The Rule of 72

Want to know how fast your money doubles? Divide 72 by your annual return rate. At 8% (the stock market's historical average), your money doubles every 9 years. At 4%, it takes 18 years. At 1%, it takes a brutal 72 years — you likely won't be around to enjoy it.

The lesson is clear: where you park your money matters enormously. The gap between 1% and 8% isn't a few percentage points. It's the difference between decades of lost growth and real wealth.