Index Investing for Beginners: How to Build Wealth with Minimal Effort

Welcome to your definitive guide on index investing for beginners. We will explore a simple index investing for beginners challenge. This article provides practical index investing for beginners ideas, hacks, and real-world examples. We created this guide on index investing for beginners for beginners to make finance accessible. You will find powerful index investing for beginners tips to start your journey. Building wealth feels daunting for many. You hear complex terms on the news. People talk about stock picking and market timing. It all sounds like a full-time job. What if there was a simpler, proven way? A method that lets you build wealth steadily. A strategy that requires minimal effort. This is the promise of index investing. This guide will show you exactly how to do it. You can achieve your financial goals. Let’s begin this exciting journey together.

What is Index Investing?

Investing can feel like a secret club. It seems you need special knowledge. However, index investing breaks down those walls. It is a wonderfully simple concept. You can grasp it in just a few minutes. This strategy is your key to the market.

The Stock Market Is Not a Casino

Many people view the stock market as a gamble. They imagine traders shouting on a chaotic floor. This picture is largely a relic of the past. Instead, think of the stock market differently. It represents ownership in real businesses. When you buy a stock, you buy a tiny piece of a company. You become a part owner of Apple, or Microsoft, or Tesla.

Their success becomes your success. If these companies grow and make profits, your small piece becomes more valuable. Of course, individual companies can also fail. This is where the risk lies. Picking the single “winner” is extremely difficult. Even professional investors struggle with this task. The good news is you do not have to pick individual stocks.

Meet the “Index”

An index is simply a list of companies. It acts as a benchmark for the market. Think of it like a “Top 500” music chart. The chart shows you which songs are the most popular. It gives you a snapshot of the music scene. Similarly, a stock market index gives you a snapshot of the economy.

The most famous index is the S&P 500. This index tracks the 500 largest public companies in the United States. It includes household names like Amazon, Google, and Johnson & Johnson. When you hear news anchors say, “The market was up today,” they usually mean the S&P 500 went up. There are thousands of other indexes too. Some track the entire U.S. market. Others track international companies. Some even track specific sectors like technology or healthcare.

Enter the Index Fund

You cannot buy an “index” directly. It is just a list. However, you can buy an index fund. An index fund is a type of mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF). Its job is simple. It aims to own all the stocks in a specific index. So, an S&P 500 index fund will buy shares in all 500 companies on that list.

When you invest in that one fund, you instantly own a small piece of all 500 companies. You are no longer betting on a single horse. Instead, you are betting on the entire race. You are betting on the long-term growth of the U.S. economy. History has shown this to be a very good bet. The fund does all the work for you. It automatically buys and sells stocks to match the index.

Why “Minimal Effort”?

This is the beautiful part of index investing. Compare it to active stock picking. An active investor spends hours researching companies. They read financial reports. Even, they try to predict future trends. They buy stocks they think will outperform. They sell stocks they believe will underperform. It is a constant, high-effort activity.

With index investing, your job is much simpler. You are not trying to beat the market. In fact, you are simply trying to be the market. You buy the index fund and hold it. You let the broad market do the heavy lifting for you. This frees up your time and mental energy. You can focus on your career, your family, or your hobbies. Meanwhile, your money is working diligently in the background. It is the ultimate “set it and forget it” strategy for wealth creation.

The Core Benefits: Why Choose This Path?

You might be thinking this sounds too simple. Can a minimal-effort strategy truly be effective? The answer is a resounding yes. Legendary investors like Warren Buffett champion this approach for the average person. There are powerful reasons why index investing consistently wins. Let’s explore the key benefits.

Killer Low Costs

Every investment fund has fees. These fees are called the “expense ratio.” It is a percentage of your investment that you pay the fund company each year. With actively managed funds, these fees can be high. They often range from 0.50% to 1.50% or even more. The fund manager needs to be paid for their research and trading.

This might not sound like much. However, over decades, these fees can destroy your returns. Imagine you have $100,000 invested. A 1% fee costs you $1,000 per year. Over 30 years, with compounding, that fee could cost you tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Index funds, in contrast, have incredibly low costs. Since they just passively track an index, they do not need expensive research teams. Many popular index funds have expense ratios of 0.10% or less. Some are as low as 0.02%. This means more of your money stays invested. It keeps working and compounding for you. Low costs are one of the biggest (and most overlooked) advantages you have.

