Blake Alewelt

Blake Alewelt Helping everyday heroes take control of their finances, grow wealth, and make confident real estate moves.

I'm your Money Copilot—guiding veterans, first responders, and hard workers on their journey to financial freedom.

06/02/2026

Day 64 of this investing challenge, and we are still climbing.
In this investing challenge, we’re investing in VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) using a simple long-term investing strategy.

And honestly… a lot of people assume index funds are “slow” or boring investments.

But as of today, this challenge is up 9.48% in just 3 months, while investing in one of the safer and more diversified types of investments available.

The Strategy
This challenge follows two simple rules:
• Invest $100 every trading day
• Invest another $100 whenever the market dips

This strategy is called:
• Buying the dip
• Averaging down
• A variation of dollar-cost averaging

Instead of trying to predict the perfect time to invest, we stay consistent through volatility and take advantage of market pullbacks when they happen.

Why Volatility Can Be an Opportunity
If tensions surrounding the Iran conflict heat back up again, markets could become volatile very quickly.

And while that scares a lot of investors…
For long-term investors, those dips can create opportunities to buy quality index funds at lower prices.
That’s exactly what this challenge is designed around.

Why We Use VTI
We chose VTI because it tracks the entire U.S. stock market in one low-cost ETF.

That means:
• Broad diversification
• Lower risk than individual stocks
• Long-term growth potential

A simple investing strategy that doesn’t require picking winning stocks.

Want to Invest Alongside Me?
You can run this exact strategy inside a brokerage account.

If you haven’t opened one yet, I made a full step-by-step tutorial showing how to open a brokerage account in Fidelity.

Subscribe for regular updates about how to make your money work for you.

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

05/31/2026

Day 63 of dollar cost averaging every day and we are now up 9.33% with every single investment in the green.

This investing challenge continues to prove how powerful consistency and buying the dip can be over time.

In this challenge, we’re investing in VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) using a simple but effective strategy:
• Invest $100 every trading day
• Invest another $100 whenever the market dips

This is commonly known as:
• Buying the dip
• Averaging down
• A variation of dollar-cost averaging

Why This Strategy Works
When the market declines, we buy more shares at lower prices. That means when the market rebounds, those discounted purchases gain value even faster.

For example, look at two of the investments we made back on March 30th:
• One position is now up 18.5%
• The additional “dip buy” is now up 19%

That extra purchase during weakness increased our upside once the market recovered.

Why We Use VTI
We chose VTI because it tracks the entire U.S. stock market through one low-cost ETF.

That gives us:
• Broad diversification
• Exposure to thousands of companies
• Lower risk compared to individual stocks

Instead of trying to pick the next winning stock, we’re investing in the market as a whole.

Want to Invest Alongside Me?
You can use this exact strategy inside a brokerage account.

If you haven’t opened one yet, I made a full step-by-step tutorial showing how to open a brokerage account in Fidelity. Subscribe for regular updates about how to make your money work for you.

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

05/29/2026

Day 62 of this investing challenge and we finally broke through the 9% wall.

This investing challenge continues to prove how powerful consistency and buying the dip can be.

In this challenge, we’re investing in VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) using a simple strategy:
• Invest $100 every trading day
• Invest another $100 whenever the market dips

This is a form of:
• Dollar-cost averaging
• Buying the dip
• Averaging down during volatility

Instead of trying to perfectly time the market, we stay consistent through both red and green days.

What Moved the Market Today?
Part of today’s rally appears tied to reports that negotiations with Iran may have resulted in a 60-day extension of the ceasefire.

At the same time, there are also reports of continued military exchanges and strikes, which shows just how quickly market sentiment can change right now.

This is exactly why long-term investing requires patience and discipline.

Why We Use VTI
We chose VTI because it tracks the entire U.S. stock market, giving broad diversification across thousands of companies.

That means:
• Lower risk than individual stocks
• Exposure to long-term market growth
• A simpler strategy for beginner investors

Want to Avoid the Volatility?
If you’d rather avoid stock market swings altogether but still want your money working for you, there are safer options available.

I made a video covering 17 of the best high-yield savings accounts (HYSAs) currently paying around 3–4% interest.

Subscribe for regular updates about how to make your money work for you.

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

05/28/2026

Day 61 of this investing challenge and we’re up 8.59% after investing over $9,000. This investing challenge continues to show how powerful consistency can be.

