<prompt> Human: Im still kind of learning the ins and outs of investing. I was just wondering what pf thinks about this issue in relation to our finances. I just opened an Roth Ira with vanguard and put 1k to start in a target retirement date fund. Should I have waited till the issues with the shutdown blow over? I know it might be too late but is there anything I can do to potentially avoid or mitigate any damages that come from this?  <response>: What you are asking is the first stage in a financially destructive disease called market timing. Market timers attempt to get ahead by staying out of the market when they believe its going to fall, and rushing into the market before they believe it will rise. Unfortunately, since nobody can predict the future, this strategy has been totally discredited as viable over the long run.If you are a long-term investor, time in the market is much more important than timing the market. Ignore the noise stay the course. 