*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!
Regarding the Matter of Beautiful Girls Relentlessly Seeking My Body (Experience Points)
“And finally, they stepped into the 500th floor. The unexplored 500th floor of the New York Dungeon—what kind of face would it show to greet them? Would they be able to return alive?”
“Huh, 500, huh? There must be lots of rare items and delicious ingredients.”
Late Saturday night. I lazily watched a documentary about dungeons.
Since I can’t enter one myself anyway, I never had much interest in dungeons, but watching this is actually quite interesting. It gives off the same excitement as a space-related TV program.
The current broadcast is a documentary following an exploration team in the New York Dungeon. The party consists of ten people, including non-combatants like geographers and blacksmiths. Even though they are non-combatants, their levels exceed 300 easily. By the way, the cameraman is also part of the party.
The leader of the party is a 27-year-old American woman with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes, giving her a classic Hollywood beauty look. Her figure, clad in metal armor and leading her members, evokes Joan of Arc. Though Joan of Arc was French.
Bruised but still moving forward, they ventured through a cave-like hole that led to the 500th floor, and finally, their view opened up.
“Wow, amazing!”
I couldn’t help but exclaim at the scene on the TV.
Peering out from a gaping hole carved into the mountainside, below spreads a vast expanse of green and blue. Forests, rivers, and lakes. Though there should be no sun, the sky is bright and blue. Seeing this landscape, the party members shouted with joy, almost as if they were going mad with happiness.
It seems there are floors in dungeons known as “safe zones.” As the name suggests, these are safe lands without vicious monsters, abundant with water, food, and resources. They are precious places where you can rest your body slowly.
The 499th floor of the New York Dungeon was a harsh environment teeming with giant creatures over five meters tall and battering strong winds and sandstorms. Reaching a safe zone after that must have been incredibly relieving.
“This is really exciting!”
In a dim room in a Japanese apartment, lying sprawled on my bed, this world feels completely unrelated to me. Well, being a guy, it’s already worlds apart no matter what.
When a commercial break interrupted the program, I thought I’d get a drink and opened the fridge, grabbing a bottle of tea when suddenly, loud knocking came at the door.
“Huh, what? Who? Scary. It’s already past 1 AM…”
Thinking of pretending to be asleep, I stayed silent. Then, a hoarse voice came from the door.
“…Yukun, Tatsuya-kun!”
“Yura-chan!?”
That familiar voice undoubtedly belonged to Yura-chan. Hurrying to open the door, there she was, gasping for breath as if she had run all the way here. Judging by her appearance, she must have just returned from the dungeon.
“Haa…zee… M-Momoka-chan… cough, cough! Rin-chan…! We triggered a trap…cough! And because of…because of me!!”
“Hey, hey, calm down! Come in first! Here, drink this!”
I handed her the tea, gently pushed her back into the room, and turned on the lights. That’s when I noticed red liquid splattered on her clothes. Judging by the looks of it, it wasn’t Yura-chan’s blood.
As she sat on the bed guided by me and I rubbed her back, her breathing finally calmed down a bit. However, her complexion was still pale.
“I kind of understand that something bad happened in the dungeon, but I need more details to help. Let’s calm down and talk. Let’s sort out the situation, okay?”
“U-uh…yes…”
Yura-chan nodded repeatedly, hugging herself tightly while piecing together her words.
“So, we decided to level up together, and also gather some rare items…and entered the dungeon. Normally, we operate around the 222nd floor, but we thought we could push a little further this time…”
“Uh-huh. And then?”
“My level has risen, so I thought there wouldn’t be any danger. We agreed to try our best around the 250th floor and kept exploring cautiously…or so I thought. But somewhere along the line, I must have let my guard down. I became overconfident in my own strength…”
Yura-chan stared at her trembling palms. Eyes wide open, transparent tears began to overflow.
“On the 249th floor, I didn’t notice the griffin attacking…Rin-chan shielded me and got hurt…We fled quickly and ended up stepping into an Absolute Value Elevator…”
“Absolute Value Elevator…”
That word rang a bell. One of the dungeon traps Aina had mentioned.
“One side goes up, the other goes down, right?”
Shaking, Yura-chan nodded slowly.
“I-I suddenly found myself…alone on the surface…Momoka-chan and Rin-chan were sent to the lower floors…”
Yura-chan’s trembling grew stronger, her face pale as she shook uncontrollably. In an Absolute Value Elevator, one side ascends while the other descends proportionally.
Which meant…where did Tenkazaki-san and Himi-san end up…
“The 498th floor…?”
If Yura-chan had been sent directly to the surface from the 249th floor, then Tenkazaki-san and Rin-chan would have been sent twice as far down, to the 498th floor.
But Yura-chan shook her head.
“At least the 498th floor…An Absolute Value Elevator doesn’t send someone above ground level…no matter how far down the other side goes, the upper limit is always the surface…So, 498th floor or lower…we don’t know how far down they went…”
“No way…”
“If one side gets sent to the surface, the survival rate for the other is less than 1%…What should I do, what should I do…Because of me, because of me, Momoka-chan and Rin-chan might die…They’re going to die! They’re going to die!!”
With that, Yura-chan covered her face and started sobbing loudly.
I couldn’t find any words to comfort her. Those two who had come to this room just recently chatting casually—I couldn’t bear imagining them dying.
Such a cruel reality.
I had underestimated the dungeons. I thought of them as somewhat dangerous but resource-rich places that strong women could conquer effortlessly, like playing a game.
But that’s not the case. They’re constantly flirting with death.
Women challenge these dungeons that offer no place of respite, risking their lives to level up.
“A place of peace…”
That phrase made me glance at the TV still running in the background. The dungeon divers resting their weary bodies on the 500th floor, known as a safe zone.
“What if…what if Tenkazaki-san and the others landed in a safe zone…they might still be alive, right?”
“Y-yes, there might be a chance…”
“Then…”
If we can reach the safe zone below the 498th floor, maybe we could reunite with Tenkazaki-san and Himi-san.
Perhaps they are still alive, stranded and waiting for help.
But reaching such a place isn’t possible with mediocre strength. The women who reached the 500th floor of the New York Dungeon shown on TV mostly exceeded level 500. Such power is necessary.
There’s only one way for Yura-chan to gain that kind of strength quickly. It’s highly risky and life-threatening. Proposing it to her felt wrong.
However, she voiced it herself with unwavering determination.
“Tatsuya-kun, please…make love to me.”
“But…you’ll die.”
“I don’t care. If I have to abandon Momoka-chan and Rin-chan, I’d rather die. Besides…”
Yura-chan paused briefly. She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again. Her resolute gaze drew me in. I couldn’t look away from her moist, beautiful eyes.
“If I can die being held by you, I’ll have no regrets.”
Her trembling and tears had already stopped.
