Hi Jeremy,
As you suggest, investing early and often is key for building wealth. Is that still applicable in the current market situation? Isn’t it better to wait a few more months/years (as the market is at its highest now). Normally timing the market isn’t recommended, but it feels like we will face a massive market downturn or depression in the the near future.
Would love to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks!
Kind regards,
Paul
Always a fair question to ask, Paul! But, I think I know what Jeremy would add to this:
“Time in the market beats timing the market”
Welcome Paul!
Yes, @dgurgan is right. I would never suggest “timing the market” which is what you are suggesting. And here’s why: You don’t know that the market is doing down in the future. Nobody does. You mention “it’s at its highest now” (it’s not actually… the S&P 500 was slightly higher in February). BUT EVEN IF IT WAS, so what. WHAT IF in a few months a vaccine is announced and the market jumps 20%. Then a year later, strong job growth is reported and it’s up another 10%. Now 1.5 years from now the market is 30% above where it is today. What do you do THEN? Keep waiting hoping for a fall? Well then it drops by 10%. Do you jump in then 20% higher than it is today, or wait for it to fall below where it was on July 13th 2020?
Or looking backwards, in 2012 the market was at an all time high (less than half of where it is today). Would you want to go back in time and invest in 2012? In 2013 the market kept going up and was at an all time high. Would you want to invest in 2013? Same for 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The market goes up over long periods of time because it’s collecting the cumulative growth of all profits, revenues, innovation, increases in efficiency and population growth, etc of all companies of the global economy.
So basically, yes, invest early and often. Ignore the market. Never try to time the market. Read this article:
Thank you @Jeremy @dgurgan for sharing your thoughts! Fully agree that we can’t say what the market will do. I guess starting now with cost averaging (long term) is the way to go (while timing the market is tempting).
You’ll be more rich if you invest early and often. Don’t be tempted! 