*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!
In order to save the villainous twin sisters from falling into darkness, the mob character worked hard, and as a result, ended up being doted on by both of them.
The warmth of Touko reaches me through her back.
The part where we touch is soft and warm.
The faintly wafting scent makes my chest tighten, and I feel like I’m about to lose consciousness.
No, I can’t.
I focus on walking, trying to keep Touko out of my thoughts.
It’s strange, though. Even though I’m the one who offered to carry her, being this close makes me restless and unsettled.
I think it’s because, to me, Touko is my savior.
◇◇◇
This is a story from a few hours before I met Touko on the bridge.
“Futami-chan, can’t you and your sister try to get along better with everyone?”
I don’t even remember if those girls were from the Otowa faction, the Hoshina faction, or both. But I do remember being surrounded by a large group of girls who said something like that to us. Soyoka and I were openly rejected.
“We just don’t want to be part of the groups you’ve arbitrarily made.”
I have no intention of joining anyone’s group. There’s no reason why I should have to, yet it’s forced on us as if it’s the natural thing to do. I hate that kind of atmosphere.
“That’s enough. Let’s go, Soyoka.”
“Talking to them is just going in circles anyway.”
I decided it was pointless to keep talking and took Soyoka with me. As she said, there’s no end to this conversation.
“Ugh… this is why you two are such problem children.”
Those words lingered strangely in the air.
“…What are you trying to say?”
I stopped walking and asked for the true meaning behind those words.
“I’m saying that if you keep acting all high and mighty with everyone, you’re going to cause problems. You have zero sense of cooperation. No one likes you two, do they?”
I’ve never tried to make anyone like me, nor have I ever thought about it. I let go of those feelings a long time ago. As long as I have Soyoka, that’s enough for me. Or so I thought.
To begin with, I’ve never spoken to these girls directly. At most, I’ve only said what I thought to Aizawa and the girls who bother her, Otowa and Hoshina. So, I haven’t interacted with any other classmates, and I’ve only been with Soyoka.
They were many, and we were just two. The atmosphere was completely under their control, and no matter what we said, we had no allies.
“…Say whatever you want.”
Somewhere inside me, a thread snapped. I felt so tired. I never wanted allies, but I didn’t want enemies either. No matter where we are, we’re always rejected. Maybe it’s karma, but it’s not like we’ve done anything to deserve being rejected by anyone other than the people directly involved.
It’s as if the world wants us to disappear. As if the world would function better if we had never existed in the first place. That’s what it felt like we were being told.
I’m aware that I’m being overly paranoid, playing the tragic heroine. Even though I know that, I can’t stop this heavy, sinking feeling. Even the rain that started falling seemed to be mocking us.
“The rain’s really coming down, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“The river’s water level is rising too.”
“Yeah.”
Standing next to Saki on the bridge, looking down at the river. The rain gradually grew heavier, and our uniforms were soaked through. The blouse clinging to my skin, the heavy blazer that only made it harder to move, the skirt—everything felt uncomfortable.
“Hey, Soyoka. What do you think would happen if we jumped off here?”
“Hmm… I don’t see a future where we’d be saved.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, even if we disappeared, I doubt anyone would be sad.”
It seemed Soyoka felt the same way I did. Peering down at my feet, the river’s current was growing stronger. If I took that one step, would I find peace? Would I be free? It almost felt like that was the right answer.
After all, no one needs us. Whether we’re here or not, it’s all the same.
“Um, what are you two doing over there?”
Then, a voice cut through the sound of the rain. A girl holding an umbrella, wearing the same uniform, with short black hair that looked vaguely familiar, though I couldn’t quite place it. At first, I thought she was here to mock us. The unpopular sisters doing something crazy. It must have looked ridiculous, and I just wanted her to leave quickly.
But I was wrong.
That girl… Touko, tried to save us and ended up falling off the bridge herself. She sacrificed herself to save us, even though we hadn’t even made up our minds yet.
“Soyoka, she fell!?”
“Ah, yeah, Saki-chan! But miraculously, she didn’t fall into the river!”
“R-really!? We have to help her!”
“Y-yeah!”
Fortunately, Touko only suffered a broken ankle. It would take some time for her to be able to walk again, but I was relieved to hear that it wouldn’t affect her daily life. While Touko was being rushed to the hospital and taken to her room, Soyoka and I sat in the waiting room, stunned.
“…Why did she try to save us?”
“I don’t know, but—”
After a brief pause, Soyoka continued.
“—but she did say, ‘It’s because I like you, of course.’”
“…She did say that.”
For a moment, I thought I might have misheard her. But since Soyoka heard it too, Touko definitely said that.
“I didn’t even know her name was Shirahane Touko until today.”
“You and I, Saki-chan, never really paid much attention to the people around us.”
Even so.
There aren’t many people who would risk their own lives to save someone else. It’s much easier for people to hurt others than to help them.
Hurting someone else brings them down and satisfies one’s own ego. People are ugly creatures like that.
Saving someone requires accepting them, and there’s always the risk of getting hurt yourself. There’s no guarantee of any reward. No one wants to go through such trouble.
At the very least, I’ve never had anyone do something like that for me.
“…There are people who will reach out to help, huh.”
“…Yeah, I guess so.”
A single tear naturally rolled down my cheek. I didn’t burst into tears, but it felt like the thread that had snapped was now tied back together with a different thread.
Until now, I had never been liked by anyone, and I thought that was fine. But after experiencing Touko’s kindness, my feelings softened so easily. The tension that had been building up inside me melted away.
“But it’s my fault Touko got hurt.”
“It’s my fault too. I said something that probably encouraged her.”
Guilt and happiness clashed within me. I had done something unforgivable, yet I had been saved. That contradiction gripped my feelings for Touko and wouldn’t let go. My heart, tangled and bound, was in a shape I couldn’t even understand myself.
“I have to atone for this sin.”
Would Touko forgive me? Even if she doesn’t, I have to make amends. And I want to thank her.
“Thank you” and “I’m sorry.”
For the first time, I felt the need to express those ordinary words from the bottom of my heart.
◇◇◇
“Hey, I think we’re getting close to the school.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah?”
No, I can’t.
I tried to take my mind off Touko, but I ended up drifting into memories of the past. Even then, I was still thinking about her.
“It’s fine, you can put me down now.”
Touko squirmed on my back. But I can’t let her go. If she struggles, I’ll just hold her tighter.
“Why are we even closer now!?”
I tilted my face slightly toward her, looking confused, and said:
“I’m never letting go of you again.”
Because I’ve decided that this time, I’ll definitely hold onto the hand that saved me.
