The impact of being out of the stock market for a short time can be profound, as shown by this hypothetical investment in the Russell 3000 Index, a broad US stock market benchmark.

A hypothetical $1,000 investment made at the beginning of 2000 turns into $6,604 for the 25-year period ending December 31, 2024.

Miss the Russell 3000’s best week, and the value shrinks to $5,511. Miss the best three months, and the total return falls to $4,655.

There’s no proven way to time the market—targeting the best days or moving to the sidelines to avoid the worst.

Staying invested and focused on the long term helps to ensure that you’re in position to capture what the market has to offer.