And on other dates, it was not $773. So what? Long term, the world market (more than the US) historically averaged to 6-8% growth p.a. with dividends before inf

And on other dates, it was not $773. So what? Long term, the world market (more than the US) historically averaged to 6-8% growth p.a. with dividends before inflation iirc, and the last 120 years were certainly no walk in the park for the world. If you look at the MSCI World in the past 30 or 40 years, you would have made no loss in any time window if you bought and held at least 15 years. The key is time in the market. 12 years isn't much. Think 20, 30+ or until you die. Psychological pain in downturns is the price you pay for far superior returns in the long run to any other asset class. Switching between VTI and single shares is market timing and therefore gambling. If you want to reduce the maximum drawdown, ramp up the allocation of less risky assets like bonds or cash on a savings account.