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Seeing your credit score go down after paying off debt may seem illogical, but there are likely valid reasons for the drop, including a potential change in your credit mix or in the age of your accounts. Although a lower score may feel like a setback, rest assured the dip is usually temporary.

Let’s take a closer look at some reasons why your credit score dropped after paying off debt and what you can do to help turn things around.

Why Would My Credit Score Drop After Paying Off Debt?

Credit scores are calculated based on a variety of factors. For instance, if you’ve finally paid off a car loan and all of your other debts are from credit cards, your score might drop because you no longer have a diverse credit mix. Creditors and lenders like to see someone who’s been able to manage an array of accounts over time.

But a varied credit mix is only one of the components that make up your credit score. Read on to learn what affects your credit score and how much each factor is impacted when you pay off debt:

Credit Score Factors

According to FICO™, the credit scoring company used by 90% of the top lenders, your credit score is based on data from five different categories: payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, credit mix, and new credit applications.

Let’s take a closer look at each one.

Payment History

Showing lenders you can consistently make on-time payments is the top factor in determining your credit score. In fact, under the FICO model, your payment history accounts for the biggest percentage of your credit score (35%).

A late or missing payment can lower your credit score anywhere from 17 to 83 points, depending on where you fall in the credit score range. Generally speaking, the higher your credit score, the greater the impact of a late payment.

Even if you’ve paid off a debt, a delinquent payment can remain on your credit report for up to seven years and negatively affect your credit score.

Credit Utilization

Credit utilization accounts for 30% of your credit score. Your credit utilization is the amount of money you owe versus the amount of credit available to you, and this configuration is called your utilization rate or credit utilization ratio.

Most lenders prefer you to keep your credit utilization ratio below 30%.

Paying off a debt typically improves your credit score, but there are instances when it could have the opposite effect. For example, if you pay off a credit card and then close the account, you may see your score fall. That’s because you now have a lower amount of available credit, which could raise your credit utilization ratio.

Length of Your Credit History

The average age of your credit accounts make up 15% of your credit score. Keeping accounts open — and establishing a track record of timely payments — can help improve your credit score. So if you’re paying off a credit card or other type of revolving debt, consider leaving the account open afterward.

Installment loans, like a personal loan, work a bit differently. When you pay off an installment loan, the account is considered closed. And if you’ve had that account for a long time, your average account age — and your credit score — could drop.

Credit Mix

As previously noted, having a variety of different types of credit, or a credit mix, counts toward your credit score. In fact, it makes up 10% of your FICO score.

Having a combination of revolving credit and installment credit can help boost your credit. But paying off a home, car, or personal loan could change your credit mix, which might cause your score to dip.

New Credit Card Applications

Applying for new credit determines 10% of your credit score. So if, for instance, you decide to open a few new credit cards to help pay off another debt, your score could take a hit. That’s because each time you apply, a hard credit check, or inquiry, is made.

When a lender does a hard credit check, they will pull your credit report from one of the three main credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. A hard inquiry can decrease your score by as much as 10 points, so if you’re trying to sign up for multiple credit cards at once, this can have a cascading effect on your score.

How to Pay Off Debt and Help Your Credit Score

There’s no hard and fast rule on how to pay off your debt and build up credit. But it’s always a good idea to make timely, regular payments on balances. Try not to use all your available credit (keep it under 30%). And if you’re overextended, consider reevaluating your purchasing habits with a spending app or other tool.

How Do I Keep My Credit Score From Dropping?

There are other strategies you can take to help prevent your credit score from falling. Here are five to consider:

•   Limit applications for new credit, especially if you’re applying for several at one time.

•   Try to avoid closing out a credit card account, even if you’ve paid off the balance.

•   Review your credit report at least once a year, and dispute any errors. You can get your report for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.

Recommended: Why Did My Credit Score Drop After a Dispute?

How Long Does It Take for Your Credit Score to Improve After Paying Off Debt?

After you make a payment, most large credit issuers and lenders update your account information with the credit bureaus within 30 to 45 days. Smaller credit entities may only report a paid off debt once a quarter, so in that case, it could take several months for your credit score to update.

