Why does nobody love the 10% long-term dollar-cost averaging (DCA) in US stocks? Human weaknesses are the real pitfall of get-rich-quick dreams!

Friends around me would rather hold "doubling stocks" and cry over losses than touch long-term DCA in US stocks—even though historical annualized returns of 10% are rock-solid, compounding over 10 years can yield 2.5x returns. Yet, everyone collectively talks others out of it. At the end of the day, it all boils down to human weaknesses!

First is the "instant gratification" trap of impatience! Who’s willing to wait 10 years these days? Scrolling through short videos, seeing others flaunt "20% gains in a week" or "buying the dip to earn a house," eyes go wide! Those DCA returns, just a few percentage points per month, seem "pathetic" compared to "getting rich overnight." Human nature craves quick feedback—like binge-watching shows at 2x speed or demanding next-day delivery. The patience for "getting rich slowly" has long been eroded by fast-paced living, leaving people thinking, "Why wait 10 years when I can gamble now?"

Next is the gambler’s mentality of wishful thinking! Many treat stock trading as a "zero-sum game," convinced they’re the "chosen ones." A 10% annual return seems "too boring" to them; they’d rather chase meme stocks or limit-ups, clinging to the fantasy of "what if I win?" even when odds favor losses. It’s like buying lottery tickets despite knowing the odds—or dismissing DCA as "too slow" to brag about. Greed whispers, "I deserve faster riches."

Then there’s herd mentality! Everyone chats about "short-term trades" and "swing plays," but DCA is taboo—as if admitting to it means confessing, "I can’t make quick money." Fear of being mocked as a "dumb money" follower drives people to chase pumps and dumps, rationalizing losses with "everyone’s doing it" while labeling DCA folks as "too conservative." Humans would rather march into pitfalls with the crowd than walk a steady path alone, because "fitting in" feels safer than uncertain gains.

Lastly, the myopia of underestimating compounding! A 10% annual return seems modest, but its power is terrifying: $5,000 monthly becomes $1.3M in 10 years, $5M+ in 20! Yet most fixate on the now: "Only a few hundred this month? I’d rather park it in Yu’e Bao" or "Just 8% this year? That fund next door doubled!" Time’s magic is ignored. Humans overvalue short-term wins and undervalue long-term growth—like opting for diet pills over gym discipline, only to crash repeatedly in "get-rich-quick" delusions.