[choward]

> Now, just wait, ideally 10+ years, before looking into your account again

That might not be the best idea because of escheat. Here's a story about someone who didn't check on their stocks for years and the state claimed them. https://www.npr.org/transcripts/799345159

[lisper]

It is also wise to look at your accounts at least once a year because some of your investments might pay dividends that you have to report on your tax returns.

[cehrlich]

For most major ETFs there are accumulating versions that automatically re-invest any dividends into the ETF. A good choice for the lazy investor IMO.

[lisper]

You still have to pay taxes on those dividends in the year they are paid.

[klipt]

In America, yes. The person you're replying to seems to live in Europe. I believe in many European countries there's no tax on accumulating ETFs that reinvest dividends, until you sell them and realize the capital gain.

In a way this erases the tax efficiency difference between dividends and buybacks.

[shoto_io]

Good point... I meant don't touch them :)

[melenaboija]

The poster says buy S&P ETF and walk away not stocks.

[nichohel]

ETFs do pay out dividends from the underlying stocks. This does not require you to look at the account (in the US you will get a form at the end of the year summarizing what you have to pay taxes on).

[thebean11]

So stocks can be seized and ETFs can't..?