*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.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Touko pressed her hands together and bowed her head.
Her gesture was so endearing that I couldn’t help but smile.
“It wasn’t much, really.”
Aside from Saki-chan, Touko-chan was the first person I had ever cooked for.
And she was also the first person to praise my food and make my heart flutter.
I felt strangely fulfilled, thinking, I’m really glad I prepared this.
“Your foot is completely healed now, huh?”
Touko-chan tapped the floor a few times with her right foot.
There’s no way it could have worked that fast, but still, it felt like she had accepted my feelings, which made me a little embarrassed.
“If that were enough to heal it, doctors and hospitals wouldn’t be necessary, huh?”
“I see, so Soyoka has surpassed modern medicine now.”
Even when I tried to brush it off with sarcasm, Touko-chan twisted my words into something completely different and threw them back at me.
No one had ever taken my words that way before.
It was… refreshing.
A Few Hours Earlier, Before Meeting Touko-chan on the Bridge
“…Say whatever you want.”
Saki-chan, overwhelmed by a group pressing in on her, gave an exasperated sigh and left.
I took her hand and walked beside her.
“What do you think, Soyoka?”
Saki-chan kept walking ahead, never looking back.
Even without seeing her face, I could tell from her voice that she was feeling down.
Maybe it’s because we’re twins.
“Well, you know… In the end, the majority always wins when it comes to ‘common sense.’”
So, for people like us, who are always in the minority, there’s no place to belong.
We had known that for a long time.
But it had been a while since it had taken such a tangible form.
If even a school—a confined little world—was rejecting us, then we really had nowhere left to go.
“I always thought it was stupid, but now it’s gotten to the point where I feel like giving up and leaving myself.”
Was she talking about leaving the school? Society?
Or maybe… all of it?
I could tell that every answer was correct.
Maybe that’s just another part of being her little sister.
On our usual way home, Saki-chan suddenly climbed onto the railing of the bridge.
I followed her lead.
“…It’s higher than I thought.”
“…Yeah, pretty scary, huh?”
A direct fear of death hung in the air.
If we lost our footing, we’d disappear.
The feeling of standing on the boundary between life and death, knowing that a single decision could tilt the scale—
It was an unreal sensation.
My feet tingled from it.
“Hey, Soyoka. What do you think would happen if we jumped?”
That question was a turning point.
Saki-chan had given up on this world.
But I had grown sick of it long before she did.
Maybe because I was always following behind her, I could look at things from a slightly more detached perspective.
She was caught up in her own emotions.
It just took her a little longer to realize it.
That’s why I had already decided—I would follow whatever future she chose.
“Hmm… I don’t see a future where we survive, you know?”
I never really had any attachment to this world.
And if Saki-chan wasn’t in it, I had no reason to stay.
“Excuse me, but… what exactly are you two doing?”
That’s when Touko-chan appeared.
We had never spoken before. Not even once.
Her timing was either impeccable or terrible. I couldn’t tell.
But in the end, her choice changed our future.
Watching Touko-chan fall made my entire body freeze with terror.
A moment ago, we had been ready to do the same thing.
But suddenly, it felt real.
After seeing something like that with our own eyes, there was no way we could go through with it.
More than anything, a different emotion took over first.
“Hey, Saki-chan. We need to call an ambulance, right?”
“Y-Yeah! I’m calling right now!”
As we looked at Touko-chan’s slumped, motionless body, a storm of emotions swirled inside me.
Why would she go that far to save us?
Why would she extend her hand to people who had already been cast out of this world?
Even though I thought I had lost my attachment to life, everything was overturned by her actions alone.
It felt as if a ray of light had pierced this world.
But that light was about to be lost because of us.
Hope and despair crashed over me at the same time—such an absurdity.
My heart screamed that I couldn’t afford to lose her.
It was guilt, atonement, gratitude, and salvation all at once.
Just how many emotions could one experience in such a short time?
For the first time, my gaze was fixed on someone other than Saki-chan.
By some miracle, Touko-chan only ended up with a fracture and was admitted to the hospital.
In the hospital’s waiting room, Touko-chan and I sat in silence.
“…There really are people who will reach out a hand to you, huh?”
Tears trailed down Saki-chan’s cheeks, falling onto her skirt.
Ah, I realized—Saki-chan had been saved, just like me.
“…I see.”
We had always shared the same feelings.
So, surely, the emotions we felt toward Touko-chan were the same.
Wanting to return the favor to the one who saved us.
It was such a simple yet entirely new feeling—one brought to us by a girl named Shirahane Touko.
“Well then, maybe I should make you another lunchbox as a substitute for medicine tomorrow?”
Actually, I’d already decided to do it, but I figured I’d check with Touko-chan anyway.
“No, really, that’s too much. I’d feel bad.”
Touko-chan waved her hands emphatically, turning me down.
I guess she wouldn’t accept it so easily right away.
“In that case, it’s my turn next,” Saki-chan said, crossing her arms with a smug sniff.
She clearly wanted to show off her cooking skills… but honestly, no one would be happy about that.
“Ah, yeah, maybe not,” she quickly conceded.
“Why is there such a difference in attitude between you and Soyoka?!”
Touko-chan let out a strained smile, rejecting the offer right away.
Maybe, instinctively, she already understood.
“Well then, Touko-chan, no objections if it’s me, right?”
“No, actually, I’d prefer to choose the option of not eating at all…”
“You’d rather eat alone in the cafeteria?”
“Ugh.”
There was a possibility that, by spending time with us, Touko-chan would be isolated from the rest of the class.
I did feel guilty about that, but at the same time, I also felt a bit happy.
Because that meant Saki-chan and I could have Touko-chan all to ourselves.
We wouldn’t let anyone else have her.
“…Then at least let me pay. I’d feel bad if I were just getting free food.”
She looked like she was making a painful decision, but in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to choose being alone.
Or maybe… she chose us instead?
Thinking of it that way made me happy.
But either way, the result was the same—Touko-chan would come to us.
“Alright, just for the ingredients, then. Nothing more.”
“Got it, Chef Soyoka.”
She gave me a weird nickname, but…
Well, it’s fine.
If Touko-chan was the one calling me that, then I didn’t mind.
Besides…
“In that case, make sure you don’t eat anything but my cooking, okay?”
Her tongue, her stomach—everything inside her would be filled with things I had made.
The food I cooked would become her blood, her flesh—her very life itself.
Touko-chan, who had saved my life, would be sustained by what I gave her.
That thought was incredibly fulfilling.
