In the course of the latest inventory market correction, I made a decision to purchase the dip. However this time, I didn’t simply purchase my typical dip-buying quantity of $25,000 to $100,000. I went a lot greater. All advised, I spent over $1 million shopping for the S&P 500 and numerous tech shares like Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon.
Spending over $1 million shopping for shares was essentially the most I had ever invested in a 50-day interval. The final time I got here near this stage of inventory market funding was in late 2017 once I invested about $600,000 in shares. Again then, I had simply offered my largest rental property in San Francisco and walked away with about $1,780,000 after taxes and charges.
This time, the inventory market had already began dipping once I skilled one other liquidity occasion, forcing a troublesome determination on tips on how to reinvest the proceeds. The method was harrowing and irritating, particularly because the unique funding had been secure for therefore a few years.
Nonetheless, to outperform the plenty, you need to take dangers. I need to share the psychological journey of investing a big sum throughout unsure occasions—and how one can overcome your personal worry of shopping for the dip. Let me present you the way.
Why Shopping for The Dip Is So Laborious
I’m truly not afraid of shopping for the dip. I have been doing so since 1997, once I noticed my puny inventory portfolio decline through the Asian Monetary Disaster.
What I worry, although, is shopping for the dip with much more cash than I am used to investing. If I’ve much more cash to speculate, it normally means I am already dropping some huge cash in my present inventory portfolio.
Though shares have traditionally supplied a median annual return of round 10%, there are many occasions after they appropriate by 20% or extra. Simply in March 2020, the S&P 500 corrected by 32%.
The worst inventory market correction in our lifetime was the 2008-2009 International Monetary Disaster, the place the S&P 500 corrected by about 50%. That occasion was so extreme it made me query whether or not I wished to remain in finance for the remainder of my life.
Given the volatility of shares, I’ve at all times tried to dollar-cost common extra aggressively throughout downturns. DCAing is key to dip shopping for. However whenever you’re already dropping a boatload of cash out of your present inventory portfolio, it may be terrifying to speculate much more of your secure money.
How To Overcome Your Concern Of Shopping for The Inventory Market Dip
For those who’re afraid of shopping for the dip, you are not alone. Listed below are the steps I took to beat that worry—they may assist you too. For context, I’ve been shopping for market dips with work revenue ever since I landed my first job on Wall Avenue in 1999. Over time, there have been loads of corrections, and each has felt horrible within the second.
It’s additionally necessary to acknowledge the distinction between shopping for the dip with common revenue or money circulation and shopping for the dip after a serious liquidity occasion—like when a non-public actual property funding pays out. Reinvesting a big lump sum may be a lot tougher, particularly when the unique capital carried out properly. The psychological strain to not “mess it up” may be intense.
However if you wish to construct outsized wealth, you need to take extra calculated dangers. In any other case, you will find yourself like everyone else, or worse. Let’s get began.
1) Give A few of Your Cash To Your Household First
Unfold luck when it comes your manner. The extra folks round you who profit, the higher. And should you ever end up down in your luck, possibly these you have helped will return the favor.
After a liquidity occasion, I transferred $50,000 to my spouse’s checking account and $25,000 every to my two youngsters’ custodial funding accounts, Roth IRAs, and 529 plans. Whereas it’s all a part of the identical household pot, I took consolation in realizing that if I made poor funding selections with the remaining funds, no less than I unfold $100,000 of the winnings to the three folks I care about essentially the most.
My spouse, who’s extra risk-averse, invested in a mixture of shares and Treasury bonds. For my youngsters, I stored issues easy with vanilla S&P 500 ETFs and target-date funds.
By redistributing cash to my family members first, I felt a deeper sense of safety and function. It was just like the concept of paying your self first—saving and investing a portion of your revenue earlier than spending—however seen by way of the lens of long-term household planning.
Though my very own portfolios have been getting hammered by the correction, the least I may do was shield my kids’s. So I purchased the dip in each their custodial accounts. This can be a man’s Supplier’s Clock in motion. Their portfolios have been sufficiently small that each correction might be countered with money infusions. Psychologically, this gave me the braveness to maintain investing.
