The recent market plunge underscores the importance of long-term investing. Historical data shows that large-cap forward-looking returns improve significantly over time. In 6 months, the average forward return is 8.3% with a 73.2% winning chance. Over 1 year, returns increase to 15.8% with a 73.8% chance. At 2 years, returns jump to 30.7% with an 81.8% chance. By 3 years, the return is 44.2% with a 95.1% chance, and over 4 years, it reaches 55.9% with a 96.3% chance. This data highlights the benefits of patience and a long-term perspective in the market.