Should You Invest Now or Wait Until 2027? Here's What a Century of History Says.

The S&P 500 has hit a record high, but it has since dropped 4.4% in a single day, and is currently about 3% below its October peak. Market volatility has increased, and investors are moving into non-tech equities. There may be vulnerabilities in the U.S. stock market heading into 2027, but history suggests that waiting tends to result in worse outcomes.

Over the past century, the S&P 500 has returned around 10% annually, including during recessions, bear markets, and major economic events. The key is staying invested throughout these periods. Studies have found that investors who consistently invest at market tops and bottoms do not outperform those who invest at the beginning of every calendar or monthly period.

Even those who invest at the market top every year produce solid returns over the long term. The only significant losers are those who consistently sit on the sidelines. JPMorgan Asset Management found that investing at all-time highs can actually be beneficial for long-term returns, contrary to popular belief. The main takeaway is that predicting the stock market's performance is difficult, so trying to time the market is not advisable.

The best approach for long-term investing is to invest regularly and consistently, without worrying about the right time to buy. Sometimes you'll buy at highs, and sometimes at lows, but being invested at all times is the key to long-term success. If you have a stock tip, consider The Motley Fool's Stock Advisor, which has delivered a total average return of 823% compared to the S&P 500's 209%.