Invest All $350K In The S&P 500 Or Dollar Cost Average? Dave Ramsey Says One Thing Is Certain, Trump Is 'Going To Do A Trump Thing'

June 29, 2026 - 03:07

Dropping a large sum like $350,000 into the stock market in one shot can feel like a gamble. Political drama, global conflicts, and surprise events can swing prices wildly. That is why personal finance expert Dave Ramsey recently weighed in on the classic debate: lump sum investing versus dollar cost averaging.

Ramsey acknowledged the anxiety. Nobody wants to invest a huge pile of cash right before a downturn. But he argued that trying to time the market often backfires. Historically, putting money in all at once tends to outperform spreading it out over time, simply because the market generally trends upward.

However, Ramsey also offered a dose of reality about the current political climate. He stated that one thing is certain: President Donald Trump is "going to do a Trump thing." By that, he meant the market should expect unpredictable moves, dramatic policy shifts, and sudden volatility. Ramsey did not predict whether those moves would be good or bad for stocks. He simply warned that investors should not be surprised by chaos.

His advice for the hypothetical $350,000 portfolio was practical. If the money is for long-term growth, lump sum investing is statistically the better bet. But if the investor cannot sleep at night worrying about a sudden crash, then dollar cost averaging over a few months is acceptable. The key, he said, is to actually invest the money rather than let it sit in cash while waiting for the perfect moment that never comes.