Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia. Vikki Velasquez is a researcher and writer who has managed, coordinated, and directed ...

The S&P 500 averaged 14.8% returns annually from 2012-21, despite fluctuations. From 2014-24, the 10-year average was 13.45%, totaling over 250% return. Longer-term stock investing is more reliable ...