I'm 37. I've been investing for 15 years. It took me about 7 years of trading to realize i would be much better off emotionally and financially if I passively invested my money. Since 2012 I've been buying a basket of ETF's (IVV, QQQ, DVY, SCHD) and a couple mutual funds that I like(FBIOX, FOCPX and FPBFX). I'm heavily weighted in the S&P. Right now I'm probably 70% stocks 5% bonds and 25% cash. I maybe have 5-7% exposure to international or emerging market equities I make my buys once a month. Occasionally, If i think the market is oversold, i will make an additional monthly purchase. I'm holding a big cash position which sucks when the S&P is up 30% in a year, but I also look for rental properties I can scoop up and I want to have the flexibility. The market is also in some crazy territory and that scares me a little too. I don't try to time the market. I make my buys regardless of whether the market is up or down that day.