
Markets may be on edge following renewed tariff threats and a sharp tech-led sell-off. But history tells us that while markets fall fast, they rise higher over time. Here’s why staying invested is your best strategy for long-term success.
President Trump’s threat to double tariffs on all Chinese imports to 100% triggered the sharpest sell-off since April. Tech stocks exposed to China led the slide, with Nvidia, AMD and Tesla plunging more than 5%. The market is jittery, and the upcoming earnings season will be the true litmus test as volatility spikes amid a prolonged government shutdown.
Big banks like JPMorgan, Citi, Goldman Sachs are the first to report, with just 6% earnings growth expected. That’s a low bar. But after months of exuberance, even solid results may not stop a deeper correction if guidance turns cautious.
So the question now is whether earnings will save the rally, or if this is the pullback everyone’s been waiting for? Either way, the next few weeks could decide the market’s next lap.
Yet, amid the noise, this is a crucial reminder for investors: markets may stumble, but they’ve always risen over time.
Why Markets Go Up in the Long Run
Markets are inherently growth-driven. They represent the cumulative growth of human productivity, innovation, and capital allocation. Despite short-term shocks, recessions, and geopolitical turmoil, stock markets have trended higher for over a century.

Take the S&P 500 as an example. Since its inception in 1927, it has weathered the Great Depression, world wars, the oil crisis, the dot-com bubble, the Global Financial Crisis, and the pandemic crash. Yet, through it all, it has delivered average annual returns of about 9–10%.
Why? Because economies recover. Companies adapt. Innovation doesn’t stop. Over time, profits grow, dividends compound, and markets move higher, even if the ride is bumpy.
This is why the most important lesson in investing isn’t about predicting short-term movements. It’s about time in the market, not timing the market.
The Cost of Missing the Market’s Best Days
It’s tempting to react when markets sell off sharply. You tell yourself you’ll get back in once “things feel safer.” But often, the best days in the market follow the worst.
According to J.P. Morgan’s research, missing just the 10 best days in the S&P 500 over the past 20 years would have cut your total return by more than half. And those 10 best days? Most occurred within two weeks of the market’s biggest drops.
That’s why it’s so difficult to time markets consistently. Selling when you’re scared and buying when it feels comfortable again usually means locking in losses and missing recoveries.
The reality: markets recover faster than headlines. Staying invested through volatility is often the only way to capture long-term growth.

Case Study: The Power of Staying Invested
Let’s rewind to January 2008, just before the Global Financial Crisis. Imagine you had S$100,000 to invest. You could either:
- Park it in a 6% fixed deposit, or
- Invest in global stocks, knowing full well markets were volatile.
In the first year, stocks crashed, cutting your investment nearly in half to S$49,000, while your fixed deposit grew to S$106,000. By 2010, stocks were still recovering, ending the year below your starting value.
But by 2013, global equities had rebounded by around 60% above their pre-crisis levels, driven by years of recovery and stimulus. That means your equity investment would have grown to roughly S$160,000, while your deposit would have reached about S$134,000 after compounding at 6% annually. That’s S$26,000 more simply by staying invested through the downturn.
Volatility is uncomfortable but the path to long-term gains is paved with it.
Investing Lessons for Today’s Markets
1. Keep calm—volatility is normal
Short-term swings are part of the investment journey. Geopolitical tensions, elections, or policy shocks can trigger sell-offs, but these are usually temporary setbacks in a much longer growth story. Historically, markets have rebounded after every major crisis, from 9/11 to COVID-19.
2. Remain invested and let compounding work
The longer you stay invested, the greater your chances of positive returns. In fact, the probability of losing money in equities falls dramatically with time, from around 40% over one year to almost 0% over 20 years.
Every day you stay in the market, your dividends and capital gains compound. Pulling out interrupts that process.
3. Stay diversified to smooth out the ride
Diversification across regions, sectors, and asset classes helps reduce risk. When tech stocks fall, bonds or defensive sectors may hold steady. A well-diversified portfolio cushions the downside and positions you for recovery.
In 2022, for example, a balanced 60/40 equity-bond portfolio saw smaller drawdowns than an all-equity one, proving the value of diversification.
4. Turn downturns into opportunities
Market corrections can feel painful, but they also present opportunities. When fear dominates, valuations become attractive. This is when disciplined investors can add to positions at lower prices, setting themselves up for stronger long-term returns.
As Warren Buffett famously said, “Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.”
5. Invest regularly to unlock the power of dollar-cost averaging
Instead of waiting for the “right” time to invest, invest a fixed amount regularly. This strategy, known as dollar-cost averaging (DCA), where you buy more units when prices are low and fewer when prices are high, helps smooth out volatility.
Over time, this averages out your cost and helps you stay consistent, regardless of short-term market noise.
The Emotional Side of Investing

When markets swing wildly, the instinct to “do something” is strong. But often, the best move is sometimes no move at all.
Our emotions—fear during sell-offs and greed during rallies—can sabotage even the best plans. The counter to that is discipline. Focus on your goals instead of the headlines. Remember: the market rewards patience over panic.
Stay the Course with Syfe
If you’re looking to stay invested through market cycles without the stress of timing entries or exits, Syfe’s Core Portfolios make it simple.
They are globally diversified, professionally managed, and automatically rebalanced to keep you on track, so you can focus on your long-term goals, not short-term volatility.
With Auto-Invest, you can make regular monthly contributions and pause or cancel anytime. This helps you dollar-cost average effortlessly, stay disciplined, and build wealth steadily over time.
Uncertainty is the Only Constant
From Trump’s tariff shocks to policy pivots and global elections, uncertainty will always be part of the market. But while headlines change, one truth remains: markets go up in the long run.
You can’t control the news cycle, or where tariffs are headed. But you can control your behaviour, your diversification, and your discipline. The greatest advantage you have as an investor is time itself. Stay invested, stay consistent, and let compounding do its work.
Read More:
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