What happens when you buy at the worst moment

Bought the top. Stayed the course.

Everyone’s afraid of buying at the peak.

But what if the worst entry point still wins, as long as you don’t flinch?

This is what happened to someone who did everything "wrong" and still came out ahead.

Investing right before a market crash

November 2021.

Toroshi puts $10,000 into the S&P 500.

It’s all-time-high territory. Everyone’s making money. FOMO’s in full swing.

Then… the crash begins.

Holding through a long market downturn

By October 2022, his portfolio is down to $7,650.

Inflation is roaring. Tech stocks are collapsing.

Financial media screams “Worse to come.”

His friend Bearry panics. Sells everything. Moves to cash.

Toroshi hesitates. But holds. Quietly. Uncomfortably.

Recovering after the worst is over

2023 brings slow recovery.

2024: AI rally. Interest rate cuts on the horizon.

By July 2025, Toroshi's portfolio hits $13,950. Up 39.5% from his original investment.

Bearry?

He re-entered in March 2024. He was late, cautious and unsure.

Today, he’s at $11,200. Same fund. Same start. Just a different reaction.

What changed?

Toroshi didn’t sell during the pain.

Bearry didn’t buy during the rebound.

He stayed through the worst and earned the best.

Lesson unlocked:

1. Timing matters less than staying invested through full cycles
2. Selling in fear often locks in losses that could have recovered
3. Market rebounds often deliver the biggest gains in the shortest bursts

You’ve seen why holding wins. Now prove you can keep your cool.

Staying invested taught you patience. Next, it’s time to understand the tradeoff that shapes every decision: risk and reward.