A number of investors, including some of our readers, are understandably worried about piling money into equity markets when they are at all-time highs. "I am about to receive a large sum which I propose to invest in a portfolio of funds but am now wondering if it is a good time to invest, when the FTSE 100 is at an all-time high," says one reader. "Should I hold off and wait for markets to fall?"
Another says: "I know that it is 'time in the market' that counts and not 'timing the market', but I believe there is merit in both, and would hate to be the person that invested at the highs."
Both the UK and US stock markets have notched up a string of record highs in 2017 and are looking expensive. The thought of buying assets when prices are highest, and potentially suffering a loss if a correction occurs, is scary. But if you have a long enough investment horizon, you will make money over the long term, even if markets do crash in the short to medium term.