Stock Market
How to buy stocks, ETFs, and index funds. What they are, where to buy them, how to evaluate them, and what returns to realistically expect.
9.92%
S&P 500 avg annual return
S&P Global (since 1928)
$0
Commission to buy stocks
Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard
0.03%
Lowest index fund fee (VTI)
Vanguard
8
Stock market guides
All verified
All Stock Market Guides
Stock Market Basics
What stocks are, how the market works, what drives prices, and how to think about risk vs reward. The foundation for everything else.
Expected Returns
9.92% avg/year (S&P 500)
Best Index Funds (VTI, VOO, FSKAX)
The top index funds compared: total market (VTI), S&P 500 (VOO), and international (VXUS). Expense ratios, holdings, and which to choose.
Expected Returns
7–12% avg/year
ETFs vs Mutual Funds
The practical differences between ETFs and mutual funds. Tax efficiency, trading flexibility, minimum investments, and which is better for you.
Expected Returns
Same (depends on underlying)
Dividend Investing
Build a portfolio that pays you regular income through dividends. Dividend aristocrats, yield vs growth, DRIP programs, and realistic income projections.
Expected Returns
2–4% yield + 5–8% growth
Growth vs Value Investing
Understanding the two main investment styles. When growth outperforms, when value wins, and why most beginners should just buy the total market.
Expected Returns
Varies by cycle
How to Read Stock Charts
Basic chart reading for investors (not traders). Understanding price history, volume, moving averages, and what actually matters for long-term investors.
Expected Returns
N/A (analytical skill)
Portfolio Allocation by Age
How to split your portfolio between stocks, bonds, and other assets based on your age and risk tolerance. The “110 minus your age” rule and beyond.
Expected Returns
Depends on allocation
Tax-Advantaged Accounts (401k, IRA)
Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA vs 401(k). Contribution limits, tax benefits, withdrawal rules, and the optimal order to fund each account.
Expected Returns
Same + tax savings
The Simple Truth About Stock Investing
Here’s what decades of data tell us: most people should buy a total market index fund and hold it forever. This isn’t exciting, but it works.
Over any 20-year period in US history, the stock market has never lost money. The S&P 500 has returned 9.92% annually since 1928. A simple index fund (VTI or VOO) gives you this return for a fee of 0.03% per year.
90% of professional fund managers fail to beat index funds over 15+ years (S&P SPIVA Scorecard). If the professionals can’t do it, individual stock picking is unlikely to outperform for most people.
The optimal strategy for most people: buy VTI (or equivalent) every month, regardless of market conditions, and don’t sell for 20+ years. That’s it. Everything else is optimization at the margins.
Start Investing in Stocks
New to stocks? Start with index funds. They’re the foundation of smart investing.