Why invest in the stock market?
Long term investing in the stock market is a good idea.  Short term growth is risky and fluctuates a lot but long term growth can show returns as much at 10% - 15% return per year on average.  Tracking the S&P 500 is a great way to get started because its a well diversified option that tracks 500 of the largest companies listed on stock exchanges.  It has a historical return of nearly 10% and the S&P 500 was introduced in 1957.