Fund Basics
What Is an Index Fund? A Plain-English Guide
How index funds actually work, what "tracking an index" means in practice, and why cost matters more than most new investors realize.
Index Funds & ETF Education, Explained Plainly
Understand where your money is actually going — before you invest another dollar.
WealthGuides breaks down index funds, ETFs, and long-term portfolio strategy using primary sources — fund prospectuses, SEC filings, and federal data — not recycled blog opinions.
100%
Primary-sourced data
SEC filings, fund prospectuses, IRS.gov, FRED
22
In-depth guides at launch
Each reviewed before publishing
Quarterly
Data refresh cycle
Fee and return figures re-checked
Explore by topic
Start here: the core guides
View all fund basics →
Fund Basics
What Is an ETF? How Exchange-Traded Funds Work
The mechanics behind ETFs, how they differ from mutual funds in practice, and when the difference actually matters to you.
Strategy
Building a 3-Fund Portfolio: A Complete Walkthrough
The full logic behind the most widely recommended index strategy, with allocation examples by age and risk tolerance.
Latest guides
View all articles →
Most read this month
01 · Comparisons
Best Index Funds for Beginners in 2026
A methodology-first look at the funds most commonly recommended for new investors, and why.
02 · Retirement
401(k) Index Fund Options Explained
How to evaluate the index fund choices inside a typical employer 401(k) menu.
03 · Risk & Taxes
9 Common Index Fund Investing Mistakes
The recurring, avoidable errors that quietly cost long-term index investors the most.
Run the numbers before you decide
Free calculators for compound growth, fee drag, and Roth vs. Traditional comparisons — no signup required.
Who writes WealthGuides
WealthGuides is produced by a small editorial team focused on translating primary financial sources — SEC filings, fund prospectuses, IRS and Federal Reserve data — into guides a beginner can actually follow. We don't claim credentials we don't have, and every figure in every article traces back to a cited source. Read our full editorial policy and research methodology.
More about WealthGuides
WealthGuides Editorial Team
Every guide is researched against primary sources and reviewed before publication. No sponsored rankings.
Meet the team →
Coming soon
One clear-headed email a month
We're building a newsletter with new guides, updated fee data, and nothing else — no daily noise, no promotions. Sign-ups aren't open yet; in the meantime, every new guide is published directly on the site first.
No spam, ever. See our privacy policy.
Frequently asked questions
Is WealthGuides financial advice?
No. WealthGuides is an educational publication. Content is for informational purposes only and is not personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. See our full disclaimer.
How is WealthGuides funded?
WealthGuides is supported by display advertising and, in some cases, affiliate partnerships disclosed on the relevant page. Advertising and affiliate relationships never influence which funds or brokers we cover or how we describe them — see our methodology.
How often is content updated?
Fee, return, and account-limit figures are checked on a quarterly cycle at minimum. Every article displays its last-updated date, and material changes are logged in a visible corrections note at the bottom of the article.