Instant Diversification

Have you heard the saying, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”? This is the golden rule of investing. It is called diversification. If you invest all your money in one company’s stock, you are taking a huge risk. That company could face a scandal. It could be disrupted by a new technology. Its stock could plummet, and you could lose everything.

Index investing solves this problem instantly. By buying a single total market index fund, you can own thousands of companies. These companies operate in different industries. They are located in different parts of the world. If one company or even one entire sector performs poorly, it has a very small impact on your overall portfolio. The success of the other companies balances it out. This diversification is your built-in safety net. It dramatically reduces your risk without sacrificing potential returns.

Historically Strong Returns

Index investing is not about getting rich overnight. It is about getting wealthy slowly and steadily. The historical performance of the stock market is compelling. The S&P 500, for example, has delivered an average annual return of around 10% over the long term. This average includes major market crashes and recessions.

No, you will not get a 10% return every single year. Some years will be much higher. Some years will be negative. The key is to stay invested through the ups and downs. By simply holding an index fund, you capture this powerful long-term growth. Trying to beat this average is very difficult. In fact, studies consistently show that the vast majority of active fund managers fail to outperform a simple index fund over 10 or 15-year periods, especially after their higher fees are factored in.

A Set-and-Forget Strategy

Human emotions are an investor’s worst enemy. We are wired to feel fear and greed. When the market is soaring, greed kicks in. We might be tempted to pour all our money in at the top. When the market crashes, fear takes over. Our instinct is to sell everything to stop the losses. This behavior forces you to buy high and sell low. It is a recipe for financial disaster.

Index investing provides a powerful antidote to emotional decision-making. The strategy is simple: buy regularly and hold for the long term. You do not need to check your portfolio every day. You do not need to react to scary news headlines. Your plan is already set. This discipline helps you ignore the short-term noise. It allows you to stay the course and reap the rewards of long-term compounding. This is a core part of the index investing for beginners challenge: learning to do nothing.

Your First Steps: Opening the Door

Feeling convinced? Great. The next step is turning theory into action. This part can feel intimidating. Where do you actually go to buy an index fund? What kind of account do you need? Do not worry. We will walk through this process step-by-step. It is easier than you think.

Choose Your Brokerage Account

A brokerage firm is a company that allows you to buy and sell investments like stocks and index funds. Think of it as a bank for your investments. Opening a brokerage account is a straightforward online process. It is similar to opening a regular bank account. You will need some personal information, like your Social Security number and bank account details.

For beginners, three companies stand out for their low costs and user-friendly platforms:

• Vanguard: The pioneer of index investing. They are famous for their ultra-low-cost funds. Their entire company structure is designed to benefit the investors.
• Fidelity: A massive, reputable firm with a huge selection of funds. They offer many of their own index funds with zero expense ratios.
• Charles Schwab: Another excellent, low-cost option. They provide great customer service and a wide range of investment choices.

You cannot go wrong with any of these three. Choose one and start the application process. It usually takes less than 15 minutes.

Roth IRA vs. Taxable Brokerage?

Once you choose a brokerage, you will need to select an account type. The two most common choices for a new investor are a Roth IRA and a standard taxable brokerage account. Understanding the difference is crucial.

• Roth IRA: This is a retirement account with amazing tax advantages. You contribute money that you have already paid taxes on (post-tax). Your investments then grow completely tax-free. When you withdraw the money in retirement (after age 59½), you pay zero taxes on it. This is a huge benefit. There are annual contribution limits (for 2024, it is $7,000 if you are under 50). For most beginners, a Roth IRA is the best place to start investing.
• Taxable Brokerage Account: This is a general-purpose investment account. There are no contribution limits. You can invest as much as you want, whenever you want. You can also withdraw your money at any time, for any reason. The “catch” is the taxes. You will pay taxes on your investment gains. When you sell an investment for a profit, you pay capital gains tax. You may also pay taxes on dividends you receive each year.

Our Suggestion: Start with a Roth IRA. Max it out if you can. If you have more money to invest after maxing out your IRA, then open a taxable brokerage account.

Funding Your Account

After your account is open, you need to put money into it. This is a very simple process. You will link your regular checking or savings account to your new brokerage account. This is done by providing your bank’s routing and account numbers. It is a secure and standard procedure.

Once linked, you can transfer money electronically. You can make a one-time transfer to get started. Even better, you can set up automatic, recurring transfers. For example, you could set up a transfer of $200 from your checking account to your brokerage account on the 1st of every month. This is a cornerstone of building wealth. It pays yourself first and automates your success.

Index Investing for Beginners Ideas & Examples

Your account is open and funded. Now for the exciting part: choosing your investments. This is where many beginners get stuck. The sheer number of funds can seem overwhelming. The good news is you only need one, two, or maybe three funds to build a powerful, diversified portfolio. Here are some of the best index investing for beginners ideas.

The Classic S&P 500 Index Fund

This is the original and most famous type of index fund. It gives you exposure to 500 of the largest and most established companies in America. If you want to bet on the continued success of corporate America, this is a fantastic choice. It is a simple and effective way to start.

• Examples (ETFs): Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), iShares CORE S&P 500 ETF (IVV)
• Examples (Mutual Funds): Fidelity 500 Index Fund (FXAIX), Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund (SWPPX)

The Total U.S. Stock Market Fund

This fund goes even broader than the S&P 500. It aims to own a piece of the entire U.S. stock market. This includes the 500 large companies, but also thousands of mid-size and small-size companies. This provides even greater diversification. Many experts prefer a total market fund over an S&P 500 fund for this reason. It is a truly comprehensive bet on the American economy.

• Examples (ETFs): Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)
• Examples (Mutual Funds): Fidelity ZERO Total Market Index Fund (FZROX), Schwab Total Stock Market Index (SWTSX)

The International Stock Market Fund

The U.S. economy is huge, but it only represents about 50-60% of the global stock market. There are fantastic companies growing all over the world. An international index fund allows you to invest in thousands of companies in developed countries (like Japan, Germany, and the UK) and emerging markets (like China and India). Adding an international fund to your U.S. fund provides global diversification. This can reduce volatility and potentially increase returns.

• Examples (ETFs): Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS)
• Examples (Mutual Funds): Fidelity ZERO International Index Fund (FZILX), Schwab International Index Fund (SWISX)

Bond Index Funds: Your Stability Anchor

Stocks are the engine of growth in your portfolio. Bonds are the brakes. Bonds are essentially loans to governments or corporations. They are generally much less risky than stocks. Their returns are also lower. A bond index fund holds thousands of different bonds. Their role is to provide stability. When the stock market has a bad year, bonds often hold their value or even go up. This can cushion the blow and help you stay invested.

• Examples (ETFs): Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND)
• Examples (Mutual Funds): Fidelity U.S. Bond Index Fund (FXNAX)

TABLE 1: Comparison of Core Index Fund Types

Fund Type	What it Tracks	Risk Level	Primary Role in Portfolio	Example Tickers
S&P 500 Index	500 largest U.S. companies	High	Growth	VOO, FXAIX
Total U.S. Market	Entire U.S. stock market	High	Growth (more diversified)	VTI, FZROX
Total Int’l Market	All stocks outside the U.S.	High	Growth & Global Diversification	VXUS, FZILX
Total Bond Market	Entire U.S. bond market	Low	Stability & Income	BND, FXNAX

Building Your First Portfolio

Now we will put the pieces together. Your “asset allocation” is simply the mix of stocks and bonds you choose. This is the most important decision you will make. It should be based on your age, your financial goals, and your tolerance for risk. Here are some simple yet powerful portfolio examples.

The Simple One-Fund Portfolio

This is the ultimate in simplicity. It is a fantastic starting point. You invest 100% of your money into a single, globally diversified fund. A “target-date retirement fund” is a perfect example. These funds automatically adjust their asset allocation over time. They start with more stocks when you are young and gradually shift toward more bonds as you near retirement. You just pick the fund with the year closest to your expected retirement (e.g., “Target Retirement 2060 Fund”).

Another one-fund option is a total world stock market fund. This type of fund combines U.S. and international stocks into a single package. For example, the Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT). You get instant global diversification in one ticker.

The Classic Two-Fund Portfolio

This is a very popular and effective strategy. You combine a U.S. total stock market fund with an international total stock market fund. This gives you control over your U.S. vs. international allocation. A common starting point is a 70% U.S. and 30% international split.

• Example: 70% in Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) + 30% in Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS).

This portfolio is 100% stocks. It is aggressive and suitable for young investors with a long time horizon.

The Three-Fund Portfolio

This is the holy grail for many index investors. It was popularized by the Bogleheads, a community of followers of Vanguard’s founder, John Bogle. It combines three basic asset classes:

1. U.S. Stocks (e.g., VTI)
2. International Stocks (e.g., VXUS)
3. U.S. Bonds (e.g., BND)

The beauty of the three-fund portfolio is its elegant simplicity and complete diversification. You can adjust the percentages to match your risk tolerance perfectly. A common rule of thumb is to hold your age in bonds. A 30-year-old might have 30% in bonds. A 60-year-old might have 60% in bonds.

TABLE 2: Sample Three-Fund Portfolio Allocations

Risk Profile	Investor Age	U.S. Stocks	Int’l Stocks	U.S. Bonds	Example Allocation
Aggressive	20s-30s	55%	35%	10%	55% VTI, 35% VXUS, 10% BND
Moderate	40s-50s	45%	25%	30%	45% VTI, 25% VXUS, 30% BND
Conservative	60s+	30%	10%	60%	30% VTI, 10% VXUS, 60% BND

Remember, these are just starting points. The perfect portfolio is the one you can stick with. Do not over-complicate it. Choose a simple allocation and move forward.

Index Investing for Beginners Hacks

You have your account and your portfolio. Now, how do you optimize the process? How do you ensure you stick with the plan and maximize your results with minimal effort? These index investing for beginners hacks are not secrets. They are simple, powerful actions that create lasting success.

Hack #1: Automate Everything

This is the single most important hack. Automation is your superpower. It removes emotion and willpower from the equation. Set up two key automations in your brokerage account:

1. Automatic Transfers: Schedule a recurring transfer from your bank account to your brokerage account. This could be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Align it with your payday. This ensures you are always “paying yourself first.”
2. Automatic Investments: Once the money arrives in your brokerage account, set it to automatically invest in your chosen funds according to your desired allocation.

With these automations in place, your entire wealth-building machine runs on autopilot. You are consistently buying, month after month, without having to lift a finger. This is the essence of building wealth with minimal effort.

Hack #2: Understand Expense Ratios

We touched on this earlier, but it is worth repeating. Fees matter. A lot. Before you buy any fund, find its expense ratio. This information is clearly listed on the fund’s page on your brokerage’s website. Your goal is to keep your portfolio’s average expense ratio as low as possible. Aim for below 0.10%.

Choosing between two very similar total market index funds? Let the expense ratio be the tie-breaker. A difference of even 0.05% adds up to a significant amount of money over 30 or 40 years. This is a simple check that pays huge dividends.

Hack #3: The Power of Dollar-Cost Averaging

Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) sounds complicated. It is not. In fact, if you follow Hack #1 and automate your investments, you are already doing it. DCA simply means investing a fixed amount of money at regular intervals, regardless of what the market is doing.

When the market is high, your fixed amount buys fewer shares. When the market is low, that same fixed amount buys more shares. This naturally forces you to buy more when prices are cheap. It is a disciplined, unemotional approach that smooths out your purchase price over time. It prevents you from the foolish temptation of trying to “time the market” by investing a lump sum at the “perfect” moment.

Hack #4: Rebalancing: Your Annual Tune-Up

Over time, your carefully chosen asset allocation will drift. For instance, if stocks have a great year and bonds have a flat year, your portfolio might shift from a 60/40 stock/bond mix to a 70/30 mix. It has become riskier than you originally intended.

Rebalancing is the process of bringing your portfolio back to its original target allocation. You do this by selling some of the asset class that has performed well and buying more of the asset class that has underperformed. This forces you to sell high and buy low. It is a disciplined, counter-intuitive action that locks in some gains and repositions your portfolio for future growth.

You do not need to do this often. Once a year is plenty. Some people do it on their birthday. Others do it on New Year’s Day. It is a simple, 15-minute task that keeps your investment plan on track.

Crucial Index Investing for Beginners Tips

The mechanics of index investing are easy. The hard part is mastering your own psychology. The market will test your patience and resolve. These crucial index investing for beginners tips are about building the mental fortitude to succeed. This is the core of your long-term journey.

Tip #1: Ignore the Noise

Financial news media is not your friend. Their business model is built on clicks and viewership. They thrive on fear, drama, and hype. They will scream about the “next big crash” one day and the “hottest new stock” the next. This is all short-term noise. It is designed to make you react emotionally.

Your job is to ignore it. Unsubscribe from market newsletters. Turn off the financial news channel. Do not check your portfolio balance every day. Your strategy is long-term. Daily market fluctuations are irrelevant to your plan. The more you can tune out the noise, the more peaceful and successful your investing journey will be.

Tip #2: Stay the Course During Downturns

Market crashes are a normal, inevitable part of investing. They are not a matter of “if,” but “when.” When they happen, it will be scary. Your portfolio value will drop. The news will be filled with panic. Your gut instinct will scream at you to sell. You must resist this urge.

Selling during a downturn is the single biggest mistake an investor can make. It locks in your losses and prevents you from participating in the eventual recovery. Instead, you need to reframe your thinking. A market crash is a sale. The world’s greatest companies are temporarily available at a discount. Your automated investments are now buying more shares for the same amount of money. Staying the course—and continuing to buy—during a downturn is how true wealth is built.

Tip #3: Think in Decades, Not Days

Compounding is the magical force that will make you wealthy. It is the process of your investment returns generating their own returns. This process is slow and boring at first. But over time, it becomes an unstoppable snowball of growth. The key ingredient for compounding is time. Lots of it.

You are not a day trader. You are a long-term investor. Your time horizon should be measured in decades. What happens to your portfolio this week, this month, or even this year is largely unimportant. What matters is the average return over the next 10, 20, and 30 years. When you adopt this long-term perspective, the day-to-day volatility of the market becomes insignificant.

Tip #4: Celebrate Your Milestones

The journey to financial independence is a marathon, not a sprint. It is important to stay motivated along the way. Set small, achievable milestones for yourself. Celebrate when you hit your first $1,000 invested. Give yourself a pat on the back when you reach $10,000. Acknowledge your discipline when you have automated your investments for a full year.

These celebrations do not need to be extravagant. They are about recognizing your progress. They reinforce the good habits you are building. This positive feedback loop will help you stay engaged and committed to your plan for the long haul. You are doing something amazing for your future self. Take a moment to appreciate that.

Take the Index Investing for Beginners Challenge

Reading is one thing. Doing is another. To truly cement these concepts, we propose the Index Investing for Beginners Challenge. This is a simple, actionable plan to take you from zero to investor in just a few months. It is designed to build momentum and create lasting habits.

Month 1: The Learning Phase

Your goal this month is to build a solid foundation of knowledge.

• Week 1: Read This Article Again. Absorb the core concepts. Understand the “why” behind index investing.
• Week 2: Choose Your Brokerage. Research Vanguard, Fidelity, and Charles Schwab. Pick one and start the online application to open a Roth IRA.
• Week 3: Read a Book. Pick up a classic on the topic. “The Simple Path to Wealth” by JL Collins is a fantastic, highly readable choice. “The Little Book of Common Sense Investing” by John C. Bogle is another must-read.
• Week 4: Define Your Portfolio. Decide on your asset allocation. Will you use a target-date fund? A three-fund portfolio? Write it down. This is your personal Investment Policy Statement.

Month 2: The Action Phase

This month is all about execution. It is time to put your money to work.

• Week 5: Fund Your Account. Link your bank account and make your first transfer. It does not matter how much. Even $50 is a huge victory. Just start.
• Week 6: Make Your First Investment. Take a deep breath. Log into your account. Buy the index funds you chose in Month 1 according to your written plan. Congratulations! You are now an investor.
• Week 7: Set Up Automation. This is the crucial step. Set up your recurring transfer from your bank. Then, set up your automatic investments within the brokerage account.
• Week 8: Hands Off! Your system is now running. The challenge for this week is to not log in to your account. Practice ignoring it. Let the automation do its work.

Month 3-12: The Consistency Phase

Your goal for the rest of the year is to build the habit of consistency.

• Check In Quarterly: Once every three months, you can log in to check on things. Do not focus on the performance. Simply confirm that your automatic transfers and investments are working correctly.
• Increase Contributions (If Possible): Did you get a raise? Find a way to cut an expense? Try to increase your automated contribution amount, even by a small amount.
• Stay the Course: The market will have good months and bad months. Your job is to do nothing. Trust the plan. Trust the automation.

Year 1 and Beyond: The Long Game

After one year, you have successfully completed the initial challenge. Your new habits are forming.

• Annual Review & Rebalance: Once a year, review your portfolio. Is your asset allocation still in line with your target? If it has drifted by more than 5%, perform a rebalance.
• Continue Learning: Keep your financial education going. Your knowledge will grow along with your portfolio.
• Stay Disciplined: The principles that got you through the first year are the same principles that will carry you to financial independence. Stick with them.

Mistakes to Avoid on Your Journey

Even with a simple plan, there are common pitfalls that can derail a new investor. Being aware of these mistakes is the first step to avoiding them. Let’s look at the most common blunders.

Mistake #1: Trying to Time the Market

This is the most tempting mistake. You might think, “The market seems high right now, I’ll wait for a dip to invest.” Or, “The market is falling, I’ll wait for it to bottom out.” This sounds smart. It is not. Nobody can consistently predict the market’s short-term movements.

While you are waiting for the “perfect” time, the market is often moving higher without you. The time you spend out of the market is often more costly than investing at a supposed “peak.” The best time to invest was yesterday. The second-best time is today. Stick to your regular, automated investment schedule.

Mistake #2: Panicking and Selling Low

We have covered this, but it is the most destructive mistake of all. It bears repeating. When markets are in freefall, your instincts will betray you. Selling your high-quality, diversified index funds during a panic is like selling your house during a hurricane. It turns a temporary, paper loss into a permanent, real loss. Remember the mantra: “This too shall pass.” Markets always recover. Your job is to be there when they do.

Mistake #3: Chasing Performance

This is a subtle but dangerous mistake. You might see that a particular fund, perhaps a tech-focused fund, had an amazing return last year. You are tempted to sell your boring index funds and pile into last year’s winner. This is called “chasing performance.” It is a form of buying high. Often, the asset class that performed best last year will underperform in the following year. Your diversified index funds already own the winners. Stick with your boring, well-diversified plan. It is more effective in the long run.

Mistake #4: Forgetting About Fees

You might be tempted by a fancy-sounding actively managed fund that promises to beat the market. Always, always check the expense ratio. High fees are a guaranteed drag on your performance. A fund manager’s promise to outperform is not guaranteed. The low fees of an index fund are a concrete, mathematical advantage that works in your favor year after year. Do not give up this advantage.

Mistake #5: Over-complicating Your Portfolio

As you learn more, you might be tempted to add more and more funds to your portfolio. A little bit of this, a little bit of that. A “slice” for real estate, a “slice” for emerging market small-caps. Before you know it, you have a 15-fund portfolio that is complex to manage and rebalance. This complexity rarely leads to better returns. In most cases, it just creates more work and overlap. The three-fund portfolio captures almost all the benefits of diversification with a fraction of the complexity. Simplicity is your friend.

Your Path to Wealth Is Clear

You have made it to the end of this guide. So, you now possess knowledge that eludes the vast majority of people. You understand that building wealth does not require genius-level stock picking or risky gambles. It requires a simple plan. In fact, it demands consistency. It relies on a long-term perspective.

Index investing provides that simple, elegant plan. It allows you to harness the power of the global economy with minimal cost and minimal effort. By owning a diversified slice of the market, you are betting on human ingenuity, progress, and growth. This has historically been the surest bet you can make. The tools are at your fingertips. Low-cost brokerage accounts and incredible index funds are accessible to everyone.

Your journey starts not with a giant leap, but with a single, small step. Open that account. Transfer that first $50. Set up that automation. Take the index investing for beginners challenge. The person you will be in 10, 20, or 30 years will thank you profusely. They will thank you for your courage to start. They will thank you for your discipline to stay the course. The path is clear. Your future is waiting. Start today.