Best Long Term Investments to Put on Autopilot

Automation removes the emotional decision-making tied to your investments and helps ensure you invest regularly, regardless of market conditions. A wise man (Warren Buffett) once said: “Until you can manage your emotions, don't expect to manage money."

This strategy supports dollar-cost averaging, which can reduce the impact of market volatility over time.

With a long term focus, you don’t need to monitor the markets constantly or rebalance your portfolio manually. Automated tools handle these tasks, freeing you up for other priorities.

Some of the Wealth Elf’s favorite “put it on autopilot” investments include:

Target-Date Funds for Retirement Investing

This is where you pick a fund with a target retirement year (e.g., 2050), and the fund automatically adjusts its mix of stocks and bonds over time to reduce risk as you near retirement.

Index Funds & ETFs for Long-term Investing

Here you’ll invest in funds that track broad market indexes (one of our favorites is the S&P 500). By automating contributions - you’ll enjoy a low cost, highly diversified investment with historically strong performance.

Another consideration is total US stock funds and ETFs. At Wealth Elf, we like Vanguard’s Total Stock Market ETF (VTI), Schwab’s U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB) and Fidelity’s ZERO Total Market Index Fund (FZROX). These options include the S&P 500 plus small- and mid-cap U.S. stocks.

If you're less risk-averse and looking to build long-term wealth, consider increasing your exposure to dividend growth stocks or exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Choose to focus on companies with a strong track record of raising their dividends. These investments offer a compelling blend of capital appreciation and consistent income, making them ideal for investors seeking steady, reliable returns over time. By investing in businesses that prioritize shareholder value through regular dividend increases, you benefit from both growing income streams and the potential for long-term portfolio growth—all within a relatively stable investment environment.

A few standout options in this space include the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) and the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD). Both are well-regarded for their focus on high-quality companies with sustainable earnings and solid balance sheets.

VIG targets firms with at least 10 consecutive years of dividend growth, while SCHD emphasizes strong fundamentals and dividend consistency. Wealth Elf highly recommends both for investors seeking a conservative, yet growth-oriented approach to dividend investing.

If you don’t have a ton of money to throw into the stock market, or if you want to access the cash quickly - opt for High-Yield Savings or CD Laddering. These strategies are great for Emergency funds or short-term savings.

Dow Jones Industrial Average ETFs cover 30 large-cap U.S. stocks (aka blue chips). An example of this is the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust which is much narrower than the S&P 500, but still tracks major companies.

Another way in is International ETF’s for diversified exposure to large, established companies—but outside the U.S.

This strategy compliments S&P 500 exposure with global diversification. Try Vanguards FTSE Developed Markets ETF or iShares MSCI EAFE ETF.

Did you find these tips helpful? Are you interested in investing strategies in these unprecedented times? Check out the Wealth Elf’s guide: Now vs. Then. New Opportunitied and Where to Play it Safe.

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