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Investment Resolution for the New Year: Set Up Your Regular Contribution
Key takeaways
- A regular contribution removes the need to predict the market.
- Automation reduces the influence of emotions on decision-making.
- Year-end is a natural moment to review the amount of your contribution.
- A simple plan you stick to beats a complex plan you abandon.
- Your investment year begins with setting up the system, not watching predictions.
Today is 31 December. Instead of predictions for the new year, here is one concrete recommendation: check your regular contribution and set it up to run automatically for the whole year.
Why now
The turn of the year is a psychologically powerful moment for changing habits. And automating your contribution is one of the few things in investing where psychology works in your favour — set it up once and the system works on its own.
Predictions and tips for 2028 are entertainment for journalists. Your investment result will depend on whether you contributed regularly — not on whether you correctly predicted what the market would do in January.
What to do concretely
- Open your broker account and check the amount of your regular contribution
- Consider whether it still matches your current income and goals
- Set or adjust the standing order — ideally the day after your salary arrives
- Verify that the fund you are investing in still matches your strategy
What you do not need
You do not need to know where the market will be in a year. You do not need a special fund for the new year. You do not need to change your strategy if it is working. All you need is a system that will keep working even when you have neither the time nor the inclination.
A good start to the year
Year-end is the time for one decision: will I invest automatically, or will I invest manually and rely on my own discipline? History shows which option works better. An overview of ETFs suitable for regular investing can be found in the ETF navigator.
FAQ
How large does a regular contribution need to be?
It depends on your goals and income. Regularity matters more than the size — even a small amount invested every month for years builds a solid foundation.
Should I invest on the 1st or another day of the month?
The day matters less than people think. What matters is that the contribution is automatic and arrives soon after your salary, before money "disappears" into spending.
What if the market drops right after I invest in January?
That is a normal part of cost averaging. A drop does not mean you made a mistake — it means your next contribution will buy at a lower price.