Got a chunk of money and wondering how to invest it? Here’s the case for investing it all at once. You’ve just received that hefty end-of-year bonus, and are debating whether to invest it bit by bit each month or to invest it all at once. While spreading it out might feel safer, research shows that lump-sum investing (putting it all in at once) generally performs better. In fact, one analysis found it works out better 75% of the time for stocks and 90% of the time for bonds because markets tend to go up over time. The key is time in the market. The longer your money is invested, the more time it has to grow. If you invest smaller amounts over time, your later investments miss out on potential early gains. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to be able to stomach the ups and downs of the market in the short term.