*Web Novel chapter below*
How to Invest in Index Funds: A Beginner’s Guide to Effortless Wealth-Building
Investing can feel like a maze of confusing options and risky bets—especially if you’re just starting out. But there’s one strategy that cuts through the noise with its simplicity, low cost, and proven results: index fund investing. If you’re searching for a beginner-friendly way to grow your wealth over time, index funds are your golden ticket. In this guide, we’ll explain what index funds are, why they’re perfect for beginners, and how to get started today—complete with trusted platforms where you can sign up. By the end, you’ll have a clear, actionable path to launch your investment journey.
What Are Index Funds?
Imagine owning a small piece of the entire stock market without having to pick individual stocks. That’s the magic of an index fund. It’s a type of mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF) that mirrors a specific market index, like the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Instead of betting on one company, you’re investing in hundreds—like Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon—all at once. It’s less about chasing winners and more about riding the market’s natural growth.
Why Index Funds Are Perfect for Beginners
Index funds are the go-to choice for new investors, and here’s why:
- Instant Diversification: One fund spreads your money across hundreds of companies, so a single stock’s stumble won’t derail your progress.
- Low Fees: No need for expensive stock-picking experts—index funds keep costs down.
- Set It and Forget It: No market expertise needed. Just invest and let time do the heavy lifting.
- Proven Track Record: Studies show index funds often outperform actively managed funds, making them a reliable path to long-term wealth.
How to Start Investing in Index Funds: A 3-Step Guide
Ready to take control of your financial future? Follow these simple steps to begin your index fund journey.
Step 1: Choose a Brokerage Account
A brokerage account is your gateway to buying index funds. Think of it as your investment dashboard. Here are three top platforms perfect for beginners:
- Vanguard: The pioneer of low-cost index funds. Sign up here.
- Fidelity: Offers zero-fee index funds with no minimums. Get started.
- Charles Schwab: Known for stellar customer support. Open an account.
Pro Tip: Look for platforms with low fees, a variety of funds, and an easy-to-use interface. Most let you start with as little as $1!
Step 2: Pick the Right Index Fund
Once your account is set up, choose a fund that matches your goals:
- S&P 500 Index Funds: Tracks the 500 largest U.S. companies (e.g., Vanguard’s VOO). Perfect for broad market exposure.
- Total Stock Market Index Funds: Includes small, mid, and large-cap stocks (e.g., Schwab’s SWTSX). Maximum diversification.
- International Index Funds: Invests globally (e.g., Fidelity’s FZILX). Adds worldwide balance.
Newbie Hack: Start with an S&P 500 or total market fund for simplicity and growth potential.
Step 3: Make Your First Investment
Now, it’s time to put your money to work:
- Fund Your Account: Transfer as little as $1–$100 to get started.
- Buy Your Fund: Search for your chosen fund (e.g., VOO at Vanguard) and hit “buy.”
- Automate It: Set up automatic investments—like $50 a month—to grow your wealth effortlessly.
Quick Links:
Why Index Funds Are a Smart Choice
- Lower Risk: Diversification cushions you from single-stock disasters.
- Tax-Friendly: Fewer trades mean fewer taxable events.
- Long-Term Gains: With the market’s historical 7–10% annual return, index funds are a retirement-building powerhouse.
Risks to Keep in Mind
No investment is bulletproof. Here’s what to watch:
- Market Swings: When the market dips, so does your fund. But history shows it bounces back.
- No Big Wins: You won’t beat the market—but for most, matching it is a win.
Tips for Index Fund Success
- Invest Regularly: Use dollar-cost averaging to smooth out market highs and lows.
- Diversify Further: Add international or bond funds as your portfolio grows.
- Stay the Course: Don’t panic-sell during downturns. Long-term investors win by holding steady.
Real-Life Success Story: Sarah’s $240,000 Nest Egg
Meet Sarah, a 30-year-old teacher who invested $200 a month in an S&P 500 index fund. After 30 years, her $72,000 in contributions ballooned to over $240,000—thanks to the market’s average 7% return. No stock-picking, no stress—just consistent investing through platforms like Fidelity or Vanguard.
Start Your Investment Journey Today
Index funds are your beginner-friendly path to low-cost, reliable wealth-building. Sign up with a trusted brokerage like Vanguard, Fidelity, or Charles Schwab, pick a fund, and start with as little as $50 a month. The sooner you begin, the more time your money has to grow. Take that first step now—your future self will thank you!
Dungeon Start Heroine Tamer and Training Mission! ~Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about strong, cute, and beautiful female adventurers… All of them are my followers!
As a break time for Saionji, I decided to have her wait for a little while.
When I touched the skill 【Follower Fruit】, a new screen unfolded before my eyes.
