      This fee may be increased or decreased by applying an
                      adjustment formula based on the performance of the Fund
                      relative to the investment record of the S&P 500 Index.
                      The fee payment will be increased (decreased) by an
                      incentive (penalty) of 0.05% of average net assets if the
                      Fund's cumulative investment performance for the
                      thirty-six months preceding the end of the quarter is at
                      least six percentage points above (below) the cumulative
                      investment record of the S&P 500 Index for the same
                      period.
 
   
                      Each Portfolio will purchase and sell the principal
                      portion of its portfolio securities (i.e., shares of
                      certain of the underlying Vanguard Funds) by dealing
                      directly with the issuer. There will be no sales charges
                      or commissions because the underlying Funds are offered on
                      a no-load basis, without sales charges. Investments in
                      short-term money market instruments and repurchase
                      agreements usually will be principal transactions and will
                      generally involve no brokerage commissions.
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
DIVIDENDS,
CAPITAL GAINS
AND TAXES             The Income and Conservative Growth Portfolios expect to
                      pay dividends quarterly from ordinary income, while the
                      Moderate Growth and Growth Portfolios expect to pay
                      dividends semi-annually from ordinary income. Capital gain
                      distributions from the Portfolios, if any, will be made
                      annually. Each Portfolio intends to qualify as a
                      "regulated investment company" under the Internal Revenue
                      Code so that it will not be subject to federal income tax
                      to the extent its income is distributed to shareholders.
                      The tax consequences of distributions from the Portfolios
                      will vary according to the type of account you open.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   103
 
                      If you utilize the Portfolios as investment options in an
                      employer-sponsored retirement savings plan, dividend and
                      capital gain distributions from the Portfolios ordinarily
                      will not be subject to current taxation, but will
                      accumulate on a tax-deferred basis. In general,
                      employer-sponsored retirement and savings plans are
                      governed by complex tax rules. If you participate in such
                      a plan, consult your plan administrator, your plan's
                      Summary Plan Description, or a professional tax adviser
                      regarding the tax consequences of your participation in
                      the plan and of any plan contributions or withdrawals.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
THE SHARE PRICE
OF EACH
PORTFOLIO             The net asset value per share for each Portfolio is
                      determined as of the regular close of the New York Stock
                      Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each day
                      that the Exchange is open for trading. The net asset value
                      per share is determined by dividing the total market value
                      of each Portfolio's investments and other assets, less any
                      liabilities, by the total number of outstanding shares of
                      each Portfolio. This determination is made by appraising
                      each Portfolio's underlying investments (i.e., the
                      underlying Vanguard Funds) at the price of each such Fund
                      determined at the close of the Exchange.
 
                      Each Portfolio's share price can be found daily in the
                      mutual fund listings of most major newspapers under the
                      heading of Vanguard.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
GENERAL
INFORMATION           Vanguard STAR Fund is a Pennsylvania business trust. The
                      Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue an
                      unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest, without
                      par value, from an unlimited number of classes of shares.
                      Currently the Fund is offering six classes of shares.
 
                      The shares of Vanguard STAR Fund are fully paid and
                      non-assessable; have no preference as to conversion,
                      exchange, dividends, retirement or other features; and
                      have no pre-emptive rights. Such shares have
                      non-cumulative voting rights, meaning that the holders of
                      more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of
                      Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees if they so choose.
 
                      Annual meetings of shareholders will not be held except as
                      required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other
                      applicable law. An annual meeting will be held to vote on
                      the removal of a Trustee or Trustees of Vanguard STAR Fund
                      if requested in writing by the holders of not less than
                      10% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
 
                      All securities and cash are held by Morgan Guaranty Trust
                      Company, New York, N.Y. CoreStates Bank, N.A.
                      Philadelphia, PA, holds daily cash balances that are used
                      by the Fund's Portfolios to invest in repurchase
                      agreements or securities acquired in these transactions.
                      The Vanguard Group, Inc., Valley Forge, PA, serves as the
                      Fund's Transfer and Dividend Disbursing Agent. Price
                      Waterhouse LLP serves as independent accountants for the
                      Fund and will audit its financial statements annually. The
                      Fund is not involved in any litigation.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   104
 
                                 SERVICE GUIDE
 
PARTICIPATING IN
YOUR PLAN             The Portfolios of the Fund are available as investment
                      options in your retirement or savings plan. The
                      administrator of your plan or your employee benefits
                      office can provide you with detailed information on how to
                      participate in your plan and how to elect a Portfolio of
                      the Trust as an investment option.
 
                      If you have any questions about a Portfolio, including a
                      Portfolio's investment objective, policies, risk
                      characteristics or historical performance, please contact
                      Participant Services at 1-800-523-1188.
 
                      If you have any questions about your account, contact your
                      plan administrator or the organization which provides
                      recordkeeping services for your plan.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
INVESTMENT OPTIONS
AND ALLOCATIONS       You may be permitted to elect different investment
                      options, alter the amounts contributed to your plan, or
                      change how contributions are allocated among your
                      investment options in accordance with your plan's specific
                      provisions. See your plan administrator or employee
                      benefits office for more details.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
TRANSACTIONS IN
FUND SHARES           Contributions, exchanges or redemptions of a Portfolio's
                      shares are effective when received in "good order" by
                      Vanguard. "Good order" means that complete information on
                      the contribution, exchange or redemption and the
                      appropriate monies have been received by Vanguard.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
MAKING EXCHANGES      Your plan may allow you to exchange monies from one
                      investment option to another. Check with your plan
                      administrator for details on the rules governing exchanges
                      in your plan. Certain investment options, particularly
                      company stock or investment contracts, may be subject to
                      unique restrictions.
 
                      Before making an exchange, you should consider the
                      following:
 
                      - If you are making an exchange to another Vanguard Fund
                        option, please read the Fund's prospectus. Contact
                        Participant Services at 1-800-523-1188 for a copy.
 
                      - Exchanges are accepted by Vanguard only as permitted by
                        your plan. Your plan administrator can explain how
                        frequently exchanges are allowed.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   105
 
   
                     [THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
    
<PAGE>   106
 
   
                     [THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]
    
<PAGE>   107
 
     --------------------------------
 
     THE VANGUARD GROUP
   
     Vanguard Financial Center
    
     P.O. Box 2900
     Valley Forge, PA 19482
 
     INSTITUTIONAL PARTICIPANT
       SERVICES DEPARTMENT:
     1-800-523-1188
 
     TRANSFER AGENT:
     The Vanguard Group, Inc.
     Vanguard Financial Center
     Valley Forge, PA 19482
                                                                  [FLAG LOGO]
 
                                    I  N  S  T  I  T  U  T  I  O  N  A  L
                                     P  R  O  S  P  E  C  T  U  S
                                                    JANUARY 2, 1997
 
                                            [THE VANGUARD GROUP LOGO]
     I088
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   108
 
                                     PART B
 
                               VANGUARD STAR FUND
 
                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
   
                                JANUARY 2, 1997
    
 
   
     This Statement is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with
the Fund's current Prospectuses (dated January 2, 1997). To obtain the
Prospectuses please call the Investor Information Department:
    
 
                                 1-800-662-7447
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            PAGE
                                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                                         <C>
Investment Limitations....................................................................     1
Management of the Fund....................................................................     3
Investment Advisory Services..............................................................     5
Purchase of Shares........................................................................    22
Redemption of Shares......................................................................    23
Yield and Total Return....................................................................    23
Comparative Indexes.......................................................................    24
General Information.......................................................................    26
Financial Statements......................................................................    27
</TABLE>
 
                             INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
 
     The following policies supplement the Fund's investment objective, policies
and limitations set forth in the Prospectuses. These policies are fundamental
and may not be changed without the approval of at least a majority of the Fund's
outstanding shares (a term which means the lesser of (i) 67% or more of the
shares present at the meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the shares of
the Fund are present or represented by proxy or (ii) more than 50% of the total
outstanding shares of the Fund). Each Portfolio of the Fund may not:
 
      1) Issue senior securities;
 
      2) Purchase any securities on margin, make short sales of securities or
         purchase or sell puts and calls, or combinations thereof;
 
      3) Borrow money, except from banks for temporary or emergency purposes and
         then only in an amount not in excess of 5% of the lower of the market
         value or costs of its assets, in which case it may pledge, mortgage or
         hypothecate any of its assets as security for such borrowing, but not
         to an extent greater than 5% of the market value of its assets;
 
      4) Underwrite the securities of other issuers or invest more than 15% of
         its assets in securities subject to legal or contractual restrictions
         on resale or for which there are no readily available market
         quotations, or repurchase agreements having maturities of more than
         seven days;
 
      5) Purchase real estate or real estate mortgage loans, although the
         underlying mutual funds in which the Fund will invest may purchase
         marketable securities of companies which deal in real estate, real
         estate mortgage loans or interests therein;
 
      6) Purchase or sell commodities or commodity contracts, except that the
         Growth, Conservative Growth, Moderate Growth and Income Portfolios may
         enter into futures contracts and options transactions as described in
         the prospectus;
 
      7) Invest directly in oil, gas, or other mineral exploration or
         development programs; provided, however, that the underlying funds in
         which the Fund's Portfolios will invest may purchase the securities of
         companies engaged in such activities;
 
                                        1
<PAGE>   109
 
      8) Invest more than 5% of its assets, at the time of investment, in the
         securities of any issuers which have records of less than three years'
         continuous operation, including the operation of any predecessor (other
         than obligations issued or guaranteed as to interest and principal by
         the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities or open-end
         investment companies which are member Funds of The Vanguard Group of
         Investment Companies);
 
      9) Purchase or retain any security other than shares of the underlying
         Vanguard Funds if (i) one or more officers or Trustees of the Fund
         individually own or would own, directly or beneficially, more than 1/2
         of 1 per cent of the securities of such issuer and (ii) in the
         aggregate such persons own or would own more than 5% of such
         securities;
 
     10) Make loans except by purchasing bonds, debentures or similar
         obligations (including repurchase agreements, subject to the limitation
         described in (4) above) which are either publicly distributed or
         customarily purchased by institutional investors;
 
     11) Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control of
management.
 
     These investment limitations are considered at the time investment
securities are purchased.
 
     Because of its investment objective and policies, the Fund will concentrate
more than 25% of its assets in the mutual fund industry. However, each of the
underlying mutual funds in which STAR will invest will not concentrate 25% or
more of its total assets in any one industry.
 
                             REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
 
     Each Portfolio of the Fund (and each of the underlying Vanguard Funds) may
invest in repurchase agreements with commercial banks, brokers or dealers to
generate income from its excess cash balances. A repurchase agreement is an
agreement under which a Portfolio acquires a money market instrument (generally
a security issued by the U.S. Government or an agency thereof, a banker's
acceptance or a certificate of deposit) from a commercial bank, broker or
dealer, subject to resale to the seller at an agreed upon price and date
(normally, the next business day). A repurchase agreement may be considered a
loan collateralized by securities. The resale price reflects an agreed upon
interest rate effective for the period the instrument is held by a Portfolio and
is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying instrument. In these
transactions, the securities acquired by a Portfolio (including accrued interest
earned thereon) must have a total value in excess of the value of the repurchase
agreement and are held by a Portfolio's custodian bank until repurchased. In
addition, the Fund's Trustees will monitor each Portfolio's repurchase agreement
transactions generally and will establish guidelines and standards for review of
the creditworthiness of any bank, broker or dealer party to a repurchase
agreement with a Portfolio. No more than an aggregate of 15% of each Portfolio's
assets, at the time of investment, will be invested in repurchase agreements
having maturities longer than seven days and securities subject to legal or
contractual restrictions on resale for which there are no readily available
market quotations. From time to time, the Fund's Board of Directors may
determine that certain restricted securities known as Rule 144A securities are
liquid and not subject to the 15% limitation described above.
 
     The use of repurchase agreements involves certain risks. For example, if
the other party to the agreement defaults on its obligation to repurchase the
underlying security at a time when the value of the security has declined, a
Portfolio may incur a loss upon disposition of the security. If the other party
to the agreement becomes insolvent and subject to liquidation or reorganization
under the Bankruptcy Code or other laws, a court may determine that the
underlying security is collateral for a loan by a Portfolio not within the
control of the Portfolio and therefore the realization by the Portfolio on such
collateral may be automatically stayed. Finally, it is possible that a Portfolio
may not be able to substantiate its interest in the underlying security and may
be deemed an unsecured creditor of the other party to the agreement. While the
Fund's management acknowledges these risks, it is expected that they can be
controlled through careful monitoring procedures.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   110
 
                        MANAGEMENT OF VANGUARD STAR FUND
 
OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES
 
   
     The Fund's officers, under the supervision of the Board of Trustees, manage
its day-to-day operations and are responsible for determining what portion of
the Fund's assets will be invested in each of the available Vanguard Funds
pursuant to the Fund's investment objective and policies. The Trustees, set
broad policies for the Fund and choose its officers.
    
 
     A list of the Trustees and officers of the Fund and a brief statement of
their present positions and principal occupations during the past five years is
set forth below.
 
