John Bogle, Founder of Vanguard, Dies at 89

John Bogle, founder of The Vanguard Group, talks during an interview with The Associated Press, in New York. Vanguard announced, on Jan. 16, 2019, that John C. "Jack" Bogle has died at the age of 89. Mark Lennihan/AP

VALLEY FORGE—John C. Bogle, who simplified investing for the masses by launching the first index mutual fund and founded Vanguard Group, died on Jan. 16, the company said. He was 89.

Bogle did not invent the index fund, but he expanded access to no-frills, low-cost investing in 1976 when Vanguard introduced the first index fund for individual investors, rather than institutional clients.