Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) is an investment strategy often used within the Individual Retirement Account (IRA) industry, as well as other investment scenarios. This strategy involves regularly investing a fixed amount of money into a specific investment, such as stocks or mutual funds, regardless of the market’s price fluctuations.

Here’s how Dollar-Cost Averaging works within an IRA:

Consistent Investment: Investors contribute a fixed amount of money to their IRA at regular intervals, such as monthly or quarterly.
Market Fluctuations: The fixed amount buys more shares when prices are low and fewer shares when prices are high.
Risk Mitigation: By spreading out the investment over time, DCA reduces the impact of market volatility on the investment. It avoids the risk of investing a large amount in a single investment at the wrong time.
Long-Term Approach: DCA is particularly well-suited for retirement savings in IRAs because it encourages a long-term, disciplined investment approach, rather than trying to time the market.

This strategy is popular among IRA investors as it simplifies the investment process, reduces emotional decision-making, and can potentially lower the average cost per share over time, although it does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss in declining markets.