Some people put money at risk with the hope of beating the cost of life (Inflation). One of the popular investments in the attempt to beat the cost of life is ownership of the S&P 500.
The above chart looks at the S&P 500 since 1871, on an inflation adjusted basis.
I couldn't help but think of the movie "Back to the Future" as I looked at this chart. On an inflation-adjusted basis, the S&P is now back at the levels it hit back in 2000 -- not doing a great job of beating inflation, based on the 2000 highs.
For those using the S&P to beat the cost of life, one has to hope this isn't a "Double Top" 15-years later.