Subject: Re: Buying after a steep drop
One thing that I have reluctantly become convinced of is that for a long-term investor, trying to do timing is futile and counterproductive. Well-defined timing rule-based strategies of course, not handwaving ad-hoc untestable strategies.

All that timing does (a well-defined good strategy, that is) is to reduce the volatility and avoid the large drawdowns. But they also miss out on some of the subsequent gains. Long-term, the return is slightly reduced over buy-and-hold.

That could be important for someone living close to the edge, say pulling 4 or 5% annually. Improving the sequence of returns could be more beneficial than outright long-term performance.

Then there's the sleep-at-night factor.

Timing isn't for me but I do see the utility for some.