One of the most important guidelines for long-term financial success is to get into the market and stay in it so that you can benefit from all of its gains. “Don’t do anything, just stand there” says Jack Bogle.
Even if your timing was hopelessly unlucky, compounding does its magic and you end up with a respectable return if you stay in the market long enough. The worst performing investor wasn’t the unlucky one, but the one who sat on the sidelines.