Ways to Increase Your Credit Score After Paying Off a Loan

In addition to making timely payments, there are several ways to build credit and boost your score.

One tactic is to take the money you were using for the now paid off loan and apply it to one or more of your credit card payments. For example, if you were only making minimum payments, try paying double the minimum each month. If this isn’t possible, even kicking in an extra $10, $20, or $30 can make a difference. Paying double the minimum doesn’t just bring down your balance. It can also lower your credit utilization ratio by increasing the available credit on that card.

Another trick: Contact your card issuer and ask for an increased credit limit so your credit utilization on that card is lower. Or consider becoming an authorized user on a loved one’s credit card account.

Recommended: How Long Does It Take to Build Credit?

How to Get Credit Score Monitoring

There are various ways to check your credit score for free.

•   Contact your credit card issuer. Most provide cardholders with complimentary access to their credit score.

•  Inquire with your bank. Many financial institutions offer customers either their FICO score or VantageScore for free.

•  Sign up with Experian. You can monitor your credit score for free through Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus.

•  Download a free money tracking app, which provides you with your score and can alert you to any changes.

The Takeaway

Zeroing out the balance on a loan or credit card can be a big stress reliever, though it may not always provide the credit score boost you were hoping for. Changes in credit mix or account age are among the reasons for a drop.

The good news is, there are ways to help protect your credit score: Pay your bills on time, keep credit card accounts open even after you’ve paid off the balance, and explore credit score monitoring services that alert you to any changes in your score.

Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.

See exactly how your money comes and goes at a glance.

FAQ

How long does it take to rebuild credit after paying off debt?

The amount of time it takes to rebuild credit is different for everyone. For some people, it may only take three to six months, while for others it could take years, especially if credit card bills have high balances or are maxed out. Certain factors such as missed payments, which can remain on your credit report for up to seven years, or a declared bankruptcy (which can linger for up to 10 years) can keep your credit score from increasing.

Why does my credit score go down after paying off debt?

Eliminating one debt means you’ve changed your overall credit “portfolio,” which can impact some factors that go into determining your credit score. For instance, if you’ve paid off a car loan and all of your other debts are credit cards, you’ve affected the diversity of your credit mix. As a result, you may see a slight drop in your credit score.

How much will my credit score increase after paying off debt?

There’s no exact number of points your credit score will increase from paying off a debt. However, it’s possible credit scores can increase anywhere between 10 to 50 points after eliminating a credit card debt.

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SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

*Terms and conditions apply. This offer is only available to new SoFi users without existing SoFi accounts. It is non-transferable. One offer per person. To receive the rewards points offer, you must successfully complete setting up Credit Score Monitoring. Rewards points may only be redeemed towards active SoFi accounts, such as your SoFi Checking or Savings account, subject to program terms that may be found here: SoFi Member Rewards Terms and Conditions. SoFi reserves the right to modify or discontinue this offer at any time without notice.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Credit reports contain financial records of debts you owe and ones you’ve paid off. Positive information can remain on your credit reports indefinitely. Most negative information falls off your credit after seven years, though certain types of bankruptcy filings can remain longer.

Here’s a closer look at how financial records impact your credit reports.

How Long Do Inquiries Stay on a Credit Report?

When you apply for a loan, credit card, or line of credit the lender can perform what’s called a hard inquiry. This simply means that they pull copies of your credit reports, which they’ll use to make an approval decision.

Hard inquiries show up on a credit report and they’re included in your FICO® credit score calculations. Each new inquiry remains on your credit report for two years, according to FICO. However, they’re only considered in credit score calculations for the first 12 months.
Soft inquiries occur when you check your credit reports yourself or a company pulls your credit for the purposes of prequalifying or preapproving you for a loan. These inquiries won’t show up on a credit report, and they don’t have any impact on your credit score.

That distinction is important if you’re learning how to build credit.

Recommended: How Long Does It Take to Build Credit?

How Long Does Negative Information Remain on Your Credit Report?

