Index funds do what their name says: They track a market of stocks or bonds with the idea of replicating that market's performance as closely as possible.
They're ideal for people who want to keep money in the market long term but don't want to choose stocks themselves. That's why employer plans tend to focus on them. Plus, not many stock pickers, professional or otherwise, have long-term records that outpace the biggest index funds.
Index funds can be purchased as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds, and they come in a dizzying array of flavors that cover everything from the S&P 500 to the fossil fuels and clean energy sectors to international markets of all sizes and geographies.
Here are 12 to consider.
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