     The mailing address of the Trustees and officers of the Fund is Post Office
Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482.
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                <C>
JOHN C. BOGLE, Chairman, and Trustee*                ALFRED M. RANKIN, JR., Trustee
  Chairman, and Director of The Vanguard               Chairman, President and Chief Executive
  Group, Inc., and each of the investment              Officer of NACCO Industries, Inc.; Director of
  companies in The Vanguard Group; Director of         The BFGoodrich Company, The Standard
  The Mead Corporation, and General Accident           Products Company and The Reliance Electric
  Insurance.                                           Company.
JOHN J. BRENNAN, President, Chief Executive          JOHN C. SAWHILL, Trustee
  Officer & Trustee*                                   President and Chief Executive Officer, The
  President, Chief Executive Officer and               Nature Conservancy; formerly, Director and
  Director of The Vanguard Group, Inc., and of         Senior Partner, McKinsey & Co.; President,
  each of the investment companies in The              New York University; Director of Pacific Gas
  Vanguard Group.                                      and Electric Company and NACCO Industries.
ROBERT E. CAWTHORN, Trustee                          JAMES O. WELCH, JR., Trustee
  Chairman Emeritus of Rhone-Poulenc Rorer,            Retired Chairman of Nabisco Brands, Inc.,
  Inc.; Director of Sun Company, Inc.;                 retired Vice Chairman and Director of RJR
  Director of Westinghouse Electric                    Nabisco; Director of TECO Energy, Inc.
  Corporation.                                       J. LAWRENCE WILSON, Trustee
BARBARA BARNES HAUPTFUHRER, Trustee                    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rohm &
  Director of The Great Atlantic and Pacific           Haas Company; Director of Cummins Engine
  Tea Company, ALCO Standard Corp., Raytheon           Company, Inc. and Trustee of Vanderbilt
  Company, Knight-Ridder, Inc., and                    University and of the Culver Educational
  Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. and          Foundation.
  Trustee Emerita of Wellesley College.              RAYMOND J. KLAPINSKY, Secretary*
BRUCE K. MACLAURY, Trustee                             Senior Vice President and Secretary of The
  President Emeritus of The Brookings                  Vanguard Group, Inc.; Secretary of each of the
  Institution; Director of American Express            investment companies in The Vanguard Group.
  Bank, Ltd., The St. Paul Companies, Inc. and
  National Steel Corporation.                        RICHARD F. HYLAND, Treasurer*
                                                       Treasurer of The Vanguard Group, Inc. and of
BURTON G. MALKIEL, Trustee                             each of the investment companies in The
  Chemical Bank Chairman's Professor of                Vanguard Group.
  Economics, Princeton University; Director of
  Prudential Insurance Co. of America, Amdahl        KAREN E. WEST, Controller*
  Corporation, Baker Fentress & Co., The               Principal of The Vanguard Group, Inc.;
  Jeffrey Co., and Southern New England                Controller of each of the investment companies
  Communications Company.                              in The Vanguard Group.
                                                     ---------------
                                                     *Officers of the Fund are "interested persons"
                                                     as defined in the Investment Company Act of
                                                     1940.
</TABLE>
    
 
     The Trustees and officers of the Fund will receive no remuneration from the
Fund. However, the Trustees are also Directors (Trustees) of The Vanguard Group,
Inc. ("Vanguard") and of the Fund's underlying investment companies in The
Vanguard Group (the "Vanguard Funds"). Each Vanguard Fund pays its unaffiliated
Directors (Trustees) an annual fee plus a proportionate share of travel and
other expenses incurred in attending Board meetings. The officers are paid by
Vanguard which, in turn, is reimbursed by each Vanguard Fund for its
proportionate share of officers' salaries and benefits.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   111
 
                               THE VANGUARD GROUP
 
     Through their jointly-owned subsidiary, Vanguard, the Vanguard Funds obtain
at cost virtually all of their corporate management, administrative and
distribution services. Vanguard also provides investment advisory services on an
at-cost basis to certain Vanguard Funds.
 
   
     Vanguard employs a supporting staff of management personnel needed to
provide the requisite services to the funds and also furnishes the funds with
necessary office space, furnishings and equipment. Each fund pays its share of
Vanguard's net expenses which are allocated among the funds under procedures
approved by the Directors (Trustees) of each fund. In addition, each fund bears
its own direct expenses such as legal, auditing and custodian fees.
    
 
     The Trustees of the Fund also are Directors of Vanguard. The officers of
the Fund and the Vanguard Funds are also officers and employees of Vanguard. No
officer or employee is permitted to own any securities of any external adviser
for the Vanguard Funds.
 
     The Vanguard Group adheres to a Code of Ethics established pursuant to Rule
17j-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Code is designed to prevent
unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by
persons associated with Vanguard. Under Vanguard's Code of Ethics certain
officers and employees of Vanguard who are considered access persons are
permitted to engage in personal securities transactions. However, such
transactions are subject to procedures and guidelines substantially similar to
those recommended by the mutual fund industry and approved by the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
     The Vanguard Group, Inc. was established and operates under a Funds'
Service Agreement which was approved by the shareholders of each of the Vanguard
funds. The amounts which each of the Funds have invested are adjusted from time
to time in order to maintain the proportionate relationship between each Fund's
relative net assets and its contribution to Vanguard's capital. The Fund's
Service Agreement for all Funds provides as follows: (a) each Vanguard Fund may
invest up to 0.40% of its current net assets in Vanguard and (b) there is no
other limitation on the amount that each Vanguard Fund may contribute to
Vanguard's Capitalization.
 
     MANAGEMENT  Corporate management and administrative services include: (1)
executive staff; (2) accounting and financial; (3) legal and regulatory; (4)
shareholder account maintenance; (5) monitoring and control of custodian
relationships; (6) shareholder reporting; and (7) review and evaluation of
advisory and other services provided to the Vanguard Funds by third parties.
 
     DISTRIBUTION  Vanguard also provides all distribution and marketing
services for the Vanguard Funds. The principal distribution expenses are for
advertising, promotional materials and marketing personnel. Distribution
services may also include organizing and offering to the public, from time to
time, one or more new investment companies which will become members of the
Group. The Directors and officers of Vanguard determine the amount to be spent
annually on distribution activities, the manner and amount to be spent on each
Fund, and whether to organize new investment companies.
 
     One half of the distribution expenses of a marketing and promotional nature
is allocated among the Vanguard Funds based upon their relative net assets. The
remaining one half of these expenses is allocated among the Vanguard funds based
upon each Fund's sales for the preceding 24 months relative to the total sales
of the Funds as a Group. Provided, however, that no fund's aggregate quarterly
rate of contribution for distribution expenses of a marketing and promotional
nature shall exceed 125% of the average distribution expense rate for the Group,
and that no Fund shall incur annual distribution expenses in excess of 20/100 of
1% of its average month-end net assets.
 
     INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES  An experienced investment management staff
employed directly by Vanguard provides investment advisory services to Vanguard
Money Market Reserves, Vanguard Institutional Money Market Portfolio, Vanguard
Municipal Bond Fund, several Portfolios of Vanguard Fixed Income Securities
Fund, Vanguard Institutional Index Fund, Vanguard International Equity Index
Fund, Vanguard Balanced Index Fund, Vanguard Bond Index Fund, several Portfolios
of Vanguard Variable Insurance Fund, Vanguard Admiral Funds, Vanguard California
Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard Florida Insured Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard New Jersey Tax-
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   112
 
   
Free Fund; Vanguard New York Insured Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard Ohio Tax-Free Fund,
Vanguard Pennsylvania Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard Index Trust, the Aggressive Growth
Portfolio of Vanguard Horizon Fund, Vanguard Tax-Managed Fund, a portion of
Vanguard/Windsor II, a portion of Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund as well as several
indexed separate accounts. The compensation and other expenses of this staff are
paid by the Portfolios and Funds utilizing these services.
    
 
     SPECIAL SERVICING AGREEMENT  The Fund has entered into a Special Servicing
Agreement with Vanguard under which Vanguard will provide management,
administrative, distribution and other services and will act as the Fund's
Dividend Disbursing, Shareholder Servicing and Transfer Agent. The Fund will not
be a party to the Funds' Service Agreement described above, and therefore will
not become a member of The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies. The Special
Servicing Agreement gives authority to the Fund to utilize the Vanguard name so
long as (1) the Special Servicing Agreement is in effect, and (2) the assets of
each Portfolio are invested pursuant to the Fund's objective and policies in
shares of the various Vanguard Funds (except for such cash or cash items as the
Trustees may determine to maintain from time to time to meet redemptions). The
Special Servicing Agreement provides that Vanguard will utilize assets deposited
with the custodian of each Portfolio from the sale of the Portfolio's shares to
promptly purchase shares of the specified Vanguard Funds, and will undertake
redemption or exchange of such shares of the Vanguard Funds in the manner
provided by the objective and policies of the Portfolio.
 
     The allocation of the assets of each Portfolio will be made by Officers of
the Fund pursuant to the instructions of the Fund's Board of Trustees and as set
forth in the Fund's investment objective, policies and restrictions. The
Declaration of Trust authorizes the Trustees to retain an investment adviser if
they determine that such action is in the best interests of the shareholders of
each Portfolio, and that the compensation called for under the investment
advisory agreement is reasonable when considered in connection with the advisory
fees, if any, paid by the Vanguard Funds in which the Fund has invested its
assets. However, the Trustees have no present intention to retain an investment
adviser. In accordance with the provisions of the Investment Company Act of
1940, approval of the shareholders would be required for such an advisory
agreement.
 
     The Special Servicing Agreement provides that the Fund will pay, on an
"out-of-pocket" basis, for services to be rendered by Vanguard. The Fund will
also bear the expenses of services provided by outside parties, including
auditors, the custodian and outside legal counsel, as well as taxes and other
direct expenses of the Fund. However, the Agreement provides that the expenses
of the Fund will be offset in whole, or in part, by reimbursement from Vanguard
for (a) contributions made by the Fund to the cost of operating the Vanguard
Funds in which the Fund invests in, and (b) certain savings in administrative
and marketing costs that Vanguard is expected to derive from the operation of
the Fund. The Trustees believe that the reimbursements to be made by Vanguard to
the Fund should be sufficient to offset most, if not all, the expenses incurred
by each Portfolio. Therefore, the Portfolios are expected to operate at a very
low, or zero, expense ratio. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, the
STAR and Life Strategy Portfolios had expense ratios of zero, and the same is
expected to be the case for the Total International Portfolio.
 
     While the Fund's shareholders will not pay duplicate capital contribution
charges to Vanguard (the Fund will not be a member of The Vanguard Group of
Investment Companies), the shareholders of each Portfolio will indirectly bear
their fair share of the costs of maintaining and operating Vanguard since the
Portfolios, as shareholders of the selected Vanguard Funds, will be subject to
the proportionate contributions of those underlying Funds. Since the Fund will
not be a member fund of The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies it will
benefit, as a shareholder of the selected Vanguard funds, only from such
cost-sharing reductions in proportion to its interest in such Vanguard Funds.
 
                          INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES
 
     Vanguard STAR Fund will not employ an investment adviser and therefore, it
will pay no advisory fees. As a shareholder of an underlying Fund, the
Portfolios will bear their proportionate share of the investment advisory fees
paid by those Funds. The following is a description of the investment advisory
agreements for each underlying Vanguard Fund.
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   113
 
                             VANGUARD/WINDSOR FUND
 
   
     Wellington Management Company ("WMC") serves as investment adviser to
Vanguard/Windsor Fund. Vanguard/Windsor Fund pays WMC a Basic Fee, calculated by
applying a quarterly rate, based on the following annual percentage rates, to
Vanguard/Windsor Fund's average month-end net assets for the quarter:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         NET ASSETS                       RATE
                    ----------------------------------------------------  ----
                    <S>                                                   <C>
                    First $17.5 billion.................................  .125%
                    Over $17.5 billion..................................  .100%
</TABLE>
    
 
   
     The Basic Fee may be increased or decreased by applying an
incentive/penalty fee adjustment based on Vanguard/Windsor Fund's investment
performance. Such formula provides for an increase or decrease in the basic fee
paid to WMC each quarter, depending upon Vanguard/Windsor Fund's investment
performance for the thirty-six months preceding the end of the quarter relative
to the investment record of the Standard and Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price
Index (the "S&P 500") for the same period.
    
 
   
     The Basic Fee, as provided above, shall be increased or decreased by
applying an incentive/penalty fee adjustment based on the investment performance
of Windsor Fund relative to the investment performance of the Standard & Poor's
500 Composite Stock Price Index (the "Index").
    
 
     During the fiscal years ended October 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995,
Vanguard/Windsor Fund paid the following advisory fees:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          1993           1994           1995
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
     <S>                                               <C>            <C>            <C>
     Basic Fee.......................................  $15,547,000    $17,236,000    $19,022,000
     Increase (Decrease) for Performance
       Adjustment....................................    4,136,000      9,213,000      7,752,000
                                                       -----------    -----------    -----------
     Total...........................................  $19,683,000    $26,449,000    $26,774,000
                                                       ===========    ===========    ===========
</TABLE>
 
                          VANGUARD/MORGAN GROWTH FUND
 
     Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund ("Morgan") employs three separate investment
advisers each of whom manages the investment and reinvestment of a portion of
the Fund's assets. Additionally, Vanguard's Core Management Group manages
approximately 10% of Morgan's assets on an at-cost basis.
 
WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT COMPANY
 
     Morgan employs Wellington Management Company ("WMC") under an investment
advisory agreement dated as of April 1, 1996 to manage the investment and
reinvestment of approximately 39% of the assets of the Fund and to continuously
review, supervise and administer the Fund's investment program. WMC discharges
its responsibilities subject to the control of the officers and Directors of the
Fund.
 
     Morgan pays WMC a Basic Fee at the end of each fiscal quarter, calculated
by applying a quarterly rate, based on the following annual percentage rates, to
the Fund's average month-end net assets for the quarter:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         NET ASSETS                       RATE
                    ----------------------------------------------------  ----
                    <S>                                                   <C>
                    First $500 million..................................  .175%
                    Next $500 million...................................  .100%
                    Over $1 billion.....................................  .075%
</TABLE>
 
     The basic advisory fee may be increased or decreased by applying an
incentive/penalty fee based on the investment performance of the assets of
Morgan managed by WMC relative to the investment record of The Growth Fund Stock
Index (the "Index") which is described in the Prospectus.
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   114
 
     The following table sets forth the incentive/penalty fee rates payable by
the Fund to WMC under the proposed investment advisory agreement:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        CUMULATIVE 36-MONTH PERFORMANCE                    PERFORMANCE FEE
                      VERSUS THE GROWTH FUND STOCK INDEX                     ADJUSTMENT*
        ---------------------------------------------------------------   ------------------
        <S>                                                               <C>
        Less than -12%                                                     -0.50 X Basic Fee
        Between -12% and -6%                                               -0.25 X Basic Fee
        Between -6% and 6%                                                  0.00 X Basic Fee
        Between 6% and 12%                                                 +0.25 X Basic Fee
        More than 12%                                                      +0.50 X Basic Fee
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
*For purposes of this calculation, the basic fee is calculated by applying the
 quarterly rate against average assets over the 36-month period.
 