［Follower Fruit Harvest Screen］
Training Points Available: 200
●Saionji Saiōji Hikari Fruit List
〈Basic Fruit 1〉【HP Experience Points Small】 Required Training Points: 25 Harvest Days: 1 day
〈Basic Fruit 2〉【MP Experience Points Small】 Required Training Points: 25 Harvest Days: 1 day
〈Basic Fruit 3〉【Strength Experience Points Small】 Required Training Points: 25 Harvest Days: 1 day
〈Basic Fruit 4〉【Magic Power Experience Points Small】 Required Training Points: 25 Harvest Days: 1 day
〈Job Fruit 1〉【Magic Shot Experience Points Small】 Required Training Points: 100 Harvest Days: 1 day
“Um…?”
I recalled Saionji’s 【Training Tree】 and immediately brought my focus back to the screen in front of me.
From the words like 〈Basic〉, 〈Job〉, and 【Follower Fruit】 itself, I could infer that this skill was linked with Saionji’s 【Training Tree】.
In other words, 〈Basic Fruit 1〉 to 〈Basic Fruit 4〉 corresponded to the first skill taken in the 〈Basic〉 section of Saionji’s 【Training Tree】, which was 【All Stats +3】.
And 〈Job Fruit 1〉 was likely related to 【Magic Shot】 acquired from the 〈Job〉 section of Saionji’s 【Training Tree】.
“…So, this is a skill that allows me to grow, right?”
The 【Training Tree】 likened the “growth of a follower” to a “tree.”
If this meant that “fruits” would bear as the “tree” grew, then 【Follower Fruit】 was a skill that benefited me.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay, Amasaki ?”
Noticing my demeanor, Saionji asked with concern.
Since it also concerned her, I decided to explain.
I told her about obtaining the skill 【Follower Fruit】 and how it was linked to the growth of the 【Training Tree】.
“Oh! Then the stronger I get, the better. Go ahead and harvest those fruits, take them all!”
Saionji said this cheerfully as if she were celebrating my growth.
For Saionji too, 【Follower Fruit】 had certain advantages, so she welcomed it.
The more Saionji grew, the more I could grow through 【Follower Fruit】.
This created an incentive for me to seriously train Saionji—my follower.
Also, in terms of the benefits of our training contract,
the more Saionji earned, the more I would receive.
In short, from Saionji’s perspective,
this gave her objective assurance that she would be properly trained.
“Yeah, thanks for the push, old man!”
Encouraged by Saionji, I decided not to overthink and went ahead to harvest all the “fruits.”
“Wait!? I did mimic the greengrocer, but I’ve never been called ‘old man’ before… sniff sniff.”
Apparently, she had been mimicking a greengrocer earlier.
Ignoring Saionji’s fake crying after being treated like an old man, I touched 〈Basic Fruit 1〉.
“Would you like to make ‘〈Basic Fruit 1〉【HP Experience Points Small】’ harvestable by spending 25 Training Points? Yes/No”
A prompt appeared.
I selected “Yes.”
My “Training Points Available” dropped to 175.
At the same time, a branch appeared on the screen.
An animation played where water was poured from a watering can onto the branch.
After a sparkling effect, a delicious-looking fruit appeared on the branch, and the words “Ready to Harvest!” showed up.
I made the remaining four fruits harvestable one after another.
“Congratulations! You’ve made all available fruits ready to harvest — entering the ‘Full Harvest’ state. While in Full Harvest, experience points will double.”
Ah, so it seems I made the right choice by harvesting all of them.
［Follower Fruit Harvest Screen］
Training Points Available: 0
●Saionji Saiōji Hikari Fruit List
〈Basic Fruit 1〉【HP Experience Points Small (×2)】 Required Training Points: 25 Harvest Days: 1 day
→ Ready to Harvest!
〈Basic Fruit 2〉【MP Experience Points Small (×2)】 Required Training Points: 25 Harvest Days: 1 day
→ Ready to Harvest!
〈Basic Fruit 3〉【Strength Experience Points Small (×2)】 Required Training Points: 25 Harvest Days: 1 day
→ Ready to Harvest!
〈Basic Fruit 4〉【Magic Power Experience Points Small (×2)】 Required Training Points: 25 Harvest Days: 1 day
→ Ready to Harvest!
〈Job Fruit 1〉【Magic Shot Experience Points Small (×2)】 Required Training Points: 100 Harvest Days: 1 day
→ Ready to Harvest!
I then touched “Ready to Harvest!” again.
“There are currently 5 fruits ready to harvest. Would you like to harvest them all? Yes/No”
I wondered how to harvest them one by one.
