$2K/month at 11% = $4M by 67
Investing $2,000 per month in the S&P 500 from age 40 to 67 at an average 11% annual return would produce approximately $4 million.
Snapshot · The Ramsey Show
Set Money Goals Your Future Will Thank You For
Explore episode
Jul 2, 2026
Where this was said
Eve in Memphis: Husband Wants Crypto, Wife Wants Safety
At 1:02:24 · chapter starts 58:00
Eve in Memphis grew up watching her father go bankrupt twice from day trading on borrowed home equity — a front-row seat to financial catastrophe that made her deeply risk-averse. Her husband grew up in a household that only saved in bonds and never invested, and now at 48, feeling behind, he's swung to the opposite extreme: crypto and IPOs for fast returns. Dave identifies both parental models as wrong and toxic to the current conversation. His prescription: what if you simply invested $2,000 per month in the S&P 500 from age 40 to 67 at 11% average annual return? You'd have approximately $4 million. That's not a gambling strategy — that's a wealth-building strategy, and it's dramatically less risky than either extreme. He and Rachel both recommend sitting down with a SmartVestor Pro to run the actual numbers and get a professional's perspective on what 'safe investing' can realistically produce.
Crypto, Day Trading, and Boring Savings: All Three Are Wrong
Desperate for catch-up returns, Eve's husband is drawn to crypto and IPOs. His parents only saved in bonds and never invested. Both approaches are wrong. The middle path — consistent S&P 500 investing — produces $4 million by retirement if started at 40 with $2,000 a month.
S&P 500 avg return: 11.8%
The average annual rate of return of the U.S. stock market since its inception is 11.8%, making consistent long-term index investing the recommended wealth-building strategy.
You Bought a House With Your Girlfriend — Now What?
Bill and his girlfriend share a house, a car loan, and no ring. Every time he brings up finances, she shuts down. Dave's diagnosis: she's dangling on the hook of an unofficial marriage, resentful and insecure, and Bill has zero authority as just the boyfriend. Get married or untangle the mess — no other options.
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