*Web Novel chapter blow*
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!
I Like Villains, so I Reincarnated as One
“Hmm, so you’ve been through a lot, huh?”
“Yeah, that’s why it’s not like I intentionally left Aegis out.”
“I’m not particularly bothered by it, though.”
It’s been a week since Astesia’s rescue, and I’m in my private room with Aegis, who’s pouting and puffing up her cheeks. She’s probably upset because I broke our plans to go rescue Astesia, and Nial and Rosalia were also there. Maybe she feels like she was left out? In any case, she’s clearly not in a good mood.
Though, Nial being there was honestly just a coincidence… I can’t help but force a bitter smile.
“Ah, as an apology for breaking that promise, how about we go to the Spirit Spring next time? Now that there’s a caretaker, it should be easier to walk around than last time. It’ll be my first time going after the maintenance.”
“Hmm, your first time, huh… Well, if you put it that way, I guess I can accompany you. What should I wear? What kind of dress do you like, Weiss?”
“Nah, you’d probably get a dress dirty, don’t you think?”
Just moments ago, she was sulking, and now Aegis is acting as if she’s overjoyed. She’s even humming a tune! Well, even though they’ve “maintained” the place, it hasn’t been that long since then, and the maintenance was light enough not to bother the divine beasts or spirits.
The overgrown paths are probably just slightly more manageable now. But still, I’m happy to see that scenery again too.
“Sorry to interrupt, Weiss… Do you have a moment? Oh, who is this girl?”
With a knock, Astesia enters the room. As my personal priest, she’s recently been helping me with the lord’s duties. Though, I’m not sure if that’s really part of a priest’s job, but since she’s willing, I’ve been taking advantage of her help.
“And who might you be? What’s your relationship with Weiss?”
Filled with suspicion, Aegis’ words make Astesia hesitate. Aegis has a habit of being wary of strangers because various people, especially followers of Hades, have tried to deceive her before. On the other hand, Astesia, who is naturally shy and hasn’t been around people much due to a Hades cult curse, tends to be timid around new faces.
Seriously, all of this is the fault of those damn Hades cultists! They’re such a pain!
“She is Aegis Bloody, the daughter of the Bloody family and a friend of mine. And this is Astesia, an excellent priest who serves as my personal priest.”
“Personal priest, huh…”
“Daughter of the Bloody family… Friend…”
The two stare at each other, parroting my words back at me. Now that I think about it, how did their interactions go in the game…? They were on the same side, but Aegis mostly acted alone, so they didn’t interact much.
Could it be that they actually don’t get along…? As I start sweating nervously, the two finally speak.
“So, you’re Weiss’s personal priest, huh? That’s wonderful! I was worried about him pushing himself too hard, but with you around, I feel relieved!”
“Thank you. Having a noble family’s daughter as his friend is reassuring. Please continue to be a good friend to Weiss.”
The two lock eyes, their expressions brightening. Wait, what? This is going way better than expected! What’s going on here? As I look on in bewilderment, Aegis speaks up cheerfully.
By the way, Astesia can use polite speech!
“Because I can sense so much gratitude towards you from her. She must have saved you from a tough situation, just like she did with me, right? Then, we’re the same. We’re comrades!!”
“You were also saved by her, huh? Weiss seems to always be saving girls, doesn’t he?”
“No, stop making it sound like I have some weird reputation with women!”
I retort to Astesia’s deadpan comment, and the two giggle together. Hmm… I feel like I’m being teased. Just as I’m wishing Rosalia would come save me, Aegis clears her throat softly and turns to Astesia.
“Um… if you don’t mind, Astesia… Since we’ll probably meet a lot from now on, would you like to become friends? As people who were both saved by Weiss…”
“I don’t mind, but… I’m from a commoner background. Being friends with a noble lady like you is quite intimidating…”
Aegis looks at Astesia with pleading eyes, while Astesia looks confused, glancing at me. I decide to step in, smiling warmly as I try to mediate.
“Hey, Astesia treats me like a friend, right? Aegis gets lonely easily, and she wants friends her age regardless of social status.”
“Watch how you phrase things!! If she’s someone you trust, then I can trust her too. I thought she was cool and wanted to be friends with her!”
“But… At first, you called yourself an adventurer, didn’t you? You don’t seem like a typical noble… Still, if you say I’m cool, I can’t say I dislike it. If you’d like, let’s be friends too, starting from my side.”
“Thank you!! You can call me Aegis! And no need for formalities, okay?”
Astesia’s words make Aegis exclaim happily, and Astesia blushes, seemingly pleased. Astesia isn’t used to being praised by others… More importantly… I can’t help but smile at the scene unfolding before me.
“Hehehe”
“What’s with you? Suddenly laughing like that… Did you mess up your potion dosage or something?”
“No, no, it’s nothing. I was just thinking how nice it is to see both of you getting along so well.”
Yes, I couldn’t help myself. Watching my favorite characters chat happily with each other made me so excited that I accidentally let out a laugh.
“That’s… thanks to you. So if anything happens, just let me know. I swear upon the name of the Bloody family to lend you my strength.”
