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*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:

• Invest with Vanguard
• Trade with Fidelity
• Start with Schwab

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!

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Nicole and the Apothecary Family Live Freely

The priest and his accompanying attendants were utterly astonished that two people from such a remote village had received titles.

“What in the world?! To think that two individuals would be granted such great titles from a village like this—it’s an unprecedented event! And for the divine revelation to descend upon our goddess’s temple—what an incredible blessing!! …This is urgent! We must contact the Goddess Temple in the royal capital immediately!”

The elderly priest shouted in excitement, spitting as he spoke, leaving the village chief’s family and Sieghart’s parents wide-eyed in surprise.

After that, the priest said he had more details to discuss, so the village chief’s family and Alto’s parents were summoned. The other families quietly left the temple.

Well, at that point, the remaining three families were practically just background figures.

That night, I returned home and had a modest celebration.

Even the villagers from the neighborhood came one after another to congratulate us.

“With two generations of apothecaries in a row, our village is in good hands.”

“Nicole , you’re going to be a great apothecary!”

Hearing their kind words, I responded with confidence.

“I’ll become an even greater apothecary than my father!”

The moment I proudly declared that, everyone burst into laughter!

◆◇◆

And so, news of the birth of a 【Hero】 and a 【Saint】 quickly spread to the royal capital.

That said, even on a fast horse, it takes a whole month to travel from this remote corner of the land to the capital.

Seriously, just how far in the middle of nowhere is this place?

First, an envoy from the local lord arrived, delivering a substantial amount of money to the two families as preparation funds for the future.

Until the royal capital’s envoys arrived, the lord’s personal knight started coming to train Sieghart in swordsmanship.

The blacksmith, Cain, also joined in and received praise: “You’ve got good instincts!”

Well, I mean, if you have a swordsmanship skill, you’re obviously better than a total novice, right?

Not that I said that out loud.

As for Lilina, I heard that a priest from the Goddess Temple in Tokaran Town was sent to instruct her in healing magic.

During the day, she goes to that shabby temple to learn how to use healing magic, along with etiquette and basic studies, so it seems she doesn’t have time to visit Sieghart.

Keep working hard!

Nishishi.

One day, while tending to the vegetables in my garden, the man of the hour, Sieghart, showed up.

“Hey, Nicole ! Look! I can use magic now!”

Grinning ear to ear, he turned to a nearby thicket and shouted, “Wind Cutter!”

His magic sliced the thorny bush apart before my eyes.

Seeing that, I quickly said, “Oh, do this one too, please!” and had him cut down the surrounding brambles as well!

“Thanks! There are medicinal herbs that grow under this thicket, but they’re always such a pain to collect!”

“……..”

Sieghart fell silent, staring at me, clearly realizing he’d been used.

I gasped and quickly corrected myself!

“It’s great that your magic is improving! If you could also cut those weeds over there, that’d be a big help! Wow, what a mighty Hero!!”

Can’t forget to flatter him!

Maybe she had been watching the whole time, but Sieghart’s mother, Dahlia, burst into loud laughter from inside their house.

Ehehe.

After that, Sieghart silently kept casting Wind Cutter.

Thanks to him, the thicket was completely cleared.

“Oh, and one day, could you use that Fire-whatever spell to burn the rest?”

“…Yeah, sure.”

Another time, I heard someone shouting “Slash!” and “Parry!” from behind Sieghart’s house, so my father and I decided to peek in.

He had tied logs to the branches of a tall tree with ropes and was hitting them with a wooden sword, practicing various techniques.

Every time he struck, the logs swung back unpredictably, yet he kept countering them with serious focus, sweating profusely.

Even when a log struck him and sent him flying, he immediately got back up.

He’s only seven years old, and yet he keeps shouting, “Take this!!” as he challenges the swinging logs.

Seeing that intense determination, I realized I couldn’t just tease him anymore.

“…Let him be, Nicole . Sieghart is serious about this.”

“Yes, sir.”

Whispering so Sieghart wouldn’t notice, my father and I turned to leave quietly—only to find Uncle Arthur standing there.

“Ah, well… He’s leaving for the royal capital soon, so let him be as noisy as he wants until then.”

Saying that, he handed my father some rabbit meat.

“Of course!”

My father gladly accepted the meat, flashing a big smile.

Dad is such a sucker for free stuff.

By the height of summer, the official envoys from the royal capital had finally arrived.

Sieghart and Lilina were formally ordered to enroll in the Royal Academy, and their families received the decree with utmost reverence.

The lord had agreed to be Sieghart’s patron.

Lilina, meanwhile, would serve at the Goddess Temple as a Saint while continuing her studies at the academy.

Since she was a rare dual-attribute magic user, the lord also invited Milia to enroll.

Her tuition and living expenses would be covered, and depending on her abilities, she might become a court magician or the lord’s personal mage.

Her parents were overjoyed.

Cain, however, didn’t receive an invitation, as he only had standard swordsmanship skills.

Still, he was determined to attend the Royal Academy, so his father permitted it on the condition that he trained at his brother-disciple’s blacksmith shop in the capital.

And so, it was decided that the four childhood friends would go to the royal capital.

How do I know all this?

Because Lilina came all the way here just to boast about it.

“Sieghart and I have been given a great mission by the Goddess of Compassion! We’ll study at the Royal Academy, and I’ll serve as a Saint in the future! Ahh, Sieghart and I were destined to be together!!!”

Lilina always jumps to conclusions, doesn’t she?

“Huh? But can Saints even get married?”

The moment I blurted that out, she screeched, “Whaaaat?! How dare you!!” and lunged at me with a demonic expression!

Oh crap!

I dodged her attack with lightning speed and sprinted away as fast as I could!

“You two are a perfect match! Good luck!!”

Ugh, what a pain!

I also met with Milia before she left.

She didn’t seem excited about going.

“I’m shy, and I don’t think I can handle living in the capital… What if they mock me for being a country girl? I really wanted to stay, but my parents already spent the preparation money, so I have no choice now… They don’t care about what I want…”

All I could do was gently pat her back as she sobbed.

“You should study hard and work towards independence. Wouldn’t that be better than staying here and being married off to someone your parents pick?”

Milia’s parents would definitely do that.

Her older sister certainly will be.

Hearing that, Milia hesitated, then finally nodded.

“You’re right… It’s my life. I’ll try my best in the capital.”

She smiled, determined.

Good girl.

Here, have one of my dad’s homemade throat lozenges to cheer you up!

Three days later, with temple knights as their escorts, the four children set off for the royal capital.

The entire village proudly saw them off.

I showed up too, out of childhood friendship, but no one paid any attention to me.

A few people noticed me on the way back, but instead of saying anything, they just patted my dad on the shoulder before looking away.

Dad awkwardly muttered, “Don’t mind them,” but honestly, I didn’t care at all.