To be as useful as possible, we've compiled the total returns of actual funds you can buy (many tracking indices) including yearly fees and dividends. Values are the actual returns you would earn if you purchased these funds and reinvested dividends. Here are a couple relevant notes.

• The table is scrollable. More recent years and averages may require you to scroll right.
• Many advisors and websites quote an average return of around 7.5% for various US stock indices (e.g. S&P 500). Historically, the S&P 500 has actually performed much better than that (including dividends). In the next decade, however, many experts predict less than 7% annual returns.
• Although cryptocurrency (Bitcoin) has the largest return, be aware it's the most risky asset in this table, with an ability to drop substantially in short order.

Click here to retrieve data for specific funds.

Editor's note (February 20, 2021)

We want our readers to be clear: it's very likely that future returns will differ significantly from the past decade. Many asset prices have been boosted by falling interest rates over the past 40 years. With interest rates nearing zero and inflation threats, it's hard to imagine this environment continuing over the next decade.

Table of total yearly returns [%]

Related links

S&P 500 historical annual returns

Dow historical annual returns

Real estate (REIT) fund VNQ historical annual returns