Market Timing: The (Nearly) Impossible Challenge

Still, I congratulate you on what appears to be perfect timing in October 2007. But going forward, you should consider spreading out your investments over time. You could, for example, divide your money into eight parts, investing one part every quarter for the next two years.

If you're a long-term investor, I would advise you not to let the short-term ups and downs of the market guide your investing decisions. Instead, pay close attention to your goals, your timeframe and your risk tolerance. And then adopt a disciplined approach like dollar-cost averaging. I believe that's the best road to investing success.

Good luck!