Our Mission & Data Methodology

Making investment data accessible, understandable, and actionable for everyone interested in long-term wealth building.

Our Mission

Traditional compound interest calculators show you theoretical returns based on fixed annual rates. While useful, they don't capture the reality of market volatility, economic cycles, and the emotional journey of long-term investing.

If You DCA bridges this gap by using real historical market data to show you exactly what would have happened if you had invested consistently over any period in the past 20+ years. This isn't theory—it's history.

Why This Matters

  • Real Data Builds Confidence: Seeing how DCA performed through actual market crashes, bull runs, and recessions helps you understand what to expect.
  • Visual Learning: Charts and data visualizations make complex financial concepts immediately understandable.
  • Strategic Insights: Compare different assets, time periods, and investment amounts to develop informed investment strategies.

Our Data Methodology

Reliable Sources

We source our data from Twelve Data, a trusted financial data provider used by thousands of applications worldwide.

Adjusted Prices

We use adjusted closing prices that account for stock splits, dividends, and other corporate actions for accurate returns.

Daily Updates

Our price data is updated daily to ensure calculations reflect the most current market information available.

Calculation Method

Our DCA calculator uses a month-by-month simulation approach rather than mathematical formulas. Here's how it works:

  1. Data Retrieval: We fetch historical adjusted closing prices for your selected asset and time period.
  2. Monthly Simulation: For each month in your investment period, we calculate how many shares your monthly contribution would have purchased at that month's price.
  3. Accumulation: We track your total shares owned and total amount invested over time.
  4. Final Calculation: Your final portfolio value is your total shares multiplied by the most recent price.
  5. Performance Metrics: We calculate your total return, annualized return (CAGR), and provide detailed visualization of your wealth growth.

Data Coverage

Our historical data aims to be as comprehensive as possible:

  • Time Range: We use the full available historical data for each asset, which for some indices goes back several decades.
  • Update Frequency: Monthly data points for consistency with DCA strategies.
  • Assets Covered: Major index ETFs (SPY, QQQ) and large-cap stocks (AAPL, MSFT, GOOGL, AMZN, NVDA).
  • Data Points: Adjusted closing prices that account for all corporate actions like dividends and stock splits.

Transparency & Limitations

What We Include

  • • Historical price appreciation and dividends (through adjusted prices)
  • • Real market volatility and timing effects
  • • Compound growth from reinvestment

What We Don't Include

  • • Trading fees or brokerage commissions
  • • Taxes on dividends or capital gains
  • • Inflation adjustments
  • • Management fees for ETFs or mutual funds

Important Disclaimer

This tool is for educational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results. All investments carry risk, including the potential for loss of principal. Always consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Future Enhancements

We're continuously working to improve and expand our calculator. Planned features include:

  • • More asset classes (international markets, bonds, commodities)
  • • Inflation-adjusted returns
  • • Tax-consideration scenarios
  • • Portfolio diversification analysis
  • • Custom asset combinations

Questions About Our Methodology?

We believe in complete transparency. If you have questions about our data sources, calculations, or methodology, we'd love to hear from you.

Get in Touch