What Is an Index Fund and Should I Invest in One?

Index funds provide investors with exposure to wide swaths of the market at low costs, but are they right for you? We take a closer look here.

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If you're new to investing or just want to keep it as simple and inexpensive as possible, index funds are your best friend. But beginning investors may be wondering "what are index funds?" and more importantly, if they should invest in one.

At the very basic level, index funds are diversified, low-cost investment vehicles that let you invest in dozens, hundreds or even thousands of different stocks with a single purchase.

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Coryanne Hicks
Contributing Writer, Kiplinger.com

Coryanne Hicks is an investing and personal finance journalist specializing in women and millennial investors. Previously, she was a fully licensed financial professional at Fidelity Investments where she helped clients make more informed financial decisions every day. She has ghostwritten financial guidebooks for industry professionals and even a personal memoir. She is passionate about improving financial literacy and believes a little education can go a long way. You can connect with her on Twitter, Instagram or her website, CoryanneHicks.com.