                       RELATED INFORMATION CONCERNING WMC
 
   
     WMC is a professional investment counseling firm which provides investment
services to investment companies, other institutions and individuals. Among the
clients of WMC are more than 10 of the other investment companies of The
Vanguard Group. As of September 30, 1996, WMC held discretionary management
authority with respect to more than $-- billion of assets. WMC and its
predecessor organizations have provided investment advisory services to
investment companies since 1933 and to investment counseling clients since 1960.
WMC is a Massachusetts general partnership of which the following persons are
managing partners: Messrs. Robert W. Doran, Duncan M. McFarland and John R.
Ryan.
    
 
     During the last three fiscal years, the Fund paid the following advisory
fees to WMC:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               1993         1994         1995
                                                            ----------    ---------    ---------
     <S>                                                    <C>           <C>          <C>
     Basic Fee............................................  $1,198,679    $ 861,873    $ 892,794
     Increase (Decrease) for Performance Adjustment.......    (235,201)    (351,876)    (321,731)
                                                            ----------    ---------    ---------
     Total................................................  $  963,478    $ 509,997    $ 571,063
                                                            ==========    =========    =========
</TABLE>
 
     These fees were paid pursuant to the terms of a previous investment
advisory agreement, which called for a higher rate of fees.
 
                      FRANKLIN PORTFOLIO ASSOCIATES TRUST
 
     Morgan employs Franklin Portfolio Associates Trust ("FPA") under an
investment advisory agreement dated as of April 1, 1996 to manage the investment
and reinvestment of approximately 33% of Morgan's assets. FPA discharges its
responsibilities subject to the control of the Officers and Directors of Morgan.
 
     Morgan pays FPA an advisory fee by applying various percentage rates to the
average net assets of Morgan managed by FPA. The fee schedule is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        NET ASSETS                        RATE
                    ---------------------------------------------------   -----
                    <S>                                                   <C>
                    First $100 million.................................   0.25%
                    Next $200 million..................................   0.20%
                    Next $200 million..................................   0.15%
                    Over $500 million..................................   0.10%
</TABLE>
 
     The basic advisory fee may be increased or decreased by applying an
incentive/penalty fee based on the investment performance of the Fund relative
to the investment record of the Index. Such incentive/penalty fee provides for
an increase or decrease in FPA's basic fee in an amount equal to .100% per annum
(.025% per quarter) of the average month-end net assets of the portion of Morgan
managed by FPA if the investment performance of that portion of Morgan for the
thirty-six months preceding the end of the quarter is six percentage points or
more above or below, respectively, the investment record of the Index for the
same period.
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   115
 
     The following table sets forth the incentive/penalty fee rates payable by
Morgan to FPA under the proposed investment advisory agreement:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           THREE YEAR PERFORMANCE                       ANNUAL INCENTIVE (+)/
                            DIFFERENTIAL VS. THE                           PENALTY (-) FEE
                                    INDEX                                       RATE
        -------------------------------------------------------------   ---------------------
        <S>                                                             <C>
        +6% or more above............................................           +.100%
        Between +6% and -6%..........................................              -0-
        -6% or more below............................................           -.100%
</TABLE>
 
     During the fiscal years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995, Morgan paid
FPA the following advisory fees:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1993        1994        1995
                                                               --------    --------    --------
     <S>                                                       <C>         <C>         <C>
     Basic Fee...............................................  $470,526    $708,874    $848,530
     Increase (Decrease) for Performance Adjustment..........        --          --      74,545
                                                               --------    --------    --------
     Total...................................................  $470,526    $708,874    $923,075
                                                               =========   =========   =========
</TABLE>
 
     These fees were paid pursuant to the terms of a previous investment
advisory agreement, which called for a higher rate of fees.
 
                       RELATED INFORMATION CONCERNING FPA
 
     FPA is a Massachusetts business Trust. The shares of FPA are owned by
Mellon Financial Service Corporation, a holding company of Mellon Bank
Corporation. FPA is managed by a Board of Trustees consisting of Messrs. John J.
Nagorniak, Chairman, Donald A. McMullen, Jr. and G. Christian Lantzsch.
 
   
     FPA is a professional investment counseling firm which specializes in the
management of common stock portfolios through the use of quantitative investment
models. As of September 30, 1996, FPA provided investment advisory services with
respect to approximately $9.9 billion of clients assets, including approximately
$1.2 billion for Vanguard Quantitative Portfolios, Inc., another mutual fund
member of The Vanguard Group. During the year ended December 31, 1995, Vanguard
Quantitative Portfolios, Inc. paid FPA an annual advisory fee equal to .17 of 1%
before an increase of .01 of 1% based on performance.
    
 
                            HUSIC CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
 
     Morgan also employs Husic Capital Management ("Husic") under an investment
advisory agreement dated as of September 24, 1993 to manage the investment and
reinvestment of approximately 13% of Morgan's assets. Husic discharges its
responsibilities subject to the control of the Officers and Directors of Morgan.
 
     For the services provided by Husic under the investment advisory agreement
Morgan will pay Husic a basic fee at the end of each fiscal quarter, calculated
by applying a quarterly rate, based on the following annual percentage rates, to
the average month-end net assets of the Husic Portfolio for the quarter:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         NET ASSETS                       RATE
                    ----------------------------------------------------  ----
                    <S>                                                   <C>
                    First $25 million...................................  0.40%
                    Next $125 million...................................  0.35%
                    Next $350 million...................................  0.25%
                    Next $500 million...................................  0.20%
                    Over $1 billion.....................................  0.15%
</TABLE>
 
     Effective with the quarter ending September 30, 1994, the basic fee paid to
Husic, as provided above, may be increased or decreased by applying an
incentive/penalty fee based on the investment performance of the Husic Portfolio
relative to the investment record of the Growth Fund Stock Index ("Growth
Index"). Under the
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   116
 
incentive/penalty fee schedule, the basic fee payable to Husic may be increased
or decreased by as much as 75% of the basic fee depending on the investment
performance of the equity investment managed by Husic.
 
     The incentive/penalty fee rates will be determined by measuring the
investment performance of the Husic Portfolio relative to the investment record
of the Index in accordance with the following table:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    ANNUAL INCENTIVE (+)/PENALTY (-)
                                                                                FEE RATE
                                                                    --------------------------------
                      THREE YEAR PERFORMANCE                           FIRST             ASSETS
                       DIFFERENTIAL VS. THE                         $200 MILLION        IN EXCESS
                           GROWTH INDEX                              OF ASSETS       OF $200 MILLION
- ------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------     ---------------
<S>                                                                 <C>              <C>
+12% points or more above.........................................     175.0%             150.0%
Between +6% points and +12% points above..........................     137.5%             125.0%
Between +6% points and -6% points.................................     100.0%             100.0%
Between -6% points and -12% points................................      62.5%              75.0%
- -12% points or more below.........................................      25.0%              50.0%
</TABLE>
 
     Until the Quarter ending September 30, 1996, the incentive/penalty fee for
Husic will be calculated according to the following transition rules:
 
     (a) Through September 30, 1996. Until the quarter ending September 30,
1996, the incentive/penalty fee will be computed based upon a comparison of the
investment performance of the Husic Portfolio and that of the Growth Index over
the number of months that have elapsed between October 1, 1993 and the end of
the quarter for which the fee is computed. The number of percentage points by
which the investment performance of the Husic Portfolio must exceed or fall
below the investment record of the Growth Index for the quarters ending during
this period are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     NUMBER OF
                                 QUARTER ENDING                  PERCENTAGE POINTS
                    -----------------------------------------    -----------------
                    <S>                                          <C>
                    March 31, 1995...........................             6
                    June 30, 1995............................             7
                    September 30, 1995.......................             8
                    December 31, 1995........................             9
                    March 31, 1996...........................            10
                    June 30, 1996............................            11
                    September 30, 1996.......................            12
</TABLE>
 
     (b) On and After September 30, 1996. For the quarter ending September 30,
1996 and thereafter, the period used to calculate the incentive/penalty fee
shall be the 36 months preceding the end of the quarter for which the fee is
being computed and the number of percentage points used shall be 12.
 
     The "investment performance of the Husic Portfolio," the "Husic Portfolio
unit value" and the "investment record of the Index" will be calculated in the
same manner as set forth under the discussion of the WMC Agreement on page 6.
 
     For the purposes of determining the incentive/penalty fee, the net assets
of the Husic Portfolio will be averaged over the same period as the investment
performance of the Husic Portfolio and the investment record of the Growth Index
are computed.
 
     The formula used to determine the performance adjustments differs from the
view taken by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission. For a more
detailed discussion, see page 7. The Board of Directors of the Fund believes
that the performance adjustments, as included in the proposed agreement with R&R
are appropriate although not within the +/-10 percentage point per year range
suggested in SEC Release No. 7113. Under the proposed agreement, the maximum
performance adjustment is made at a difference of approximately +/-2 percentage
points per year.
 
     The agreement with Husic dated September 24, 1993, will continue until
September 23, 1995. After this date the agreement is renewable for successive
one year periods, as described on page 11.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   117
 
     During the fiscal years ending December 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995, Morgan
Fund paid Husic the following advisory fees:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1993       1994        1995
                                                              --------   ---------   ---------
     <S>                                                      <C>        <C>         <C>
     Basic Fee.............................................   $140,254   $ 495,619   $ 550,247
     Increase (Decrease) for Performance Adjustment........         --    (181,969)   (373,636)
                                                              --------   ---------   ---------
     Total.................................................   $140,254   $ 313,650   $ 176,611
                                                              =========  =========   =========
</TABLE>
 
     The Fund also paid an investment advisory fee to Roll and Ross Asset
Management Corporation ("R&R"), 585 Skippack Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, for the
period January 1, 1993 to June 30, 1993 when R&R resigned as investment adviser
to the Fund. The Fund paid R&R an advisory fee of $113,678 after a decrease of
$86,664 based on performance.
 
                      RELATED INFORMATION CONCERNING HUSIC
 
   
     Husic Capital Management, 555 California Street, Suite 2900, San Francisco,
California 94104, a California limited partnership founded in 1986, provides
investment advisory services to investment companies, other institutions, and
individuals. Frank J. Husic, managing partner, is a controlling person of Husic.
Husic's general partner is Frank J. Husic & Co., a California corporation that
is wholly owned by Frank J. Husic. As of September 30, 1996, Husic provided
investment advisory services to clients having assets with an approximate value
of $-- billion.
    
 
     The agreements with WMC, FPA and Husic continue until September 23, 1995.
The agreements are renewable for successive one-year periods, only if each
renewal is specifically approved by a vote of the Fund's Board of Directors,
including the affirmative votes of a majority of the Directors who are not
parties to the contract or "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940) of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of considering such approval. In addition, the question of
continuance shall be effected only if approved by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The agreements are
automatically terminated if assigned, and may be terminated without penalty at
any time (1) either by vote of the Board of Directors of the Fund or by vote of
its outstanding voting securities on 60 days' written notice to the Adviser, or
(2) by the Advisers upon 90 days' written notice to the Fund.
 
                     VANGUARD FIXED INCOME SECURITIES FUND
 
     Wellington Management Company serves as investment adviser to the GNMA
Portfolio, the Long-Term Corporate Portfolio and the High Yield Bond Portfolio
of Vanguard Fixed Income Securities Fund. The Portfolios of the Fund will invest
a portion of their assets only in the GNMA and Long-Term Corporate Portfolios.
 
   
     Under the Fund's investment advisory agreement, the fee paid to WMC is
based on the total assets of the GNMA Portfolio and the Long-Term Corporate
Portfolio. The two Portfolios pay WMC an aggregate fee at the end of each fiscal
quarter, calculated by applying a quarterly rate to the average month-end net
assets of each Portfolio.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          GNMA PORTFOLIO
                    <S>                                                   <C>
                    NET ASSETS                                             RATE
                    ---------------------------------------------------   -----
                    First $3 billion...................................   .020%
                    Next $3 billion....................................   .010%
                    Over $6 billion....................................   .008%
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   118
 
   
                         LONG-TERM CORPORATE PORTFOLIO
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        NET ASSETS                        RATE
                    ---------------------------------------------------   -----
                    <S>                                                   <C>
                    First $1 billion...................................   .040%
                    Next $1 billion....................................   .030%
                    Next $1 billion....................................   .020%
                    Over $3 billion....................................   .015%
</TABLE>
    
 
   
     During the fiscal years ended January 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 the GNMA and
Long-Term Corporate Portfolios paid WMC the following advisory fees:
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                          PORTFOLIO                          1994          1995          1996
     ---------------------------------------------------  ----------    ----------    ----------
     <S>                                                  <C>           <C>           <C>
     GNMA...............................................  $1,454,000    $1,286,000    $1,181,000
                                                          ==========    ==========    ==========
     Long-Term Corporate................................  $1,252,000    $1,131,000    $1,118,000
                                                          ==========    ==========    ==========
</TABLE>
 
   
       SHORT-TERM CORPORATE AND INTERMEDIATE-TERM CORPORATE PORTFOLIOS OF
    
   
                     VANGUARD FIXED INCOME SECURITIES FUND
    
 
     The Short-Term Corporate and Intermediate-Term Corporate Portfolios (as
well as four U.S. Treasury Portfolios that are not utilized by the Fund) receive
all investment advisory services on an "internalized," at-cost, basis from an
experienced investment management staff employed directly by Vanguard. This
staff also provides investment advisory services to Vanguard Money Market
Reserves, Vanguard Bond Market Fund, Vanguard Municipal Bond Fund, Vanguard
California Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard Florida Insured Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard New
Jersey Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard Ohio Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard New York Insured
Tax-Free Fund, Vanguard Pennsylvania Tax-Free Fund and the Money Market and
High-Grade Bond Portfolios of Vanguard Variable Insurance Fund. The compensation
and other expenses of the staff are allocated among the Portfolios of each of
the Funds listed above. During the fiscal years ended January 31, 1994, 1995 and
1996, the Short-Term Corporate Portfolio's share of these expenses totaled
approximately $298,000, $391,000 and $408,000, respectively. During the fiscal
year ended January 31, 1995 and 1996 the Intermediate-Term Corporate Portfolio's
share of these expenses totaled approximately $10,000 and $28,000.
 
