Is it a good ideal to just put all my savings into S & P 500 for growth over time?

Question

This is just a savings account not looking for extreme returns.

Answer 1

In a word, "yes".

That way you won't be paying anyone any fees, and you'll make 8-12% a year on your money without even trying!

Best wishes...

Answer 2

If you don't need the money for awhile, then I think it is. Historically, stocks have returned far more than any other asset class. A regular savings account or money market fund usually doesn't grow much faster than inflation and bonds aren't a whole lot better.

If you need the money for something in the next couple years, though, then you're taking a risk by putting it in stocks. While stocks have done better on average over long periods of time, they have a lot of ups and downs, so they're not a good place for money you need soon.

Answer 3

It's generally not preferable to move all your money in one go. The market is near its all time highs, so you may want to invest in pieces over a period of time.

The first thing you need to do is to look at your assets, current income and projected future income, current and projected future expenses, and your age. With these in mind, work out an overall portfolio of what you need - domestic equity - S&P 500 or broader index, bonds, international equity, real estate, targetted savings (eg. section 529 for education, IRA or other retirement accounts), insurance (life, disability), ...

Then look at where you are compared to where you want to go, and try to get there without incurring big capital gain tax hits. Say you have a mutual fund that has/is doing reasonably well, but has appreciated assets, rather than selling it and triggering capital gains taxes, just readjust your portfolio to include this fund, or get out of it in small pieces.

Specific recommendations - if you go with indexes, go with someone with low fees; there's one fund family that specializes in this and are quite reputable.

Insurance - if you're disciplined enough to save regularly, then go with term life, and only for the amount and time that is actually needed by your dependents. Use whole/universal insurances only if you're likely to slip in your savings habits, because they are not as efficient investment instruments as mutual funds.

Lastly dont forget to make up a will.

Answer 4

I disagree with all the above advice. If this is your only investment, and you don't need the money for 10 years or more, then one well diversified mutual fund will take care of your needs. And the funds recommended above does not do it. The S&P 500 index fund is just large cap US stocks, with a bit of mid cap thrown in. NO small caps. No international. The total stock market fund one responder recommended is better but still no international. The only fund that does it is a Target Retirement Fund. Vanguard's versions are made up of several index funds. T. Rowe Price's and Fidelity (they call theirs Fidelity Freedom Funds) are made up of managed funds. They all cover the total global investment market.

Answer 5

The "ideal" portfolio is a 60/30/10 mix of US market/International market/bonds.

If you have the time, energy, and knowhow, put your money in SPY (the S&P 500), a foreign index or mutual fund (many are out there, doesn't theoretically matter which area, but Asia is growing rapidly as well as many emerging markets), and bonds (you can buy bonds themselves if you know how to price them or simply bond index funds).

Answer 6

Yes that is a good idea, although a total stock market index fund would be more representative of the total US stock market.

Fidelity has a total stock market fund that has about the lowest expense ratio I've seen.

It is FSTMX.

Good luck.
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Answer 7

Yes.

Answer 8

put it in now! historically you will do fine!