2) Do One thing Accountable With the Cash Earlier than Investing
As well as redistributing your cash to your loved ones, think about using a few of it for accountable monetary strikes earlier than diving into the market.
- Pay down debt: Begin with high-interest debt, then work your manner down.
- Repair what’s damaged: Use the cash for important repairs—whether or not it’s a leaking roof, a failing water heater, or a obligatory automobile restore.
- Put money into your well being: Contemplate spending on issues that enhance your well-being, like train courses, ergonomic work setups, or higher diet.
For me, I allotted a few of my cash towards fixing my sizzling tub. Then I spent $1,025 changing my automobile’s heater manifold, which cracked. Realizing I had put my cash to good use in different methods made it simpler to abdomen potential funding losses.
3) Write Out Your Funding Sport Plan and Comply with It
When investing a major sum of money, it is essential to ascertain an funding sport plan. This plan acts as a guiding framework that can assist you keep disciplined when the inventory market is falling aside.
Your plan ought to define your goal asset allocation, funding time horizon, and a set vary for every dip buy. Moreover, assess whether or not the market is experiencing a correction (-5% to -19.9%) or if it is prone to enter a bear market with a decline of 20% or extra.
For those who consider it is only a correction, you may be extra aggressive along with your dip shopping for. Nonetheless, should you anticipate a bear market, be extra affected person and unfold out your purchases to keep away from depleting your money reserves too shortly. Having money is significant for sustaining sufficient confidence to put money into a downturn.
After securing my family members and dealing with obligatory bills, I outlined my funding plan. Not solely did I write it down, however I additionally printed it in my put up, A Easy Three-Step Course of To Investing A Lot Of Cash Properly. The three hours I spent writing and modifying the article compelled me to assume deeply for my state of affairs and for readers who face an analogous state of affairs.
As soon as I had my technique in place, I methodically deployed capital, shopping for the dip on daily basis the market declined. After I hit my preliminary allocation restrict for the day or week, I reassessed.
You needn’t comply with your funding sport plan completely, however having one will assist you keep on observe. One of the widespread errors I see is when folks lose self-discipline and purchase an excessive amount of inventory too early. It’s essential to at all times have sufficient money to reap the benefits of deeper corrections.
Moved to My Subsequent Funding: Actual Property
After ending my seven-figure funding in numerous shares, I shifted my focus to residential industrial actual property.
I noticed the largest valuation discrepancy between the S&P 500 and industrial actual property, so I began dollar-cost averaging into Fundrise, which is feasible as a result of its$10 minimal. I consider the present oversupply in residential industrial actual property shall be absorbed by the tip of 2025, resulting in upward strain on rents and property costs in 2026 and past.
Regardless of my desire for worth investing, I didn’t allocate as a lot capital to actual property as I did to shares. Actual property strikes at a a lot slower tempo than shares—anyplace from 3x to 8x slower in my estimate. Whereas inventory costs can appropriate and get well inside weeks, actual property cycles typically take years.
This distinction in timing influenced my funding technique: I felt a higher sense of urgency with shares, which may rebound shortly. Whereas I may afford to be extra affected person with actual property. In different phrases, the inventory market correction created extra investing FOMO and I did not need to miss out.
4) Undertake the “Go Broke” Mentality To Conquer Your Concern
One of many greatest psychological hurdles in shopping for the dip is the worry that the market will preserve dipping. Many individuals look ahead to affirmation that the worst is over—however by then, a lot of the rebound might have already occurred.
That’s why I embrace a special mindset: I kiss my cash goodbye the second I make investments it.
As a substitute of viewing the cash as mine, I see it as my contribution to the monetary way forward for my spouse and youngsters. The cash is now within the arms of the inventory market or actual property market gods to do their factor. Will they punish me or reward me? I hope the latter as my objective is to handle my household.