   
     The investment management staff is supervised by the senior officers of the
Fund. The senior officers, who are also officers of Vanguard, Vanguard Money
Market Reserves, Vanguard Bond Index Fund, Vanguard Municipal Bond Fund,
Vanguard State Tax-Exempt Funds, and Vanguard Variable Insurance Fund, are
directly responsible to the Board of Directors of the Fund. The Board of
Directors, elected annually by shareholders, sets broad policies for the Fund
and chooses its officers.
    
 
                              VANGUARD/WINDSOR II
 
     Vanguard/Windsor II has entered into an investment advisory agreement with
Barrow, Hanley, Mewhinney & Strauss, Inc. ("BHM&S") to manage approximately 72%
of the assets of Vanguard/Windsor II. Under this agreement BHM&S manages the
investment and reinvestment of the assets of Vanguard/Windsor II assigned to it
and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the investment program of
Vanguard/Windsor II. BHM&S discharges its responsibilities subject to the
control of the officers and Trustees of that Company.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   119
 
     Vanguard/Windsor II pay BHM&S a fee at the end of each fiscal quarter,
calculated by applying a quarterly rate, based on the following annual
percentage rates, to the aggregate average month-end net assets of
Vanguard/Windsor II managed by BHM&S for the quarter:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         NET RATE                         RATE
                    ---------------------------------------------------   -----
                    <S>                                                   <C>
                    First $200 million.................................   .300%
                    Next $300 million..................................   .200%
                    Next $500 million..................................   .150%
                    Over $1 billion....................................   .125%
</TABLE>
 
     INCENTIVE/PENALTY FEE.  Effective with the quarter ending April 30, 1996,
the basic fee paid to BHM&S, as provided above, will be increased or decreased
by applying an incentive/penalty fee based on the investment performance of the
assets of Vanguard/Windsor II managed by BHM&S (the "BHM&S Portfolio") over a
trailing 36-month period relative to that of the Standard & Poor's/ BARRA Value
Index (the "BARRA Value Index"). Such incentive/penalty fee provides for (1) a
25% increase or decrease in the basic advisory fee if the investment performance
of the BHM&S Portfolio for the 36 months preceding the end of the quarter is 9
percentage points or more above or below, respectively, the investment record of
the BARRA Value Index for the same period; or (2) a 15% increase or decrease in
the basic advisory fee if the investment performance of the BHM&S Portfolio for
such 36 months is 6 or more but less than 9 percentage points above or below,
respectively, the investment record of the BARRA Value Index for the same
period.
 
     The following table illustrates the incentive/penalty fee payable by
Vanguard/Windsor II to BHM&S under the new agreement:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 CUMULATIVE
                           THREE YEAR PERFORMANCE                            ANNUAL INCENTIVE/
                   DIFFERENTIAL VS THE BARRA VALUE INDEX                   PENALTY FEE ADJUSTMENT
     ------------------------------------------------------------------   ------------------------
     <S>                                                                  <C>
     Less than or equal to -9% points..................................       0.75% X Basic Fee
     Less than or equal to -6% points but greater than -9% points......       0.85% X Basic Fee
     Less than +6% points but greater than -6% points (the
       "Benchmark")....................................................               Basic Fee
     Greater than or equal to +6% points but less than +9% points......       1.15% X Basic Fee
     Greater than or equal to +9% points...............................       1.25% X Basic Fee
</TABLE>
 
     Until the quarter ending April 30, 1996, the incentive/penalty fee will be
calculated based on a comparison of the investment performance of the BHM&S
Portfolio and that of the BARRA Value Index over the number of months that have
elapsed between May 1, 1993 and the end of the quarter for which the fee is
computed. The number of percentage points by which the investment performance of
the BHM&S Portfolio must exceed or fall below that of the BARRA Value Index will
increase proportionately from 3 percentage points and 2 percentage points,
respectively, for the twelve months ended April 30, 1994 to 9 percentage points
and 6 percentage points, respectively for the thirty-six months ended April 30,
1996.
 
     The BARRA Value Index includes stocks in the Standard and Poor's 500
Composite Stock Price Index with lower than average ratios of market price to
book value. These types of stocks are often referred to as "value" stocks.
 
     The investment performance of the BHM&S Portfolio, for any period,
expressed as a percentage of the "BHM&S Portfolio Unit Value" at the beginning
of such period, will be the sum of: (i) the change in the BHM&S Portfolio unit
value during such period; (ii) the unit value of the Fund's cash distributions
from the BHM&S Portfolio's net investment income and realized net capital gains
(whether long-term or short-term) having an ex-dividend date occurring within
such period; and (iii) the unit value of capital gains taxes paid or accrued
during such period by Vanguard/Windsor II for undistributed realized long-term
capital gains realized from the BHM&S Portfolio.
 
     The "BHM&S Portfolio Unit Value" will be determined by dividing the total
net assets of the BHM&S Portfolio by a given number of units. On the initial
date of the agreement, the number of units in the BHM&S Portfolio will equal the
total shares outstanding of Vanguard/Windsor II. After such initial date, as
assets are
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   120
 
added to or withdrawn from the BHM&S Portfolio, the number of units of the BHM&S
Portfolio will be adjusted based on the unit value of the BHM&S Portfolio on the
day such changes are executed.
 
     The investment record of the BARRA Value Index will be calculated quarterly
by (i) multiplying the total return for the quarter (change in market price plus
dividends) of each stock included in the BARRA Value Index by its weighting in
the BARRA Value Index at the beginning of the quarter, and (ii) adding the
values discussed in (i). For any period, therefore, the investment record of the
BARRA Value Index will be the compounded quarterly returns of the BARRA Value
Index.
 
     For the purposes of determining the incentive/penalty fee adjustment, the
net assets of the BHM&S Portfolio will be averaged over the same period as the
investment performance of the BHM&S Portfolio and the investment record of the
BARRA Value Index are computed.
 
     During the fiscal years ended October 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995
Vanguard/Windsor II paid advisory fees to BHM&S of approximately $6,488,000,
$7,518,000 and $8,514,842, respectively.
 
     On November 1, 1991, Vanguard/Windsor II upon shareholder approval, added
Equinox Capital Management ("Equinox") and Tukman Capital Management ("Tukman")
to manage the investment and reinvestment of a portion of its assets
(approximately 10% each). Additionally Vanguard's Core Management Group was
added to manage approximately 8% of the Vanguard/Windsor II's assets as of that
date. Tukman, Equinox and Vanguard's Core Management Group discharge their
respective responsibilities subject to the control of the Directors and Officers
of the Fund.
 
     Equinox is a professional investment counseling firm founded in 1989. As of
December 31, 1995, Equinox provided investment advisory services with respect to
approximately assets of $5.1 billion. Ronald J. Ulrich, Director and President,
Edward E. Murphy and David Connor are the principal investment officers of
Equinox. Equinox has had no experience in serving as an investment adviser to an
investment company.
 
   
     Under the terms of an investment advisory agreement dated August 1, 1996
Windsor II pays Equinox an advisory fee by applying a quarterly rate to the
portion of Vanguard/Windsor II's average month-end net assets managed by
Equinox. The fee schedule is as follows:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         NET ASSETS                       RATE
                    ----------------------------------------------------  ----
                    <S>                                                   <C>
                    First $400 million..................................  .200%
                    Next $600 million...................................  .150%
                    Next $1 billion.....................................  .125%
                    Over $2 billion.....................................  .100%
</TABLE>
    
 
   
     Effective with the quarter ending October 31, 1996, the basic fee paid to
Equinox, as provided above, may be increased or decreased by applying an
incentive/penalty fee based on the investment performance of the portion of
Vanguard/Windsor II's assets managed by Equinox relative to the investment
record of the Russell 1000 Value Index. Such formula provides for an increase or
decrease in the basic fee paid to Equinox each quarter, depending upon the
Equinox Portfolio's investment performance for the thirty-six months preceding
the end of the quarter.
    
 
     The following table sets forth the incentive/penalty fee payable by
Vanguard/Windsor II to Equinox under the new investment advisory agreement:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  CUMULATIVE
                             36-MONTH PERFORMANCE                           PERFORMANCE FEE
                               VERSUS THE INDEX                               ADJUSTMENT*
     --------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------------
     <S>                                                                   <C>
     Less than -9%.......................................................  -0.50 X Basic Fee
     Between -9% and -4.5%...............................................  -0.25 X Basic Fee
     Between -4.5% and 4.5%..............................................   0.00 X Basic Fee
     Between 4.5% and 9%.................................................  +0.25 X Basic Fee
     More than 9%........................................................  +0.50 X Basic Fee
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
   
* For purposes of this calculation, the basic fee is calculated by applying the
  quarterly rate against average assets over the 36-month period.
    
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   121
 
   
     The investment performance of the Equinox Portfolio for such period,
expressed as a percentage of the Equinox Portfolio's net asset value per share
at the beginning of such period, shall be the sum of: (i) the change in the
Equinox Portfolio's net asset value per share during such period; (ii) the value
of the Equinox Portfolio's cash distributions per share having an ex-dividend
date occurring within such period; and (iii) the per share amount of capital
gains taxes paid or accrued during such period by the Equinox Portfolio for
undistributed realized long-term capital gains. The foregoing notwithstanding,
any computation of the investment performance of the Equinox Portfolio and the
investment record of the Index shall be in accordance with any then applicable
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
    
 
   
     The investment record of the Index for any period, expressed as a
percentage of the Index at the beginning of such period, shall be the sum of (i)
the change in the level of the Index during such period and (ii) the value,
computed consistently with the Index, of cash distributions having an
ex-dividend date occurring within such period made by companies whose securities
comprise the Index. For this purpose cash distributions on the securities which
comprise the Index shall be treated as reinvested in the Index at least as
frequently as the end of each calendar quarter following the payment of the
dividend.
    
 
   
     For the purpose of determining the fee adjustment for investment
performance, as described above, the net assets of the Equinox Portfolio shall
be averaged over the same period as the investment performance of the Equinox
Portfolio and the investment record of the Index are computed.
    
 
   
     During the fiscal years ending October 31, 1993, 1994, and 1995
Vanguard/Windsor II paid advisory fees to Equinox of approximately $1,171,000,
$1,424,000 and $1,681,435, respectively.
    
 
     Tukman is a professional investment counseling firm founded in 1980. As of
December 31, 1995 Tukman provided investment advisory services with respect to
assets of approximately $2.9 billion. Melvin T. Tukman, President and Director,
and Daniel L. Grossman, Vice President serve as the firm's principal investment
professionals. Tukman has had no experience in serving as an investment adviser
to an investment company.
 
     Under the terms of an investment advisory agreement dated November 1, 1991
the Fund pays Tukman an investment advisory fee by applying a quarterly rate,
based on the following annual percentage rates, to the average month-end assets
of the portion of the Vanguard/Windsor II's assets managed by Tukman:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         NET ASSETS                        RATE
                    -----------------------------------------------------  ----
                    <S>                                                    <C>
                    First $25 million....................................  .40 %
                    Next $125 million....................................  .35 %
                    Next $350 million....................................  .25 %
                    Next $500 million....................................  .20 %
                    Over $1 billion......................................  .15 %
</TABLE>
 
     The basic fee paid to Tukman, as provided above, may be increased or
decreased by applying an incentive/penalty fee based on the investment
performance of the portion of Vanguard/Windsor II's assets managed by Tukman
(the "Tukman Portfolio") relative to the investment record of the Standard &
Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index ("S&P 500"). Such incentive/penalty fee
provides for (i) a 50% increase or decrease in the basic advisory fee if the
investment performance of the Tukman Portfolio for the 36 months preceding the
end of the quarter is 12 percentage points or more above or below, respectively,
the investment record of the S&P 500 for the same period; or (ii) a 25% increase
or decrease in the basic advisory fee if the investment performance of the
Tukman Portfolio for such 36 months is 6 or more but less than 12 percentage
points above or below, respectively, the investment record of the S&P 500 for
the same period.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   122
 
     The following table sets forth the incentive/penalty fee payable by
Vanguard/Windsor II to Tukman under the new investment advisory agreement:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 CUMULATIVE
                           THREE YEAR PERFORMANCE                             ANNUAL INCENTIVE
                        DIFFERENTIAL VS. THE S&P 500                       PENALTY FEE ADJUSTMENT
     -------------------------------------------------------------------   ----------------------
     <S>                                                                   <C>
     Less than or equal to -12% points..................................      0.50 X Basic Fee
     Less than or equal to -6% points but greater than -12% points......      0.75 X Basic Fee
     Less than +6% points but greater than -6% points...................             Basic Fee
     Greater than or equal to +6% points but less than +12% points......      1.25 X Basic Fee
     Greater than or equal to +12% points...............................      1.50 X Basic Fee
</TABLE>
 
     The investment performance of the Tukman Portfolio, for any period,
expressed as a percentage of the "Tukman Portfolio Unit Value" at the beginning
of such period, will be the sum of: (i) the change in the Tukman Portfolio unit
value during such period; (ii) the unit value of Vanguard/Windsor II's cash
distributions from the Tukman Portfolio net investment income and realized net
capital gains (whether long-term or short-term) having an ex-dividend date
occurring within such period; and (iii) the unit value of capital gains taxes
paid or accrued during such period by Vanguard/Windsor II for undistributed
realized long-term capital gains realized from the Tukman Portfolio.
 
     The "Tukman Portfolio Unit Value" will be determined by dividing the total
net assets of the Tukman Portfolio by a given number of units. On the initial
date of the agreement, the number of units in the Tukman Portfolio will equal
the total shares outstanding of Vanguard/Windsor II. After such initial date, as
assets are added to or withdrawn from the Tukman Portfolio, the number of units
of the Tukman Portfolio will be adjusted based on the unit value of the Tukman
Portfolio on the day such changes are executed.
 
