Across Borders: My US Market Journey

S&P 500 ETF Comparison (2025): VOO vs IVV vs SPY vs SPLG Explained Overview of the S&P 500 ETFs Table of Contents 1. How I Began with Index Funds 2. What Is the S&P 500 Index? 3. Comparing Popular S&P 500 ETFs 4. Overview of Each ETF 5. Which ETF Should You Choose? 6. Final Thoughts 1. How I Began with Index Funds This article provides a complete 2025 comparison of S&P 500 ETFs – including VOO, IVV, SPY, and SPLG. I first started investing in U.S. stocks by buying familiar companies like Apple and NVIDIA. But I often sold too quickly and missed out on long-term gains. That experience taught me the value of a more patient, hands-off strategy. 👉 Curious how I got started? Read my full story here . In this post, I’ll break down four popular ETFs that track the S&P 500—helping you decide which one best fits your investment style. 2. What Is the S&P 500 Index? The S&P 500 tracks 500 major U.S. companies, w...

Why I'm Investing in the U.S. Stock Market as a Foreigner Table of Contents How I Got Started with U.S. Stocks Why I Shifted to Index Investing The Strength of the U.S. Market Over Time What I Like About Index Funds Challenges for Foreign Investors How I Make It Work While Working Full-Time Final Thoughts for Fellow Foreign Investors How I Got Started with U.S. Stocks A few years ago, I didn’t know much about investing. Living in Korea, I started by buying well-known U.S. stocks like Apple and NVIDIA. I thought I was investing, but really, I was just reacting. I sold my shares as soon as they moved up a little, afraid they might drop. Looking back, I missed out on bigger gains—especially in 2023 when markets surged. I wasn’t checking the markets regularly because of work, and I realized this approach wasn’t sustainable. Why I Shifted to Index Investing I began asking myself: how can I invest without needing to track prices all the time? That questio...