Multi-Asset DCA Calculator

Calculate dollar-cost averaging returns across multiple asset classes including Bitcoin, stocks, gold, bonds, and more. Analyse holding period statistics and portfolio performance with real historical data.

Related Tools

Mock Data Studio

Generate realistic test data for your applications

Unix Timestamp Converter

Convert between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates

JSON Viewer

View, format, and analyse JSON data with syntax highlighting

What is Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA)?

Dollar-cost averaging is an investment strategy where you invest a fixed amount of money at regular intervals, regardless of the asset's price. This approach helps reduce the impact of volatility and removes the stress of trying to time the market. By investing consistently over time, you buy more units when prices are low and fewer when prices are high, potentially lowering your average cost per unit.

Why Use a Multi-Asset DCA Calculator?

  • Portfolio Diversification: Spread your investments across different asset classes (stocks, crypto, gold, bonds) to reduce risk and maximise potential returns.
  • Historical Analysis: Use real historical data to see how your strategy would have performed during various market conditions including crashes, bull markets, and black swan events.
  • Risk Metrics: Calculate important risk-adjusted returns like Sharpe Ratio, Sortino Ratio, maximum drawdown, and Calmar Ratio to understand your portfolio's risk profile.
  • FIRE Planning: Project when you could achieve Financial Independence and Retire Early based on your current savings and contribution rate.

How to Use the Portfolio Calculator

  1. Add Assets: Select from various asset classes including S&P 500, NASDAQ, FTSE 100, Bitcoin, Ethereum, gold, silver, bonds, and savings accounts.
  2. Set Contributions: Enter your initial investment and regular contribution amounts. You can choose different contribution frequencies (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually) for each asset.
  3. Choose Time Period: Select the start and end years for your analysis. The calculator uses real historical data from each asset's inception year.
  4. Run Simulation: Click "Simulate Historical Performance" to see how your portfolio would have performed, including total returns, risk metrics, and monthly breakdown.
  5. Enable FIRE Projection: Toggle the FIRE projection to see when you might achieve financial independence based on your withdrawal rate and annual expenses.

Understanding Holding Period Analysis

The Holding Period Analysis tab helps you understand the probability of making or losing money when holding an asset for different time periods. This analysis uses every possible historical entry and exit point to calculate:

  • Win Rate: The percentage of times you would have made a profit
  • Expected Return: The average return considering both wins and losses
  • 5th Percentile: The worst-case scenario (only 5% of outcomes were worse)
  • 95th Percentile: The best-case scenario (only 5% of outcomes were better)
  • Reward-to-Risk Ratio: How much you gain on average when you win vs lose

This analysis is particularly useful for understanding time-in-market effects. Generally, longer holding periods tend to have higher win rates and lower downside risk across most asset classes.

Asset Classes Available

Stock Indices

  • S&P 500 (from 1970)
  • NASDAQ (from 1971)
  • FTSE 100 (from 1985)
  • DAX Germany (from 1988)
  • Nikkei 225 (from 1970)

Cryptocurrencies

  • Bitcoin (from 2011)
  • Ethereum (from 2015)
  • BNB (from 2017)
  • XRP (from 2013)
  • Cardano (from 2017)
  • Solana (from 2020)
  • Polkadot (from 2020)

Commodities

  • Gold (from 1971)
  • Silver (from 1970)
  • Crude Oil (from 1985)
  • Copper (from 1985)

Bonds & Savings

  • US 10-Year Treasury (from 1980)
  • UK 10-Year Gilt (from 1985)
  • German Bund (from 1990)
  • Savings Accounts (from 1970)

Risk Metrics Explained

Sharpe Ratio
Measures risk-adjusted returns by comparing excess returns to volatility. Higher is better. Above 1.0 is considered good, above 2.0 is excellent.
Sortino Ratio
Similar to Sharpe Ratio but only considers downside volatility. This better reflects the risk investors care about (losses) vs upside volatility (gains).
Maximum Drawdown
The largest peak-to-trough decline in portfolio value. Shows the worst historical loss you would have experienced. Lower is better.
Calmar Ratio
Annual return divided by maximum drawdown. Measures return per unit of downside risk. Higher is better.
Real Return After Inflation
Your actual purchasing power gain after accounting for inflation. This is what truly matters for long-term wealth building.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the historical data accurate?
Yes, we use real historical data from Yahoo Finance for stocks and cryptocurrencies, and historical records for commodities and bonds. The data includes actual price movements, including market crashes and black swan events.
Does this guarantee future returns?
No. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This calculator is for educational and planning purposes only. Always do your own research and consider consulting with a financial adviser.
What's the difference between nominal and real returns?
Nominal returns don't account for inflation. Real returns show your actual purchasing power gain after inflation. For example, a 10% nominal return with 3% inflation equals a 7% real return.
How do I share my portfolio configuration?
Click the "Share Portfolio" button to copy a URL with your exact configuration. You can bookmark this URL or share it with others to show your investment strategy.
What is the FIRE projection?
FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) projection estimates when you could retire based on the 4% rule (or your custom withdrawal rate). It projects your portfolio growth and compares it to your required nest egg based on annual expenses.