Over the period of 1926 to 2012, small-company stocks had an average return of:

• Large-company stocks have never returned more than 40 percent in a single year.

• In 2012, the rate of inflation was slightly higher than the average inflation rate for the period of 1926 through 2012.

• U.S. Treasury bills have had a positive rate of return every single year.

• The return on U.S. Treasury bills has exceeded the rate of inflation every single year.

• The rate of inflation as measured by the consumer price index has been positive every single year.