Markets bounced… 

and now you’re wondering if you missed your shot. 

You’re not alone.

Many investors feel this way after every market rebound.

With markets recovering from recent volatility, the fear of missing out (FOMO) has crept in. 

It’s understandable — nobody wants to be late to the opportunity. But this mindset often leads to hasty decisions that can hurt your long-term results.

The Market Timing Trap

Here’s the reality: trying to time the market perfectly is virtually impossible, even for professionals. 

Research and industry consensus show that most investors who attempt to time the market underperform the broader indices, often because they miss the best days of recovery.

Even DBS CEO Piyush Gupta recently highlighted the unpredictability of markets, noting that 2025 would be a “choppy year” due to uncertain tariffs and monetary policy. He emphasized the need for “agility” and “nimbleness” to navigate these unpredictable conditions.

A look at DBS Group Holdings (SGX: D05) illustrates this: after reaching an all-time high of S$46.97 in March 2025, the stock experienced a sharp pullback to the S$35–S$36 range, only to rebound quickly, climbing back above S$44 by May 2025. 

These significant price movements occurred within weeks, demonstrating how easy it is to miss the bottom.

The same pattern is visible in global tech stocks. For example, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) lost over US$595 billion in market cap in a single day after a 17% plunge, only to rebound by 8% the next day as investors rushed back in. CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD) also saw sharp drops and quick recoveries, often driven by analyst downgrades or market sentiment swings.

These examples show how quickly sentiment can shift and how difficult it is to act in time, especially when emotions are high.

A Smarter Approach to Uncertain Markets

If timing the market is a losing game, what should smart investors do instead? 

Here are three proven strategies:

1. Dollar-Cost Averaging

Investing a fixed amount at regular intervals, regardless of market conditions, helps smooth out your average cost and removes emotion from the process. For example, if you had invested S$1,000 every month in the Straits Times Index (SGX: ^STI) over the past five years, you would have built a substantial position without the stress of trying to predict market bottoms.

US investors using dollar-cost averaging in the S&P 500, especially during volatile periods like early 2024, would have benefited from steady accumulation and the subsequent market rebound.

2. Staged Investments

If you have a lump sum, consider spreading it over several entry points. For example, you might split your investment into thirds and deploy it over three months. This approach gives you flexibility and reduces the risk of investing everything at a market peak.

This method works well for those who want to participate in opportunities while managing short-term uncertainty.

3. Focus on Quality, Not Timing

The most successful investors focus on building portfolios of high-quality companies that can weather economic storms. 

In Singapore, blue chips like DBS, OCBC (SGX: O39), and CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (SGX: C38U) have demonstrated resilience and delivered stable dividends even through turbulent periods.

Globally, companies like Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) and Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) have rewarded patient investors with decades of growth and reliable dividends. 

For instance, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B) has held Coca-Cola stock since 1988, enjoying a total return of over 3,500%, and the stock has outperformed the S&P 500 over the past year.

When you own businesses with strong fundamentals, short-term volatility becomes less concerning. 

You can buy these companies not just because they’ve fallen in price, but because you believe in their long-term prospects.

The Bottom Line

When markets move fast, it’s easy to feel like you’ve missed out. But investing isn’t about catching every short-term dip, it’s about staying focused on long-term value.

You don’t need to buy at the perfect moment to build lasting wealth. 

What matters more is choosing strong companies, committing to a plan, and sticking with it, even when markets feel uncertain.

Because over time, it’s not timing the market that makes the difference. It’s time in the market that does.

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Disclosure: Joanna Sng owns shares of DBS Group Holdings, Nvidia, CrowdStrike, OCBC, CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust, Berkshire Hathaway.