How $100 a Month Could Grow Into a 6-Figure Portfolio, According to History

The idea of investing $100 per month often sounds too small to build real wealth, but compounding can change the outcome over decades. The article points to the S&P 500’s historical average annual return of about 10% as a reference: after 30 years, $36,000 in contributions could grow to roughly $226,000, implying around $190,000 earned through compounding. It also notes that increasing the monthly contribution to $200 or extending the horizon to 40 years could potentially double or triple the portfolio. It emphasizes staying invested through volatility, including bear markets, rather than timing the market, and suggests a low-cost S&P 500 ETF such as Vanguard’s VOO.