The market at an all-time high – invest or wait?

December 16, 2025 2 min read

arvy's Teaser: The stock market is at an all-time high — and many investors feel uneasy. The fear of “buying at the top” is one of the most common reasons people stay on the sidelines.

But history tells a very different story. Data clearly shows that time in the market beats timing the market. In this article, we explain why all-time highs are not a reason to avoid investing — and why at arvy we consistently recommend Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA), also known as investing via a savings plan.

Why an All-Time High Is Not a Bad Time to Invest

An all-time high does not signal danger — it signals long-term economic progress. Companies grow earnings, innovate, and increase productivity. Over time, stock prices reflect this growth.

Historical data going back to 1989 shows:

  • Investments made at new all-time highs delivered higher average forward returns
  • Over 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year periods
  • Compared to investments made on random market days

👉 An all-time high does not mean markets are about to crash. In most cases, it means the long-term trend remains intact.

Daten seit 1989 zeigen:
Investitionen an neuen Allzeithochs erzielten höhere durchschnittliche Renditen
sowohl über 1 Jahr, 3 Jahre als auch 5 Jahre
im Vergleich zu Investitionen an zufälligen Markttagen

Time in the Market Beats Timing the Market (Proven by Data)

VMany investors try to wait for the “perfect” entry point.
Unfortunately, market timing rarely works — even for professionals.

Research consistently shows:

  • The best market days often occur right after major declines
  • Missing just a handful of strong days can drastically reduce long-term returns
  • Accurately predicting market bottoms is nearly impossible

The key driver of long-term investment success is simple: How long your money stays invested — not when you invest it.

The longer you stay invested, the more powerful the compounding effect becomes.

Why Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) Is a Smarter Way to Invest

Even with solid data, emotions are hard to ignore.
That’s where Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) comes in.

Benefits of Dollar Cost Averaging:

  • Invest regularly without trying to predict the market
  • Automatically buy more shares when prices are lower
  • Reduce emotional decision-making
  • Ideal for long-term wealth building

With DCA, you don’t need to worry about market highs or lows. You follow a plan — and let discipline and time work in your favor.

Why arvy Recommends Investing via Savings Plans

At arvy, we don’t believe in market timing or short-term speculation.
Our investment philosophy is built on:

  • Long-term thinking
  • Globally diversified portfolios
  • Consistent investing through savings plans

Not because it’s exciting — but because it’s proven to work.

arvy’s Takeaway: Should You Invest at an All-Time High?

✔️ All-time highs are not a reason to stay out of the market
✔️ Time in the market beats timing the market
✔️ Dollar Cost Averaging reduces risk, stress, and bad decisions
✔️ Long-term investing is consistently rewarded

👉 The best time to invest was yesterday. The second-best time is today.