Negative information on a credit report is any information that’s harmful to your credit score. What affects your credit score negatively? The list includes:

•   Late payments

•   Missed payments

•   Collection accounts

•   Charge-offs

•   Judgments

•   Foreclosures

•   Bankruptcies

Generally, negative information can stay on your credit report for up to seven years. Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 bankruptcy, however, can stick around on your credit report for 10 years.

In terms of how negative items impact your credit score, age matters, according to FICO. Newer negative items, such as collections or late payments, have a more immediate impact on your scores than negative items that are several years old. A money tracker app makes it easy to track your credit and your money in real time so you can get ahead financially.

How Long Does Positive Information Remain on Your Credit Report?

Positive information can remain on credit reports indefinitely. Credit bureaus are not required to remove this information, though they may do so at the seven-year mark. Examples of positive information that can stay on a credit report, regardless of time, include:

•   On-time payments

•   Open accounts that have a $0 balance or a low balance, relative to your credit limit

•   Closed accounts that you’ve paid in full

Positive items on a credit report are a good thing, since they help your credit scores. On-time payments and low balances on credit accounts have the biggest impact overall. Making biweekly payments or increasing your credit limits are two helpful ideas for how to lower credit utilization. Using a spending app to manage your budget and expenses can also help keep credit card balances low.

How to Remove Negative Information From Your Credit Report

Negative information that’s accurate cannot be removed from a credit report. For example, if you miss several payments on a loan but get caught up later, those late payments will stay on your credit reports until you hit the seven-year mark.

Inaccurate information, on the other hand, can be removed through the dispute process. Examples of inaccurate or incorrect items you could dispute on a credit report include:

•   On-time payments that were not properly attributed to your account

•   Credit accounts that don’t belong to you

•   Paid-in-full accounts that still show a balance on your credit reports

•   Account activity relating to fraudulent activity or identity theft

You’ll need to dispute the inaccurate information with the credit bureau that reports it. All three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — allow you to initiate credit report disputes online. You’ll need to fill out a dispute form and provide some details about the dispute.

Once the credit bureau receives the dispute, it’s required to investigate your claim and return a decision to you promptly. If the credit bureau finds that there’s an error on your reports, it’s legally required to remove or update the information.

Your credit score updates monthly for the most part. Enrolling in credit score monitoring can make it easier to track changes, including changes to your score following a dispute.

Recommended: Why Did My Credit Score Drop After a Dispute?

Do You Still Have to Pay a Debt If It Fell Off Your Credit Report?

A debt can fall off your credit report if enough time passes. However, the amount owed doesn’t go away. Creditors and debt collectors could still attempt to get you to pay if the statute of limitations hasn’t passed.

The statute of limitations on debt allows creditors and debt collectors a set window of time in which to sue you for an unpaid balance. Each state determines how long the statute of limitations applies but in all states, its expiration doesn’t remove your legal obligation to pay what you owe.

Should you pay old debts? Ethically, yes. But if a debt falls off your credit report and the statute of limitations has expired, it would be very difficult for a creditor to force you to pay via a lawsuit.

The Takeaway

Reviewing your credit reports regularly is a good way to see what’s helping or hurting your score at any given time. If you have negative items on your credit report, you might see your score drop, but those points can come back with the passage of time.

Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.

See exactly how your money comes and goes at a glance.

FAQ

What stays on a credit report forever?

Positive information can stay on a credit report forever, as credit bureaus are not required to remove any items that help your credit score. However, credit bureaus can choose to remove positive information after seven years.

Can credit information stay on my credit report for over 7 years?

Credit information can stay on your credit report for over seven years if it’s positive. Generally, negative information cannot stay on your report for more than seven years, unless you file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In that case, the bankruptcy filing could stay on your report for 10 years.

Do old accounts fall off a credit report?

Old accounts can fall off your credit report after seven years if they have negative information. Positive information from old accounts or newer ones can stay on your credit reports indefinitely.

