Growth of Index Funds

[eta2020]

So, if things have been so terrible since 2000, how come most of the ER's @ this board are doing just fine? I would guess most of the ER posters here have retired since 2000...

Well even though it was bad 15 years it still had positive return beating inflation.

Also I don't think there is anybody who held only S&P 500. People usually had some Emerging Markets, some Small Caps, some Bonds and such portfolio had more likely 8-9 % return which is more then plenty to make you FI if you are LBYM.