The Pragmatic Millionaire

📈 My Year-to-Date Results

In January, my stock portfolio was $566,657
By end of October, it reached $726,493 — a +28.2% gain

All this happened without timing the market.
My approach? Automated daily investing (Mon–Fri) using a dollar-cost averaging (DCA) system.

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💡 Why I Chose Daily DCA

Instead of guessing market highs or lows, I invest a fixed amount automatically each weekday.
This turns investing into a routine rather than a decision.

Daily automation via Wealthsimple:

• Removes emotion and hesitation
• Captures both up and down days
• Smooths volatility
• Keeps money working immediately

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📊 What the Data Shows

Month End	Portfolio Value	% Change vs January
January	$566,657	–
April	$495,794	–12.5%
May	$553,765	-0.23%
October	$726,493	+28.2%

• The portfolio dropped early (Jan → Apr) but rebounded fast.
• Average monthly gain since May ≈ 3.3%.
• Compound monthly growth rate ≈ 2.1%, annualized ≈ 28%.

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🧠 Key Takeaways

• Consistency > Timing: The compounding effect beats guessing entry points.
• Automation removes emotion: Investing runs without interference.
• Track progress: Monthly tracking shows how patience pays off.
• Diversify wisely: Automation only works if the base is diversified.
• Expect dips: The April drawdown tested patience but paid off later.

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🔍 Why This Works

Daily DCA keeps you invested. It avoids two big mistakes:

1. Missing market upside while waiting for “the right time.”
2. Going all-in at the wrong time.

It’s not about perfection — it’s about exposure and habit.
If you have steady income, frequent small investments are powerful.

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⚠️ A Few Caveats

• Lump-sum investing can outperform when markets trend strongly upward.
• Frequent investing requires zero-fee platforms like Wealthsimple or Questrade to avoid erosion.
• Automation ≠ neglect — rebalance periodically to stay aligned with goals.

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✅ The Bottom Line

If you want real, sustainable progress:

Invest consistently, automate the process, and stop timing the market.
Small, daily steps compound faster than dramatic bets.

Stay the course.

— The Pragmatic Millionaire

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🔗 Further Reading

1. I Will Teach You To Be Rich – Dollar Cost Averaging vs Lump Sum
2. Personal Finance Club – Lump Sum vs Dollar-Cost Averaging
3. Canadian Couch Potato – Does Dollar-Cost Averaging Work?
4. The Poor Swiss – Dollar-Cost Averaging Is More Risky Than You Think
5. Barb Friedberg – How to Buy Low and Sell High with DCA