{
  "id": 4773387,
  "title": "Building wealth is easier than most believe",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/building-wealth-is-easier-than-most-believe",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-01T03:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/money/2026/09/01/building-wealth-is-easier-than-most-believe/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The global economy continues to experience growth and innovation, creating opportunities for individuals to build wealth through stock ownership. Many people mistakenly believe that achieving success in stocks requires extensive knowledge, large sums of money, or avoidance of market volatility. However, building wealth through stocks is simplified by factors such as patience, discipline, and time.\n\nIn the past, when the reporter began their career 54 years ago, the challenges faced by investors were significant. Before the internet, accessing information was difficult, with researchers searching through library archives and microfiche for news and corporate reports. International stock trades also had high commissions and wide bid/ask spreads, reducing returns. These obstacles have gradually diminished, starting with the U.S. \"May Day\" reforms in 1975 that eliminated fixed commissions. The UK followed suit in 1986 as part of its financial deregulation, and many other major financial markets have since adapted.\n\nToday, opening online accounts with minimal costs is easy, and trades can be executed almost without fees thanks to the electronic nature of markets and tight bid/ask spreads. Additionally, mobile phones provide instantaneous access to vast amounts of information, enabling investors to make informed decisions without needing crystal balls or extensive research.\n\nExchange-traded funds (ETFs) have made it simple for investors to own the broader market, providing exposure to innovation and growth across world economies at near-zero costs. Owning a diversified portfolio of stocks or the entire market does not guarantee quick riches, but it is a crucial component of long-term wealth creation. Over the past century, the S&P 500 has achieved an average annual return of 10%, including periods of both substantial growth and severe losses.\n\nWhile short-term downturns are inevitable, the power of compounding enables even modest investments to grow exponentially over time. For example, a $2,400 annual investment, or $200 monthly, compounded at an 8% rate over 30 years, could potentially reach nearly $300,000. Although achieving such growth may require patience and discipline, the lower barriers to entry and potentially high rewards make stock ownership an appealing option for building lasting wealth.",
  "summary": "Innovation and growth keep powering the global economy to greater heights. How can the average person profit from it? The answer is simple: own stocks . Many people wrongly envisage endless obstacles to succeeding with stocks. They think deep specialised knowledge or large sums of cash are requisites for beginning. Some simply fear market volatility . But building wealth through stocks is pretty…",
  "key_points": [
    "Patience and discipline are key to building wealth through stocks",
    "Advances in technology reduced barriers to stock ownership",
    "Long-term growth potential of diversified stock portfolios"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The decreasing costs and increasing accessibility of stock ownership, coupled with the power of compounding, have made building wealth through stocks a more achievable and appealing option for individuals.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Building wealth is easier than most believe",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/building-wealth-is-easier-than-most-believe-4775150",
        "published": "2026-09-01T03:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}