Index Funds vs. ETFs: What’s the Difference for Beginners?
Learn why ETFs and index funds are not opposites, how index mutual funds compare with index ETFs, and what to consider when investing $200 a month.
Read the index funds vs. ETFs guide →Learn one idea at a time
Articles
Simple investing and retirement stories built around real questions, clear examples, and practical long-term thinking.
What Is Dollar-Cost Averaging? A Simple Guide for Beginner Investors
Learn how recurring investments work, why a fixed schedule can reduce market-timing pressure, and the important limitations beginners should understand.
Read the dollar-cost averaging guide →How Much Should I Invest Each Month? A Simple Guide for Beginners
$50, $100, $200, or a percentage of your income? Learn a simple framework for choosing a monthly amount you can sustain and increase over time.
Read the monthly investing guide →Should You Save or Invest First? A Simple Guide for Beginners
Not sure whether your next dollar should go to emergency savings, high-interest debt, a 401(k) match, or long-term investing? Use this simple step-by-step framework.
Read the save vs. invest guide →What Is VOO? A Beginner’s Guide to the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Learn what VOO is, how it tracks the S&P 500, what it costs, how dividends work, the risks to understand, and why many beginners use broad-market ETFs as a simple starting point.
Read the VOO guide →How to Start Investing With $100: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide
Start with your first $100, choose an account, learn about diversification, automate future contributions, and avoid common beginner mistakes.
Read the article →$200 a Month: What If You Start at Age 25, 35, or 45?
Three people invest the same $200 each month but begin at different ages. See how much extra time can change the outcome.
Read the article →How to Retire Rich by Investing $200 a Month for 30 Years
A realistic look at what a small monthly habit could become over three decades, using several hypothetical return assumptions.
Read the article →Investing Basics for Long-Term Retirement Savers
Understand accounts, diversification, risk, fees, and the habits that matter before worrying about the perfect investment.
Read the article →