Is it smart to just invest in the S&P 500?
Investing in an S&P 500 fund can instantly diversify your portfolio and is generally considered less risky. S&P 500 index funds or ETFs will track the performance of the S&P 500, which means when the S&P 500 does well, your investment will, too. (The opposite is also true, of course.)
Is Investing in the S&P 500 Less Risky Than Buying a Single Stock? Generally, yes. The S&P 500 is considered well-diversified by sector, which means it includes stocks in all major areas, including technology and consumer discretionary—meaning declines in some sectors may be offset by gains in other sectors.
According to our calculations, a $1000 investment made in February 2014 would be worth $5,971.20, or a gain of 497.12%, as of February 5, 2024, and this return excludes dividends but includes price increases. Compare this to the S&P 500's rally of 178.17% and gold's return of 55.50% over the same time frame.
Ever since the S&P 500 index was devised, it has built an impeccable track record of earning positive returns over time. In fact, research shows it's actually harder to lose money with the S&P 500 than it is to make money if you keep a long-term outlook.
The historical average yearly return of the S&P 500 is 12.68% over the last 10 years, as of the end of February 2024. This assumes dividends are reinvested. Adjusted for inflation, the 10-year average stock market return (including dividends) is 9.56%.
The one time it's okay to choose a single investment
That's because your investment gives you access to the broad stock market. Meanwhile, if you only invest in S&P 500 ETFs, you won't beat the broad market. Rather, you can expect your portfolio's performance to be in line with that of the broad market.
In 1980, had you invested a mere $1,000 in what went on to become the top-performing stock of S&P 500, then you would be sitting on a cool $1.2 million today.
| Discount Rate | Present Value | Future Value |
|---|---|---|
| 17% | $1,000 | $23,105.60 |
| 18% | $1,000 | $27,393.03 |
| 19% | $1,000 | $32,429.42 |
| 20% | $1,000 | $38,337.60 |
Assuming an average annual return rate of about 10% (a typical historical average), a $10,000 investment in the S&P 500 could potentially grow to approximately $25,937 over 10 years.
If you invest $10,000 today at 10% interest, how much will you have in 10 years? Summary: The future value of the investment of $10000 after 10 years at 10% will be $ 25940.
Does Warren Buffett recommend the S&P 500?
Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett has regularly recommended an S&P 500 index fund. The S&P 500 has been a profitable investment over every rolling 20-year period in history.
The main drawback to the S&P 500 is that the index gives higher weights to companies with more market capitalization. The stock prices for Apple and Microsoft have a much greater influence on the index than a company with a lower market cap.
| Fund (ticker) | 5-year annual returns | Expense ratio |
|---|---|---|
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) | 14.5% | 0.03% |
| Schwab S&P 500 Index (SWPPX) | 14.5% | 0.02% |
| Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFIAX) | 14.5% | 0.04% |
| Fidelity 500 index fund (FXAIX) | 14.5% | 0.015% |
Does the S&P 500 Pay Dividends? The S&P 500 is an index, so it does not pay dividends; however, there are mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the index, which you can invest in. If the companies in these funds pay dividends, you'll receive yours based on how many shares of the funds you hold.
| Company | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|
| Franklin BSP Realty Trust Inc. (FBRT) | 11.60% |
| Angel Oak Mortgage REIT Inc (AOMR) | 11.58% |
| Altria Group Inc. (MO) | 9.79% |
| Washington Trust Bancorp, Inc. (WASH) | 9.16% |
Once you have $1 million in assets, you can look seriously at living entirely off the returns of a portfolio. After all, the S&P 500 alone averages 10% returns per year. Setting aside taxes and down-year investment portfolio management, a $1 million index fund could provide $100,000 annually.
It's easy to see why S&P 500 index funds are so popular with the billionaire investor class. The S&P 500 has a long history of delivering strong returns, averaging 9% annually over 150 years. In other words, it's hard to find an investment with a better track record than the U.S. stock market.
If you're new to investing, you can absolutely start off by buying index funds alone as you learn more about how to choose the right stocks. But as your knowledge grows, you may want to branch out and add different companies to your portfolio that you feel align well with your personal risk tolerance and goals.
As you will see, the future value of $40,000 over 20 years can range from $59,437.90 to $7,601,985.51.
How long will it take you to double your money if you invest $1000 at 8% compounded annually?
The result is the number of years, approximately, it'll take for your money to double. For example, if an investment scheme promises an 8% annual compounded rate of return, it will take approximately nine years (72 / 8 = 9) to double the invested money.
One way to become a millionaire
Over its history, the S&P 500 has generated an average annual return of 9%, including re-invested dividends. At that rate, even a middle-class income is enough to become a millionaire over time. $500 a month, for example, is less than 10% of the median U.S. household's monthly income.
Historically, the stock market has an average annual rate of return between 10–12%. So if your $1 million is invested in good growth stock mutual funds, that means you could potentially live off of $100,000 to $120,000 each year without ever touching your one-million-dollar goose. But let's be even more conservative.
| Discount Rate | Present Value | Future Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2% | $100 | $121.90 |
| 3% | $100 | $134.39 |
| 4% | $100 | $148.02 |
| 5% | $100 | $162.89 |
The table below shows the present value (PV) of $3,000 in 20 years for interest rates from 2% to 30%. As you will see, the future value of $3,000 over 20 years can range from $4,457.84 to $570,148.91.
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