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Photo credit: iStock/PeopleImages
SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

*Terms and conditions apply. This offer is only available to new SoFi users without existing SoFi accounts. It is non-transferable. One offer per person. To receive the rewards points offer, you must successfully complete setting up Credit Score Monitoring. Rewards points may only be redeemed towards active SoFi accounts, such as your SoFi Checking or Savings account, subject to program terms that may be found here: SoFi Member Rewards Terms and Conditions. SoFi reserves the right to modify or discontinue this offer at any time without notice.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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Medical debt can be a heavy burden for individuals and families. And knowing unpaid medical bills could impact your credit can make the worry even worse.
In an effort designed to relieve some of the stress on U.S. consumers, the way medical debt is treated by credit bureaus has changed in recent years. The timeline for unpaid health-care bills appearing on your credit reports is longer than it used to be. And some of those debts may not end up affecting your credit at all.

But make no mistake: There still can be consequences if a medical bill goes unpaid for too long.

Read on for a look at when unpaid medical debt can go on your credit reports and some steps you can take to protect and improve your financial health.

Do Medical Bills Affect Your Credit?

Your medical bills shouldn’t have any effect on your credit, as long as they don’t go unpaid for too long. Most health-care providers don’t report payment activity to the credit bureaus. So unless your account goes unpaid for so long that your provider gives up and sells the debt to a debt collector, it’s unlikely your delinquent account will appear on your credit reports.

Even if the account goes to collections, it can take a year or longer to impact your credit. That’s because the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) now give consumers a full 365 days to clear up a medical debt that’s gone to collections before it goes on their credit reports. This year-long grace period allows more time for medical bills to make their way through the insurance approval and payment process, and it gives consumers more time to report billing issues to their provider or the debt collector, negotiate a smaller payment, or set up a payment plan.

More good news: If the initial balance that’s gone to collections is less than $500, the debt won’t ever become part of your credit report, so it won’t affect your credit score.

How Does Medical Debt Impact Your Credit Scores?

Medical bills that you’ve paid shouldn’t appear on your credit reports at all or affect your credit scores — even if you paid the bill after it went to collections. Existing paid medical collections were erased from credit reports in 2022, and the credit bureaus no longer include this information on their reports.

If your bill in collections goes unpaid past the 365-day grace period, however, it could turn up on your credit reports, and possibly have a negative effect on your credit scores. The amount of damage can vary, depending on what scoring model you — or a potential lender — is looking at. But it’s important to note that failing to pay a bill can affect the most significant factor in determining your credit scores — your payment history. So if a medical bill with a starting balance of $500 or more lands on your credit report, you could see a serious dip in your credit scores.

How Long Do Medical Bill Collections Stay on Your Credit Report?

A typical collections account can stay on your credit reports for about seven years, whether or not you eventually pay the debt. But medical accounts are treated differently than other types of debt.

When the credit bureaus are notified that you’ve paid off a medical debt in collections, they’ll remove the account from your credit reports, and you can expect your credit scores to improve.

If you don’t pay the medical debt, however, the collections account could remain on your credit reports for a full seven years after it becomes delinquent.

Can Medical Bills Be Removed from My Credit Report?

If you believe a medical bill in collections is showing up on your credit report by mistake, you can dispute the error with the credit bureau and the debt collector who reported it. After all, it takes time to build credit, and you want to make sure your record represents you accurately.

If your debt has been in collections for less than a year, if the starting balance was less than $500, if the debt has been paid by you or your insurance company, or if you can show that the information is incorrect in some other way, you can take the necessary steps to have it removed from your credit reports.

How to Dispute a Medical Bill on Your Credit Report

To dispute a medical bill on your credit report, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recommends starting with the credit bureau that included the account. Explain in writing what you think is wrong and why — and be sure to include documentation that supports your claim. The credit bureaus can then begin an investigation. (The CFPB provides sample letters and addresses for the credit bureaus.)

You should also reach out in writing to the debt collector that furnished the information and ask that it be corrected.

Finally, if your dispute continues to go unresolved, you can submit a complaint to the CFPB.

Recommended: Why Did My Credit Score Drop After a Dispute?

How Can You Check for Medical Debt on Your Credit Reports?

