S&P 500 indicator suggests market's long-term gains outweigh short-term drops
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An indicator called the S&P 500's 20-year total returns has never been wrong - it has always been positive over any 20-year period dating back to 1919. This suggests the market tends to rise over long periods.
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Even during recent volatility and crashes, the S&P 500 has returned 225% over the last 20 years. Time in the market beats trying to time the market.
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Rather than trying to invest at the perfect moment, it's safer to invest whenever you can and keep a long-term outlook of 10-20 years. Historically the market recovers from downturns.
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It's key to invest in quality stocks from healthy companies, as these are most likely to recover from crashes and experience long-term growth.
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No one can predict exactly what will happen week-to-week or month-to-month. But quality stocks held for the long-term provide the best protection.