Motley Fool contributor Matt Frankel says he’d start over by buying only Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), at least while building his portfolio. The fund offers exposure to the 500 largest U.S. companies and charges 0.03% annually, or 30 cents per $1,000 invested.
Frankel cites the S&P 500’s historical total returns of about 10% annually and says investing in the index gradually has been a reliable way to build long-term wealth. He notes that VOO holds only U.S.-based companies and is concentrated in the largest firms, but sees it as a core investment that could later be supplemented with other ETFs, stocks or bonds.
The article also promotes Motley Fool’s Stock Advisor, saying the service’s average total return was 949%, versus 214% for the S&P 500, as of Sept. 24, 2026. It says VOO was not among the team’s 10 stock picks. Frankel and The Motley Fool disclose positions in VOO.
