Exchange-traded-funds, or ETFs, are similar to mutual funds in that they invest in a basket of securities, such as stocks, bonds, or other asset classes. But unlike mutual funds, ETFs can be traded like stocks whenever the markets are open. By combining the diversification benefits of mutual funds with the ease of stock trading, ETFs are able to provide investors with a simple way to access the world’s financial markets.

ETFs are funds that trade on an exchange like a stock. Share prices will fluctuate throughout the day as they’re bought and sold on the market. By investing in an ETF, you are essentially buying a small piece of a larger portfolio of assets, which can help you diversify and spread your risk across many different investments.

An index measures the performance (or returns) of a collection of stocks, bonds, or other assets. Indexes can represent something as broad such as the global stock market, or as narrow as a single country or industry. Index ETFs aim to replicate the performance of an index.

An ETF recurring investment plan is an easy and convenient way to invest through a regular series of small contributions. It offers the ability to buy fractional shares, which means you can think in dollars, not in shares, and choose how much you want to invest each month regardless of the ETF’s share price. It can be a simple and effective way to build your wealth over time while taking advantage of the potential growth of the markets, versus just holding onto cash.

One of the easiest ways to invest money on a regular basis to save or build wealth is to invest in an ETF recurring investment plan. Automated investing can be a great option for people saving for retirement, paying for education, buying a house, or starting a new business. It can also help people build wealth over time by investing regularly in a diversified portfolio of assets. Additionally, recurring investment plans can be set up with as little as $1 per month, which can be a great option for those who want to start investing but don't have a large amount of money to invest upfront.

While ETFs don't earn interest in the traditional sense, they can experience the effects of compounding. As the value of the ETF's underlying assets increases, so does the market price of the ETF shares. This capital appreciation, while not guaranteed, is key to the overall return. Reinvesting dividends is another form of compounding with an ETF but not every ETF pays out dividends.

An investment growth calculator is a simple, easy-to-use tool that helps you estimate the potential value of your investments over time. Using different inputs for your initial investment amount, expected rate of return, and time horizon can give you a range of scenarios to consider, to help you decide what’s best for you and your goals.

Once you’ve decided how much you want to invest, you can choose one or more ETFs that best fit your needs. To buy an ETF, you can set up a broker account (if you don't already have one) and create a recurring investment plan with your chosen ETF via your broker account, provided your online broker offers a recurring investment option.

There’s no hard rule, simply invest as much as you’re comfortable with after your monthly expenses. Most brokerages will allow you to invest as little as $1 a month.