Take the exact same set of yearly returns and shuffle the order — if you're steadily paying money in, you do not end up in the same place. Counter-intuitively, getting the bad years first can leave you richer, because you buy more while prices are low. Order isn't just noise; it shapes the outcome.
Takeaway: An early crash, while you're still adding money, can be a gift.
→ Feel it in: What's Possible → the sequence section