Wealth doesn’t happen in a moment.

It’s easy to think otherwise when social media is filled with crypto booms, overnight stock picks, and stories of windfalls that seem to turn ordinary people into millionaires. But behind most real, lasting wealth is something far less flashy: time, patience, and consistency.

In his book Stocks for the Long Run, economist Jeremy Siegel studied more than 200 years of investment history. His research shows that, despite market crashes, recessions, wars, and pandemics, equities have consistently delivered strong long-term returns. In fact, over any 20-year period, the stock market has almost always beaten inflation — and often by a significant margin.

But here’s the catch: to benefit from that long-term growth, you have to stay in the game.

Too often, we see investors attempting to time the market… jumping in when things are hot and pulling out when fear rises. The problem is, no one can predict the perfect moment to buy or sell. More often than not, sitting on the sidelines during downturns means missing the recovery, which can come faster and more sharply than expected.

We also see people chasing trends when they buy what’s popular without a plan, hoping for quick gains. But short-term bets can lead to long-term regrets. What feels like a smart move today can easily become tomorrow’s cautionary tale.

Instead, the clients who build lasting wealth tend to follow a quieter path. They contribute consistently. They stick to a plan. They accept the ups and downs of the market as part of the journey.

Think of it like planting an orchard. You don’t expect fruit the week after planting. You tend to it over years, trusting that growth is happening beneath the surface. Markets work the same way; slow, steady progress over time, punctuated by the occasional storm.

Of course, patience doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means doing the right things consistently. Reviewing your portfolio. Staying diversified. Rebalancing when needed. And, perhaps most importantly, resisting the urge to react emotionally to short-term noise.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the “urgent” financial news, or wondering if you’re doing enough, please feel free to reach out and get in touch!

Because real wealth isn’t built in a week. It’s built over decades of intention, perspective, and morking with a plan(ner) you believe in.