After all, losses nonetheless sting. However by shifting my perspective, I cut back the emotional weight of every downturn. The much less private the cash feels, the better it’s to speculate.
And let’s be actual: it is a lot simpler to speculate $10,000 than $1 million. With bigger sums, one fallacious transfer can set you again years. Having the proper inventory publicity is vital. That is why each dip you purchase can truly assist you really feel extra comfortable — you have got much less cash left over to place to work, decreasing the strain of future selections.
In spite of everything, whenever you’re broke, there’s solely upside!
Keep in mind, scared cash does not generate income. This saying comes from my time taking part in poker. Every time I really feel hesitant about going all-in, I calculate the chances, and in the event that they’re in my favor, I press.
5) Prolong Your Funding Time Horizon To At Least 10 Years
I do not know anyone within the historical past of dip shopping for who has held on and misplaced cash. Properly, besides for individuals who bought margin known as. For those who can lengthen your funding time horizon to no less than 10 years, you possible have a 95%+ likelihood of earning profits. Stretch it to twenty years, and your odds rise to 99.9% primarily based on historic returns.
If in case you have younger kids, they are often the simplest motivation to purchase the dip. Think about your youngsters of their 20s or 30s, speaking shares, actual property, and different investments. For those who may journey to that future second, you’d in all probability guess all the pieces you have got at the moment to safe their monetary future.
Earlier than I had youngsters, I used to be much less aggressive shopping for the dips. I already had sufficient cash to be happy, which is why I left work within the first place.
However now, it is a lot simpler as a result of my youngsters’ funding accounts are smaller, and each dip is a shopping for alternative for them. Apart from, if I need to assist them turn into financially impartial by 25, they/we must be extra aggressive. The robots are coming!
6) Count on to Lose — It’s the Value of Investing
Lastly, the worst factor you are able to do when shopping for the dip is assume you’ll be able to’t lose. Anybody who has ever invested within the inventory market or taken outsized dangers has misplaced cash earlier than—and you’ll too. Losses are inevitable.
Even should you’re holding pocket Aces pre-flop in a heads-up sport of Texas No-Restrict Maintain’em, you will nonetheless lose about 15% of the time. The identical goes for investing. That’s why it’s essential to calculate your potential draw back earlier than deploying capital throughout a dip.
For instance, should you make investments $100,000 after a ten% correction, perceive that corrections can typically flip into bear markets. An additional 25% drop out of your entry level would imply a complete 35% drawdown—translating right into a $25,000 paper loss.
For those who put together for this risk forward of time, the ache might sting much less if it truly occurs. Plus, you will be in a greater place emotionally and financially to speculate extra at even decrease costs.
Timing The Market Is Powerful, Keep Humble
Nonetheless assume you’ll be able to time the market? Simply have a look at Mike Wilson, Chief Funding Officer of Morgan Stanley. He was bearish all through 2023 and 2024, and the S&P 500 posted back-to-back features of 20%+.
On April 7, 2025, after the S&P 500 had already corrected to five,000, he predicted one other 7%–8% drop to 4,700. Doom was on the horizon! Then, barely a month afterward Could 12, he appeared on CNBC with bullish conviction, claiming his 6,500 goal could be fulfilled. Unimaginable! Being a Wall Avenue strategist or economist should be the most effective job—you may be fallacious repeatedly and nonetheless receives a commission handsomely.
However this simply goes to point out how tough it’s to time the markets appropriately. Simply whenever you assume you’ll be able to’t lose, you may lose a boatload. And simply when it feels just like the sky is darkest, the tender glow of the solar begins to rise. Keep humble.
I totally count on to expertise losses from my new investments once more. Working example: I purchased ~$50,000 of Nike (NKE) inventory between $68–$73 per share earlier in 2025, pondering it was a compelling turnaround story. The inventory was at a five-year low, a brand new CEO was in place, and valuations appeared cheap. Improper! Nike cratered to $53 simply two months later—a ~30% drop—partly as a result of imposition of latest tariffs.
