To make money in stocks, stay invested !!
The key to making money in stocks is remaining in the stock market. Your length of “time in the market” is the best predictor of your total performance.
The stock market’s average return is a cool 10% annually — better than you can find in a bank account or bonds. But many investors fail to earn that 10%, simply because they don't stay invested long enough. They often move in and out of the stock market at the worst possible times, missing out on annual returns
Most financial advisors will tell you that you should invest only money that you won't need for at least five years. That way, you have time to ride out market ups and downs and still make money
The more time you're invested in the market, the more opportunity there is for your investments to go up. The best companies tend to increase their profits over time, and investors reward these greater earnings with a higher stock price. That higher price translates into a return for investors who own the stock