[Kristen]

Excuse my ignorance, but I’m still learning. Dollar cost averaging: how often are you buying considering the current volatility? Weekly? Monthly? Daily?

When it comes to **dollar cost averaging (DCA)**, how frequently are you actually buying right now, especially given the recent volatility?

Are you sticking to a **weekly**, **monthly**, or even **daily** schedule? Or have you adjusted your approach based on the market’s movements?

I know there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but I’d love to hear how different people are applying DCA in real time.

Are you automating your buys, or timing them manually based on certain indicators or price dips?

Appreciate any insights, especially from those with more experience.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts!

[Kenneth]

When I was working it was monthly on automatic. Now I invest on dips. I made a small move yesterday and bought 50k in stock.

If today is a dead cat bounce and the market goes lower I’ll buy a few more times in 50K increments.

There was a time when still working I’d have thrown in most all my cash. Now I’ll go smaller.

I can still make 5 or 6 more buys like that.

[Claude]

Every dividend. If the market is at negative: buy. If it is positive: i take the cash.

[Rob]

It doesn’t matter what the market is doing, we have years before we need it. Between me and my wife we fund every week.

I’m putting $2k and she’s adding $1.5k a week.

My goal is to fully fund my 401k in June and then throw it all atvour taxable brokerage.

We fully funded our IRAs the first week of the year.

[Watson]

Good question. I buy every two weeks. It’s automatic.
I completely ignore the market since 2013. Never been happier.

I check my portfolio in December and it has never lost value. Ever.

[Daniel]

I do every 2 weeks (1st and 15th of the month automatically- pre set amounts). I think every month, 2 weeks, or every week are good options.

Just make sure it’s on automatic and you don’t stop.

[Menghis]

I buy anytime I close on a deal. And since my portfolio is quiet diversified and some with consistent returns daily.

It’s mostly monthly.

[Jacob]

Statistically, lump sum beats DCA 68-75% of the time. I lump sum my IRA on Jan 1 every year. In the long run, time in the market beats timing the market every time.

As for DCA, it doesn’t matter.

Biweekly or monthly will work just fine. Tune out all the noise.

[Bob]

Volatility is irrelevant. The point is to be consistent with equal amounts. The amount and frequency is up to you.

For me, I contribute a fixed amount every two weeks to my Roth 401k.

I also have an annual automatic increase.

[John]

It’s your choice. To me monthly makes sense. If it’s a taxable account I also sell after a loss of a certain amount and immediately buy a different fund.

Research tax loss harvesting if you are unfamiliar

[Michael]

Before the current situation, I was buying monthly automatic but with whats going on, there’s an opportunity for me to do some dollar cost averaging so I stopped the monthly contributions for now and do this.

Every time there’s a 10% dip in my stocks/funds, I buy more. I’m buying on sale now.

Once things get back to normal, I’ll start my automatic contributions back.

[Pat]

For me it’s once a month with a fixed amount because that’s when I get paid and get my employer 403b match.

I buy every month, no matter what the market is doing.

[Sam]

I’m buying any time I have new cash. Some money I pulled out just off the highs, I’ve been DCAing back in as the market dips.

[Nicholas]

Normally people buy based upon their compensation schedule. Every time you get paid you buy without considering market conditions.

[Young]

Every 2 weeks regardless of what the market is doing. It’s my pay cycle and just part of handling the paycheck.

401k automatically taken out, transfers sent to brokerage and Roth IRA and invested

[Jo]

I do automatically biweekly and have been putting more cash on hand into the market daily as well since I believe the market will eventually go back up

[Andrew]

Set up a reoccurring buy when you know you’ll have money (payday) on an index fund and leave it alone. When you come across extra $$ buy more.

Don’t worry about the stock price and trying to time the market – too much stress, energy, and effort that’s not necessary and cost most people $$ at the same time. GL

[Denise]

No need to apologize- we’re all learning! Dollar- cost averaging (DCA) is a great strategy, especially during volatile times.

Many people stick to a schedule that works with their paycheck- so either biweekly or monthly.

Others might go weekly if they have smaller amounts to invest regularly.

The key is consistency, not timing the market. You’re doing great just by asking questions and staying curious!

[David]

As long as it’s consistent, it’s whatever frequency you want. We do weekly for our brokerage account.

And the 401k and HSA come out every 2 weeks with paychecks.

[Author]

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