*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!
The Homeless Camper Wants to Live Leisurely in a Dungeon ~Even Dangerous Deep-Layer Monsters Are Just Ingredients to Me~
“……It’s Kana and Runa from the Twins Channel. It’s been a while.”
In front of us stands Nijino Kōya, once the top dungeon streamer. He’s the lowest of the low—the man who abandoned my sister when the Irregular Monster Behemoth appeared, then tried to pin the blame on her after running away by himself.
But thanks to Hige-san, his evil deed was exposed. By the emergency escape clause of the Dungeon Law, abandoning a companion and fleeing wasn’t considered a major crime, but he had his explorer’s license revoked and should no longer be able to enter the dungeon.
“……Everyone, please report that Nijino Kōya is in the 36th floor of the dungeon.”
My sister is asking her live-stream viewers to report him. But the gate is far from here, and only a limited number of people can reach the 36th floor, so it will take time for anyone to arrive.
My sister and I have our weapons ready, aimed at Nijino, because he’s pointing his own weapon—a sword resembling a katana—at us.
“Heh heh, go ahead and report me if you want. Either way, no one’s getting here anytime soon!”
Nijino seems like a completely different person now. Compared to when we did a collaboration on the streaming channel, his armor and clothes are tattered, his hair unkempt, and his eyes—bloodshot with dark circles—are unfocused.
He must’ve been criticized from all sides after that press conference, and it looks like he’s mentally unstable too. But there’s no room for sympathy for someone who used my sister as monster bait, ran away, and then tried to pin all the blame on her.
“What’s your goal? Did you come here for revenge on us?!”
“Revenge… yeah, exactly! Because of you two, I lost everything! My years of building up my reputation and popularity as a dungeon streamer, the women I was dating—all of it! And not only that, but you guys gained fame because of it! How could I possibly accept such unfairness?!”
“……This is all your own doing. Sure, encountering an Irregular Monster was unfair, but it was your choice to abandon me as bait and try to shift the blame onto me!”
“That’s right! Everything my sister said is true—it’s all your fault!”
This isn’t unfairness or anything else. It’s all his fault.
“Shut up! Why the hell should someone like me, a top dungeon streamer, have to suffer like this?! Losing my streaming license, facing death—it’s people like you nobodies who deserve that, not me!”
“「……………………」”
Nijino is shouting nonsense.
He seems to think that just because he was once a popular streamer, he’s entitled to do whatever he wants without consequences. Or perhaps he’s simply gone insane—his mind shattered, or maybe he’s on some strange drug.
“Heh heh heh, do you know what this is?”
With those words, Nijino pulls out a translucent container filled with purple liquid from his pocket with his left hand.
“……! Could it be, that’s…?!”
My sister seems to recognize what it is.
“……Are you sane? Do you really understand what using that means?!”
“Yeah, of course I understand. Besides, I’ve got nothing left to lose anyway!”
“Sister, what is that?”
“That’s a banned magic item called ‘Lure Honey.’”
“Eh, that’s it?!”
Banned magic items—various things appear from treasure chests found in dungeons. Potions that heal injuries instantly, magic items imbued with mysterious powers, precious gems that don’t exist outside the dungeon, rare magic stones that grant new energy or elemental properties to weapons.
But among these magic items, some are extremely dangerous if misused. These are designated as banned magic items under the Dungeon Law.
If a banned magic item appears from a treasure chest, it must be disposed of immediately; otherwise, possession alone can lead to punishment. If disposed of within the dungeon, it’ll eventually be absorbed by the dungeon. I remember them all clearly since even possessing one is punishable.
Lure Honey—the scent of the liquid inside spreads over a wide area, attracting monsters from that floor.
When used sparingly, it can lure monsters into traps or help efficiently farm experience points in favorable terrain. However, excessive use has led to numerous accidents where users were killed by swarms of monsters or endangered other explorers on the same floor. That’s why it was quickly classified as a banned magic item.
“If this were an upper floor, maybe, but using something like that in such a deep floor—especially a cave-type floor—is suicidal!”
As my sister says, the 36th floor is a cave-type floor divided into narrow hallways and small areas. Unlike open floors like grasslands or forests where you can flee in any direction, this cave only has two passageways leading out of the current area.
Using something like that here would summon a flood of monsters through the only two passageways, making escape impossible.