FinEdFriday: What is Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) and Should You Use it?

We get it.

You don't want to lose money when you invest. 

This fear isn't abnormal. Nobody wakes up in the morning hoping to lose money, unless you are planning to give it away (more on that in an upcoming post).

The fear might be rooted in witnessing someone else lose their money or may be tied to your underlying trust of the market in which you are investing. Don't get us wrong, there is always a healthy amount of fear needed for the wisest investing.  Investing is largely a tension between risk and reward, after all.  However, when the fear of losing money runs untamed, it can actually inhibit some people from ever investing at all.

Ok, so what to do...

To minimize the fear of losing money, investors sometimes choose to go with a risk-reduction strategy, such as Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA). 

Despite the fact that the majority of academic research has shown that dollar cost averaging may help to manage risk, but that on average it reduces returns (and therefore is inferior to lump-sum investing), the popularity of DCA remains high among practitioners and the investing public.  Why?

Ever heard of loss aversion?

Research has shown that the pain of losses is more severe than the joy of gains for investor1.  This is even true when the potential amount of loss or gain are exactly the same.  It feels better to not lose $100 than to make the same $100. It is because of this psychology that risk-averse investors may find incredible value in Dollar Cost Averaging because of its behavioral benefits alone.  

What is DCA?

DCA is an investment tactic in which a fixed amount of money is invested at regular intervals. The intended goal of DCA is to provide the investor with a lower average cost of shares over time. Since the investment amount will be the same at each interval, the idea is that more shares will be purchased when the price is low, while fewer will be purchased when the price is more expensive. 

What are the Proposed Benefits of DCA?

1. Risk Mitigation

By only investing a portion of your lump sum, price drops will not impact your portfolio as heavily had you invested a larger portion or your entire sum. Dollar-cost averaging is meant to mitigate the risks involved in lump-sum investing through which an investor could face major losses if the market crashes or prices fall drastically. Risk-aversive individuals may, therefore, prefer to use DCA.2

2. Managing Emotions

Market fluctuations and losses can greatly affect an individual’s emotional well-being. Further, emotional responses to these ebbs and flows, such as overconfidence or panic, can affect future investment decisions.3  Since only part of a sum is exposed to the market, losses may not be as drastic. Therefore, many individuals may experience a duller emotional reaction than if all of their sums were to be affected, decreasing the likelihood of their making emotionally-driven investment decisions in the future.4

As such, DCA may be good option for those looking to minimize the impact of emotion on their investment choices.

What are the Critiques of DCA?

1. Missing Out On Gains

When employing dollar-cost averaging, portions of your money sit uninvested. The main argument against DCA is that these portions are not given the chance to accumulate any return at all. As a result, some investors and financial professionals may prefer another strategy such as lump-sum investing, which exposes a larger portion of your funds to the market. 

2. Lump-Sum Investing vs. DCA

In lump-sum investing, a larger portion of your money is given the chance to make gains sooner rather than later. However, investing a significant portion of your money also means that you may experience more pronounced losses in a vacuum. Over time, however, you can make up for these losses. This long-term thinking also supports the idea behind dollar-cost averaging. Ultimately, the decision to use either tactic will depend on your unique situation. 

When to Consider Using DCA 

Investors might choose to employ dollar-cost averaging for a variety of different reasons, including for investments that are historically more volatile. DCA is also a way to potentially regulate emotional responses. Dollar-cost averaging might be used in the following circumstances:

• Volatile investments
• Other long-term investments, such as 401(k)’s or IRA’s
• A time in life where any volatility is not feasible and may cause immediate ramifications (i.e. nearing retirement)
• Individuals who are risk-aversive 
• Individuals who do not have the funds for a lump-sum investment 

The alleged benefit of dollar-cost averaging is that it encompasses the unpredictability of the market yet intends to lower the cost of your shares as a result. The choice is a delicate balance between natural tendency of fear, investing timeline, and desired outcome of investing and should not be considered without regard to your bigger financial situation.  

1. https://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2015/01/gains-losses
2. https://www.onefpa.org/journal/Pages/OCT15-Dollar-Cost-Averaging-The-Trade-Off-Between-Risk-and-Return.aspx
3. https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/jep.29.4.61
4. https://www.onefpa.org/journal/Pages/FEB18-Using-a-Behavioral-Approach-to-Mitigate-Panic-and-Improve-Investor-Outcomes.aspx

This content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.