Be aware of the nature of the investment. We must recognise this at the outset. Nature of the market. This is why we must embark on equity investment only with the long term in mind. Timing the market.
Market timing is a dangerous and elusive chimera.
It doesn't work. There is an often-held perception that a professional manager can foresee changes in market direction before they happen, and can manoeuvre investments accordingly, to ensure no loss in value. This is perhaps the grossest misperception in this business right now. There has not yet been one successful attempt to achieve this goal consistently. Over the long term, there is more risk in being out of the market than being in.