http://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/

Blake Alewelt, 5550 Wild Rose Lane #400, West Des Moines, IA (2026)

07/18/2026

Day 96 of Investing Every Day!

Can the Averaging Down strategy actually outperform traditional Dollar Cost Averaging over the long run? Today, we're comparing our portfolio against VTI, and the results are getting interesting.

Follow along as we invest every trading day and track every dollar invested.

Want to invest alongside us? Check out my step-by-step Fidelity tutorial to get started:
https://youtu.be/YSQXzMq6-Q0

Subscribe for regular updates about how to make your money work for you.

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

07/17/2026

Day 95 of Investing Every Trading Day, And Today Was the Perfect Example of Why We Use Averaging Down...

Today's market perfectly demonstrated why I'm testing this investing strategy. Instead of trying to predict the perfect time to buy, we're following a simple system called Averaging Down.

The Rules Are Simple:
1. Invest a base amount at the start of every trading day
2. If the fund turns red during the day, invest that same amount again

That second purchase lowered our average cost per share. Then, just before the market closed, VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) rallied enough for today's investments to finish in the green.

That's exactly what this strategy is designed to do: take advantage of intraday pullbacks while continuing to invest consistently.

The Big Question:
Can Averaging Down outperform traditional Dollar-Cost Averaging over months... or even years?

That's exactly what we're testing.
Every trade is documented publicly so you can watch the results unfold in real time and see whether buying the dip creates a measurable advantage over simply investing the same amount on a fixed schedule.

Want to Invest Alongside Me?
If you're ready to start investing, I made a step-by-step tutorial showing exactly how to open a Fidelity brokerage account and begin investing in low-cost index funds like VTI.

Check out that video next, follow the challenge, and I'll see you back here tomorrow for Day 96!

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

Fidelity Investments

07/16/2026

Ninety-four trading days into this investing challenge, we're up $909, a 6.6% return, and we're quickly approaching $15,000 invested.

The goal of this daily investing challenge is simple:
Can an Averaging Down strategy outperform traditional Dollar-Cost Averaging over the long run?

Here's How It Works:
1. Invest a base amount at the start of every trading day
2. If the market goes red during the day, invest that amount again.

This strategy helps lower our average cost per share, allowing us to accumulate more shares during market pullbacks. When the market recovers, those additional shares have the potential to generate even greater gains.

Instead of trying to perfectly time the market, we're staying disciplined, investing consistently, and documenting every trade along the way.

Why We Invest in VTI:
We're investing in VTI (Vanguard's Total Stock Market ETF), a low-cost index fund that gives exposure to thousands of U.S. companies through one investment.

It's a simple, diversified strategy designed for long-term investors who want to build wealth without chasing individual stocks.

Want to Invest Alongside Me?
If you're ready to get started, I made a step-by-step tutorial showing exactly how to open a Fidelity brokerage account and purchase your first index fund.

Check out that video on the YT channel, follow the challenge, and I'll see you back here tomorrow for Day 95!

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

Fidelity Investments

07/15/2026

Day 93 of Investing Every Trading Day, and We're Now Up $860!

This challenge isn't about finding the next hot stock or timing the market perfectly. It's about testing a simple strategy called Averaging Down to see if it can outperform traditional Dollar-Cost Averaging over the long run.

The Rules Are Simple
1. Invest a base amount every trading day (we're investing $100, but you can start with as little as $5)
2. If the market turns red during the day, invest that same amount again.

By buying additional shares during market pullbacks, we lower our average cost per share. When the market recovers, those discounted purchases have the potential to generate even greater returns.

Why We're Tracking Every Trade
Every investment is documented publicly so you can follow the results in real time.

Whether Averaging Down ultimately beats traditional Dollar-Cost Averaging is exactly what we're here to find out.

If you're new to investing, this series shows what consistent, long-term investing looks like through both good markets and bad.

Want to Invest Alongside Me?
I put together a step-by-step tutorial showing exactly how to open a Fidelity brokerage account and start investing in low-cost index funds like VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF).

Watch that video next, follow the challenge, and I'll see you back here tomorrow for Day 94!

