Understanding the S&P 500: How Index Investing Works with Tom Bernard

Marci talks money (and life) · Aug 12, 2026 · 28m · transcript

If you've ever wondered what the S&P 500 is, how it works, or why so many investors use index funds as part of their long-term investing strategy, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Marci Talks Money (and Life), I talk with Tom Bernard about his book, The Index of America: How the S&P Works & Why You Should Invest In It. We explore the history of the S&P 500, how it compares to other major stock market indexes, and why understanding index investing is an important part of building long-term wealth.

Tom explains how the S&P 500 is constructed, how it relates to indexes such as the Dow…