Investing in the Total Stock Market a Better Long-Term Move Than Holding S&P 500 Index Funds?

The article weighs whether investors should consider tracking the entire U.S. stock market instead of relying solely on S&P 500 index funds. It notes the S&P 500 has risen about 13% in 2026 as of Tuesday’s close and is near record highs, with enthusiasm concentrated in tech and artificial intelligence. While the S&P 500 has historically recovered from downturns, forecasting crashes is described as “next to impossible.” The piece highlights Vanguard’s low-cost S&P 500 ETF (VOO) with a 0.03% expense ratio and about 87% total returns over five years, including the 2022 selloff.