1 Unstoppable ETF That Turned $3,700 per Month Into $1 Million in 10 Years

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of patience and consistency in wealth building, highlighting that successful investing is not solely about picking individual winning stocks but can also be achieved through passive investment vehicles like ETFs [1] Investment Performance - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has delivered a total return of 336% since January 2016, translating to an annual return of just under 14%, which is significantly higher than its historical average of 10% [3] - An investment of $10,000 in the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF a decade ago would now be worth over $43,610, showcasing the effectiveness of gaining exposure to the S&P 500 [3] Dollar-Cost Averaging Strategy - Investors employing a dollar-cost averaging (DCA) strategy by investing $3,700 monthly in the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF from January 2016 to December 2025 would accumulate approximately $1 million over that period [4] - The DCA approach allows investors to avoid the challenge of market timing, promoting a consistent investment habit that has proven to generate substantial wealth over time [5] Market Trends and Future Outlook - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has benefited from favorable trends, including a significant shift towards passive investment vehicles, which has increased demand for stocks [7] - The current economic landscape is characterized by a massive technology sector and businesses with strong free cash flows and competitive advantages, suggesting that these favorable conditions may continue to support the ETF's growth in the coming decade [8]