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Learn the proven strategies of Dollar Cost Averaging and Auto Investing — the beginner-friendly path to long-term financial growth without the stress.
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Compound Growth
The time-tested strategy that removes guesswork from investing
Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) is the practice of investing a fixed dollar amount on a regular schedule, regardless of whether the market is up or down. It's about consistency, not timing.
Reduce the impact of market volatility by automatically buying more shares when prices are low and fewer shares when prices are high.
Result: Lower average cost per share over time
Invest the same amount (e.g., $100, $500) weekly or monthly into the same ETF, stock, or fund over long periods of time.
| Month | Investment | Share Price | Shares Bought | Total Shares |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | $200 | $50 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| February | $200 | $40 ↓ | 5.00 | 9.00 |
| March | $200 | $45 | 4.44 | 13.44 |
| April | $200 | $55 ↑ | 3.64 | 17.08 |
| Total | $800 | Avg: $47.50 | 17.08 | Avg Cost: $46.84 |
Notice: When prices dropped in February, you automatically bought MORE shares!
DCA removes the pressure of "timing the market" — one of the biggest mistakes beginners make. It helps you stick to your plan during volatile times and eliminates emotional decision-making.
Instead of asking:
"Is now a good time to invest?"
"Should I wait for a dip?"
"What if I buy at the top?"
You simply invest on schedule. Every time.
Workplace retirement with automatic paycheck deductions
Recurring investments into index funds and ETFs
Betterment, Wealthfront, and similar services
Fidelity, Schwab, M1 Finance auto-invest
Less stressful during market swings and downturns
Builds consistent investing habits automatically
Can reduce average cost per share over time
Removes the impossible task of predicting markets
May underperform lump-sum investing in long-term rising markets
DCA doesn't replace the need for a diversified portfolio
Doesn't protect against long-term market declines
Benefits compound over years, not weeks
Set it, forget it, and let your wealth grow on autopilot
Prevents panic selling and FOMO buying by executing your plan automatically on schedule.
Ensures investing happens every paycheck without relying on willpower or remembering to log in.
No need to watch markets or constantly decide "is now a good time to buy?"
Auto-invest is the practical, real-world way to implement Dollar Cost Averaging.
Auto-investing treats investing like a bill you pay to your future self. Just like rent or utilities, it's non-negotiable and automatic.
By spreading purchases across different market conditions, you avoid the risk of investing everything at a market peak.
Simple to automate contributions into a diversified portfolio like the classic 3-ETF strategy.
Einstein reportedly called it "the eighth wonder of the world" — understand why your money grows exponentially over time
Compounding is when you earn returns not just on your original investment, but also on the returns you've already earned. It's interest earning interest.
Simple Example:
Year 1: $1,000 × 10% = $100 earned → Total: $1,100
Year 2: $1,100 × 10% = $110 earned → Total: $1,210
Year 3: $1,210 × 10% = $121 earned → Total: $1,331
Each year, you earn more than the year before!
Your money grew 10x with zero additional contributions!
The longer your money compounds, the more dramatic the growth. Starting early is more powerful than investing more money later.
Even small differences in annual returns lead to huge differences over decades. This is why keeping fees low is crucial.
Reinvesting dividends and returns accelerates compounding. Don't withdraw — let it grow!
Value at age 65
$642,000
Value at age 65
$440,000
Emma invested $72,000 LESS but ended up with $202,000 MORE because she started 10 years earlier!
A quick way to estimate how long it takes to double your money:
72 ÷ Annual Return = Years to Double
| Return | Years to Double |
|---|---|
| 4% | 18 years |
| 6% | 12 years |
| 8% | 9 years |
| 10% | 7.2 years |
| 12% | 6 years |
See the power of consistent investing and compounding with your own numbers
Curated educational videos to deepen your understanding of investing concepts
Beginner-friendly videos explaining DCA strategy step by step.
The best time to start investing was yesterday. The second best time is today. Use our calculators to see what's possible!