What O'Leary says he's buying
So, what exactly has O’Leary been buying? Rather than picking individual stocks, O’Leary revealed he buys indices, favoring rule-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that provide broad exposure while following a disciplined strategy.
“I use ALPS [mutual funds] because I once had an ETF company that did this,” he shared. “I use their OUSA product for the S&P 500 and OUSM for the Russell 2000, and I bought more because it's on sale.”
While O’Leary is confident in the long-term benefits of buying during downturns, he cautions against trying to predict the exact bottom.
“You just have to look long term and realize these are buying opportunities, but never think you're going to catch the bottom. I don't even guess to do that, I don't try to time the market,” he remarked.
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Learn MoreO'Leary's strategy meets Buffett's wisdom
O’Leary isn’t the only high-profile investor who champions index investing — Warren Buffet has long been a vocal advocate of the strategy for everyday investors.
Buffett has previously stated: “In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index,” meaning shares in an index fund.
The legendary investor, who Forbes estimates is worth $160-plus billion, believes everyday investors are better off putting their money into a broad-based, low-cost index fund that captures the long-term growth of the U.S. economy.
He believes so strongly in this strategy that he instructed 90% of his wife’s inheritance be invested in “a very low-cost S&P 500 index fund” after he dies.
The beauty of this approach is its accessibility — anyone, regardless of wealth, can take advantage of it. Even small amounts can grow over time with tools like Acorns, a popular app that automatically invests your spare change.
Signing up for Acorns takes just minutes. After linking your cards, Acorns will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar, investing the difference — your spare change — into a diversified portfolio. With Acorns, you can invest in an S&P 500 ETF with as little as $5 — and, if you sign up today, Acorns will add a $20 bonus to help you begin your investment journey.
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