As millions don their green attire this St. Patrick's Day (March 17, 2025), the market has been anything but lucky lately. Major indexes have struggled through multiple weeks of losses amidst a rapidly changing global economy. The temptation to react—to chase the pot of gold or hide it under the mattress—has rarely been stronger.

But real financial success rarely depends on luck or perfect timing. It comes from something far more reliable: patience.

Hope Isn't a Strategy

"The stock market is designed to transfer money from the active to the patient," Warren Buffett famously observed. His late partner Charlie Munger put it even more bluntly: "The big money is not in the buying and selling, but in the waiting."

Consider a recent finding from Bank of America: investors who missed just the 10 best market days each decade since 1930 saw their total returns drop from a potential 17,715% to a mere 28%. Why such a dramatic difference? Because the market's best days often follow its worst, making perfect timing nearly impossible.

This week's market movements offer a perfect case study. After weeks of declines, Friday saw major indexes post their biggest gains of the year. Those who had fled to the sidelines missed the bounce.

The data consistently shows that time in the market beats timing the market. Like Thomas Jefferson supposedly remarked, "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." Financial security works similarly—it's less about finding luck and more about creating the conditions where good outcomes become more likely.

Lessons of Resilience and Endurance

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Ray Dalio, founder of the world's largest hedge fund, built his investment philosophy around what he calls "timeless and universal truths." Chief among these: understanding that markets move in cycles, and what matters is how your portfolio behaves across full cycles, not during any single day or week.

St. Patrick himself wasn't known for quick wins—his legacy comes from decades of steady, patient work. Similarly, the most successful investors plan for decades, not days. They understand that volatility is the price of admission for long-term growth.

Jack Bogle, founder of Vanguard, put it perfectly: "Time is your friend, impulse is your enemy." Those who stay invested through market cycles, adding consistently through good times and bad, typically build far more wealth than those who try to outsmart the market's short-term movements.

Draw Up Your Retirement Play with Savvly

Creating your own financial "luck" means devoting your energy to what you can control: consistent contributions, appropriate diversification, and staying invested for the long haul.

Savvly was designed specifically for those who understand that retirement planning isn't about getting lucky—it's about having a system that works across decades. Our market-driven pension solution can help investors benefit from market growth while building dependable retirement income.

Unlike approaches that require perfect timing or extraordinary luck, Savvly focuses on creating reliable outcomes through disciplined, long-term strategies. We can help turn consistent contributions into potential lifetime income—something far more valuable than finding a leprechaun's gold.

This St. Patrick's Day, consider that the most powerful force in building wealth isn't luck or perfect timing—it's giving your investments the time they need to grow. The luckiest investors are often those who simply stayed the course.

Please see website for disclosures, assumptions, and risks.

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