Core Insights - The article emphasizes that being invested is often the best strategy for long-term wealth creation, highlighting the effectiveness of low-cost, broad-market ETFs like the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) [1] Group 1: VTI Overview - VTI tracks the CRSP U.S. Total Market Index, encompassing virtually the entire investable U.S. stock market with over 3,500 individual positions, making it ideal for a diversified portfolio [2] - Unlike the S&P 500, VTI includes small-cap and mid-cap stocks, which can offer higher return potential over time, thus broadening equity exposure beyond large-cap tech stocks [3][4] Group 2: Investment Strategy - Long-term wealth creation should focus on maximizing upside potential while mitigating downside risk, which can be achieved by reducing tech concentration and diversifying equity exposure [4] - Studies indicate that investors often harm their long-term returns by attempting to time the market, leading to poor personal returns compared to the underlying funds [5][7] Group 3: Advantages of VTI - Owning VTI provides a portfolio construction that minimizes the need for active involvement, as shareholders effectively own a piece of nearly every stock, reducing the fear of missing out [6] - With an expense ratio of 0.03%, VTI is a cost-effective investment, ensuring that fees do not significantly impact long-term returns [6] Group 4: Long-Term Growth Potential - Investing in stocks is recommended for long-term growth, as historical data shows that holding investments over time can mitigate short-term downside risks [8]