Started Investing Right Before the Financial Crisis → Today
What if you had started investing about $220 per month at the S&P 500 peak in October 2007?
What does this scenario show?
Investment period · Oct 2007 – Jul 2026 (about 19 years)
Investment method · Recurring investment of about $220 per month
Target asset · S&P 500 ETF
+356% after 19 years, 54 months to recover
Key results
Values verified by the operator against past data.
Sum of principal contributed during the investment period
Valuation at the end date
Personal return that reflects your investment timing
Risk & recovery metrics
These are the declines you actually had to endure during long-term investing. We do not hide this part.
Maximum drawdown (MDD)
-51.3%
Largest decline from the peak
Longest loss duration
36 months
Longest continuous stretch below principal
Recovery period
54 months
Time to regain the previous peak
What if you had stopped partway?
Even if you had started investing just before the financial crisis, one of the worst historical entry points, continuing to invest for about 19 years produced a high return. However, you had to endure a -51.3% loss early on and a 54-month recovery period.
If you stop investing during a decline, you lose both the chance to lower your average purchase price and the gains from the subsequent rebound. That said, there is no guarantee this result repeats for every asset and every period.
Data sources and limitations
- Based on adjusted close (dividends and splits reflected); FX effect not reflected
- Based on adjusted close (dividends and splits reflected); unless otherwise noted, the exchange rate (FX effect) is not reflected.
- Trading fees and taxes are not reflected. Your actual after-tax return is lower than this.
- This is a result based on past data and does not guarantee future returns.
📋 Results are based on historical data; past returns do not guarantee future returns.
📋 This service is provided for educational purposes to help you understand investing, not as investment advice.