If you've ever wondered why seasoned investors tell you to "stay the course," it's because history has taught us something simple but profound: time in the market beats timing the market.

But let's rewind a bit. Investing isn't just about stocks going up and down on a chart — it's about preserving your purchasing power, compounding your money, and building resilience against life's financial curveballs.

So today, I'm going to take you on a journey: from the magic of compound interest, to the harsh reality of inflation, to how the stock market has historically rewarded patience — even through wars, recessions, and crises.

More specifically, Cameron discusses:

• A powerful example of how compound interest and inflation will affect you over time
• Historical statistics of the U.S. stock market that will shock you
• Bull markets vs. Bear markets and what to expect
• The difference between volatility and risk when investing for your financial goals
• How to manage risk with asset allocation and diversification
• The overconcentration problem of the S&P 500 as it stands today

Resources From The Episode:

• Retired-ish Newsletter Sign-Up
• Get Show Notes Here

Definitions:

The S&P 500 tracks the performance of 500 large-cap U.S. companies, serving as a benchmark for the U.S. stock market. The index is weighted by market capitalization.
Compound Interest: Compound interest is the interest earned on both the original amount and the accumulated interest.
Bear Markets are defined as periods when the S&P 500 experiences a price loss of 20% or more following a gain of 20% or more from its previous trough.
Bull Markets are defined as periods when the S&P 500 experiences a price gain of 20% or more following a decline of 20% or more from its previous peak.

Key moments:

(03:24) Compound Interest and Inflation Explained
(06:48) Rethink What You Think You Know About Investing
(09:55) Historical U.S. Stock Market Performance
(14:27) Understanding Market Cycles
(17:49) Market Volatility vs. Investment Risk
(21:11) Asset Allocation and Diversification
(26:20) Key Takeaways