     The investment record of the S&P 500 will be calculated quarterly by (i)
multiplying the total return for the quarter (change in market price plus
dividends) of each stock included in the S&P 500 by its weighting in the S&P 500
at the beginning of the quarter, and (ii) adding the values discussed in (i).
For any period, therefore, the investment record of the S&P 500 will be the
compounded quarterly returns of the S&P 500.
 
     For the purposes of determining the incentive/penalty fee, the net assets
of the Tukman Portfolio will be averaged over the same period as the investment
performance of the Tukman Portfolio and the investment record of the S&P 500 are
computed.
 
     During the fiscal year ended October 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995
Vanguard/Windsor II paid advisory fees to Tukman of approximately $1,503,000,
$1,825,000 and $2,184,838, respectively.
 
     In April 1972, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") issued
Release No. 7113 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 to call attention of
directors and investment advisers to certain factors which must be considered in
connection with investment company incentive fee arrangements. One of these
factors is to "avoid basing significant fee adjustments upon random or
insignificant differences" between the investment performance of a fund and that
of the particular index with which it is being compared. The Release provides
that "preliminary studies (of the SEC staff) indicate that as a "rule of thumb"
the performance difference should be at least +/- 10 percentage points" annually
before the maximum performance adjustment may be made. However, the Release also
states that "because of the preliminary nature of these studies, the Commission
is not recommending, at this time, that any particular performance difference
exist before the maximum fee adjustment may be made". The Release concludes that
the directors of a fund "should satisfy themselves that the maximum performance
adjustment will be made only for performance differences that can reasonably be
considered significant." The Board of Directors of Windsor II has fully
considered the SEC Release and believes that the performance adjustments as
included in the proposed agreements with Equinox and Tukman are entirely
appropriate although not within the +/- 10 percentage points per year range
suggested in the Release. Under the Fund's investment advisory agreements, the
maximum performance adjustments are made at a difference of +/- 12 and +/- 9
percentage points from the performance of the index over a thirty-six month
period, which would effectively be the equivalent of approximately +/- 4 and +/-
3 percentage points difference per year.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   123
 
     The investment advisory agreements with Equinox and Tukman will continue
until October 31, 1995. The investment advisory agreement with BHM&S continues
until April 30, 1996. The agreements will be renewable thereafter for successive
one-year periods, only if each renewal is specifically approved by a vote of
Vanguard/Windsor II's Board of Directors, including the affirmative votes of a
majority of the Directors who are not parties to the contracts or "interested
persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of any such party,
cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such approval.
In addition, the question of the continuance of the agreements may be presented
to the shareholders of Vanguard/Windsor II. In such event, such continuance
shall be effected, only if approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of Vanguard/Windsor II.
 
   
     Vanguard's Core Management Group provides investment advisory services on
an at-cost basis with respect to a portion of the Vanguard/Windsor II's assets
(currently approximately 8%). The Core Management Group also provides investment
advisory services to several Vanguard Funds, including Vanguard Index Trust,
Vanguard Balanced Index Fund, Vanguard International Equity Index Fund and
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund, as well as to several indexed separate
accounts. Total assets under management by the Core Management Group were
approximately $51 billion as of September 30, 1996. The portion of
Vanguard/Windsor II managed by the Core Management Group is not actively
managed, but is instead administered by the Core Management Group using
computerized, quantitative techniques based on a value index constructed to
approximate the aggregate fundamental characteristics of a typical large
capitalization-value fund such as Vanguard/Windsor II. The index is composed of
approximately two hundred and fifty stocks that are chosen through quantitative
analysis of market capitalization, price/earnings ratios and yield
characteristics which are similar to the stocks that would normally be held in
the actively-managed portions of Vanguard/ Windsor II's portfolio. The Core
Management Group is supervised by the Officers of the Trust.
    
 
                             VANGUARD EXPLORER FUND
 
     Vanguard Explorer Fund, Inc. ("Explorer") currently employs two investment
advisers: Wellington Management Company ("WMC"), 75 State Street, Boston, MA
02109; and Granahan Investment Management, Inc. ("Granahan"), 275 Wyman Street,
Waltham, MA 02154. Until February 28, 1990, when Explorer acquired the assets of
Explorer II, WMC was sole investment adviser to Explorer (then known simply as
Explorer Fund), and Granahan served as sole investment adviser to Explorer II,
the acquired fund.
 
     The proportion of the net assets of Explorer managed by each adviser is
established by the Board of Directors of Explorer, and may be changed in the
future by the Board of Directors as circumstances warrant. Investors will be
advised of any substantive change in the proportions managed by each adviser.
 
WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT COMPANY
 
     Explorer has entered into an advisory agreement with WMC under which WMC
manages the investment and reinvestment of a portion of the Explorer's assets
(the "WMC Portfolio") and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the
Explorer's investment program with respect to those assets. As of October 31,
1995, WMC managed approximately 44% of the Fund's net assets. Prior to February
25, 1994, WMC managed approximately 75% of Explorer Fund's assets. WMC
discharges its responsibilities subject to the control of the officers and
Directors of Explorer.
 
     Explorer pays WMC a Basic Fee at the end of each fiscal quarter, calculated
by applying a quarterly rate, based on the following annual percentage rates, to
the average month-end net assets of the WMC Portfolio for the quarter:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         NET ASSETS                       RATE
                    ----------------------------------------------------  ----
                    <S>                                                   <C>
                    First $500 million..................................  .250%
                    Next $250 million...................................  .200%
                    Next $250 million...................................  .150%
                    Over $1 billion.....................................  .100%
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   124
 
   
     The Basic Fee paid to WMC may be increased or decreased by applying an
incentive/penalty fee adjustment based on the investment performance of the net
assets of the WMC Portfolio relative to the investment performance of the
Russell 2000 Small Stock Index (the "Index").
    
 
   
     The investment performance of the WMC Portfolio for such period, expressed
as a percentage of the WMC Portfolio's net asset value per share at the
beginning of such period, shall be the sum of: (i) the change in the WMC
Portfolio's net asset value per share during such period; (ii) the value of the
WMC Portfolio's cash distributions per share having an ex-dividend date
occurring within such period; and (iii) the per share amount of capital gains
taxes paid or accrued during such period by the WMC Portfolio for undistributed
realized long-term capital gains. The foregoing notwithstanding, any computation
of the investment performance of the WMC Portfolio and the investment record of
the Index shall be in accordance with any then applicable rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
    
 
   
     The "WMC Portfolio unit value" shall be determined by dividing the total
net assets of the WMC Portfolio by a given number of units. On the initial date
of the Agreement, the number of units in the WMC Portfolio shall equal the total
shares outstanding of the Fund. After such initial date, as assets are added to
or are withdrawn from the WMC Portfolio, the number of units of the WMC
Portfolio shall be adjusted based on the unit value of the WMC Portfolio on the
day such changes are executed.
    
 
   
     The investment record of the Index for any period, expressed as a
percentage of the Index at the beginning of such period, shall be the sum of (i)
the change in the level of the Index during such period and (ii) the value,
computed consistently with the Index, of cash distributions having an
ex-dividend date occurring within such period made by companies whose securities
comprise the Index. For this purpose cash distributions on the securities which
comprise the Index shall be treated as reinvested in the Index at least as
frequently as the end of each calendar quarter following the payment of the
dividend.
    
 
   
     For the purposes of determining the fee adjustment for investment
performance, the net assets of the WMC Portfolio are averaged over the same
period as the investment performance of the WMC Portfolio and the investment
record of the Russell 2000 are computed.
    
 
     Any computation of the investment performance of the WMC Portfolio and the
investment record of the Russell 2000 shall be subject to and in accordance with
any then applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
     During the fiscal years ended October 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 Vanguard
Explorer Fund paid WMC approximately the following advisory fees:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             1993          1994          1995
                                                          ----------    ----------    ----------
     <S>                                                  <C>           <C>           <C>
     Basic Fee..........................................  $1,181,674    $1,362,455    $1,698,254
     Increase (Decrease) for Performance Adjustment.....     (79,280)      (61,905)      (44,661)
                                                          ----------    ----------    ----------
     Total..............................................  $1,102,394    $1,300,550    $1,653,593
                                                          ==========    ==========    ==========
</TABLE>
 
   
     The agreement with WMC continues until July 31, 1998. The agreement is
renewable thereafter, for successive one-year periods, only if each renewal is
specifically approved by a vote of the Fund's Board of Directors, including the
affirmative votes of a majority of the Directors who are not parties to the
contract or "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940) of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
considering such approval. In addition, the question of continuance of the
agreement may be presented to the shareholders of the Fund; in such event
continuance shall be effected only if approved by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
    
 
GRANAHAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
 
     Granahan Investment Management, Inc. ("Granahan") serves as a second
investment adviser to Explorer. Under its advisory agreement with the Fund,
Granahan manages the investment and reinvestment of a portion of the Fund's
assets (the "Granahan Portfolio") and continuously reviews, supervises and
administers the Fund's investment program with respect to those assets. As of
October 31, 1995, Granahan managed approximately 43% of the Fund's net assets.
Prior to February 10, 1994, Granahan managed approximately
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   125
 
25% of the Explorer Fund's assets. Granahan discharges its responsibilities
subject to the control of the officers and Directors of Explorer.
 
     The Fund pays Granahan a Basic Fee at the end of each fiscal quarter,
calculated by applying a quarterly rate, based on the following annual
percentage rates, to the average month-end net assets of the Granahan Portfolio
for the quarter:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         NET ASSETS                       RATE
                    ----------------------------------------------------  ----
                    <S>                                                   <C>
                    First $500 million..................................  .300%
                    Next $250 million...................................  .200%
                    Next $250 million...................................  .150%
                    Over $1 billion.....................................  .100%
</TABLE>
    
 
   
     The Basic Fee paid to Granahan shall be increased or decreased in an amount
equal to .075% per annum (.01875% per quarter) of the average month-end net
assets of the Granahan Portfolio if the investment performance of the Granahan
Portfolio for the thirty-six months preceding the end of the quarter is twelve
percentage points or more above or below, respectively, the investment record of
the Russell 2000 Small Stock Index (the "Index") for the same period; or by an
amount equal to .0375% per annum (.009375% per quarter) if the investment
performance of the Granahan Portfolio for such thirty-six months is six or more
but less than twelve percentage points above or below, respectively, the
investment record of the Index for the same period.
    
 
   
     For the purposes of determining the incentive/penalty fee, the net assets
of the Granahan Portfolio shall be averaged over the same period as the
investment performance of the Granahan Portfolio and the investment record of
the Index are computed.
    
 
   
     The investment performance of the Granahan Portfolio for any period,
expressed as a percentage of the "Granahan Portfolio unit value" at the
beginning of such period, shall be the sum of: (i) the change in the Granahan
Portfolio unit value during such period; (ii) the unit value of the Fund's cash
distributions from the Granahan Portfolio net investment income and realized net
capital gains (whether long-term or short-term) having an ex-dividend date
occurring within such period; and (iii) the unit value of capital gains taxes
paid or accrued during such period by the Fund for undistributed realized
long-term capital gains realized from the Granahan Portfolio.
    
 
   
     The "Granahan Portfolio unit value" shall be determined by dividing the
total net assets of the Granahan Portfolio by a given number of units. On the
initial date of the Agreement, the number of units in the Granahan Portfolio
shall equal the total shares outstanding of the Fund. After such initial date,
as assets are added to or are withdrawn from the Granahan Portfolio, the number
of units of the Granahan Portfolio shall be adjusted based on the unit value of
the Granahan Portfolio on the day such changes are executed.
    
 
   
     The investment record of the Index for any period, expressed as a
percentage of the Index at the beginning of such period, shall be the sum of (i)
the change in the level of the Index during such period and (ii) the value,
computed consistently with the Index, of cash distributions having an
ex-dividend date occurring within such period made by companies whose securities
comprise the Index shall be treated as reinvested in the Index at least as
frequently as the end of each quarter following the payment of the dividend.
    
 
     For the purposes of determining the fee adjustment for investment
performance, the net assets of the Granahan Portfolio are averaged over the same
period as the investment performance of the Granahan Portfolio and the
investment record of the Russell 2000 are computed.
 
     Any computation of the investment performance of the Granahan Portfolio and
the investment record of the Russell 2000 shall be subject to and in accordance
with any then applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
     The agreement with Granahan continues until February 27, 1996. The
agreement is renewable thereafter for successive one-year periods, only if each
renewal is specifically approved by a vote of the Fund's Board of Directors,
including the affirmative votes of a majority of the Directors who are not
parties to the contract or "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940) of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for
the purpose of considering such approval. In addition, the question of
continuance of the
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   126
 
agreement may be presented to the shareholders of the Fund; in such event, such
continuance shall be effected only if approved by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             1993          1994          1995
                                                          ----------    ----------    ----------
     <S>                                                  <C>           <C>           <C>
     Basic Fee..........................................  $  936,872    $1,397,812    $1,799,069
     Increase (Decrease) for Performance Adjustment.....     116,432        40,525        69,595
                                                          ----------    ----------    ----------
     Total..............................................  $1,053,304    $1,438,337    $1,868,664
                                                          ==========    ==========    ==========
</TABLE>
 
     The factors discussed with respect to SEC Release No. 7113 on page 16 also
apply to the above-referenced agreement.
 
                         VANGUARD U.S. GROWTH PORTFOLIO
 
LINCOLN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY
 
     The Vanguard U.S. Growth Portfolio entered into an investment advisory
agreement with Lincoln Capital Management Company (Lincoln) on April 1, 1993,
under which Lincoln manages the investment and reinvestment of the assets
included in the Vanguard U.S. Growth Portfolio and continuously reviews,
supervises and administers the Portfolio. Lincoln will invest or reinvest such
assets only in U.S. securities. Lincoln discharges its responsibilities subject
to the control of the Officers and Directors of the Fund. Under this agreement
the Fund pays Lincoln an advisory fee at the end of each fiscal quarter,
calculated by applying a quarterly rate, based on the following annual
percentage rates, to the Portfolio's average month-end net assets for the
quarter:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         NET ASSETS                        RATE
                    -----------------------------------------------------  ----
                    <S>                                                    <C>
                    First $25 million....................................  .40 %
                    Next $125 million....................................  .35 %
                    Next $350 million....................................  .25 %
                    Next $500 million....................................  .20 %
                    Next $1.5 billion....................................  .15 %
                    Over $2.5 billion....................................  .10 %
</TABLE>
 
     For the fiscal years ended August 31, 1993, 1994 and 1995 the Fund paid
advisory fees of $3,655,000, $3,688,000 and $4,523,000 respectively, to Lincoln.
The fees for 1993 fiscal year included a fee waiver of $578,000.
 