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

07/14/2026

Day 92 of Investing Every Trading Day, And Global Headlines Created Another Buying Opportunity.

Most investors get nervous when the stock market drops. We're doing the opposite.

In this investing challenge, we're investing in VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) using a strategy called Averaging Down.

The rules are simple:
- Invest $100 at the start of every trading day
- Invest another $100 whenever the market dips

With renewed concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, the market pulled back again today, giving us another buying opportunity.

If you've been following this investing challenge series, you've seen how geopolitical events, oil prices, and market volatility have created several buying opportunities over the past few months without the fund actually increasing in share price.

Rather than trying to predict the bottom will be, we're investing consistently and using pullbacks to lower our average cost per share.

The goal of this challenge is simple:
Can Averaging Down outperform traditional Dollar-Cost Averaging over the long run?

We're documenting every trade in real time so you can watch the results unfold.

Want to invest alongside me?
I created a step-by-step tutorial showing exactly how to open a Fidelity brokerage account and start investing in index funds.

Check out that video next, subscribe to follow the challenge, and I'll see you back here tomorrow for Day 93!

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

07/11/2026

Day 91 of This is Investing Challenge, And We're Up Almost $1,000!

Instead of using traditional dollar-cost averaging alone, we're combining it with a Buy the Dip strategy to lower our average cost per share over time.

The rules are simple:
- Invest $100 at the start of every trading day
- Invest another $100 whenever the market dips

By buying during both green and red markets, we're building our position while taking advantage of short-term volatility.

We're investing in VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF), a low-cost index fund that has tracked the U.S. stock market since 2001.

Over its lifetime, VTI has weathered major market crashes, including the dot-com bust and the 2008 financial crisis, while delivering strong long-term returns.

Here's the part that gets me excited.

If we continue investing at our current pace, projections show this portfolio could potentially grow to more than $6 million by retirement (assuming long-term historical-style returns).

Even investing $650 per month in a Roth IRA for 30 years can grow to more than $1.3 million, thanks to compound growth.

The biggest takeaway? You don't have to find the next Nvidia or Apple to build wealth.

You simply need a consistent investing plan and enough time for compounding to do its job.

Want to Start Investing?
If you're ready to begin investing for retirement, I made a step-by-step tutorial showing exactly how to open a Roth IRA in Fidelity and purchase your first index fund.

Check out that video next, subscribe to follow the challenge, and I'll see you back here Monday for Day 92!

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

Fidelity Investments

07/10/2026

Day 90 of Investing Every Trading Day, And We're Now Up Over $871!
Ninety trading days in... and the strategy continues to play out.

In this investing challenge, we're investing in VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) using a strategy called Averaging Down.

The rules are simple:
- Invest $100 at the start of every trading day
- Invest another $100 whenever the market dips

Instead of trying to predict the perfect time to invest, we're consistently buying through both the good days and the bad.

90 Days of Consistency
Since May, the stock market has traded mostly sideways, frustrating a lot of investors. But instead of waiting for the "perfect" opportunity, we've continued investing every single trading day.

That consistency has allowed us to accumulate more shares during the pullbacks, and as the market has recovered, many of those purchases have already turned profitable, meaning there are far more green positions than red ones.

That's exactly what we're trying to accomplish: build wealth one investment at a time while removing emotion from the process.

Why We Invest in VTI:
VTI tracks nearly the entire U.S. stock market, giving us exposure to thousands of companies through one low-cost ETF.

Rather than chasing the next hot stock, we're focused on long-term investing, broad diversification, and letting compound growth work over time.

Want to Follow Along or Start Investing?
If you'd like to build your own investing strategy, I made a step-by-step tutorial showing exactly how to open a brokerage account in Fidelity and buy your first index fund.

Check out that video on the youtube channel, hit the follow button down below to follow the challenge, and I'll see you back here tomorrow for Day 91!

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

07/09/2026

Day 89 of Investing Every Trading Day Using the Averaging Down Strategy!
Can buying every dip actually outperform traditional dollar-cost averaging?

That's exactly what we're testing in this investing challenge.

