3 Investing Truths to Live By (Right Now and Always) The strong equity returns of 2020 and 2021 seem a distant memory as investors contend with a bear market and stomach-churning market moves. Market volatility can wreak havoc on investor emotions, creating the temptation to trade in or out of the market based on the latest developments. Investors should fight the impulse to time the market, as over the long term whether you invest is far more important than when you invest. SEE MORE Is a Recession Ahead? Although today’s bear market may feel worse than prior bear markets, there are important historical patterns that may be instructive today. Investors should also reconsider the most frequently used definition of risk, as market volatility may be the wrong definition of risk for many investors. With that in mind, here are three investing truths that could be helpful right now. Truth: Long-term market returns include periods of poor returns Stocks rarely rise without experiencing setbacks along the way. Since 1980, calendar year returns for the SP 500 Index were positive in 32 of the 42 years.