In this challenge, we’re investing in VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) using a simple strategy designed around buying market dips.

Here’s how it works:
• Invest $100 at the beginning of every trading day
• Invest another $100 whenever the market dips

This strategy is commonly known as:
• Buying the dip
• Averaging down
• A variation of dollar-cost averaging

The goal is simple:
Stay consistent, lower the average cost per share during pullbacks, and participate in long-term market growth.

The Results So Far
Since starting this investing challenge a few months ago:
• Over $9,000 invested
• Current gain: $772.17
• Overall return: +8.59%

By consistently investing through both green and red days, we’ve been able to steadily grow the portfolio while reducing the emotional side of investing.

Why We Use VTI
We chose VTI because it tracks the entire U.S. stock market through one low-cost ETF.
That means:
• Broad diversification
• Exposure to thousands of companies
• Lower risk than relying on individual stocks

This makes it a simple and beginner-friendly long-term investing strategy.

Want to Invest Alongside Me?
You can use this exact strategy inside a brokerage account to keep your investments liquid and flexible.

If you haven’t opened one yet, I made a full step-by-step tutorial showing how to open a brokerage account in Fidelity.
- Check that video out next
- Follow along for Day 62
Subscribe for regular updates about how to make your money work for you.

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

05/27/2026

Day 60 of this investing challenge, and we are now up 8.71% after investing nearly $9,000.

This investing challenge continues to show the power of consistency and buying through market volatility.

In this challenge, we’re investing in VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) using a simple strategy:
• Invest $100 at the beginning of every trading day
• Invest another $100 whenever the market dips

This is called:
• Buying the dip
• Averaging down
• A variation of dollar-cost averaging

Instead of trying to time the market, we consistently invest through both green and red days.

The Results So Far
Since starting this challenge a couple months ago:
• Nearly $9,000 invested
• Current gain: $774.73
• Overall return: +8.71%

And here’s something interesting…
If this same amount of money had been sitting in a High Yield Savings Account earning around 3.5%, we’d only be up roughly $80, and that’s assuming the entire balance was deposited on Day 1.

That’s the difference between:
• Saving money
vs.
• Putting money to work through investing

Why We Use VTI
We chose VTI because it gives exposure to the entire U.S. stock market through one low-cost ETF.
That means:
• Broad diversification
• Lower risk than individual stocks
• Long-term growth potential

This makes it a great option for beginner investors and long-term retirement accounts.

Want to Invest Alongside Me?
You can use this same strategy inside a Roth IRA, allowing your investments to potentially grow tax free over time. If you haven’t opened one yet, I made a full step-by-step tutorial showing how to open a Roth IRA in Fidelity.

Subscribe for regular updates about how to make your money work for you.

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

05/23/2026

Day 59 of investing every day, and we are up 8%.

This investing challenge continues to show the power of consistency and buying through market volatility.

In this challenge, we’re investing in VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) using a very simple strategy:
• Invest $100 every trading day
• Invest another $100 whenever the market dips

This strategy is called:
• Buying the dip
• Averaging down
• A variation of dollar-cost averaging

Instead of trying to time the perfect bottom, we consistently invest through both red and green days.

The Progress So Far
We’ve already invested thousands of dollars this month alone, and even with Monday being a market holiday, we still have several trading days left in May.

By consistently buying during dips earlier this year, we’ve now worked our way up to an 8% overall gain in the challenge.

The Secret to Investing More
One of the biggest reasons I’ve been able to invest this aggressively is because I finally got serious about my budget.

I personally use Monarch Money to automate and track my finances, which has helped me save and invest significantly more each month.

Budgeting isn’t about restriction, it’s about creating margin so you can build wealth faster.

Want to Start Doing This Yourself?
We released a full step-by-step tutorial showing how to use Monarch Money for budgeting and financial goals.

Subscribe for regular updates about how to make your money work for you.

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

05/22/2026

Day 58 of dollar cost averaging every day and we had another green day.
This investing challenge is now up 7.62% overall, with a gain of $662 since we started back in March.

In this challenge, we’re investing in VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) using a simple strategy designed around consistency and buying market dips.

The Strategy
Here’s how it works:
• Invest $100 every trading day
• Invest another $100 whenever the market dips

This is commonly called:
• Buying the dip
• Averaging down
• A variation of dollar-cost averaging

Instead of trying to predict the perfect bottom, we invest consistently through both good and bad market days.

