I've watched it happen over and over.

The market drops 10-15%, and people in their 20s panic sell everything. They lock in losses, sit on the sidelines for months, then buy back in at higher prices.

The math is brutal: if you sold during the COVID crash in March 2020 and waited until "things calmed down" to get back in, you missed a 70%+ recovery.

The mistake isn't buying at the wrong time. It's selling at the wrong time because you never had a plan.

Here's what I tell every young investor:

• Have a thesis before you buy. If you can't explain in one sentence why you own something, you'll sell it the moment it drops.

• Know your time horizon. If you don't need the money for 10+ years, a 20% dip is a buying opportunity, not an emergency.

• Stop checking your portfolio daily. Seriously. Set it and review quarterly.

I wrote a full guide breaking down how to invest without fear — covering everything from portfolio construction to the psychology of market downturns. It's called Fearless Investing and it's $20.

If you're in your 20s and the current market has you stressed, this is for you.