There are a couple of ways you can check your credit report to see if a medical debt is showing up there.

•   If you’re paying for credit monitoring, or if your financial institution or credit card company provides a free credit score and summary each month, the information you’re looking for may be available as part of this service. You may even receive an alert if your credit score updates and there’s a significant drop.

•   You’re also entitled by federal law to receive free copies of your credit reports from the major credit bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com.

Don’t panic if a debt collector tells you that your unpaid account will soon affect your credit scores. Remember that you have a year-long grace period to pay the debt or clear up any errors before the account will show up on your credit reports.

Does Paying Off Medical Collections Improve Your Credit?

The best way to keep medical debt from dragging down your credit scores is to make sure your bills are paid on time (by you or your health insurance company). Even if your account goes to collections, paying is still an option — and it can help push your credit scores back up.
Though the negative impact of having a collections account on your credit report diminishes with time, if the bill goes unpaid, it could sit on your record — where lenders can see it — for seven years.

Recommended: How to Build Credit

What If You Can’t Pay Your Medical Bills?

Even though it may be tempting, the worst thing you can do if you have medical debt is ignore it. Here are some options to consider if you’re wondering how to pay medical bills you can’t afford.

Ask About a Repayment Plan

Many hospitals and health-care providers will let you set up a payment schedule that allows you to pay over time. Best-case scenario, the option provided is fee- and interest-free. If you’re asked to sign up for a financing plan that will cost extra, make sure the terms work for you and that it’s still manageable within your budget.

Try Negotiating with Your Provider to Lower Your Bill

Sometimes, a health-care provider may be willing to accept a lower amount to avoid writing off the bill and selling the account to a debt buyer. (Even if the account has gone to collections, you may be able to settle for a lower payment. At that point, though, you’ll likely be negotiating with the debt collector, not the original creditor.)

See If You Qualify for Financial Assistance

Grants and other types of financial assistance are sometimes available for patients who are eligible based on their income, age, or other factors. A Google search may turn up some options, or your health-care provider or a support group may be able to pass along information.

Consider an Unsecured Personal Loan

If you can get manageable monthly payments and other terms that fit your needs, you may want to consider taking out a low-interest personal loan. Try to stay away from a loan that’s secured by your home or other assets, which could end up putting your financial well-being at greater risk if you default.

How Can You Keep Your Credit Scores Healthy Despite Challenging Medical Bills?

Small fluctuations in your credit scores are normal, but if you’re worried that an unpaid medical bill could cause a drastic drop, it’s important to keep your financial guard up. Here are some steps you can take to protect your scores:

Keep Paying Your Bills on Time

Your payment history is a big factor in determining your credit score, so do your best to stay on top of all your bills. If making timely payments is a struggle for you, you may find a spending app can help with budgeting, keeping track of billing due dates, and prioritizing payments.

Watch Your Credit Utilization

Lowering your credit card utilization ratio — the percentage of available credit that you’re using on your credit cards and other lines of credit — can help you get and keep your credit scores where you want them. If you’re relying heavily on credit to get by, and you’re close to maxing out your credit cards, you may need to reevaluate your spending and change up your budget. A money tracker app could help you stick to healthy financial habits.

Monitoring Your Credit Scores

Even if you’re on your best behavior, if an unpaid medical bill ends up on your credit report, it may take months before you see some improvement to your damaged credit scores. Credit score monitoring can help you better understand how certain actions can affect your creditworthiness.

The Takeaway

Watching your medical expenses pile up can be stressful — especially if you’re worried that your unpaid medical bills can go on your credit reports and lower your credit scores. Fortunately, the credit bureaus and credit score models have begun treating medical debt with a little more patience and consideration than other types of debt.
But an unpaid medical account still can be a problem if you let it go for too long. So it’s important to stay on top of your medical bills, along with all your other financial obligations.

Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.

See exactly how your money comes and goes at a glance.

FAQ

Can unpaid medical bills affect your credit?

