US stocks have returned 8.7% a year since America declared independence in 1776.
u/TonyLiberty ·
Reddit — r/FluentInFinance
· July 03, 2026 at 16:46
· ⬆ 35 pts
· 💬 28 comments
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US stocks have returned 8.7% a year since America declared independence in 1776.
Every generation thinks the world is ending.
Then 30 years pass, and the chart goes up.
Investors made money through wars, depressions, banking panics, inflation, political chaos, recessions, bubbles, crashes, and every “this time is different” moment in history.
The market keeps climbing because the economy keeps changing. Great businesses adapt. They raise prices, cut costs, build new products, and find new ways to grow.
Long-term investing feels boring while you’re living it. It looks obvious when you zoom out.
$1 compounded at 8.7% for 250 years is $1.1 billion.
Own great assets. Give them time. Let America compound.