     Lincoln is an Illinois corporation in which a controlling interest is held
by the following persons: John W. Croghan, Chairman; J. Parker Hall III,
President; Kenneth R. Meyer, Executive Vice President; and Timothy H. Ubben,
Executive Vice President.
 
     Because Lincoln provides only investment advisory services to the Fund and
has no control over the Fund's expenses, Lincoln has not undertaken to guarantee
expenses of the Fund. The Officers of the Fund have worked out alternative
arrangements with the state authorities which do not require an expense
guarantee.
 
     The agreement with Lincoln continues until March 31, 1996. The agreement is
renewable thereafter, for successive one-year periods, only if each renewal is
specifically approved by a vote of the Fund's Board of Directors, including the
affirmative votes of a majority of the Directors who are not parties to the
agreement or "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940) of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of
considering such approval. In addition, the question of continuance of the
agreement may be presented to the shareholders of the Vanguard U.S. Growth
Portfolio; In such event continuance shall be effected only if approved by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Vanguard U.S. Growth Portfolio.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   127
 
                             VANGUARD/PRIMECAP FUND
 
PRIMECAP MANAGEMENT COMPANY
 
     Vanguard/PRIMECAP Fund ("PRIMECAP") employs PRIMECAP Management Company
(the "Adviser") under an investment advisory agreement dated as of May 1, 1993
to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund and to
continuously review, supervise and administer the Fund's investment program. The
Adviser discharges its responsibilities subject to the control of the Officers
and Directors of the Fund.
 
     PRIMECAP pays the Adviser an advisory fee at the end of each fiscal
quarter, calculated by applying a quarterly rate, based on the following annual
percentage rates, to the Fund's average month-end net assets for the quarter:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         NET ASSETS                       RATE
                    ----------------------------------------------------  ----
                    <S>                                                   <C>
                    First $25 million...................................  .750%
                    Next $225 million...................................  .500%
                    Next $250 million...................................  .375%
                    Over $500 million...................................  .250%
</TABLE>
 
     During the fiscal years ended December 31, 1993, 1994, and 1995 PRIMECAP
paid investment advisory fees of approximately $2,854,000, $3,882,000 and
$7,700,000 respectively.
 
     The agreement with the Adviser is renewable for successive one-year
periods, only if each renewal is specifically approved by a vote of the
PRIMECAP's Board of Directors, including the affirmative votes of a majority of
the Directors who are not parties to the contract or "interested persons" (as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of any such party, cast in person
at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such approval. In addition,
the question of continuance of the Agreement may be presented to the
shareholders of the Fund; in such event, such continuance shall be effected only
if approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund.
 
     The Adviser is a California corporation whose outstanding shares are owned
by its directors and officers. The directors of the corporation and the offices
they currently hold are: Howard Bernard Schow, Chairman, Mitchell John Milias,
Vice Chairman and Treasurer, Theofanis Anastasios Kolokotrones, President and
Secretary, and Joel P. Freid, Senior Vice President.
 
                              THE PRIME PORTFOLIO
 
   
     Vanguard's Fixed Income Group provides investment advisory services on an
at-cost basis to the Prime Portfolio of Vanguard Money Market Trust (see page 11
for a more complete description of the Fixed Income Group).
    
 
                         VANGUARD ASSET ALLOCATION FUND
 
     Vanguard Asset Allocation Fund, Inc. ("VAAF") employs Mellon Capital
Management Corporation ("MCM"), 595 Market St., 30th Floor, San Francisco,
California, 94105, under an investment advisory agreement dated as of January
15, 1996 to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of VAAF and to
continuously review, supervise and administer the VAAF's investment program. MCM
discharges its responsibilities subject to the control of the officers and
Directors of VAAF.
 
     VAAF pays MCM a Basic fee at the end of each fiscal quarter, calculated by
applying a quarterly rate, based on the following annual percentage rates, to
the VAAF's average month-end net assets for the quarter:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         NET ASSETS                       RATE
                    ----------------------------------------------------  ----
                    <S>                                                   <C>
                    First $100 million..................................  .200%
                    Next $900 million...................................  .150%
                    Next $500 million...................................  .125%
                    Over $1.5 billion...................................  .100%
</TABLE>
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   128
 
     This fee may be increased or decreased by applying an adjustment formula
based on the performance of the Fund's portfolio relative to the investment
record of the S&P 500 Index. The fee payment will be increased (decreased) by an
incentive (penalty) of 0.05% of average net assets, if the Fund's cumulative
investment performance for the thirty-six months preceding the end of the
quarter is at least six percentage points above (below) the cumulative
investment record of the S&P 500 Index for the same period.
 
     For the fiscal years ended September 30, 1993, 1994 and 1995, Vanguard
Asset Allocation Fund paid MCM approximately $1,224,000 ($1,176,000 basic fee
increased by $48,000 for performance adjustment), $1,785,000 and $1,954,000
(before a decrease of $131,000 based on performance), respectively.
 
     The agreement will continue until January 14, 1998 and will be renewable
thereafter for successive one-year periods, only if each renewal is specifically
approved by a vote of the Fund's Board of Directors, including the affirmative
votes of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the contract or
"interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of any
such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering
such approval. In addition, the question of continuance shall be effected only
if approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund.
 
   
             VANGUARD INDEX TRUST -- TOTAL STOCK MARKET PORTFOLIO,
    
       VANGUARD INTERNATIONAL EQUITY INDEX FUND -- EUROPEAN, PACIFIC AND
   
   EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIOS AND VANGUARD STAR FUND -- TOTAL INTERNATIONAL
                                   PORTFOLIO
    
 
     The above-referenced Funds receive all investment advisory services on an
at-cost basis from Vanguard's Core Management Group.
 
   
     The Core Management Group also provides investment advisory services to
several other Vanguard Funds, including the remaining 5 Portfolios in Vanguard
Index Trust, Vanguard Institutional Index Fund, Vanguard Balanced Index Fund,
Vanguard Variable Insurance Fund -- Equity Index Portfolio, several Portfolios
of Vanguard Tax-Managed Fund, the Aggressive Growth Portfolio of Vanguard
Horizon Fund, a portion of Vanguard/Morgan Growth Fund and a portion of
Vanguard/Windsor II, as well as to several indexed separate accounts. Total
assets under management by the Core Management Group were $33 billion as of
December 31, 1995. The Funds are not actively managed, but is instead
administered by the Core Management Group using computerized, quantitative
techniques. The Core Management Group is supervised by the Officers of the
respective funds.
    
 
                             PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
 
     Each of the investment advisory agreements discussed on pages 5-22
authorizes the respective Adviser (with the approval of the respective Fund's
Board of Directors) to select the brokers or dealers that will execute the
purchases and sales of portfolio securities for the respective Fund and directs
the Adviser to use its best efforts to obtain the best available price and most
favorable execution as to all transactions for the respective Fund. Each Adviser
undertakes to execute each investment transaction at a price and commission
which provides the most favorable total cost or proceeds reasonably obtainable
under the circumstances.
 
     In placing portfolio transactions, each Adviser will use its best judgment
to choose the broker most capable of providing the brokerage services necessary
to obtain best available price and most favorable execution. The full range and
quality of brokerage services available will be considered in making these
determinations. In those instances where it is reasonably determined that more
than one broker can offer the brokerage services needed to obtain the best
available price and most favorable execution, consideration may be given to
those brokers which supply investment research and statistical information and
provide other services in addition to execution services to the respective Fund
and/or each Adviser, provided that each Adviser considers such information
useful in the performance of its obligations under the agreement, but is unable
to determine the amount by which such services may reduce its expenses.
 
     The investment advisory agreements also incorporate the concepts of Section
28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by providing that, subject to the
approval of the respective Fund's Board of Directors,
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   129
 
the Adviser may cause the respective Fund to pay a broker-dealer which furnishes
brokerage and research services a higher commission than that which might be
charged by another broker-dealer for effecting the same transaction; provided
that such commission is deemed reasonable in terms of either that particular
transaction or the overall responsibilities of the Adviser to the Fund.
 
     Currently, it is each Fund's policy that each Adviser may at times pay
higher commissions in recognition of brokerage services felt necessary for the
achievement of better execution of certain securities transactions that
otherwise might not be available. Each Adviser will only pay such higher
commissions if it believes this to be in the best interest of the respective
Fund. Some brokers or dealers who may receive such higher commissions in
recognition of brokerage services related to execution of securities
transactions are also providers of research information to the Adviser and/or
the Fund. However, each Adviser has informed the respective Fund that it will
not pay higher commission rates specifically for the purpose of obtaining
research services.
 
     Since each Fund does not market its shares through intermediary brokers or
dealers, it is not the Funds' practice to allocate brokerage or principal
business on the basis of sales of its shares which may be through such firms.
However, each Fund may place portfolio orders with qualified broker-dealers who
recommend the Fund to other clients, or who act as agent in the purchase of the
Fund's shares for their clients, and may, when a number of brokers and dealers
can provide comparable best price and execution on a particular transaction,
consider the sale of Fund shares by a broker or dealer in selecting among
qualified broker-dealers. Although the Funds managed by Vanguard's Core
Management Group and Vanguard's Fixed Income Group do not operate pursuant to a
formal investment advisory agreements, the aforementioned requirements and
policies also apply to them.
 
                       TERMINATION OF ADVISORY AGREEMENTS
 
     Each of the investment advisory agreements described on pages 5-22 are
automatically terminated if assigned, and may be terminated without penalty at
any time (1) by either a vote of the respective Fund's Board of Directors
(Trustees) or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
respective Fund, upon 60 days' written notice to the investment advisor, or (2)
by the investment adviser upon 90 days' written notice to the respective Fund.
 
                               PURCHASE OF SHARES
 
     The purchase price of shares of the Fund's Portfolios is the net asset
value next determined after the order is received. The net asset value is
calculated as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange on each day the
Exchange is open for business and on any other day on which there is sufficient
trading in each Portfolio's underlying securities to materially affect its net
asset value per share. An order received prior to the close of the Exchange will
be executed at the price computed on the date of receipt; and an order received
after the close of the Exchange will be executed at the price computed on the
next day the Exchange is open.
 
     The Fund reserves the right in its sole discretion (i) to suspend the
offering of its shares, (ii) to reject purchase orders when in the judgment of
management such rejection is in the best interest of the Fund, and (iii) to
reduce or waive the minimum investment for or any other restrictions on initial
and subsequent investments for certain fiduciary accounts such as employee
benefit plans or under circumstances where certain economies can be achieved in
sales of Portfolios' shares.
 
     To assure that the Fund continues to operate in the manner set forth in
this Prospectus, including the desired composition of shareholder investments in
the Fund, the officers of the Fund will monitor and report to the Trustees the
composition of the Fund's shareholder base. The Fund's shares will be marketed
to tax-advantaged and other retirement accounts. The officers will recommend to
the Trustees any action they deem necessary to assure that investments in the
Fund do not become inconsistent with the policies applicable to the Fund. This
could include recommendations to limit sales to specific categories of investors
or to revise the suitability standards for investors.
 
     A 1% portfolio transaction fee is deducted from purchases of the European
and Pacific Portfolios, and a 2% portfolio transaction fee is deducted from
purchases of the Emerging Markets Portfolio, including purchases
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   130
 
made by each of the Portfolios of Vanguard STAR Fund. Portfolio transaction fees
are paid directly to these Portfolios in order to offset transaction costs of
buying international securities in the European, Pacific and Emerging Markets
Portfolios. A portfolio transaction fee of 1% is assessed on redemptions from
the Emerging Markets Portfolio. The fees are not sales charges. The Portfolios
of Vanguard STAR Fund, who invest in these Portfolios, will also incur a $10
annual account maintenance fee. This fee will be waived for shareholders with an
account balance of $10,000 or more.
 
STOCK CERTIFICATES
 
     Your purchase will be made in full and fractional shares of STAR calculated
to three decimal places. Shares are normally held on deposit for shareholders by
STAR, which will send to shareholders a statement of shares owned at the time of
each transaction. This saves the shareholders the trouble of safekeeping the
certificates, and saves STAR the cost of issuing certificates. Share
certificates are, of course, available at any time upon written request at no
additional cost to shareholders. No certificates will be issued for fractional
shares. Share certificates will not be offered for the Income, Conservative
Growth, Moderate Growth and Growth Portfolios.
 
                              REDEMPTION OF SHARES
 
     The Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment
(i) during any period that the New York Stock Exchange is closed, or trading on
the Exchange is restricted as determined by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"), (ii) during any period when an emergency exists
as defined by the rules of the Commission as a result of which it is not
reasonably practicable for STAR to dispose of securities owned by it, or fairly
to determine the value of its assets, and (iii) for such other periods as the
Commission may permit. Any redemptions may be more or less than the
shareholder's cost depending on the market value of the Fund's underlying
securities.
 
SIGNATURE GUARANTEES
 
     To protect your account, the Fund and Vanguard from fraud, signature
guarantees are required for certain redemptions. Signature guarantees enable the
Fund to verify the authenticity of a signature. Signature guarantees are
required in connection with: (1) all redemptions, regardless of the amount
involved, when the proceeds are to be paid to someone other than the registered
owner(s); and (2) share transfer requests.
 
     These requirements are not applicable to redemptions in Vanguard's
prototype retirement plans, except in connection with: (1) distributions made
when the proceeds are to be paid to someone other than the plan participant; (2)
certain authorizations to effect exchanges by telephone; and (3) when proceeds
are to be wired. These requirements may be waived by the Fund in certain
instances.
 
     Signature guarantees can be obtained from a bank, broker or any other
guarantor that Vanguard deems acceptable. Notaries public are not acceptable
guarantors.
 
