Wealth Building Strategy - Wealth accumulation stems from consistent, long-term actions rather than one-time events [1] - Building wealth requires repetition and sustained effort over many years [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the benefits of long-term investment in low-cost ETFs, highlighting their potential for wealth accumulation through dollar-cost averaging and compounding [2][5]. Group 1: Vanguard S&P 500 ETF - The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is recommended as a top choice for long-term investment, mirroring the performance of the S&P 500 and providing exposure to 500 major U.S. companies [3][4]. - The ETF has shown strong performance with average annual gains of 13.6% over the past decade, encompassing both bull and bear markets [4]. - It features a low expense ratio of 0.03%, making it an attractive core holding for investors [5]. Group 2: Vanguard Growth ETF - The Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) is positioned as a suitable option for investors seeking growth stocks, focusing on large-cap companies with strong sales and earnings momentum [6][8]. - This ETF has outperformed the broader market with average annual returns of 16.3% over the past decade, benefiting from a higher weighting in growth-oriented companies like Nvidia [7]. - It maintains a low expense ratio of 0.04%, providing a cost-effective alternative to actively managed funds [8]. Group 3: Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF - The Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI) offers international exposure and dividend income, tracking non-U.S. companies with above-average dividend yields [9][11]. - The ETF has performed well, with a nearly 27% increase this year and average annual returns of nearly 14% over the past five years [10]. - It has a higher expense ratio of 0.17% compared to domestic Vanguard ETFs, but remains competitive for international funds, adding diversification and yield to U.S.-focused portfolios [11].

Core Insights - A long-term investment strategy is effective for building wealth with minimal risk and complexity [2] - Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are highlighted as a means to achieve diversification and simplicity in investment [2][3] Vanguard ETFs Overview - Vanguard is recognized as a leading provider of investment funds, offering a diverse range of ETFs suitable for long-term portfolios [3] - Investors can start with a combination of five Vanguard ETFs for under $2,000, with a minimum investment of just $1 for each ETF [3] Individual ETF Summaries - **Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO)**: Tracks 500 prominent U.S. companies, representing the U.S. economy, with an average annualized return of 8% over nearly a century [5][6] - **Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG)**: Focuses on large U.S. companies that consistently increase dividends, currently yielding just over 1.6% [7][9] - **Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT)**: Invests in the technology sector, with top holdings including Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple, and a low expense ratio of 0.09% [10][11] - **Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ)**: Comprises over 150 REITs, providing exposure to various property types with an adjusted effective yield of 2.8% [12][13] - **Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS)**: Offers ownership of over 8,600 non-U.S. companies, with a low expense ratio of 0.05%, enhancing global diversification [14][15]

Core Insights - Seeking Alpha welcomes a new contributing analyst, Christof von Wenzl, who is encouraged to share investment ideas [1] - The article highlights the importance of individual contributions to investment research platforms [1] Group 1 - The analyst has 14 years of experience as a financial advisor at an Italian bank, assisting over 1,000 clients in managing their finances [2] - Since 2018, the analyst has been writing fundamental equity research for various German-language investor platforms [2] - The investment style is influenced by renowned investors such as Warren Buffett and Peter Lynch, focusing on high-quality companies at attractive prices [2] Group 2 - The analyst has managed an independent stock market research service from 2019 to 2025 [2] - Regularly shares insights on investing and finance with both private investors and financial professionals [2] - The approach is long-term oriented, emphasizing sustainable investment strategies [2]

Investment Strategy - Portfolio allocation: 50% stocks and 50% crypto assets [1] - Asset limit: Maximum of 10 assets in the portfolio [1] - Investment horizon: 10 years with no selling allowed until year 5 [1] - Goal: Outperform the average S&P returns by 10%+ each year [1] Asset Selection Considerations - The strategy requires careful selection of stocks and crypto assets to achieve the target outperformance [1] - The long-term investment horizon necessitates assets with strong growth potential [1] - The inability to sell assets for the first 5 years demands a focus on assets with long-term viability [1]