Instead of investing the same amount on a fixed schedule, we're using an Averaging Down strategy with VTI (Vanguard's Total Stock Market ETF) to take advantage of market pullbacks while continuing to invest consistently.

The rules are simple:
- Invest $100 at the start of every trading day
- Invest another $100 whenever the market dips

Why We're Doing This
If you've been following along, you know the stock market has traded mostly sideways since May, with continued uncertainty surrounding the conflict in Iran and other global headlines.

While many investors have been waiting for "the right time" to invest, we've continued buying every trading day.

That means we've been accumulating more shares during periods of volatility, so when VTI eventually moves higher, as it has throughout history, we'll own more shares purchased at lower average prices.

This challenge is all about seeing whether Averaging Down can outperform traditional Dollar-Cost Averaging over the long term.

Why We Invest in VTI
VTI tracks thousands of U.S. companies through one low-cost ETF, giving us broad diversification without trying to pick individual stocks.

It's a simple, long-term investing strategy built around consistency instead of market timing.

Want to Join the Challenge?
You don't have to use a taxable brokerage account to invest this way.

You can use the same strategy inside a Roth IRA, allowing your investments to potentially grow tax-free over the long run.

If you don't have a Roth IRA yet, check out my step-by-step Fidelity tutorial next, and I'll see you back here tomorrow for Day 90!

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

07/08/2026

Day 88 of this investing challenge And We Bought the Dip Again!
Another red day means another opportunity to stick to the plan.

In this investing challenge, we're using a strategy called Averaging Down, a combination of Dollar Cost Averaging and Buying the Dip.

The rules are simple:
- Invest $100 at the start of every trading day
- Invest another $100 whenever the market dips

Instead of trying to perfectly time the market, we're consistently building our position while taking advantage of temporary pullbacks.

Why This Strategy Is Different
Since May, the stock market has traded mostly sideways.

While some investors may be frustrated by the lack of movement, we've continued accumulating more shares every trading day.

That means when VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) begins its next sustained move higher, we'll own more shares purchased at lower average prices, giving us the potential to capture more of the upside.

That's the question this challenge is trying to answer:
Can Averaging Down outperform traditional Dollar-Cost Averaging over the long run?

We're tracking every trade publicly so you can see the results in real time.

Why We Invest in VTI
VTI gives us exposure to thousands of U.S. companies through one low-cost ETF, making it a simple, diversified investment for long-term wealth building without having to pick individual stocks.

Want to Join the Challenge?
If you're ready to start investing, I made a step-by-step tutorial showing exactly how to open a brokerage account in Fidelity and begin investing in index funds.

Check out that video next, hit the follow button to follow the challenge, and I'll see you back here tomorrow for Day 89!

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

Fidelity Investments

07/07/2026

Day 87 of this investing challenge and today was a great reminder of why we're following this investing strategy.

In this challenge, we're using a method called the Averaging Down Strategy, in which we lower our average cost per share by buying additional shares whenever the market dips.

The rules are simple:
- Invest $100 at the start of every trading day
- Invest another $100 whenever the market declines

Today's rally added more than $100 to our portfolio in a single day because of the extra shares we accumulated during the recent pullbacks.

Why This Challenge Matters
If you've been following along, you know that June has been largely flat for the stock market.

If we had invested everything at the beginning of the month, we would have missed the opportunity to buy those lower-priced shares during the dips.

That's the entire purpose of this challenge: Can Averaging Down outperform traditional Dollar-Cost Averaging over time?

We're documenting every trade in real time to find out.

Why We Invest in VTI:
We're investing in VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) because it provides broad diversification across thousands of U.S. companies in one low-cost index fund.

Rather than trying to predict the next winning stock, we're betting on the long-term growth of the overall market while staying disciplined through the ups and downs.

Do you want to JOIN the Challenge?
If you would like to invest alongside me, I made a step-by-step tutorial showing exactly how to open a brokerage account in Fidelity and buy your first index fund.
Check that video out next, and I'll see you back here tomorrow!

Subscribe for regular updates about how to make your money work for you.

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

Fidelity Investments

Blake Alewelt

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