Pressing “No” allowed me to select specific fruits to harvest.
Going back and selecting “Yes” to harvest all,
—something immediately changed.
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
“Eh—”
Two specific points on Saionji’s chest began to faintly glow, rather than her entire chest.
Even through her top and armor, I could see a faint red light.
These lights glowed symmetrically, as if two red buttons existed on each side.
“Ah—”
It seemed Saionji herself didn’t notice the change until later.
Almost simultaneously, small red spheres emerged from the glowing spots.
It looked like red bubbles inflating out of thin air.
Five small spheres flew out from Saionji’s chest.
—So, this is the process of harvesting the fruits!
“Whoa—”
Moreover, the five red lights disappeared almost as soon as I recognized them.
“—Ah, mouth…”
Just as I was wondering where they went, I heard Saionji mutter.
Her gaze and the tip of her index finger pointed towards her mouth.
Realizing this, the next moment—
—Wow, sweet and sour?! And definitely sweet!!
I perceived the fruity sweetness and tanginess of strawberries filling my mouth.
Then came a creamy sensation reminiscent of nostalgia… milk!
—So, it was strawberry milk flavor!
And a new screen appeared in front of me.
Five gauges labeled “HP,” “MP,” “Strength,” “Magic Power,” and “Magic Shot” were drawn.
The fruit harvest caused the gauge bars to fill rapidly to the right.
Once full, the gauges reset to empty, stopping at around 1/5 filled.
Simultaneously, I confirmed that my status screen had updated.
［Status］
●Basic Information
Name: Amasaki Hayato
Age: 17 years
Gender: Male
Job: Heroine Tamer Lv.2
・
・
・
●Stats
Lv.2
HP: 10/10 → 11/11 New!
MP: 10/10 → 11/11 New!
Strength: 5 → 6 New!
Endurance: 5
Magic Power: 5 → 6 New!
Magic Resistance: 5
Agility: 5
Dexterity: 5
●Skills
【Training】
【Tame】
【Training Tree】
【Follower Fruit】
【Magic Shot】 New!
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
The filled gauges increased my stats.
I understood that I had learned new skills.
Thanks to the doubled experience points during the full harvest, I likely met the required experience in one go.
Given the name 【Follower Fruit】, it made sense that the fruit had a taste.
…but “milk flavor”? That’s unexpected.
Where did the milk flavor even come from?
—Well, obviously from Saionji’s chest, duh!
But chest plus milk equals breast milk.
There’s no other answer, right?!
Judging from Saionji’s reaction, it was definitely not breast milk.
—I mean, “not breast milk” means “different from breast milk.” She might be able to produce breast milk if she tried, but this wasn’t it—what am I even saying?
Anyway.
Through association games, my body now only imagines that possibility.
The fruits obtained from 【Follower Fruit】 tasted like strawberry milk—not breast milk!
Strawberry milk!!
Not breast milk, but strawberry milk!
…I’m losing track of what I’m even saying.
“……”
I cautiously checked Saionji’s reaction.
The lively greengrocer act from earlier was nowhere to be seen.
Her face was beet red, resembling a perfectly ripe strawberry, making me worry she might burst into flames from embarrassment.
After the red light vanished, she covered her chest defensively with crossed arms.
“Umm, Amasaki -kun… If possible, when we harvest next time, please try not to focus on my chest too much. It would help a lot.”
With a very feeble voice struggling to contain her embarrassment, and slightly teary eyes looking up timidly,
Saionji spoke weakly.
“…Yes.”
That was the only response I could give.
But despite her efforts, Saionji’s cuteness and overwhelming charm when blushing red were undeniable.
It left such a strong impression that it might have become a trigger for future memories.
Sorry, Saionji…
Later, driven by an awkwardness and guilt,
I took the lead in leveling up Saionji by defeating monsters myself.
I had Saionji switch to a defensive role while I used my newly acquired 【Magic Shot】 to scatter goblins and kobolds.
There was no joy or excitement from using combat magic or skills.
I had no intention of gaining more experience by increasing my involvement in battles.
I simply swung my sword and cast 【Magic Shot】.
Like ringing a bell to dispel earthly desires, each time I mentally apologized, “I’m sorry!” “Please forgive me!” “Strawberry bo—no, strawberry milk!”
…You didn’t hear me say it wrong, alright?
Perhaps my pure-hearted apologies reached her.
About an hour later, after defeating the eighth monster, Saionji had returned to normal.
Just as we were about to head back, Saionji leveled up.
“—Ah, we did it! Amasaki -kun, I’m level 3 now! With this, I’ve accumulated 200 Training Points!”
Saionji had finally fulfilled the conditions to acquire a job in the 【Training Tree】.