*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!
Defected Dark Healer’s Rise to Wealth
Ah, I’m reluctant to leave.
But I can understand the argument that it’s more troublesome for someone with insufficient mana to be stumbling around on the battlefield.
If that’s the case, then I suppose I have no choice but to retreat as Shes and the others suggest.
“Doctor Alaya , evacuate!”
Goliath and the others urged me in the direction of the front-line base.
I understand the urgency.
Deep within the pitch-black forest, I could see white specks of light approaching us. Those were elves—Marrow’s subordinates—who were traversing footholds created by a wall of light, dashing through the air toward me.
They probably received orders from Marrow to eliminate me.
Their numbers were at least ten.
“Good grief. Why is that man so fixated on me?”
“The enemy understands too. They know you’re the core figure in this battlefront.”
Anemone sighed as she said this.
“Taking you down, Kiwi, holds more value than defeating any of the Demon Realm’s higher-ups. Naturally. You’ve managed to outmaneuver that Marrow not once, not twice, but three times.”
“Me? Come on, don’t give me undue credit…!”
Honestly, both allies and enemies are overestimating me. Am I some kind of parasitic plant that can only show my true worth when depending on others?
Especially now, with my mana depleted to the point where I’m practically useless, dedicating forces to target me is utterly pointless. It would be far more effective to concentrate their strength against the main force instead.
“Well, regardless, Kiwi, you need to escape quickly. We’ll hold them off.”
Anemone, along with Rose Kinsenka, readied their holy staves.
“Those guys are just mindless elves from the World Tree’s settlement anyway. Occasionally they sparred with our settlement’s strongest, Ibiris. They’re no match for us.”
“…Understood. Sorry, but I’m counting on you.”
As Anemone swung her holy staff and Goliath unleashed magical word bullets to counterattack, Shes and I withdrew from the front lines.
＊ ＊ ＊
Guided by Shes through the night forest, gripping her hand, we hurried toward the front-line base.
“Haa… haa…”
The uneven footing in the darkness made breathing difficult even from just walking.
…I’ve decided. Once I return, I’ll develop a spell that allows me to create light without relying on magic tools. Or perhaps something that grants the ability to see through darkness.
If Zombie Soldier had been here, we could have moved faster and more comfortably.
However, he had already returned to the front-line base with the captured albino elf and young elf girl, accompanied by several demon beasts.
Only now do I realize how convenient he was.
It’s clear how much I’ve come to rely on Zombie Soldier.
“Keep pushing, Lord Kiwi. If we walk for another twenty minutes, we should meet up with reinforcements and Zombie Soldier heading this way.”
“What… another twenty minutes!?”
“Yes. Just twenty minutes of endurance!”
This feels strange.
Has my sense of time gone haywire?
Human legs aren’t meant to trudge through such rough terrain continuously for twenty minutes. That must be it. My legs feel like lead.
If I endure this torment for another twenty minutes, I might die from oxygen deprivation.
“Tch…”
Still, if I don’t keep moving forward, I won’t get anywhere.
I lift my increasingly heavy feet and press on.
Come on, Kiwi Alaya .
Once we reach the front-line base, I’ll finally be able to sit down and rest –
“There’s no need to endure, Kiwi Alaya . Your fate is to die here.”
It came suddenly.
A man’s voice echoed from the darkness ahead.
It was low, emotion suppressed.
“Who’s there!?”
Shes stepped forward to shield me, questioning while simultaneously casting a holy spell to dimly illuminate the area.
Her priority wasn’t avoiding detection but preparing for an ambush from the shadows.
“Heh… don’t panic, female knight.”
Then, swaying leisurely from behind a tree—
One man stepped forward, clearly lying in wait.
No, there were three of them.
“Wha…?”
I couldn’t help but gape.
If what I saw wasn’t some illusion, there was no mistaking it.
Standing there was Ares Ifrit, the hero of the Ruel Human Kingdom.
