I'm currently investing $1000/week into Vanguard funds. I've been doing this since 2007, started at $500/week, and gradually moved up. The key is to always be investing. Currently I am focused on international and energy. I feel these are "low" and will come back in 5 or 10 years. Maybe I'm a fool.
Sometimes, it is difficult to resist trying to time things, and if the market drops 2% or 3%, I'll buy more. So far, it has worked out, but holding on through massive losses can really hurt. Throwing your money into a correction can feel really strange. In February, I was down probably 40 or 50K over a month. But I stuck it out. I even bought some individual stocks (mostly SaaS companies) that are up 40% or 50% (CRM, HUBS, etc.)
According to Vanguard, my annual rate of return is 10.7%. This is actually since 2008, sorry. I forgot when I opened the account.
It is actually a bit higher than that, since I rolled over some funds from another account and those gains are not included in the investment return calculation. Vanguard is showing the entire roll-over amount as a "purchase", despite the true cost-basis actually being lower.
Sometimes, it is difficult to resist trying to time things, and if the market drops 2% or 3%, I'll buy more. So far, it has worked out, but holding on through massive losses can really hurt. Throwing your money into a correction can feel really strange. In February, I was down probably 40 or 50K over a month. But I stuck it out. I even bought some individual stocks (mostly SaaS companies) that are up 40% or 50% (CRM, HUBS, etc.)