{
  "id": 17963868,
  "title": "If I Only Had $500 to Invest Right Now, I'd Buy and Hold This ETF for the Next 25 Years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/if-i-only-had-500-to-invest-right-now-id-buy-and-hold-this-etf-for",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-11-03T12:25:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Motley Fool",
    "slug": "motley-fool",
    "url": "https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/11/03/if-i-only-had-500-to-invest-right-now-id-buy-and-h/?source=iedfolrf0000001"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "With only $500 to invest, purchasing and holding the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) could be an excellent long-term strategy. This ETF concentrates on high-quality, dividend-paying stocks, aiming for superior returns when compared to other investment types. SCHD has yielded an impressive 13.1% annualized total return since its inception in 2011, thanks to its concentration on dividend growth. The fund currently holds a diverse portfolio of 100 stocks with strong dividend histories, offering an annual yield of 3.2%. Priced at a low expense ratio of 0.06%, SCHD presents an affordable way to access top-performing dividend stocks. While a $500 investment in SCHD could grow to around $3,460 over 15 years, assuming dividend reinvestment, it has the potential to expand further in the subsequent 25 years. Depending on the annual return scenario, this initial investment could reach roughly $10,900 with a 13.1% annual return, $5,700 with a 10.2% return, or more than $2,100 at a 6% return. Although the 10.2% return is conservative, it reflects the historical performance of dividend-growth stocks over the past 50 years. Even if SCHD doesn't outperform the market consistently, its focus on financially robust dividend-paying firms, growing income potential, and low fees makes it a strong choice for a long-term investment portfolio. Investing a modest sum of $500 per month in SCHD could result in over $640,000 in 25 years at a 10.2% annualized return. Despite occasional market volatility, SCHD's emphasis on strong dividend-paying businesses makes it a valuable addition to a well-rounded investment strategy.",
  "summary": "You don't need thousands of dollars to start building long-term wealth.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Nasdaq Markets",
        "title": "If I Only Had $500 to Invest Right Now, I'd Buy and Hold This ETF for the Next 25 Years",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/if-i-only-had-500-to-invest-right-now-id-buy-and-hold-this-etf-for-17965188",
        "published": "2026-11-03T12:45:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}