A medical bill will likely only affect your credit if it’s been unpaid for so long that it ends up going to collections. Even then, consumers have a full year to clear up a medical collections account before it goes on their credit reports. But if the bill goes unpaid after that grace period is up, it could affect your credit scores.

How do I remove a medical collection from my credit report?

To have a medical collection removed from your credit report, you can either pay the amount you owe or — if you think it’s in error — you can try disputing the bill with the credit bureau and the debt collector that reported it.

Is it a HIPAA violation to send medical bills to collections?

Not necessarily. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has strict standards for how health-care providers and their business associates, including third-party debt collectors, handle sensitive personal health information. Debt collectors can receive and disclose information but only to the extent that it is absolutely necessary to perform their job.

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Photo credit: iStock/Pekic
SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

*Terms and conditions apply. This offer is only available to new SoFi users without existing SoFi accounts. It is non-transferable. One offer per person. To receive the rewards points offer, you must successfully complete setting up Credit Score Monitoring. Rewards points may only be redeemed towards active SoFi accounts, such as your SoFi Checking or Savings account, subject to program terms that may be found here: SoFi Member Rewards Terms and Conditions. SoFi reserves the right to modify or discontinue this offer at any time without notice.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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Index investing is a passive investment strategy in which you buy shares of an index fund that mirrors the composition and performance of a market index like the S&P 500.

Index investing is considered passive because index funds are formulated to follow the index and thus deliver market returns. There is no portfolio manager to oversee the fund or execute trades as there is with actively managed funds. Index funds can include mutual funds as well as exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

While index funds were once considered somewhat unsophisticated, a growing number of investors have come to embrace passive strategies in the last several years: In 2010, about 19% of total assets under management with U.S. investment firms were in passive funds. By 2023, passive strategies accounted for 48%.

Although index funds are considered passive, that doesn’t mean they are risk free; there are specific concerns for investors to bear in mind when considering index investing.

What Are Index Funds?

An index fund is a type of mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the performance of a market segment — like large-cap companies — or a sector like technology, by following the benchmark index for that sector.

Index funds typically hold a portfolio of securities — e.g., stocks, bonds, or other assets — that are identical or nearly identical to those in the relevant index. The idea is to try to replicate the chosen benchmark’s performance as closely as possible.

Unlike actively managed funds, which employ a portfolio manager that seeks to outperform the benchmark by actively trading securities within the fund, index funds aim to provide returns based solely on the performance of that particular market or sector.

There is an ongoing debate about the merits of pursuing active vs. passive strategies. In 2023, passive investments tended to outperform their active counterparts, according to industry data analyzed by Morningstar. That said, active strategies outperformed under certain conditions, and for specific markets.

There are index funds for the U.S. bond market, the U.S. stock market, international markets, and countless others represented by various market indexes like the Russell 2000 index of small-cap companies, the Nasdaq 100 index of tech companies, and so on.

How Do Index Funds Work?

When you buy shares of an index fund — typically a mutual fund or ETF — your money is effectively invested in the many stocks or bonds that make up the particular index. This helps add some diversification to your portfolio, potentially more so than if you were buying individual securities.

In addition, index funds tend to be lower cost than active funds, because passive funds don’t require a live portfolio management team.

Passive investing comes with certain risks, however, chiefly the risk of being tied to the ups and downs of a specific market. Without an active manager at the helm, an index fund can only deliver market returns.

Why Index Funds Typically Cost Less

Because index funds are designed to track the securities in a given market index, an index fund’s portfolio is typically updated only when the constituents in the index itself change. Thus, there is typically low turnover in these funds, which helps keep overall costs low.

By contrast, actively managed funds typically employ a more frequent trading strategy in a quest for outperformance, which can add to the cost of the fund. In addition, active funds have a live portfolio manager and thus tend to charge higher fees.

Understanding the impact of investment fees is important to long-term performance, as many investors know.

How an Index Is Weighted

Some indexes give more weight to companies with a bigger market capitalization; these are market-cap-weighted indexes. This means index funds that track a weighted index, like the S&P 500, likewise allocate a higher percentage to those bigger companies — and those companies influence the performance of the index.