Don’t Run Out of Money – Cardinal Rule Of Dip-Shopping for
One of many hardest elements of shopping for the dip is operating out of money. It is a type of psychological warfare as a result of it is advisable settle for that your present investments are dropping worth whereas additionally watching your liquidity shrink with every inventory buy.
If you lastly run out of money, it is like operating out of ammunition whereas being surrounded by zombies. You are weak, uncovered, and unable to defend your self financially. Residing paycheck-to-paycheck will snuff out your braveness to speculate.
That is why it is important to remain disciplined in how a lot you purchase with every dip. Your feelings might run rampant.
You Will Really feel Burdened, Present Your self Grace
The complete course of of shopping for the dip for six weeks was irritating, particularly since a part of the time I used to be up in Lake Tahoe attempting to get some ski runs in with my household on trip. However I caught to my funding sport plan and cadence, trusting that my strategy would repay in the long term.
For those who’re the companion who does not handle the family funds, take a second to acknowledge the trouble of the companion who does. Managing your loved ones’s funds can typically really feel like a full-time job, particularly throughout market downturns when the strain to make the proper selections intensifies. A bit appreciation can go a good distance in supporting the particular person carrying that weight.
There have been loads of moments when my temper soured because the inventory market stored dropping with every new aggressive authorities coverage initiative. Nonetheless, I did my greatest to defend my household from the stress I used to be feeling.
When shopping for the dip and the market retains dipping, it is essential to remind your self that you just’re attempting your greatest. No person can time the market completely, however taking motion and making considerate selections already places you forward of those that sit on the sidelines.
One other Market Correction Is Inevitable
Whether or not it is a 10% pullback or a 50% crash, no person can predict it with certainty. Nonetheless, given the robust historic observe document of shopping for the dip, it is a good suggestion to at all times have some idle money able to deploy the subsequent time it occurs.
So the subsequent time a market decline shakes your confidence, keep in mind:
- Safe your family members first.
- Make accountable monetary strikes earlier than investing.
- Write out your funding plan and follow it.
- Embrace the “go broke” mentality the place each greenback you make investments is not yours.
- Prolong your funding horizon.
- Settle for that you’ll lose cash, no less than, briefly as you will not be capable to time the underside.
And most significantly—don’t run out of money. It’s your liquid braveness!
As a result of when the dip comes, you need to be able to take benefit, whereas non-personal finance run for the hills. The one solution to construct outsized wealth is to take extra calculated dangers. Better of luck along with your funding selections!
Reader Questions and Ideas
Do you recurrently purchase the dip? If that’s the case, how do you resolve how a lot to speculate throughout a downturn? How do you deal with the worry of placing considerably more cash to work whereas watching your present portfolio decline?
Decrease Funding Volatility With Actual Property
Inventory market volatility is a value you pay as an equities investor. If you wish to dampen the volatility, diversify into actual property. Actual property is a extra secure asset class that generates revenue and offers utility.
Take a look at Fundrise, my favourite non-public actual property funding platform open to all traders. With an funding minimal of solely $10, it is easy to diversify into actual property and earn extra passive revenue.
The actual property platform invests primarily in residential and industrial properties within the Sunbelt, the place valuations are cheaper and yields are increased. The spreading out of America is a long-term demographic pattern. For most individuals, investing in a diversified fund is the best way to go.
I’ve invested ~$1,000,000 in non-public actual property to date, with over $300,000 in Fundrise, a long-time sponsor. My objective is to diversify my costly SF actual property holdings and earn extra 100% passive revenue. I plan to proceed dollar-cost investing into non-public actual property for the subsequent decade.
About Monetary Samurai
Based in 2009, Monetary Samurai is the main independently-owned private finance web site at the moment with about 1 million pageviews a month. Each article is grounded in firsthand expertise and real-world data.
I labored within the equities division of Goldman Sachs and Credit score Suisse for 13 years earlier than retiring from banking in 2012 at age 34. I am additionally the creator of the brand new e book, Millionaire Milestones: Easy Steps To Seven Figures.
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