Investing made simple

You don't need a financial advisor.

You just need the basics.

What nobody tells you

A simple index fund has beaten 90% of professional money managers.

S&P 500 Index Fund
10.2%
average annual return (20yr)
vs
Average Managed Fund
7.8%
average annual return (20yr)

You don't need to pick stocks. You don't need to time the market. You don't need to watch CNBC. You just need to start.

Source: S&P Dow Jones SPIVA U.S. Scorecard. Over 20-year periods, roughly 90% of actively managed large-cap funds underperform the S&P 500.

Time is the cheat code

Your money grows while you sleep.

Drag the sliders and watch what happens. This is compound growth — the most powerful force in investing.

$50$2,000
5 years40 years
Your portfolio would be worth
$707,772
at 10.2% average annual return (historical S&P 500, 20yr)
You contribute
$108,000
Time gives you
$599,772

Don't leave this on the table

Your employer might be offering you free money.

You put in
$100
→
You now have
$200
100% instant return

If your company offers a 401(k) match, every dollar they match is a 100% return on your money. No investment beats a guaranteed 100% return.

Most companies match 50–100% of your contributions up to 3–6% of your salary. If you're not getting the full match, you're leaving thousands of dollars on the table every year.

It takes 10 minutes

Open an account. Buy one fund.
That's it.

V

Vanguard

The original low-cost pioneer. Jack Bogle invented index funds here.

F

Fidelity

Zero-fee index funds. Excellent app. Great for beginners.

S

Schwab

Full-service at rock-bottom costs. Great customer service.

Pick any one of these and you're doing great

VTI
Total US Stock Market
Fee: 0.03%/yr
VOO
S&P 500
Fee: 0.03%/yr
VT
Total World Stock
Fee: 0.07%/yr
Target Date
e.g. Vanguard 2055
Fee: 0.08%/yr

Congratulations — you're now doing what 90% of financial advisors do.
Minus the 1% fee.

The math they hope you never do

1% doesn't sound like much.
It is.

See what your financial advisor's fee actually costs you over time.

$100$3,000
0.25%2.0%
5 years40 years
DIY (no advisor)
$1.2M
at 10.2% return
With 1.00% advisor
$954,418
at 9.2% effective return
The cost of your advisor over 30 years
$225,202
That's your money — working for your advisor instead of you.

You're ready

Your next steps.

You now know more than most people. Here's exactly what to do.

1

Get your full 401(k) match

Log into your employer's benefits portal and max out your match. This is the single best financial move you can make.

2

Open a Roth IRA

Go to Vanguard, Fidelity, or Schwab. Open a Roth IRA. It takes 10 minutes.

3

Buy one index fund

VTI, VOO, or a target-date fund. Pick one. You're done.

4

Set up automatic investing

Set a monthly auto-transfer from your bank. Then forget about it.

That's it. You just learned what most financial advisors charge thousands for.

Share this with someone who needs to hear it.

Canopy

This is financial education, not personalized financial advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.