When the curtain closes on 2022 in roughly two and a half months, Wall Street professionals and everyday investors are likely to look back on this year as one of the most trying on record. Since the ageless Dow Jones Industrial Average, all-encompassing S&P 500, and growth-driven Nasdaq Composite hit their respective all-time highs, they've all, respectively, plunged firmly into a bear market.

On one hand, the rapid declines that accompany bear markets can test the willingness of investors to stick around. On the other hand, history has conclusively demonstrated that putting your money to work during these downturns is a genius move. That's because every double-digit decline in the major U.S. stock indexes has eventually been put into the rearview mirror by a bull market.

In other words, the real challenge for investors right now should be figuring out what stocks to buy. Arguably the best answer might be dividend stocks.

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Source Fool.com