What is the average 40-year return?

The average 40-year return on investments like the S&P 500 has varied widely depending on the time period. Over some segments, the return has averaged around 10.9% 1. However, in periods from 1975 to 2015, the return was approximately 12% 2. This shows how long-term investments can yield significant returns despite various economic challenges and market fluctuations.

The lowest and highest 40-year returns for the S&P 500 were around 8.9% and 12.5% respectively during different periods 1. This variability underlines the influence of the market's timeline and selecting the period for calculation.