     The signature guarantees must appear either: (1) on the written request for
redemption; (2) on a separate instrument for assignment ("stock power") which
should specify the total number of shares to be redeemed; or (3) on all stock
certificates tendered for redemption and, if shares held by the Fund are also
being redeemed, on the letter or stock power.
 
                             YIELD AND TOTAL RETURN
 
     The yield of the STAR Portfolio for the 30-day period ended December 31,
1995 was 3.96%. The yield of the Income, Conservative Growth, Moderate Growth
and Growth Portfolios of the LifeStrategy Funds for the 30-day period ended
December 31, 1995 were 5.73%, 4.75%, 3.82% and 2.81%.
 
     The average annual total return of the STAR Portfolio for the one- and
five-year periods ended December 31, 1995 and, since its inception on March 29,
1985 was +28.64%, +14.33% and +11.92%, respectively. The average annual total
return of the Life Strategy Funds -- Income Portfolio for the one year
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   131
 
period ended December 31, 1995 and, since its inception on September 30, 1994
was +22.99% and +18.16%. The average annual total return of the Life Strategy
Funds -- Conservative Growth Portfolio for the one year period ended December
31, 1995 and, since its inception on September 30, 1994 was +24.35% and +19.10%.
The average annual total return of the Life Strategy Funds -- Moderate Growth
Portfolio for the one year period ended December 31, 1995 and, since its
inception on September 30, 1994 was +27.94% and +21.07%. The average annual
total return of the Life Strategy Funds -- Growth Portfolio for the one year
period ended December 31, 1995 and, since its inception on September 30, 1994
was +29.24% and +22.64%. Total return is computed by finding the average
compounded rates of return over the one-year and since inception periods set
forth above that would equate an initial amount invested at the beginning of the
periods to the ending redeemable value of the investment.
 
                              COMPARATIVE INDEXES
 
     Vanguard may use reprinted material discussing The Vanguard Group, Inc. or
any of the member funds of The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies.
 
     Each of the investment company members of the Vanguard Group, including
Vanguard STAR Fund, may from time to time, use one or more of the following
unmanaged indexes for comparative performance purposes.
 
STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 COMPOSITE STOCK PRICE INDEX -- is a well diversified
list of 500 companies representing the U.S. Stock Market.
 
WILSHIRE 5000 EQUITY INDEX -- consists of more than 6,000 common equity
securities, covering all stocks in the U.S. for which daily pricing is
available.
 
WILSHIRE 4500 EQUITY INDEX -- consists of all stocks in the Wilshire 5000 except
for the 500 stocks in the Standard and Poor's 500 Index.
 
MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL EAFE INDEX -- is an arithmetic, market
value-weighted average of the performance of over 900 securities listed on the
stock exchanges of countries in Europe, Australia and the Far East.
 
MSCI EMF INDEX -- an arithmetic, market value-weighted average of the
performance of securities listed on the stock exchanges of twenty-two developing
countries.
 
MSCI EAFE + SELECT EMF INDEX -- an arithmetic, market value-weighted average of
the performance of securities listed on the stock markets of Europe, Australia,
the Far East and fourteen developing countries.
 
GOLDMAN SACHS 100 CONVERTIBLE BOND INDEX -- currently includes 71 bonds and 29
preferreds. The original list of names was generated by screening for
convertible issues of $100 million or greater in market capitalization. The
index is priced monthly.
 
SALOMON BROTHERS GNMA INDEX -- includes pools of mortgages originated by private
lenders and guaranteed by the mortgage pools of the Government National Mortgage
Association.
 
SALOMON BROTHERS HIGH-GRADE CORPORATE BOND INDEX -- consists of publicly issued,
non-convertible corporate bonds rated Aa or Aaa. It is a value-weighted, total
return index, including approximately 800 issues with maturities of 12 years or
greater.
 
LEHMAN LONG-TERM TREASURY BOND -- is composed of all bonds covered by the
Shearson Lehman Hutton Treasury Bond Index with maturities of 10 years or
greater.
 
MERRILL LYNCH CORPORATE & GOVERNMENT BOND -- consists of over 4,000 U.S.
Treasury, Agency and investment grade corporate bonds.
 
LEHMAN CORPORATE (BAA) BOND INDEX -- all publicly offered, fixed-rate,
nonconvertible domestic corporate bonds rated Baa by Moody's, with a maturity
longer than 1 year and with more than $25 million outstanding. This index
includes over 1,000 issues.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   132
 
BOND BUYER MUNICIPAL INDEX (20 YEAR) BOND -- is a yield index on current coupon
high-grade general obligation municipal bonds.
 
STANDARD & POOR'S PREFERRED INDEX -- is a yield index based upon the average
yield of four high-grade, non-callable preferred stock issues.
 
NASDAQ INDUSTRIAL INDEX -- is composed of more than 3,000 industrial issues. It
is a value-weighted index calculated on price change only and does not include
income.
 
COMPOSITE INDEX -- 70% Standard & Poor's 500 Index and 30% NASDAQ Industrial
Index.
 
COMPOSITE INDEX -- 65% Standard & Poor's 500 Index and 35% Lehman Long-Term
Corporate AA or Better Bond Index.
 
COMPOSITE INDEX -- 65% Lehman Long-Term Corporate AA or Better Bond Index and a
35% weighting in a blended equity composite (75% Standard & Poor's/BARRA Value
Index and 25% Standard & Poor's Utilities Index.)
 
LEHMAN LONG-TERM CORPORATE AA OR BETTER BOND INDEX -- consists of all publicly
issued, fixed rate, nonconvertible investment grade, dollar-denominated,
SEC-registered corporate debt rated AA or AAA.
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS AGGREGATE BOND INDEX -- is a market weighted index that contains
individually priced U.S. Treasury, agency, corporate, and mortgage pass-through
securities corporate rated BBB- or better. The index has a market value of over
$4 trillion.
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS MUTUAL FUND SHORT (1-5) GOVERNMENT/CORPORATE INDEX -- is a
market weighted index that contains individually priced U.S. Treasury, agency
and corporate investment grade bonds rated BBB- or better with maturities
between 1 and 5 years. The index has a market value of over $1.3 trillion.
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS MUTUAL FUND INTERMEDIATE (5-10) GOVERNMENT/CORPORATE INDEX -- is
a market weighted index that contains individually priced U.S. Treasury, agency,
and corporate securities rated BBB- or better with maturities between 5 and 10
years. The index has a market value of over $600 billion.
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS MUTUAL FUND LONG (10+) GOVERNMENT/CORPORATE INDEX -- is a market
weighted index that contains individually priced U.S. Treasury, agency, and
corporate securities rated BBB- or better with maturities greater than 10 years.
The index has a market value of over $900 billion.
 
RUSSELL 2000 STOCK INDEX -- consists of the smallest 2,000 stocks within the
Russell 3000; a widely-used benchmark for small capitalization common stocks.
 
IBBOTSON ASSOCIATES YEARBOOK -- various mutual fund performance data.
 
LIPPER BALANCED FUND AVERAGE -- An industry benchmark of average balanced funds
with similar investment objectives and policies, as measured by Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc.
 
LIPPER NON-GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET FUND AVERAGE -- An industry benchmark of
average non-government money market funds with similar investment objectives and
policies, as measured by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
 
LIPPER GOVERNMENT MONEY MARKET FUND AVERAGE -- An industry benchmark of average
government money market funds with similar investment objectives and policies,
as measured by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.
 
LIPPER SMALL COMPANY GROWTH FUND AVERAGE -- the average performance of small
company growth funds as defined by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. Lipper
defines a small company growth fund as a fund that by prospectus or portfolio
practice, limits its investments to companies on the basis of the size of the
company. From time to time, Vanguard may advertise using the average performance
and/or the average expense ratio of the small company growth funds. (This fund
category was first established in 1982. For years prior to 1982, the results of
the Lipper Small Company Growth category were estimated using the returns of the
Funds that constituted the Group at its inception.)
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   133
 
RUSSELL 3000 INDEX -- consists of approximately the 3,000 largest stocks of U.S.
domiciled companies commonly traded on the New York and American Stock Exchanges
or the NASDAQ over-the-counter market, accounting for over 90% of the market
value of publicly traded Stocks in the U.S.
 
                              GENERAL INFORMATION
 
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES AND VOTING RIGHTS
 
     The Trust was established as a "business trust" under Pennsylvania law
under a Declaration of Trust dated July 19, 1983. The Declaration of Trust
permits the Trustees to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial
interest, without par value, from an unlimited number of separate classes
("Portfolios") of shares. Currently, the Trust is offering shares of six
Portfolios.
 
     The shares of the Fund are fully paid and non-assessable, except as set
forth under "Shareholder and Trustee Liability," and have no preference as to
conversion, exchange, dividends, retirement or other features. The shares have
no pre-emptive rights. The shares have non-cumulative voting rights, which means
that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of
Trustees can elect 100% of the Trustees if they choose to do so. A shareholder
is entitled to one vote for each full share held (and a fractional vote for each
fractional share held), then standing in his name on the books of the Fund. On
any matter submitted to a vote of shareholders, all shares of the Fund then
issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, irrespective of the class, shall be
voted in the aggregate and not by class: except (i) when required by the
Investment Company Act of 1940, shares shall be voted by individual class; and
(ii) when the matter does not affect any interest of a particular class, then
only shareholders of the affected class or classes shall be entitled to vote
thereon.
 
     The Fund will continue without limitation of time, provided however that:
 
     1) Subject to the majority vote of the holders of shares of any Portfolio
        outstanding, the Trustees may sell or convert the assets of such
        Portfolio to another investment company in exchange for shares of such
        investment company, and distribute such shares, ratably among the
        shareholders of such Portfolio;
 
     2) Subject to the majority vote of shares of any Portfolio outstanding, the
        Trustees may sell and convert into money the assets of such Portfolio
        and distribute such assets ratably among the shareholders of such
        Portfolio; and
 
     3) Without the approval of the shareholders of any Portfolio, unless
        otherwise required by law, the Trustees may combine the assets of any
        two or more Portfolios into a single Portfolio so long as such
        combination will not have a material adverse effect upon the
        shareholders of such Portfolio.
 
     Upon completion of the distribution of the remaining proceeds or the
remaining assets of any Portfolio as provided in paragraphs 1), 2) and 3) above,
the Fund shall terminate as to that Portfolio and the Trustees shall be
discharged of any and all further liabilities and duties hereunder and the
right, title and interest of all parties shall be cancelled and discharged.
 
SHAREHOLDER AND TRUSTEE LIABILITY
 
     Under Pennsylvania law, shareholders of a trust may, under certain
circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the
Trust. Therefore, the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of
shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Trust and requires that
notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation, or instrument
entered into or executed by the Trust or the Trustees. The Declaration of Trust
provides for indemnification out of the Trust property of any shareholder held
personally liable for the obligations of the Trust. The Declaration of Trust
also provides that the Trust shall, upon request, assume the defense of any
claim made against any shareholder for any act or obligation of the Trust and
satisfy any judgment thereon. Thus, the risk of a shareholder incurring
financial loss on account of shareholder liability is limited to circumstances
in which the Trust itself would be unable to meet its obligations. The Trustees
and officers of the Trust believe that, in view of the above, the risk of
personal liability to shareholders is remote.
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   134
 
     The Declaration of Trust further provides that the Trustees will not be
liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law, but nothing in the
Declaration of Trust protects a Trustee against any liability to which he would
otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his
office.
 
                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
   
     Vanguard STAR Fund's financial statements for the year ended December 31,
1995, including the financial highlights for each of the five fiscal years in
the period ended December 31, 1995, appearing in Vanguard STAR Fund 1995 Annual
Report to Shareholders, and the report thereon of Price Waterhouse LLP,
independent accountants, also appearing therein, are incorporated by reference
in this Statement of Additional Information. The unaudited financial statements
and financial highlights of the Fund for the six-months ended June 30, 1996, as
set forth in the Vanguard Life Strategy Portfolios Semi-Annual Report to
Shareholders, are incorporated herein by reference. The Fund's Annual Report and
Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders is enclosed with this Statement of Additional
Information.
    
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   135
 
                                     PART C
                               VANGUARD STAR FUND
                               OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 24. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
     (a) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
   
     The audited financial statements for the Registrant's Star Fund, for the
year ended December 31, 1995, including Price Waterhouse LLP's report thereon,
and the unaudited financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 1996
are incorporated by reference, in the Statement of Additional Information, from
the Registrant's 1995 Annual Report and the June 30, 1996 Semi-Annual Report
which has been filed with the Commission. The financial statements included in
the Annual Report and Semi-Annual Report are:
    
 
   
      1. Statement of Net Assets as of December 31, 1995 and as of June 30,
1996.
    
   
      2. Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 1995 and for
six months ended June 30, 1996.
    
   
      3. Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the years ended December 31,
         1994 and 1995 and for six months ended June 30, 1996.
    
   
      4. Financial Highlights for each of the five years in the period ended
         December 31, 1995 for the STAR Portfolio, and for the year ended
         December 31, 1995 and for six months ended June 30, 1996 and the period
         September 30, 1994 to December 31, 1994 for the Income, Growth,
         Conservative Growth, Moderate Growth Portfolios (also appearing in the
         Prospectus along with prior years).
    
      5. Notes to Financial Statements.
      6. Report of Independent Accountants.
 
     (b) EXHIBITS
 
     11. Consent of Independent Accountants*
     12. Financial Statements -- reference is made to (a) above
     16. Schedule for Computation of Performance Quotations*
     27. Financial Data Schedule*
- ------------------------
*Filed herewith
 
ITEM 25. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT
 
     Registrant is not controlled by or under common control with any person.
The officers of the Registrant, the investment companies in The Vanguard Group
of Investment Companies and The Vanguard Group, Inc. are identical. Reference is
made to the caption "Management of STAR" in the Prospectus constituting Part A
and "Management of STAR" in the Statement of Additional Information constituting
Part B of this Registration Statement.
 
