Tech & Time: A Calculated Risk

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The market. It’s a rigged game, sure. But even a rigged game has its angles. I’ve been watching the numbers, the slow creep of progress, and there’s one play that keeps surfacing. It’s not about getting rich quick. It’s about steady pressure, consistent investment. About letting time do the heavy lifting. Most folks chase the flash, the hot tip. They end up with smoke.

I’m looking at the Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT 0.05%). It’s not a miracle cure. It’s a collection of code and silicon, of algorithms and ambition. But it’s a solid base. Safer than betting on the next unicorn. A way to tap into the growth, without the gut punch when the hype fades. They talk about turning $150 a month into a fortune. That’s marketing. But the math… the math holds up. Thirty years. That’s a long time. Most folks won’t stick with it. That’s their loss.

The Current

This ETF isn’t some boutique operation. It’s a broad spread, over 300 companies. Diversification. A fancy word for not putting all your eggs in one basket. Smart. It’s weighted towards the big players, the ones that actually deliver. That means it’s outperforming the S&P 500. Not by a landslide, but consistently. Over the last decade, it’s been averaging over 22% annually. That’s a number that gets attention. A number that makes a cynic like me raise an eyebrow.

But past performance is a ghost. It haunts the future, but doesn’t control it. Looking back to the beginning, since 2004, the average settles around 14%. More realistic. Still, 14% compounded over thirty years… it adds up. Nearly $700,000 from a humble $150 a month. Before the tax man comes calling, of course. He always does.

It’s not a guarantee. Nothing is. The market can turn on a dime. But it’s a calculated risk. A long-term play. And in a world of noise and illusions, a little calculation goes a long way. I’ve seen enough booms and busts to know that slow and steady often wins the race. Especially when you let time do the running.

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2026-01-18 19:22