IVV — iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
iShares (BlackRock) · Expense Ratio: 0.03% · US Stock · 2bp below the US Stock category average of 0.05%
Key Facts
| Ticker | IVV |
| Full Name | iShares Core S&P 500 ETF |
| Provider | iShares (BlackRock) |
| Expense Ratio | 0.03% |
| Category | US Stock |
| Assets Under Management | $550B |
| Inception Year | 2000 (26 years ago) |
| Number of Holdings | 505 |
| Dividend Yield | ~1.2% (low) |
| Top Holdings | AAPL, MSFT, NVDA |
What Is IVV?
IVV, managed by iShares (BlackRock), launched in 2000, is one of the largest ETFs in the world with exceptional liquidity in the US Stock category. US total stock market ETF covering thousands of US companies across all market caps. With $550B in assets under management, it is among the most liquid and widely traded ETFs available.
IVV in a FIRE Portfolio
Broad US market exposure at 0.03% expense ratio makes this a cornerstone holding for any FIRE portfolio. It captures the full US equity market in a single fund.
A core holding should make up 50-80% of your equity allocation in a FIRE portfolio. Pair IVV with an international fund like VXUS (Vanguard Total International) for geographic diversification. A common FIRE allocation is 70% IVV + 30% VXUS.
Cost Analysis: How IVV's 0.03% Fee Affects Your FIRE Timeline
At 0.03%, IVV is in the ultra-low-cost tier. On a $100,000 investment, you pay just $30/year in fees. Over 30 years, the fee drag is approximately less than 1% of your total returns — essentially negligible for FIRE planning. This is about as close to "free" as ETFs get.
Dividend Income Potential
With a low dividend yield of approximately 1.2%, here's what IVV could generate in annual income at different portfolio sizes:
| Portfolio Value | Annual Dividend Income | Monthly Income |
|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $1,200/year | $100/month |
| $250,000 | $3,000/year | $250/month |
| $500,000 | $6,000/year | $500/month |
| $1,000,000 | $12,000/year | $1,000/month |
Frequently Asked Questions About IVV
What is the expense ratio for IVV?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03%. This is ultra-low-cost — on a $100K portfolio, annual fees are $30. 2bp below the us stock category average of 0.05%.
Is IVV good for a FIRE portfolio?
Broad US market exposure at 0.03% expense ratio makes this a cornerstone holding for any FIRE portfolio. It captures the full US equity market in a single fund. Its 0.03% expense ratio is ultra-low-cost for the US Stock category.
How does the 0.03% fee affect long-term returns?
At 0.03%, the fee impact is minimal — less than $50/year on a $100K portfolio. Over a 30-year FIRE timeline, the cumulative fee drag is under 1% of total returns, making IVV an extremely efficient choice.
Similar ETFs in US Stock
- VTI — Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (0.03% · Core Holding)
- VOO — Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (0.03% · Core Holding)
- SPY — SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (0.09% · Core Holding)
- SCHB — Schwab US Broad Market ETF (0.03% · Core Holding)
- SCHX — Schwab US Large-Cap ETF (0.03% · Core Holding)
- ITOT — iShares Core S&P Total US Stock Market ETF (0.03% · Core Holding)
- IWV — iShares Russell 3000 ETF (0.2% · Core Holding)
- VV — Vanguard Large-Cap ETF (0.04% · Core Holding)
- SPTM — SPDR Portfolio Total Stock Market ETF (0.03% · Core Holding)
- SPLG — SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (0.02% · Core Holding)
- VTHR — Vanguard Russell 3000 ETF (0.1% · Core Holding)