Financial markets can fluctuate and go through periods of clear skies but can also go through periods of dark clouds and storms. One day, everything is up and sunny, and the next, it feels like your portfolio just got a cold shower. But even if the markets go up and down in the short term, keeping up with your investments in a diversified portfolio significantly increases your chances of positive results in the long. Here’s the thing: The longer you stay invested, the less those rainy days matter.
Think of it like baking a cake. If you open the oven every 20 seconds to check it, you’re going to stress every time it looks a little shaky. But if you trust the process and leave it in peace, you’ll get a fluffy well-risen cake in the end. The same with investing, time smooths out the market’s jiggly moments.
"},"alignedImage":{"position":"bottom","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/a89253f4-581b-4f99-8830-3da8c1339d71/Bloomreach-graph-806x400","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/22e92cf709322ef0/original/Bloomreach-graph-806x400.jpg","extension":"jpg"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Historical data shows that over short periods, stocks can be unstable, but on a long-term, the market tends to go up. It’s like climbing a mountain. Indeed, there are dunks and rocky patches, but with enough time, you’ll reach the peak. Patience is your secret booster!
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"The Cost of Waiting"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Every year you wait to invest because you think you’ll "start the next day" or "wait for the market to be better”, you’re leaving money on the table.
Reality check: The earlier you start investing, the less you need to put in. For example, if you start investing 100 € a month at 25, by the time you’re 65, you could have around 250,000 €. What if you wait until 35 to start? You’d only have around 120,000 €. It makes a 130,000 € difference just because you’ve played the waiting game and hit snooze on your financial goals.
Simulate your investments return here.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"The Zen Road Trip"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Your mindset is your smart weapon in investing. The longer you stay invested, the more likely you are to savour your road to long-term growth. Think of it like a marathon, not a sprint. Those who try to sprint and catch every market wave often find themselves out of breath, while the marathoners—those who just keep going—are the ones who cross the finish line.
"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Be patient, time is not just on your side—it’s your best friend!
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Also interesting!"},{"componentType":"cards","cards":[{"componentType":"productCard","cardType":"product","cardSize":"small","title":"Investment simulator","intro":"Find out what return you can expect!","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/81e0878e-8395-42c4-b391-db4668450b27/calculator2","type":"image","width":160,"altTextEN":"A red calculator with white and indigo numpad illustration","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/4f5123a9f5b47308/original/calculator2.svg","extension":"svg"},"link":{"url":"/en/individuals/investing/investment-calculator"}}]}]}}}