What to do, and how often
| How often | What to do |
|---|---|
| Every payday (automatic) | Auto-invest a fixed amount into your funds -- set once, never touch |
| Once a year (~30 min) | Check your stock/bond mix vs target; rebalance if >5 points off (new cash in taxable); bump your contribution if you got a raise |
| Every few years / life events | Re-check your allocation as your horizon shortens (glide path); revisit after marriage, kids, a home, or a job change |
| Near the goal (5-10 yrs out) | Shift gradually toward bonds and cash so a late crash can't derail you (sequence risk) |
Why behavior beats fund selection
The single biggest predictor of long-run success is not which funds you picked -- it is whether you kept contributing and left the portfolio alone through downturns. This checklist is designed to be boring on purpose. Boring is what compounds.
Set an annual checkup reminder
Put one recurring calendar reminder -- 'annual portfolio checkup' -- on the same date each year (your birthday works). That 30-minute habit is the whole maintenance plan.
The habits that carry the portfolio
What does realistic maintenance look like?
What is the realistic maintenance schedule for the portfolio you've built?
Check your understanding
Sit with the ideas.
What does the evidence say is the biggest driver of long-run investing success?
Why: