What Is an Index Fund? A Plain-English Guide
How index funds pool investor money to track a market index, and why that structure matters.
Category
Index Fund & ETF Basics
Start here if you're new to index investing. This category covers the core mechanics of index funds and ETFs — what they are, how they're priced, what they cost, and how to buy your first one — without assuming any prior investing knowledge.
All guides in this category
What Is an ETF? How Exchange-Traded Funds Work
The mechanics behind ETFs and how they differ from mutual funds in daily practice.
Index Funds vs. ETFs vs. Mutual Funds
A direct structural comparison of the three most common fund types.
How to Buy Your First Index Fund
A step-by-step walkthrough from opening a brokerage account to placing your first order.
Expense Ratios Explained: The Cost That Compounds
Why a seemingly tiny annual fee has an outsized effect on long-term returns.
S&P 500 Index Funds Explained
What the S&P 500 actually is, and how funds that track it differ from each other.