Independent guide

RAV on a pay stub: Additional retirement contribution associated with Vanguard

RAV may label extra contributions associated with a Vanguard option. It should not be read as an investment return or a provider fee.

Last updated September 13, 2026

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RAV may label extra contributions associated with a Vanguard option. It should not be read as an investment return or a provider fee.

Employer-specific label: this is a possible interpretation. Confirm the full meaning in the codebook for the employer that issued your statement.

How to read this entry

Use the possible interpretation Additional retirement contribution associated with Vanguard alongside the column heading. An earnings amount, an employee deduction and an employer-cost memo can have different effects even when their labels look similar.

Example on a pay statement

A $30 RAV payroll deduction records a contribution instruction; it does not prove that the account’s market value rose by exactly $30.

Examples illustrate the checking method. They are not a personal tax calculation or a promise of a particular benefit.

What to check with payroll

Match the contribution transfer, allowing for processing time, and distinguish it from market gains or losses.

Compare related entries

Read the retirement contributions and plan codes guide to compare the entries in this part of your statement. Use the full pay stub code directory when a second abbreviation is unfamiliar.

Reference and scope

Official guidance on retirement contributions and plan codes provides background on the underlying rules. It does not validate an individual employer’s internal abbreviation.