Investing in this ETF right now could make you a millionaire retiree

When it comes to building wealth over time, it's hard to beat a strategy of dollar-cost averaging into a broad index fund.

| More on:
Man looking at an ETF diagram.

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

With the market down substantially from its all-time highs, the benefits of dollar-cost averaging into a low-cost, broad-based stock index fund are becoming quite clear. By making regular investments every payday in this market, each dollar you're investing buys that many more shares while stocks are down. That may not seem like much benefit now, but it means you've got that many more shares available to compound in any recovery that follows.

It's with that backdrop that making regular investments in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEMKT: SPY) starting now could make you a millionaire retiree. It's a process that takes time no matter what the market is doing, which is a great reason to consider starting those investments now, even if the market continues to fall.

Why invest in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust?

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust is a low-cost index ETF that attempts to track the S&P 500 index, which is often used as a proxy for the overall US stock market. With itd expense ratio of 0.09%, investors in that ETF can get returns that nearly perfectly match that index, while losing almost nothing to fund management fees.

That combination of stock market like returns with very low internal costs makes the SPDR S&P 500 ETF trust a simple, one-stop shop for investors. It's especially potent for investors who don't want or are otherwise unable to put a lot of time and effort into digging through financial reports to pick individual stocks. When you add the fact that index investing tends to beat funds managed by Wall Street's best and brightest over time, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust become an even more compelling option.

How long will it take to become a millionaire?

The path from $0 to $1 million depends heavily on two key factors: how much you're able to invest every month and what rate of return you earn along the way. The good news is that if you've got a long enough time horizon, reaching millionaire status by retirement age is feasible, even for people with modest incomes.

The following table shows how many years it takes to reach that millionaire status, depending on what you can save each month and what annual rate of return you earn along the way.

Monthly Investment10% Annual Returns8% Annual Returns6% Annual Returns4% Annual Returns
$2,20015.717.519.823.1
$2,00016.518.420.924.6
$1,50018.921.324.529.3
$1,00022.425.529.936.7
$50028.833.440.151.0
$30033.739.448.062.5

Data source: author.

The top end of that savings rate -- $2,200 per month -- represents a savings rate that can be contributed to tax-advantaged, retirement-focused accounts for most people. Workers under age 50 can generally contribute up to $20,500 per year in a company-sponsored retirement plan like a 401(k). They can also typically sock away up to $6,000 per year in their own IRA.  (The contribution limits are even higher for workers ages 50 and up. )

The bottom end of that savings rate -- $300 per month -- works out to around $10 per day. Even at that savings level, as long as you invest consistently throughout the length of a typical working career, you've got a decent shot at reaching millionaire status by the time you retire.

Get started now

Regardless of where you are in your career, you'll never again have more time before you retire than you do right now. That makes today a great day to get your plan in place. The sooner you get started, the more of the cells in that table will be within your reach, improving your chances of retiring a millionaire.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

Chuck Saletta has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

More on International Stock News

a man sits at a bar leaning sadly on his basketball wearing a US flag sticker on his cheekbone near a half drunk beer and looking despondent as though his basketball team has just lost a game.
International Stock News

The Dow Jones is on its longest losing streak in 46 years. What's going on?

The Dow is on a losing streak in the middle of a boom.

Read more »

A person leans over to whisper a secret to a colleague during a meeting.
International Stock News

Despite recent news, analysts still say Nvidia stock is a buy. Here's why

Last month, Nvidia was the most valuable company in the world.

Read more »

A young girl looks up and balances a pencil on her nose, while thinking about a decision she has to make.
International Stock News

After gaining 2,100%, is Nvidia stock done?

Nvidia has taken off as one of the key players in chips and services for artificial intelligence.

Read more »

A young couple in the back of a convertible car each raise a single arm in the air whilst enjoying a drive along the road.
International Stock News

Why Tesla stock just jumped again

Wedbush's Dan Ives thinks the stock will keep moving higher thanks to Tesla's self-driving technology.

Read more »

An older couple hold hands as they bounce happily high in the air.
International Stock News

Why the Alphabet share price just leapt higher

Investors seem to hope the Trump administration will be friendly to Alphabet and its big-tech peers.

Read more »

A panel of four judges hold up cards all showing the perfect score of ten out of ten
International Stock News

Top Wall Street analyst calls Tesla stock a top pick. Is it a buy now?

Tesla shares have been on fire lately, rising more than 70% since the November 5 election.

Read more »

a couple clink champagne glasses on board a private aircraft with gourmet food plates set in front of them. They are wearing designer clothes and looking wealthy.
International Stock News

Billionaires love this US tech stock (Hint: It's not Nvidia)

Looking for the next big thing in tech investments? Several billionaire-owned hedge funds are heavily invested in one overlooked AI…

Read more »

Woman using a pen on a digital stock market chart in an office.
International Stock News

Is this Warren Buffett stock a smart buying opportunity?

This financial services company is flying under the radar right now. Is it a smart buy?

Read more »