Investing in the S&P 500 Through SRS: A 3-Year Monthly Strategy (Jan 2023 – Mar 2026)
One of the simplest and most powerful strategies is regular investing into the S&P 500, which tracks the 500 largest companies in the United States. In this blog, we break down a disciplined approach: investing $1,275 monthly from January 2023 to Mar 2026 (a total of 39 months), and examine how this strategy performs.
Why the S&P 500?
The S&P 500 represents companies like Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Amazon—global leaders driving innovation and growth. Historically, it has delivered around 8%–10% annual returns over the long term.
For SRS investors, this index is attractive because:
- It provides diversification across sectors
- It captures global economic growth
- It requires minimal active management
The Strategy: Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA)
Instead of trying to time the market, we invest $1,275 every month, regardless of market conditions. This strategy is known as Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA).
Over 40 months:
- Total invested = $51,000
- Investment period = Jan 2023 to Apr 2026
This approach removes emotional decision-making and benefits from market volatility.
Market Context (2023–2026)
This period was far from smooth:
- 2023: Recovery from 2022 downturn, strong tech rebound
- 2024: AI boom drives major gains
- 2025: Volatility due to interest rate uncertainty
- 2026 (early): Stabilization and moderate growth
This mix of ups and downs makes it a perfect case study for DCA. Below is my snapshot of the portfolio. As you can see over time the portfolio grew despite the volatility of the market.
Final Results
After 39 months:
- Total invested: $49,800
- Portfolio value: ~$59,440
- Total return: ~19.33%
- Annualized return: ~6+%
Now, before you get too excited—this is a strong period driven by tech and AI growth. It won’t always look this good. But the key lesson isn’t the exact number.
It’s the process.
What Made This Strategy Work?
1. Consistency Beats Timing
You invested every month, even during dips. Those “bad months” actually boosted long-term returns because you bought at lower prices.
2. Compounding Took Over
By 2025–2026, gains accelerated. That’s compounding in action—your returns start generating their own returns.
3. SRS Tax Advantage
You likely saved $200–$400+ per month in taxes, depending on your tax bracket. That’s an instant return before investing even begins.
The Reality Check
Let’s be clear—this strategy is powerful, but it requires discipline:
- You must commit to investing even when markets fall
- You need patience (results don’t show in year 1)
- You must ignore short-term noise
Most people fail not because the strategy is wrong, but because they stop too early.
How to Implement This Yourself
If you want to replicate this:
- Open or use your SRS account
- Choose a low-cost S&P 500 ETF (e.g., via DBS, OCBC, or brokers like Endowus)
- Set a fixed monthly investment (e.g., $1,000–$1,500)
- Automate contributions if possible
- Stay invested for at least 15-20 years.
- It is easy for me as i can only withdraw SRS account without any penalty from age 62 onwards where i have an investment horizon of 17+years
Final Thoughts
This 3-year case study shows a simple truth:
You don’t need complex strategies to build wealth.
A disciplined approach—investing regularly into a strong index like the S&P 500 using your SRS account—can deliver powerful results over time.
If you’re serious about financial freedom in Singapore, this is one of the most practical and repeatable strategies available.
But don’t just read this and feel motivated.
Start.
Even if it’s not $1,275 a month—start with what you can. Because the biggest mistake isn’t investing too little.
It’s waiting too long.
