Overview
- Coverage emphasizes beginning immediately despite the S&P 500 near record levels, with wealth built over decades rather than through market timing.
- ETFs are presented as the simplest entry point for instant diversification, with Vanguard’s S&P 500 ETF (VOO) highlighted as a core holding and the largest ETF at about $1.4 trillion in assets.
- Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is spotlighted for dividend investors, tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index with 10‑plus years of dividend increases, excluding REITs, and charging a 0.06% expense ratio.
- Portfolio choices are tailored to risk and horizon, with QQQ for growth exposure, VGT for younger investors seeking higher risk, and VIG for those prioritizing lower volatility and dividends.
- Reports recommend dollar‑cost averaging, noting J.P. Morgan findings that missing the market’s best days can severely cut returns, and suggest getting started with as little as $1,000 and consistent monthly contributions.