My recipe for investment success isn’t complicated: Partner with the best managers and funds that Vanguard has to offer, then try to keep from second-guessing yourself. That means, remain diversified, keep costs low (a given if you stick with Vanguard solely) and spend as much time in the markets as possible.

Why do I say you should avoid second-guessing yourself? Because markets and market sentiment change rapidly and often. So, when things look rough—as markets do right now—you might be tempted to sell out now and wait for a good entry point to recommit capital.

Good luck with that. Timing the market is nigh impossible, while one of the wonders of long-term investing, compounding, is a powerful force that only requires patience to pay off. Trading in and out of the market is virtually guaranteed to do more damage to your wealth than good over time.

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