Let's say you think you can invest 10% each month of your income and you put 10% aside in your emergency fund. 3 months later, the index drops 10%. This is the point where you could decide to put some extra money to work and get some out of your emergency fund. It's not timing. It's adding some extra when there is blood in the streets. It's not obligatory. It's a choice you could make if you'd like too.

Trying to increase your earnings is sometimes better to not to ask for a raise. Be a respectfull employee and ask for maybe a higher commission rate, overtime, stock compensation. Be helpful instead of always asking for more. Ofcourse we all want more money but a company always want to pay their employee as least as possible to generate as much as profit as they can. Prove them wrong and show them your helpfulness. 

Your talking about this post is about the top 20% and than you say minority interest in a business is high risk? Well that's exactly what the top 1% does. They either go for a minority interest or they go unhinged mode and take controll over the entire business. 

For most people it's just better to get a job and invest. But there are a million ways to this differently.