dollar-cost averaging

dollar-cost averaging

Investment of a fixed amount of money at regular intervals, usually each month. This process results in the purchase of extra shares during market downturns and fewer shares during market upturns. Dollar-cost averaging is based on the belief that the market or a particular stock will rise in price over the long term and that it is not worthwhile (or even possible) to identify intermediate highs and lows. Also called averaging.

What types of investors should use dollar-cost averaging?

When asked what the market was going to do, J. P. Morgan reportedly said, "It will fluctuate." Morgan was right! This concept refers to putting a fixed amount of money into securities periodically. In so doing, one's average price per share is lower than the mean average price during the holding period. This is basic math: $100 buys 10 shares of a stock at $10, and 5 shares at $20 when the market is higher. The mean average price is $15. But the investor owns 15 shares and paid just $200 for an average price per share of just $13.33. TIP: A good approach for smaller investors just getting started, and also for IRAs. It works particularly well with diversified mutual funds.

Thomas J. McAllister, CFP, McAllister Financial Planning, Carmel, IN