I’ve been investing for over a decade back in the UK and I automated my investments many years ago - takes the emotion out of it and I can just set and forget.
In Switzerland however, I only started investing recently (Dec 2019) - I have a fund account with my bank with a standing order set to invest a set amount each quarter on the 20th. I invest in a simple fund that tracks the MSCI World Index.
Many of my friends panic sold in March taking a 30%+ hit on their portfolio and then stayed in cash like idiots all throughout the greatest 50 day rally in the history of the market. Now they are too scared to enter back in as they think the market is too high. I’ve seen this so many times before, back in 2001, 2008 and even the 20% correction in Dec 2018.
By automating your investments, you avoid all the above - human beings are emotional and irrational. I completely ignore the financial news (looking at you CNBC!) and don’t even check my portfolio - sometimes I forget its even there.
I looked at it today on the back of this post - I am up 10% YTD by simply doing nothing.