Indexes can also be weighted by price (with higher priced companies making up a higher proportion of the index) or by company fundamentals. While the weighting structure of the index may not matter to individual investors at first, it ultimately influences the holdings of any related index funds or ETFs, and may be something to bear in mind when selecting an index fund.

Well-Known Big Market Indexes

There are thousands of indexes in the U.S. alone, each one designed to reflect how a certain aspect of the market is doing. Some of the biggest indexes include:

•   S&P 500 Index — Standard & Poor’s 500 tracks the 500 largest companies in the U.S. by market capitalization.

•   Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIJA) — The Dow tracks 30 blue-chip companies; this is a price-weighted index.

•   Nasdaq Composite Index — The Nasdaq Composite tracks all of the tech companies listed in the Nasdaq stock exchange (one of the major U.S. exchanges); this is a price-weighted index.

•   Wilshire 5000 Index — The Wilshire 5000 is a market-cap-weighted index, and it’s considered a total market index because it tracks all publicly traded companies with headquarters in the United States.

•   Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond Index — Nicknamed the “Agg,” this index tracks over $50 trillion in fixed-income securities, and is often considered an indicator of the economy’s health.

Top 10 Equity Index Funds

While the above list reflects some of the larger market indexes, these don’t dictate what the most popular index funds may be. Some index funds are more cost efficient or do a better job of tracking their benchmark than others.

Following are the top 10 low-cost U.S. equity index mutual funds and ETFs in 2024, according to Morningstar, Inc., the industry ratings and research company.

1.   DFA US Large Company (DFUSX)

2.   Fidelity 500 Index (FXAIX)

3.   Fidelity Mid Cap Index (FSMDX)

4.   Fidelity Total Market Index (FSKAX)

5.   Fidelity ZERO Large Cap Index (FNILX)

6.   iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV)

7.   iShares Core S&P Total US Stock Market ETF (ITOT)

8.   iShares S&P 500 Index (WFSPX)

9.   Schwab US Mid-Cap Index (SWMCX)

10.   Schwab Total Stock Market Index (SWTSX)

How to Invest in Index Funds: Step by Step

Investing in index funds requires as much due diligence as investing in any single security. Here’s how to start.

Step 1: Determine Your Goals, Time Horizon, and Risk Tolerance

You may want to consider some of the basic tenets of investing as you select your index fund or funds. Will you be adding an index fund to an existing portfolio? Are you starting a taxable account? Is this for retirement?

Knowing your goals, your time frame, and how much risk you feel comfortable with will inform the funds you choose.

Step 2: Choose an Index Fund

The name of a particular index fund may catch your eye, but it’s essential to examine what’s inside an index fund’s portfolio before investing in it. Some index funds track a larger market, such as the S&P 500 or Russell 3000. Others track a more narrow or even niche sector of the market.

Determine what your short- and long-term goals are, and what markets you are interested in. You may want to start with a broad market index fund focused on equities or bonds. Or you may want to target certain sectors like technology, sustainability, or health care.

Step 3: Open a Brokerage Account

Open and fund a brokerage account or online brokerage account, and explore the index fund options available. Be sure to check potential fees and trading costs, as well as account minimums and cost per share. The price per share can vary widely.

Step 4: Buy Shares of an Index Fund

Once you’ve selected the fund(s) you want, execute the trade. Decide whether to create an automatic investment (e.g. every month) to support your goals.

Step 5: Consider Your Index Strategy

While it’s possible to simply add one index fund to your portfolio, it’s also possible to populate your entire portfolio using only index funds. Again, bear in mind the pros and cons of index strategies in light of your current and long-term goals for this investment, as well as your risk tolerance.

Potential Advantages of Index Investing

Index investing has a number of merits to consider. As noted above, index investing tends to be cost efficient, and may offer some portfolio diversification. In addition, investors may benefit from other aspects of passive strategies.

Easier to Manage

It might seem as if active investors could have a better chance at seeing significant returns versus index investors, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Day trading and timing the market can be difficult, and may result in big losses or underperformance. After all, few individual investors have the time to master the ins and outs of financial markets.