Behind him, two men dressed in clerical garb, holding holy scriptures, appeared to be holy priests.
“Heresy Kiwi Alaya , you will be annihilated.”
“I see…”
Facing the hero brandishing his holy sword, I couldn’t help but sigh.
I understood the situation.
…Is this payback for the last Elden recapture battle? Attacking the moment I, the healer, retreated to the rear?
In any case, the presence of the hero’s unit on this front line suggested that the kingdom army’s supposed re-invasion of Elden was a bluff.
The kingdom, it seems, also aims for a decisive conclusion on this Western Elf Front.
“Good grief. What is this day? Nothing but attackers?”
“What are you muttering about?”
With a burst, Ares kicked off the ground, raising his holy sword to deliver a diagonal slash aimed at my torso.
But,
“—After going through the trouble of announcing yourselves, did you think I’d allow such barbarism?”
Clang! The blue-glowing blade Ares swung clashed violently with the silver blade protecting me, ringing out loudly.
Between Ares and me stood Shes, who had blocked his strike with her own holy sword.
“And hero of the kingdom, didn’t you learn that your swordsmanship can’t match mine?”
“Hmph, shut your mouth.”
Ares brushed aside Shes’ sword, then—
He shifted into a proper stance, leveling his sword at her.
“!”
Shes gasped upon seeing Ares.
I did too.
Even I, who knows nothing about swordsmanship, could tell Ares’ demeanor was completely different from before.
His movements were unpredictable, and his sacred energy flowed without a hint of disorder.
“…”
“…”
The staring contest between Shes and Ares lasted only a moment.
Then, their figures blurred past my field of vision.
An intense exchange of blows unfolded before my eyes, rivaling even the aerial battle between Lumac and Marrow.
—Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of clashing blades rang out.
All my senses could perceive were faint echoes of the sword clashes and sparks scattering in the darkness.
“–Tch!!!”
Shes broke away from the high-speed exchange and returned to stand before me.
It seemed our intuition was right—this Ares was different from before.
Her left hand, which had been gripping the holy sword, hung limply. A deep wound was carved into the back of her white hand, blood flowing steadily from it.
“Hmph, damn female knight. What’s with that holy sword of yours? It resembles the one that guy from the empire wielded…”
The hero muttered, his forehead bearing a deep slash wound. Blood trickled down, obscuring one eye.
The initial clash ended in a mutual injury.
I lightly touched Shes’ back.
Instantly, Dark Heal.
In a flash, Shes’ wound was fully healed.
However, while I was healing her, Ares too received healing from the two priests behind him, closing his wound.
…This is bad.
Unconsciously stroking my chin, I began to think deeply.
If Shes and Ares are evenly matched in skill, the situation isn’t even. With my depleted mana, Shes is at a significant disadvantage.
I need to urgently devise a strategy…
“Oi, Kiwi Alaya .”
Lost in thought, I looked up to find Ares glaring sharply at me.
“Before I finish off that female knight and cut your head off in one swing, answer me. Where exactly is Artemis being held?”
“Huh?”
“I said, where is Artemis—the saint from my unit, whom you captured in Elden?!”
“…”
What?
Captured saint?
At this sudden question, I couldn’t help but gape.
Because it didn’t make any sense.
“What are you talking about, Hero Ares Ifrit? There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Don’t play dumb with me now, heretic. Unless you want to prolong your miserable life.”
“I’m not trying to evade. But,”
Seeing Ares’ evident frustration, I shrugged slightly and replied.
“There can’t be captives if she’s dead?”
My words caused Ares’ eyes to widen slightly.
Gradually, like water slowly seeping into dry soil, all expression drained from his face until—
“Dead…?”
He asked, his voice hoarse and expressionless.
I nodded.
“You saw it yourself. The moment Saint Artemis’ soul was erased.”
“…No, that’s a lie.”
But Ares shook his head slightly.
“That can’t be true.”
His voice was mechanical, rigid.
His expression remained frozen.
Only his eyes trembled faintly.
