Is now a bad time to invest, and should I wait for a better entry point?

For long-term goals, there's rarely a meaningfully 'bad' time to invest, and waiting usually costs more than it saves. Markets rise more often than they fall, so sitting in cash means you're statistically more likely to miss gains than dodge losses. Trying to time the market requires being right twice – when to get out and when to get back in – and decades of data show even professionals fail at this consistently. The reliable alternative is to invest steadily on a schedule (dollar-cost averaging), which smooths your entry price and removes the guesswork. If a lump sum makes you nervous, splitting it over a few months is a fine emotional compromise, even if investing it all at once tends to win on average. The real risk for most people isn't a bad entry – it's staying on the sidelines for years.