Investing doesn't have to be hard. If you don't have the time and temperament to read financial statements and hand-pick excellent stocks, you can rely on exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

What looks and feels like a single stock ticker can represent a huge portfolio of diversified investments, and these simple insta-portfolios are perfect for automated investing. The results can be downright game-changing -- especially if you find an ETF with a long history of market-beating returns -- and minimal fees.

The Vanguard Growth ETF (NYSEMKT: VUG) is one of those incredible set-and-forget ETFs. Through the magic of consistent investment and years of compound returns, a mere $100 per month should give you roughly $178,000 in two short decades.

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Source Fool.com