Dear wealthy doctor. What you really need is some financial education.  I don't mean to be rude, just helpful.  Markets go up and markets go down.  Human impulse is to sell when things go sour and to buy when things look great.  Your statement about getting burned during the Great Recession in conjunction with your desire to get into the markets now (after a 30% increase since Jan 1, 2016) suggests you are like most people.  If you had $1,000,000 on June 1, 2008 invested in a TSE index fund (XIC) you'd have invested on the second worst day in history after the day before the Great Depression.  By March 2009 your portfolio would have been worth $550,000.  Unfortunately, this is probably around when you sold.  If you'd not sold and waited until November 2010 you'd have been back at $1,000,000.  If you'd not sold and still held until today your portfolio would be worth $1,400,000.  If you have a long time horizon (five years plus) buy and hold and wait out the storms (which will happen!).