Markets have been swinging hard lately. Here's why advisers keep recommending peso-cost averaging instead of timing the market.

Originally reported as: “Financial advisers urge peso-cost averaging as market volatility persists”

With stock prices swinging sharply in recent weeks, financial advisers have been repeating a familiar piece of advice: keep investing a fixed amount on a regular schedule instead of trying to guess the perfect moment to buy. This approach, often called peso-cost averaging in the Philippines, means putting in the same amount every payday or every month regardless of whether prices are up or down that day. When prices are low, that fixed amount buys more shares, and when prices are high, it buys fewer, which smooths out the average price paid over time. The strategy will not guarantee a profit or protect against a genuine long-term decline, but it removes the pressure of trying to pick the single best day to invest, something even professional fund managers struggle to do consistently. For everyday investors rattled by daily headlines, it offers a simple, mechanical way to keep investing through the noise.