And here’s something pretty interesting…
Out of 87 total investments, all but one are currently profitable.

Why We Use VTI
We’re investing in VTI, which tracks the entire U.S. stock market through one low-cost ETF.

That means:
• Broad diversification
• Lower risk than individual stocks
• Exposure to thousands of companies in one fund

This keeps the strategy simple and beginner-friendly.

Want to Start Investing?
If you’ve been wanting to start investing but don’t know where to begin, I made a full video breaking down some of the best low-cost index funds for beginners.

Subscribe for regular updates about how to make your money work for you.

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

05/20/2026

Day 57 of investing every day, and we jumped 1.15% today after two red days. That brings this investing challenge to a 7.43% total return, with a gain of $638 since we started.

In this challenge, we’re investing in VTI (Vanguard's Total Stock Market ETF) using a simple strategy:
• Invest $100 every trading day
• Invest another $100 whenever the market dips
Over the last few days, we’ve been doubling down during red days, and now those purchases are already back in the green.

Today’s market movement was also heavily tied to Nvidia’s earnings report, which came in strong. Even though Nvidia stock declined after the report, that kind of movement is fairly normal with large tech companies when expectations are already high.

This is why I like using broad index funds like VTI instead of trying to guess individual stock reactions.

If you want to invest alongside this challenge, you can do it inside a Roth IRA, which offers powerful tax advantages for long-term investors.

👉 Watch my step-by-step tutorial on how to open a Roth IRA in Fidelity next
📈 Follow along for Day 58
Subscribe for regular updates about how to make your money work for you.

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

05/20/2026

Day 56 of investing every day, and if this stock market chaos has you stressed, trust me… you’re not alone.

In this investing challenge, we’re investing in VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) using a very simple strategy:
• Invest $100 every trading day
• Invest another $100 whenever the market dips
And lately… we’ve definitely been buying the dip.

Why I’m Not Panicking
Even with the recent pullbacks, I’m not overly worried, because this is exactly how long-term investing works.

Over the last year alone, VTI has gained more than 23%, and some of our biggest gains in this challenge came from investing during the larger pullback we saw back in March.

That’s the power of:
• Staying consistent
• Investing through volatility
• Buying quality assets when prices fall

What Everyone Is Watching Tomorrow
A huge catalyst for the market tomorrow is the upcoming earnings report from Nvidia.

Why does this matter so much?
Because Nvidia now makes up roughly 6% of VTI, meaning one company can heavily influence the overall movement of the ETF and broader market sentiment. Tomorrow could get very interesting.

Want to Invest Alongside Me?
If you want to start investing using a brokerage account, I made a full step-by-step video showing how to open one in Fidelity Investments.

Subscribe for regular updates about how to make your money work for you.

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

05/19/2026

Day 55 of investing every day and VTI could be seeing MASSIVE upside potential.

In this investing challenge, we’re investing in VTI (Vanguard's Total Stock Market ETF), one of the most popular index funds for long-term investing.

Over the last year alone, VTI has gained roughly 23.85%, and historically, average annual returns have hovered around 10–11% since 2001.

Why Investors Are Watching Closely
There’s growing speculation surrounding the SpaceX IPO, which many analysts believe could become one of the largest public offerings ever.

If that happens, funds like VTI could eventually gain exposure to SpaceX once it’s added to the broader market indexes.

That means instead of trying to buy a single high-volatility stock, investors using index funds may be able to:
• Own a small portion automatically
• Stay diversified
• Benefit from long-term market growth

This is one reason many investors prefer broad market ETFs over trying to pick individual winners.

The Strategy
This investing challenge follows two simple rules:
• Invest $100 every trading day
• Invest another $100 whenever the market dips

The goal is to:
• Stay consistent
• Buy through volatility
• Build wealth long-term through index fund investing

Want to Invest Alongside Me?
If you want to start investing using a brokerage account, I made a full step-by-step video showing how to open one in Fidelity.

Subscribe for regular updates about how to make your money work for you.

Blake Alewelt
Shieldline Financial and Bravo Ridge Group at eXp Realty
[email protected]
https://www.shieldlinefinancial.com/
West Des Moines, IA
Licensed to Sell Real Estate in Iowa

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5550 Wild Rose Lane #400
West Des Moines, IA
50266

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