“I owe you a great deal too. I’ll do anything for you.”
Both of them smile happily as they say these things. This is making me way too happy. But earlier, they did mention wanting to repay me… Maybe now’s the chance to fulfill a dream.
“Well then, both of you—”
“Huh? You’re suddenly asking us to…? Shouldn’t we do tea parties and dates a few times first…?”
“You… You said ‘anything,’ but there are limits…”
Ignoring the two as they fidget awkwardly, I make my request.
“Stand in front of the mirror and strike a pose like before battle. Then, I’ll stand in front and take on a leader-like pose. Yes, this is it!! The sight I’ve dreamed of!! My ideal party composition!! Damn it!! If only I had a screenshot function… I’ll just have to burn this into my brain…”
“‘Huh?’”
Despite their bewildered expressions, the two comply with my request and strike poses. Watching them, I can’t help but cry out in excitement.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Aegis looking dissatisfied.
“What’s the meaning of this?! I was mentally preparing myself to be asked for something completely different…”
“Allow me to explain. I had my favorite characters—Weiss, Aegis, and Astesia—who normally wouldn’t form a party together, strike poses reminiscent of a character lineup screen, so I could burn this image into my brain. Do you understand? This is what I’ve been craving as a fan of villainous routes! My dream is coming true right now. Please, just play along for a little longer!!”
I explain rapidly, but the two react coldly. It’s clear they think I’m spouting nonsense.
“Hey… Astesia, is this guy really okay? Has he been experimenting with strange potions or something?”
“There were no abnormalities this morning… Did he eat something weird? Or maybe it’s a curse from the Hades cult? Let’s use a status ailment recovery spell, just in case. I’ll prepare some laxatives too. They’re bitter, but bear with it.”
As the two stare at me with cold eyes while I’m hyped up, I start to calm down.
Crap… I got so excited that I started talking about party setups and screenshots. But hey, can you blame me? My dream just came true! A party composition that could never happen in the game exists right here, right now. Who wouldn’t get fired up about that?!
Still, I need to cover this up, or they’ll think I’m on some weird drug and force medicine on me.
“Lord Weiss… Excuse me. May I have a word?”
As I’m trying to think of an excuse under the painful gazes of the two, a savior arrives. I respond as the door opens with a knock.
“What is it, Rosalia?”
As I rush over, she whispers into my ear so the other two can’t hear.
“We’ve located the base of the slave trafficking group we’ve been searching for. How do you want to handle it?”
“Good work. Let’s move out immediately to crush them.”
Finally, we can start dealing with the negative legacy left behind by Barbaro. I order Rosalia to prepare for deployment.
—
“What the hell do you mean?! Didn’t you say your guys would handle it?! And now one of the Twelve Apostles suspects me, of all people, in my own territory!”
Vassago’s voice echoes through the mansion. Clutched in his hand is an order from the Twelve Apostles to investigate his territory.
Yes, an order. Soon, investigators from the capital will arrive. I don’t plan on doing anything stupid like leaving evidence lying around, but I’ll need to dispose of the slaves here.
“Calm down, Lord Vassago. This is actually an opportunity.”
“An opportunity?! Your comrades got taken down too, didn’t they?! Why are you so calm about this?!”
“Hehe, we live only for Lord Hades. If we can contribute to His resurrection… There’s no greater happiness. And… Emile Rio must be savoring his happiness by now.”
The hooded man, a follower of Hades, speaks with a blissful expression. Despite sensing something off about him, Vassago presses on.
“So… what’s the plan?”
“We’ve received information that the woman we’ve been targeting has gone to the neighboring Hamilton territory. Moreover, according to our god’s prophecy, a person who will oppose Lord Hades’s dominion will emerge from the Hamilton territory. That place has been a thorn in our side. Therefore, we intend to place it under your control, Lord Vassago. Originally, we planned to make the incompetent lord a puppet and let small-time villains like Barbaro rule indirectly, but…”
“That Weiss guy… He’s not talented; he’s just lucky!”
“Of course. I remember seeing that boy before—he didn’t have any special talent. He must have gained the favor of some god.”
Vassago is irritated that Weiss, whom he considers inferior, is getting along well with Aegis. He reacts disproportionately when Weiss’s name comes up.
Watching him, the hooded man smirks.
“Rest assured… We’ve devised several plans to destroy the Hamilton territory. And we also have a way to make you a hero. If you become a hero, even the daughter of the Bloody family, a military family, will surely take notice of you.”
The hooded man whispers their plan into Vassago’s ear. It’s an enticing strategy—one that makes him believe it could succeed.
“Yeah, that’s right… Besides, I have the magic sword you gave me. It’s one of the strongest ones the Bloody family had stored away.”
Vassago grins. Though not as prestigious as the Bloody family, his lineage is also a military one. In a fair fight, he’s confident he won’t lose to Weiss or their soldiers.
And if he distinguishes himself on the battlefield, Aegis will surely notice him too. Dreaming of a bright future, he smirks.
No love triangle drama yet!!
It’s been a while since Aegis showed up.
Well, who knows what will happen later, but for now, things are peaceful.
