📝 Editor's Note · 2026-07-22 (afternoon) · by David Chen

VTI dropped to $275.80 this morning — 4th tranche of the year, $2k auto-filled

S&P dropped 1.8% on July 21 after the Fed minutes came in hawkish. VTI opened at $275.80 on July 22. My standing rule: if VTI closes down 2% or more on a single day, I move $2k from HYSA to VTI at the next open. Filled at $275.80. Fourth time I have triggered this rule in 2026.

YTD cost basis on these 4 tranche buys: $278.14 average. Current price: $275.80. I am down $2.34 per share, or about $936 on the $40k I have bought this year. That is fine — I am not selling for 15 years. The rule is rules-based DCA-on-red-days, not market timing. If VTI drops another 2% this week, I will buy again.