Dear Reader, If you're in your "Learn How to Invest in the Stock Market" era, then you've probably heard “Invest in low-cost index funds." It’s smart advice—until it isn’t. Here’s what I see too often: investors proudly pick a “low-fee” fund, thinking they’ve cracked the code to wealth building. But years later, they realize their account hasn’t grown nearly as much as they expected. Why? Because fees are just one piece of the puzzle. These investors haven't thought about the rate of return....