Plain-English guides to getting started with investing, index funds, brokerage accounts, risk, and building a portfolio you can stick with.
The S&P 500 has returned 10.0% a year compounded since 1928 with dividends, 6.8% after inflation. Plus recent returns, down years, and the average 401(k) return.
FNILX vs FZROX from Fidelity's filings: both charge 0.00%, every FNILX stock is inside FZROX, overlap 90%. The 2,100 extra small caps are under 10%.
FTIHX vs VXUS from SEC filings: 93.1% overlap, 0.06% vs 0.05% fees, 10-year returns 9.10% vs 9.20% to 30 Sep 2026. Mutual fund vs ETF is the real choice.
FXAIX vs SPY from the filings: 0.015% vs 0.0945% fees, FXAIX ahead 0.15 points a year over 10 years to 2025, no minimum, and when SPY still makes sense.
QQQ vs VTI from SEC filings: 96% of QQQ sits inside VTI, but that is only 48% of VTI. Fees 0.18% vs 0.03%; 10-yr returns 22.07% vs 15.04%.
QQQM vs SCHG from both issuers' SEC filings: 59% overlap, a 0.15% vs 0.04% fee, and SCHG's top ten at 60% of the fund against QQQM's 50%.
QQQM vs VUG from SEC filings: 63% overlap, VUG's fee now 0.03% vs 0.15%, and VUG's top ten at 63% of the fund against QQQM's 50%.
SCHB vs VOO from both issuers' SEC filings: same 0.03% fee, 88% overlap, and the 1,900 extra stocks in SCHB were 11% of the fund. Returns to Aug 2026.
SCHD vs VTV from the issuers' filings: SCHD yields 3.37% vs 1.89%, VTV costs 0.03% vs 0.06%, they overlap 17.1%, and 10-year returns are 0.30 points apart.
SCHF vs VXUS from SEC filings: 0.03% vs 0.05%, 1,444 vs 8,790 stocks, 66.5% overlap. SCHF skips emerging markets and small caps; VXUS holds both.
SCHG vs SCHX from Schwab's SEC filings: every SCHG stock is inside SCHX, 55% overlap, 0.04% vs 0.03% fees, and a top ten of 60% vs 39%.
SPY vs SPYM (formerly SPLG) from the SEC filings: 99.8% overlap, 0.0945% vs 0.02% fee, and SPYM ahead by 0.11 to 0.13 points a year to June 2026.
SPY vs VTI from the SEC filings: 88% of VTI is S&P 500 stocks, fees 0.0945% vs 0.03%, and SPY ahead 0.41 points a year over 10 years to 2025.
VOO vs VOOV from Vanguard's filings: 0.03% vs 0.07%, VOOV is 99.5% inside VOO, yields 1.70% vs 1.00%, and trailed by 3.67 points a year over 10 years.
VOO vs VTV from Vanguard's filings: both 0.03%, 98.6% of VTV sits inside VOO, VTV yields 1.89% vs 1.00% and trailed by 2.80 points a year over 10 years.
VOO vs VXUS from Vanguard's SEC filings: 0% overlap, 0.03% vs 0.05% fees, 506 vs 8,755 stocks, and a 10-year gap of 6.1 points a year to 30 Sep 2026.
VTI vs VUG from Vanguard's filings: both cost 0.03%, every VUG stock is already in VTI, and VUG's top 10 is 63% of the fund. Overlap, returns, tax.
Compound interest is interest earned on interest. How the formula works, why starting ten years earlier can double the result, what compounding frequency and APY really change, the Rule of 72, and how the same maths works against you on a credit card.
The P/E ratio is share price divided by earnings per share: a $20 stock earning $2 a share has a P/E of 10, per the SEC. How to read it, trailing vs forward P/E, earnings yield and the 10-year Treasury, the PEG ratio, and the situations where P/E misleads.
BND and VBTLX are two share classes of one Vanguard fund. Same bonds, same manager, 0.03% against 0.04%. The real decision is the wrapper and your broker.
DIVO vs SCHD from the filings: DIVO pays 4.84% but its stock dividends yield 1.35%. What the rest of that cash is, how it is taxed, what it costs.
FNILX vs VOO from the prospectuses and SEC filings: FNILX charges 0.00% but does not track the S&P 500, and it only lives at Fidelity. 64 holdings differ.
FXAIX and SWPPX track the same index and hold the same ten stocks to within 0.02 points. From the filings: 0.015% against 0.02%, quarterly against annual dividends, and a 60x lending gap.
IVV vs VTI from both issuers' SEC filings: 88% of VTI's weight is already the S&P 500. Same 0.03% fee, same tax drag, and a 0.43 point ten-year gap.
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