Stock market annual total return average is 11.41% (1928-2015).  Total return means dividends re-invested; not inflation adjusted.<p>(source : <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;pages.stern.nyu.edu&#x2F;~adamodar&#x2F;New_Home_Page&#x2F;datafile&#x2F;histretSP.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;pages.stern.nyu.edu&#x2F;~adamodar&#x2F;New_Home_Page&#x2F;datafile&#x2F;...</a> )