Something to consider...
http://www2.standardandpoors.com/spf...ex/MONTHLY.xls
From January 1926 through December 2006 the annualized total return for the S&P 500 was 10.50% per year, up from the annualized 10.44% rate in September 2006. The dividend component consists of 40.63% of the return, down from the 40.88% value at September 2006. The annualized return consists of both capital appreciation and dividends reinvested.
-LAFF