Often referred to as
DCA. An
investment strategy which involves investing a
fixed sum into a
security on a
periodic basis. For example, I might choose to invest $100 per month in my favorite
mutual fund. The
theory is that such a
program will result in my purchasing more shares when the share price is on the
decline and fewer when the price is rising. So if the
share price is $10, I will purchase 10 shares per month; if it is $20, I will only purchase five shares. In short, it's a way of ensuring that an investor
takes advantage during times when an investment may be "
on sale."
Dollar cost averaging is not a strategy that's designed to make people money--it's a reasonable way of putting some money into the market one bit at a time, so as to help avoid the unpleasantness that occurs when the market collapses immediately after you invest $50,000. And while you will buy more shares of your target investment when prices are down, this won't help if the share price never comes back up.
Therefore, the National Association of Securities Dealers (or NASD, the self regulating organization for American investment companies) requires the following disclaimer appear on all marketing materials that refer to dollar cost averaging (by name or otherwise):
Programs of regular investing cannot ensure a profit or protect against losses in a declining market. Consider your ability to continue funding such a program through periods of low price levels before investing.