This relatively unknown business has been paying a continuous dividend to its shareholders since 1816, which is 60 years longer than any other public company in the U.S.

For well over a century, Wall Street has been a stomping ground for wealth creation. Though real estate, commodities, and bonds have generated positive nominal returns for investors over time, no other asset class has come particularly close to matching the average annual return of stocks.

According to an analysis from Crestmont Research, the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC 0.07% ) hasn't had a rolling 20-year period with a negative total return , including dividends, since its inception. It speaks to the power of long-term investing in the stock market.

While there is no shortage of stock investment strategies to choose from

See Full Page