Index Fund
An index fund is a mutual fund or ETF that simply holds every stock (or bond) in a market index, like the S&P 500, instead of trying to beat it. Because there's no expensive stock-picking, fees are tiny — and decades of data show most active managers fail to outperform a low-cost index after costs.
The result is instant diversification across hundreds or thousands of companies for a fraction of a percent per year. Index funds are the default building block of most retirement portfolios precisely because low fees and broad exposure compound into a big edge over time.
Put it to work
Investment Calculator
Project an investment portfolio's growth with monthly contributions — final value, your money vs market growth, and the year-by-year path.
ROI Calculator
Measure the return on any investment: total gain, total return (ROI), and the annualized return (CAGR) that lets you compare deals held for different lengths of time.
Retirement Calculator
Project your retirement savings: what your balance could reach by retirement age and the monthly income it could sustainably provide.