Sheet 12 - Tools · TL-012DWG SP-2026-24

DCA vs Lump Sum.

Same capital, same return. Deploy it all on day one, or feed it in month by month? Simulate both paths — and see the true cost of hesitation.

Capital & assumptions

Capital (Rp)

The full amount available to deploy.

DCA period (mo)

Months the DCA path spreads the capital.

Annual return %

Same for both paths — isolates timing.

Horizon

OutputTL-012/A

Lump sum final–

DCA final–

Cost of hesitation–

Verdict

–

Lump sumDCA

Method

Monthly rateannual % ÷ 12 ÷ 100 — nominal monthly compounding

Lump sumcapital × (1 + r)ⁿ

DCA pathΣ slice × (1 + r)^{months left} — each monthly slice compounds for its remaining months

Cost of hesitationlump sum final − DCA final

Both paths assume the same smooth return, so the comparison isolates timing only. In real markets DCA also buys dips — this model does not simulate price paths. DCA's true edge is behavioral: it gets hesitant capital deployed instead of sitting in cash forever. If the DCA period runs past the horizon, capital not yet deployed is retained as cash.

Model the accumulation, then track it for real.

Sidepick Ledger logs every contribution and its compounding — one ledger for the whole journey.

View Ledger · $19