Index investing offers a lower-cost, lower-maintenance alternative. Because index funds simply track different benchmarks, individual investors don’t have to concern themselves with the success or failure of an active portfolio manager. Also, index investing doesn’t necessarily require a wealth manager or advisor — you can assemble a portfolio of index funds on your own.

Behavioral Guardrails

Investors who pursue active strategies may succumb to emotional impulses, like timing the market, which can impact their portfolio’s performance. Investing in index funds, which takes a more hands-off approach, may help restrain investor behavior — which may help portfolio returns over time.

According to the 30th annual Quantitative Analysis of Investor Behavior (QAIB) report by DALBAR, the market research firm, equity investors typically underperform the S&P 500 over time.

The QAIB report is based on data from Bloomberg Barclays indices, the Investment Company Institute (ICI), and Standard and Poor’s, as well as proprietary sources. The study examined mutual fund sales, redemptions, and exchanges each month, from Jan. 1, 1985 to December 31, 2023, in order to measure investor behavior, and then compared investor returns to a relevant set of indices.

In 2023, the average equity investor earned 5.50% less than the return of the S&P 500 for that year — a common pattern, as DALBAR research shows.

Potential Disadvantages of Index Investing

The potential upsides of passive strategies have to be weighed against the potential risks.

No Downside Protection

Index funds track the market they’re based on, whether that’s small-cap stocks or corporate bonds. So, if the market drops, so does the index fund that’s trying to replicate that market’s performance. There is no live manager who can try to offset losses; index investors have to ride out any volatility on their own.

No Choice About Investments

Individual investors themselves typically can’t change the securities in any mutual fund or ETF, whether passive or active. But whereas active strategies are based on trading securities within the fund, index funds rarely change up their portfolios — unless the index itself changes constituents (which does happen).

Index Investing: a Long-Term Strategy

Some investors may try to time the market: meaning, they try to buy high and sell low. Investing in index funds tends to work when you hold your money in the fund for a longer period of time; or if you rely on dollar-cost averaging.

Dollar-cost averaging is a method of investing the same amount consistently over time to take advantage of both high and low points in market prices. Generally speaking, this strategy tends to lower the average cost of your investments over time, which may support returns. But dollar-cost averaging can be inflexible, and limit an investor’s ability to respond to certain market conditions.

The Takeaway

Index investing is considered a passive strategy because index funds track a benchmark that reflects a certain part of the market: e.g. large-cap stocks or tech stocks or green bonds. Indexing is considered a low-cost way to gain broad market exposure. But index funds are not without risks, and it’s wise to consider index funds in light of your long-term goals.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an investment account with SoFi Invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, alternative funds, and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here).

Invest with as little as $5 with a SoFi Active Investing account.

FAQ

What happens when you invest in an index?

You can’t invest in an index, per se, but you can invest in a fund that tracks a specific market index. When you invest in an index fund, you’re investing in not one stock, but in numerous stocks (or other securities, like bonds) that match that benchmark. A large-cap index fund would track big U.S. companies; an emerging market index fund would track emerging markets.

How much do index funds cost?

Index funds tend to have a lower annual expense ratio than actively managed funds, often under 0.05%. That said, investment fees can vary widely, and it’s essential to check a fund’s all-in costs.

Are index funds safe?

Investing in the capital markets always entails risk — no investment is 100% safe. That said, investing in an index fund may involve less risk than owning a single stock, because the range of securities in the fund’s portfolio provide some diversification. That doesn’t mean you can’t lose money. Index funds are only as stable as their underlying index.

Is it smart to put all your money in an index fund?

It’s possible to use an index investing strategy for your entire portfolio. Whether this makes sense for you is determined by your goals and risk tolerance. Index investing offers some potential advantages in terms of cost efficiency and broader market exposure, but comes with the risk of being tied to market returns, with no ability to adjust the portfolio allocation.

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Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.


Investment Risk: Diversification can help reduce some investment risk. It cannot guarantee profit, or fully protect in a down market.

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