There have been 10 year periods with negative inflation-adjusted annualized return. E.g. for the S&P500 it was -3.4%/year in the 2000's and -1.4%/year in the 19

There have been 10 year periods with negative inflation-adjusted annualized return. E.g. for the S&P500 it was -3.4%/year in the 2000's and -1.4%/year in the 1970's [1]. That makes any investments with a guaranteed long term benefit look better. [1] See table at bottom of http://www.simplestockinvesting.com/SP500-historical-real-total-returns.htm http://www.simplestockinvesting.com/SP500-historical-real-to...