Surfing USA

The Beach Boys had a hit with Surfin' USA back in the day. These days, it feels like we’re rocking on an ocean of uncertainty. And if there’s one thing the market hates, it’s uncertainty.

Jumping in and out of stocks, trying to dodge downturns or catch rallies, might sound smart—but it’s usually a losing game. The better strategy? Stay invested. Because when it comes to building long-term wealth, time in the market generally beats timing the market.

As Brian Wilson put it, “We’re on a safari to stay.”

The Market Rewards Patience

Markets go up over time. That’s the key.

Crashes, corrections, and crises happen. But the long-term direction of a diversified equity portfolio has always been upward. Case in point: as of April 4, 2025, the S&P 500 was down

13.51% year-to-date. Not great. But zoom out—from January 1, 2016, to December 31,

2024—and the S&P 500 was up 187.80%.

Bottom Line

Market timing sounds smart. It rarely is. Real returns come from staying the course.

Let time—and the market—do the heavy lifting. Ignore the short-term noise. Invest steadily, diversify wisely, rebalance as needed, and keep your focus on the long view.

Because when it comes to growing wealth, it’s not about catching every wave. It’s about staying in the water.

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Investors cannot invest directly in indexes. The performance of any index is not indicative of the performance of any investment and does not take into account the effects of inflation and the fees and expenses associated with investing. Past Performance does not guarantee future results.