Community answer
A moderated answer for readers who feel stuck because headlines make every month sound like the worst possible starting point.
Usually, no. It may be a bad time to invest money you need soon, money that should be sitting in an emergency fund, or money that belongs to a debt payoff plan with a clearly high interest rate. But for long-term goals, waiting for emotional comfort can become its own expensive habit.
The cleaner question is whether your process is strong enough to survive a bad first month.
Related
Beginner Guide
A step-by-step guide for readers who want to begin investing but keep getting stuck on whether now is the wrong time.
Strategy Guide
What DCA actually does, what it does not guarantee, and why it can still be the right default for ordinary investors.
Scenario Lab
Model how recurring monthly contributions can compound over time at different return assumptions.