ITEM 26. NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
 
     As of December 31, 1995 there were 294,057 shareholders of the STAR
Portfolio; 2,375 shareholders of the Income Portfolio; 7,545 shareholders of the
Conservative Growth Portfolio; 9,499 shareholders of the Moderate Growth
Portfolio; and 16,908 shareholders of the Growth Portfolio.
 
ITEM 27. INDEMNIFICATION
 
     Reference is made to Article XI of Registrant's Declaration of Trust.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by
<PAGE>   136
 
such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
 
ITEM 28. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER
 
     The Fund has no Investment Adviser.
 
ITEM 29. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS
 
     (a) None
 
     (b) Not Applicable
 
ITEM 30. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
 
     The books, accounts and other documents required by Section 31(a) under the
Investment Company Act and the rules promulgated thereunder will be maintained
in the physical possession of Registrant; Registrant's Transfer Agent, The
Vanguard Group, Inc. c/o The Vanguard Financial Center, Valley Forge,
Pennsylvania 19482; and the Registrant's Custodian, CoreStates Bank, N.A.,
Philadelphia, Pa. 19103.
 
ITEM 31. MANAGEMENT SERVICES
 
     Other than the Amended and Restated Funds' Service Agreement with The
Vanguard Group, Inc. which was previously filed as Exhibit 9(c) and described in
Part B hereof under "Management of STAR;" the Registrant is not a party of any
management-related service contract.
 
ITEM 32. UNDERTAKINGS
 
     Annual meetings of shareholders will not be held except as required by the
Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act") or other applicable law. Registrant
undertakes to comply with the provisions of Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act in
regard to shareholders' rights to call a meeting of shareholders for the purpose
of voting on the removal of Directors and to assist in shareholder
communications in such matters, to the extent required by law. The Income
Growth, Conservative Growth and Moderate Growth Portfolios hereby undertake to
hold an annual shareholders' meeting for the purpose of electing Trustees and
appointing independent accountants within 4-6 months of the effective date of
this registration statement.
 
     Registrant hereby undertakes to provide an Annual Report to Shareholders or
prospective investors, free of charge, upon request.
<PAGE>   137
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all the
requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule
485(a) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Post-Effective
Amendment to this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Valley Forge and the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 29th day of October, 1996.
    
 
    VANGUARD STAR FUND
 
   
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky) John J. Brennan*, President and Chief Executive
    Officer
    
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by
the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated:
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    John C. Bogle*, Chairman of the Board and Trustee
   
    October 29, 1996
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    John J. Brennan*, President, Trustee
    and Chief Executive Officer
   
    October 29, 1996
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    Robert E. Cawthorn*, Trustee
   
    October 29, 1996
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    Barbara B. Hauptfuhrer*, Trustee
   
    October 29, 1996
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    Bruce K. MacLaury*, Trustee
   
    October 29, 1996
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    Burton G. Malkiel, Jr.*, Trustee
   
    October 29, 1996
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    Alfred M. Rankin, Jr.*, Trustee
   
    October 29, 1996
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    John C. Sawhill*, Trustee
   
    October 29, 1996
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    James O. Welch, Jr.*, Trustee
   
    October 29, 1996
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    J. Lawrence Wilson*, Trustee
   
    October 29, 1996
    
 
BY: (Raymond J. Klapinsky)
    Richard F. Hyland*, Treasurer and Principal
    Financial Officer and Accounting Officer
   
    October 29, 1996
    
 
*By Power of Attorney. See File Number 2-14336, January 23, 1990. Incorporated
by Reference.
<PAGE>   138
 
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                   <C>
Consent of Independent Accountants..................................................  EX-99.B11
Schedule for Computation of Performance Quotations..................................  EX-99.B16
Financial Data Schedule.............................................................  EX-27
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                       EX-99.B11
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
   
     We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectuses and
Statement of Additional Information constituting parts of this Post-Effective
Amendment No. 18 to the registration statement on Form N-1A (the "Registration
Statement"), of our reports dated January 31, 1996, relating to the financial
statements and financial highlights appearing in the December 31, 1995 Annual
Report to Shareholders of Vanguard STAR Fund, which is also incorporated by
reference into the Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to
us under the headings "Financial Highlights" and "General Information" in the
Prospectuses and "Financial Statements" in the Statement of Additional
Information.
    
 
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
 
Philadelphia, PA
   
October 28, 1996
    

<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                       EX-99.B16
 
               SCHEDULE FOR COMPUTATION OF PERFORMANCE QUOTATIONS
                      VANGUARD STAR FUND -- STAR PORTFOLIO
 
1. Average Annual Total Return (As of December 31, 1995)
        P (1 + T)(n) = ERV
 
<TABLE>
<S>          <C>     <C>
     Where:  P   =  a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
             T   =  average annual total return
             N   =  number of years
             ERV =  ending redeemable value at the end of the period
    EXAMPLE:
      One Year
           P =   $1,000
           T =   +28.64%
           N =   1
         ERV =   $1,286.37
     Five Year
           P =   $1,000
           T =   +14.33%
           N =   5
         ERV =   $1,953.23
      Ten Year
           P =   $1,000
           T =   +11.92
           N =   10
         ERV =   $3,083.58
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
*Since the Fund's inception on March 29, 1985.
 
2. YIELD (30 Days Ended December 31, 1995)
 
<TABLE>
           <C>             <S>      <C>
                           a - b
                Yield = 2[( c X d   + 1)(6) - 1]

        Where:   a = dividends and interest paid during the period
                 b = expense dollars during the period (net of reimbursements)
                 c = the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period
                 d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period

    Example     a  = $15,271,915.51
                b  = $0.00
                c  = 310,958,789.802
                d  = $15.02
             Yield = 3.96%
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   2
 
                                                                       EX-99.B16
 
               SCHEDULE FOR COMPUTATION OF PERFORMANCE QUOTATIONS
                     VANGUARD STAR FUND -- INCOME PORTFOLIO
 
1. Average Annual Total Return (As of December 31, 1995)
        P (1 + T)(n) = ERV
 
<TABLE>
<S>          <C>     <C>
     Where:  P   = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
             T   = average annual total return
             N   = number of years
             ERV = ending redeemable value at the end of the period
    EXAMPLE:
      One Year
           P =   $1,000
           T =   +22.99%
           N =   1
         ERV =   $1,229.93
     Five Year
           P =   $1,000
           T =   +18.16
           N =   *
         ERV =   $1,232.35*
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
*Since the Portfolio's inception on September 30, 1994.
 
2. YIELD (30 Days Ended December 31, 1995)
 
<TABLE>
           <C>             <S>      <C>
                           a - b
                Yield = 2[( c X d   + 1)(6) - 1]

        Where:   a = dividends and interest paid during the period
                 b = expense dollars during the period (net of reimbursements)
                 c = the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period
                 d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period

    Example     a  = $417,508.15
                b  = $0.00
                c  = 7,662,904.986
                d  = $11.54
             Yield = 5.73%
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   3
 
                                                                       EX-99.B16
 
               SCHEDULE FOR COMPUTATION OF PERFORMANCE QUOTATIONS
              VANGUARD STAR FUND -- CONSERVATIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO
 
1. Average Annual Total Return (As of December 31, 1995)
        P (1 + T)(n) = ERV
 
<TABLE>
<S>          <C>     <C>
     Where:  P   = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
             T   = average annual total return
             N   = number of years
             ERV = ending redeemable value at the end of the period
    EXAMPLE:
      One Year
           P =   $1,000
           T =   +24.35%
           N =   1
         ERV =   $1,243.46
     Five Year
           P =   $1,000
           T =   +19.10
           N =   *
         ERV =   $1,244.68
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
*Since the Portfolio's inception on September 30, 1994.
 
2. YIELD (30 Days Ended December 31, 1995)
 
<TABLE>
           <C>             <S>      <C>
                           a - b
                Yield = 2[( c X d   + 1)(6) - 1]

        Where:   a = dividends and interest paid during the period
                 b = expense dollars during the period (net of reimbursements)
                 c = the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period
                 d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period

    Example     a  = $822,727.63
                b  = $0.00
                c  = 17,960,483.675
                d  = $11.68
             Yield = 4.75%
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   4
 
                                                                       EX-99.B16
 
               SCHEDULE FOR COMPUTATION OF PERFORMANCE QUOTATIONS
                VANGUARD STAR FUND -- MODERATE GROWTH PORTFOLIO
 
1. Average Annual Total Return (As of December 31, 1995)
        P (1 + T)(n) = ERV
 
<TABLE>
<S>          <C>     <C>
     Where:  P   = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
             T   = average annual total return
             N   = number of years
             ERV = ending redeemable value at the end of the period
    EXAMPLE:
      One Year
           P =   $1,000
           T =   +27.94
           N =   1
         ERV =   $1,279.38
     Five Year
           P =   $1,000
           T =   +21.07
           N =   *
         ERV =   $1,270.48
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
*Since the Portfolio's inception on September 30, 1994.
 
2. YIELD (30 Days Ended December 31, 1995)
 
<TABLE>
           <C>             <S>      <C>
                           a - b
                Yield = 2[( c X d   + 1)(6) - 1]

        Where:   a = dividends and interest paid during the period
                 b = expense dollars during the period (net of reimbursements)
                 c = the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period
                 d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period

    Example     a  = $704,221.54
                b  = $0.00
                c  = 18,394,590.461
                d  = $12.11
             Yield = 3.82%
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   5
 
                                                                       EX-99.B16
 
               SCHEDULE FOR COMPUTATION OF PERFORMANCE QUOTATIONS
                     VANGUARD STAR FUND -- GROWTH PORTFOLIO
 
1. Average Annual Total Return (As of December 31, 1995)
        P (1 + T)(n) = ERV
 
<TABLE>
<S>          <C>     <C>
     Where:  P   = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
             T   = average annual total return
             N   = number of years
             ERV = ending redeemable value at the end of the period
    EXAMPLE:
      One Year
           P =   $1,000
           T =   +29.24%
           N =   1
         ERV =   $1,292.39
     Five Year
           P =   $1,000
           T =   +22.64
           N =   *
         ERV =   $1,291.09
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
*Since the Portfolio's inception on September 30, 1994.
 
2. YIELD (30 Days Ended December 31, 1995)
 
<TABLE>
           <C>             <S>      <C>
                           a - b
                Yield = 2[( c X d   + 1)(6) - 1]

        Where:   a = dividends and interest paid during the period
                 b = expense dollars during the period (net of reimbursements)
                 c = the average daily number of shares outstanding during the period
                 d = the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period

    Example     a  = $477,354.52
                b  = $0.00
                c  = 16,606,658.290
                d  = $12.36
             Yield = 2.81%
</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000736054
<NAME> VANGUARD STAR FUND
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 01
   <NAME> STAR PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                          4467665
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                         5333355
<RECEIVABLES>                                    14904
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 5348259
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                         10771
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                         5920
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              16691
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                       4350360
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           339713
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                           322220
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                              16
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                         115534
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                        865690
<NET-ASSETS>                                   5331568
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                83908
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                    0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                       0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          83908
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        116398
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       100950
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           301256
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        83557
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          29811
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      17547
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                               5228
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          489728
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                            367
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                         864
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                      0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           5118357
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            15.03
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.25
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.66
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.25
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              15.69
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                      0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000736054
<NAME> VANGUARD STAR FUND
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 02
   <NAME> INCOME PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           136611
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          138854
<RECEIVABLES>                                      890
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                      75
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  139819
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                           601
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                          526
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                               1127
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        136314
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            12178
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                            10464
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                              10
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                            145
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                          2243
<NET-ASSETS>                                    138692
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                 3464
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                    0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                       0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                           3464
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                           196
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       (2036)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                             1624
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                         3478
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                           4294
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                       2842
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                263
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                           17953
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              4
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                          51
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                      0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            133360
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.54
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.29
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.15)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.29
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.39
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                      0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000736054
<NAME> VANGUARD STAR FUND
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 03
   <NAME> CONSERVATIVE GROWTH PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           318827
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          338819
<RECEIVABLES>                                    24993
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                     661
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  364473
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                          7245
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                         1040
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                               8285
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        335882
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            30078
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                            18768
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                          106
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                            208
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         19992
<NET-ASSETS>                                    356188
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                 5940
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                    0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                       0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                           5940
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                           334
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                         2852
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                             9126
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                         5777
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          13903
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                       3041
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                448
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          136920
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                             57
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                         126
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                      0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            287536
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.68
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.22
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.16
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.22
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.84
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                      0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000736054
<NAME> VANGUARD STAR FUND
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 04
   <NAME> MODERATE GROWTH PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           463525
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          494709
<RECEIVABLES>                                    47998
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                    1121
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  543828
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                         22447
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                          463
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              22910
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        489275
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            41617
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                            19372
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                              48
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                            507
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         31184
<NET-ASSETS>                                    520918
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                 6344
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                    0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                       0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                           6344
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                           522
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        10844
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            17710
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                         6364
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          25238
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                       3429
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                437
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          286232
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                             28
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                          15
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                      0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            396148
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            12.11
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.17
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.41
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.17
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.52
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                      0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000736054
<NAME> VANGUARD STAR FUND
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 05
   <NAME> GROWTH PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           399088
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          437778
<RECEIVABLES>                                    44829
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  482607
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                         28227
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                         1372
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              29599
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        413950
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            34609
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                            17589
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                          107
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                            261
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         38690
<NET-ASSETS>                                    453008
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                 3572
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                    0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                       0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                           3572
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                           402
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        16586
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            20560
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                         3411
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          19040
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                       2276
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                256
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          235587
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                             54
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                         141
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                      0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            332015
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            12.36
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.11
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.73
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.11
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              13.09
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                      0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000736054
<NAME> VANGUARD STAR FUND
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 06
   <NAME> TOTAL INTERNATIONAL PORTFOLIO
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> US
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-29-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           111888
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          111708
<RECEIVABLES>                                    44517
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                    1998
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  158223
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                         46292
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                           22
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              46314
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        112089
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            10969
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                         (180)
<NET-ASSETS>                                    111909
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                    0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                       0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                             0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                        (180)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                            (180)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          10990
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                         21
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          111909
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                      0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                             49375
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.26
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                      0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.06)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.20
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                      0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission