Open a brokerage account, retirement account, or investment app that offers index funds or ETFs
Choose an S&P 500 index fund or ETF with low expense ratios
Compare fund options for fees, minimum investment, and tracking method
Deposit money into the account
Place a buy order for the fund
Decide whether to invest a lump sum or use dollar-cost averaging
Set up automatic recurring investments if available
Reinvest dividends if you want to increase long-term growth
Keep investing regularly over time
Review your investment periodically and stay focused on long-term goals