> But what if I buy before a bear period? The story of “Bob”, the world’s worst market timer, only buying at the peaks: * https://awealthofcommonsense.com/201

> But what if I buy before a bear period? The story of “Bob”, the world’s worst market timer, only buying at the peaks: * https://awealthofcommonsense.com/2014/02/worlds-worst-market-timer/ https://awealthofcommonsense.com/2014/02/worlds-worst-market... Don't try to figure out when the dip will occur, just sitting with cash on the sidelines in the meantime. Buying a little every month is generally the best strategy most of us should use: * https://ofdollarsanddata.com/even-god-couldnt-beat-dollar-cost-averaging/ https://ofdollarsanddata.com/even-god-couldnt-beat-dollar-co... > I will be stuck there 10 years just to recover my money and another 10 years to make some returns. For the US at least, things generally don't take too long to recover (Great Depression notwithstanding): * https://awealthofcommonsense.com/2020/03/how-long-does-it-take-to-make-your-money-back-after-a-bear-market/ https://awealthofcommonsense.com/2020/03/how-long-does-it-ta... * https://awealthofcommonsense.com/2021/07/how-long-does-it-take-for-the-stock-market-to-double-off-a-bear-market-bottom/ https://awealthofcommonsense.com/2021/07/how-long-does-it-ta... If you're saving for retirement, then you actually want it to go down (occasionally): that means your monthly contribution can buy more for that month. Then once you're near retirement you move your portfolio to something more a conservative leaning so the swings don't effect you as much.