The Portfolio Charts[0] site has heat maps showing how long it takes for a given portfolio to have a positive ROI. The charts only go as far back as 1970, but t

The Portfolio Charts[0] site has heat maps showing how long it takes for a given portfolio to have a positive ROI. The charts only go as far back as 1970, but they're interesting nonetheless. Indeed, for the Total Stock Market portfolio[1], if you had invested a lump sum in 2000 you would have needed to wait until 2014 to see a positive ROI. A more conservative 60% stock / 40% bonds portfolio[2] would have recovered (though not by much) by 2010. That said, as another commented pointed out, this is not very reflective of the reality of most retail investors: most people will invest over long periods of time rather than all at once. [0] https://portfoliocharts.com/ https://portfoliocharts.com/ [1] https://portfoliocharts.com/portfolio/total-stock-market/ https://portfoliocharts.com/portfolio/total-stock-market/ [2] https://portfoliocharts.com/portfolio/classic-60-40/ https://portfoliocharts.com/portfolio/classic-60-40/