{
  "id": 16301825,
  "title": "Waiting for the Perfect Moment to Invest? History Says That Could Cost You.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/waiting-for-the-perfect-moment-to-invest-history-says-that-could-cost",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-24T08:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Motley Fool",
    "slug": "motley-fool",
    "url": "https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/10/24/perfect-moment-invest-history-says-cost-you/?source=iedfolrf0000001"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Investing in the stock market can be a daunting prospect for many, with the fear of missing out on potential gains often leading investors to wait for the \"perfect moment.\" However, history suggests that this approach could cost you dearly. The S&P 500 index has delivered an average total return of 15.7% per year over the past decade, a figure that includes every market downturn. This consistency demonstrates that waiting for ideal conditions is rarely successful. In fact, missing just the 10 best days in any given period can significantly decrease overall returns. Patience and compounding are key to long-term success, as even a modest annual return can snowball into substantial wealth over time. Dollar-cost averaging is a strategy that eliminates the guesswork of market timing by investing fixed amounts regularly, regardless of market conditions. This disciplined approach aligns with the wisdom of investing legends like Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger, who emphasize the importance of staying invested and avoiding unnecessary interruptions to compounding growth.",
  "summary": "Buying low and selling high isn't always the best strategy.",
  "key_points": [
    "Waiting for perfect market moment can cost investors dearly.",
    "S&P 500's average total return over past decade: 15.7% per year.",
    "Missing top 10 days in any period significantly decreases returns."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Prioritizing market timing over consistent participation risks sacrificing the significant long-term gains provided by compounding and the historical resilience of the S&P 500 index.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Nasdaq Markets",
        "title": "Waiting for the Perfect Moment to Invest? History Says That Could Cost You.",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/waiting-for-the-perfect-moment-to-invest-history-says-that-could-cost-16309649",
        "published": "2026-10-24T08:50:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}