Why the Stock Market Is Still That Girl for Long-Term Wealth (Even When It Looks Scary)
- Adrienne Evans
- Nov 6
- 4 min read
Let’s be honest: the stock market can be a little scary.
And when the world feels chaotic, every red arrow and headline makes it seem like this is it — the final plunge.
One week the market is up.
The next week it’s down and the news cycle is going crazy.
And most people — especially folks who aren’t experienced investors — think:
“Nope. Too risky. Don’t want to lose my coins.”
Totally fair.
There are risks.
And fear keeps a lot of smart people sitting on the sidelines.
And here’s something most people never learn:
While the market has ups and downs in the short term, history shows that long-term, diversified investing has been one of the most reliable ways to grow wealth. In fact, the S&P 500 has never lost money over any 20-year rolling period in U.S. history. So while nothing is “risk-free,” the longer you stay invested, the safer it has historically been.
So let’s talk about why that fear is understandable… but not a reason to stay out.
Why People Are Scared of the Market
A lot of us hear things like:
“The stock market is like gambling.”
“You could lose everything.”
“Just save your money in the bank. It’s safe.”
Plus, the news broadcasts a downturn — even if it’s short-lived — and it becomes a cycle: when there’s drama in the economy, the market reacts, people panic-sell, prices drop, and the headlines get louder.
Temporarily.
Because if history has anything to say, it’s this:
The market has always recovered.
Long-term investors always do better than panic-sellers.
Even after some of the biggest economic disasters in history.
History Has Receipts
Here are a few times where it truly looked like we were going off the proverbial cliff:
The Great Depression (1929–1930s)
Markets collapsed. Horrible time.
But they eventually recovered and went on to reach record highs.
Black Monday (1987)
Largest one-day crash in history.
Within about two years, the market fully recovered.
Dot-Com Crash (2000–2002)
Tech bubble exploded.
Painful — but long term, the market kept rising.
2008 Financial Crisis
Banks failed. Companies died. People lost jobs and homes.
But investors who stayed in — or bought in — saw huge gains afterward.
COVID-19 Crash (2020)
Fastest market drop in modern history, and it bounced back to all-time highs within months.
And here’s the fantastic part:
Despite all of this, the market is at record highs at the time of writing this post — and historically, it keeps rising over time.
If you looked at a long-term chart of the U.S. stock market from inception to today, it’s basically a staircase going up.
There are dips — some of them painful — but the long-term direction is up and to the right.
Why? Because over time:
Companies innovate
The economy grows
People keep spending, creating, and investing
Knowing this, a big part of investing isn’t math — it’s temperament.
Warren Buffett said it best:
“The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient.”
In other words, the market rewards patience, not panic.
And here’s something most everyday investors never hear: experienced investors buy more during downturns. They call it “buying at a discount.”
Investing Is Easier Than Ever
Now, I am not an advocate for randomly throwing money into the market and hoping for the best.
We’ve got to educate ourselves, use tools that fit our comfort level, and plan for the long haul — unless you’re an experienced day-trader type.
But the good news is this: investing is more accessible than ever.
You can invest with:
Robinhood
Webull
Acorns
Stash
Public
Big brokerages like Fidelity, Vanguard, and Charles Schwab
Even your phone — in about a minute
And you don’t need a ton of money.
Most platforms let you invest five dollars at a time using fractional shares.
Robo-Advisors: Investing on Autopilot
If the stock market feels overwhelming, robo-advisors are like the calm, dependable boyfriend of investing. They:
Pick a diversified portfolio for you
Rebalance automatically
Keep costs low
Let you start with small amounts and add money whenever you want
Popular options include Betterment, Wealthfront, Fidelity Go, and Schwab Intelligent Portfolios.
You deposit money, and the system handles the rest. No guessing. No obsessing.
An Example
Say someone invested $500 into the S&P 500 (a giant basket of top U.S. companies) 10 years ago.
Historically, the market has returned roughly 10–12 percent per year on average.
That one-time $500 would now be worth around $1,300 to $1,600 — just by letting it sit and grow.
Even if they bought a single stock like Apple:
In 2014, $500 bought about 10 shares
After growth and stock splits, that could be worth over $3,500 today
One $500 investment turned into thousands.
No scratch-offs. No lottery. Just time and patience.
So Why Is the Stock Market a Great Place to Be Long-Term?
Because long-term, the market has always gone up.
As a whole, it has never failed to recover.
Not every day.
Not every year.
But historically — always.
It beats inflation
It grows wealth quietly and consistently
It compounds over time
And anyone can start, even with small amounts
The key is simple:
Don’t panic when it dips
Invest regularly, even in small amounts
Let time do the heavy lifting
The stock market is like planting a tree.
It starts small.
It grows slowly.
And one day, it becomes something valuable.
The best time to plant that tree was years ago.
The second-best time is right now.
If all of this still feels a little overwhelming, don’t worry — I created something to help. You can download Understanding How the Stock Market Works (Using a Real Estate Analogy) — a simple, free guide that explains the stock market in plain English. Just grab it below.
Here’s to your financial success!
Disclaimer: This content is educational and provided for general information only. It is not financial advice. Always consult a licensed financial professional for advice specific to your situation.
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