Is the S&P 500 a good investment?
The S&P 500 is considered one of the best gauges of large U.S. stocks and even the entire equities market because of its depth and diversity. You can't invest directly in the S&P 500 because it's an index but you can invest in one of the many funds that use it as a benchmark and track its composition and performance.
Index funds are fairly inexpensive compared with other types of mutual funds, making them an attractive option for most investors. S&P 500 index funds can help you instantly diversify your portfolio by providing exposure to some of the biggest companies in the U.S.
Over the past decade, you would have done even better, as the S&P 500 posted an average annual return of a whopping 12.68%. Here's how much your account balance would be now if you were invested over the past 10 years: $1,000 would grow to $3,300.
If investors can handle the volatility, they're likely to come out on top. Investing in the stock market is about staying in for the long haul and reaping the benefits. If this pattern continues, the S&P 500 should reach 10,000 even before 2030.
For new investors, the best way is through an ETF or mutual fund. While there are some differences between the two that we'll explain below, funds are a low-cost way to gain exposure to the S&P 500 and provide instant diversification to your portfolio.
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.
Craziest thing I learned recently: $10,000 invested in the S&P 500 in 1980 would be worth over $1M today.
The numbers may surprise you -- in a good way
In fact, if you invest $100 a month over 40 years, you could end up with a portfolio worth $531,000. However, that number hinges on a very big assumption, and it's that your portfolio is generating an average yearly 10% return.
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.
Can the S&P 500 make you a millionaire?
As a result, the broad-market index has an excellent historical track record of generating wealth. 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.
The story changes slightly over different time periods, but the big picture -- it is safe to invest when the S&P 500 is near its record high -- remains the same.
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Key Points. The S&P 500 has hit 20 intraday highs in 2024. As stocks climb higher many stock valuations may be stretched beyond their intrinsic value. But it's still possible to find great investment opportunities as the stock market hits new all-time highs.
The actual rate of return is largely dependent on the types of investments you select. The Standard & Poor's 500® (S&P 500®) for the 10 years ending December 31st 2023, had an annual compounded rate of return of 15.2%, including reinvestment of dividends.
The simplest way to invest in the index is through S&P 500 index funds or ETFs that replicate the index. You can purchase these in a taxable brokerage account, or if you're investing for retirement, in a 401(k) or IRA, which come with added tax benefits.
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.
Think About This: $10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the beginning of 2000 would have grown to $32,527 over 20 years — an average return of 6.07% per year.
Looking back 20 years, for example, gold has outperformed the S&P 500. However, the historical data doesn't mean that stocks are guaranteed to have higher returns going forward, as past performance is no indication of what's going to happen next.
According to his math, since 1949 S&P 500 investments have doubled ten times, or an average of about seven years each time.
Is now a bad time to invest in the S&P 500?
Even if you'd invested at seemingly the worst possible moment (at any of the market's highest points before a crash or recession), you'd still have earned positive returns by today. Research also shows that, historically, there's never been a bad time to invest in the S&P 500 if you're a long-term investor.
Answer and Explanation: The amount of $100,000 will grow to $432,194.24 after 30 years at a 5% annual return. The amount of $100,000 will grow to $1,006,265.69 after 30 years at an 8% annual return.
It's extremely unlikely you'll earn 10% returns every single year, but the annual highs and lows have historically averaged out to roughly 10% per year over several decades. Over a lifetime, it's possible to earn over half a million dollars with just $100 per month.
Money invested in an S&P 500 index fund can be subject to taxes, depending on the type of account where the investment is held. In taxable accounts, you may be taxed on dividends received and any capital gains realized when you sell the investment.
The table below shows the present value (PV) of $1,000 in 20 years for interest rates from 2% to 30%. As you will see, the future value of $1,000 over 20 years can range from $1,485.95 to $190,049.64.
