With markets in a constant state of flux, many investors are asking themselves, is now the right time to invest? We say: timing is everything—but not in the way you may think.

Recent stock market turbulence has again captured investors’ attention. But market volatility is the rule, not the exception. Capturing these returns requires discipline and patience.

We’ve all met him – the Reluctant Diversifier. Despite the evidence that diversification is the single best way to protect and grow wealth over the long term, this investor continues to resist his adviser’s recommendation to diversify.

In a widely publicized bet with hedge fund manager Ted Seides, Warren Buffett wagered $1 million in 2008 that Vanguard’s S&P 500 Index Fund would deliver better returns over a ten-year period than hedge funds handpicked by Seides. The results of Buffett’s bet are in, and guess who’s doing the happy dance?

Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA) takes an unconventional approach to managing money. In stark contrast to the “active” money management that defines Wall Street, DFA embraces a “passive” approach rooted in academic research. But don’t confuse DFA’s funds with index funds.

The market decline from October 2007 to early March 2009—known as the Global Financial Crisis—was the worst since the late 1930s. Stocks dropped 60%, investor uncertainty skyrocketed, and trust and confidence were shattered. As we mark the 10-year anniversary of the start to the Global Financial Crisis, what have we learned?