Riya, a curious investor, and George, a calm and intelligent investor and an Analyst discuss the recent equity market scenario.
Riya: George, have you seen the news? Markets are crashing again because of some trade war! Should I be selling my investments? I’m really nervous.
George: Ah yes, another day, another headline. Okay, let me ask you this—if your favorite clothing store runs a 30% discount, do you stop shopping there or do you consider picking up a good deal?
Riya: I mean… if I like the stuff and it’s cheaper, I’d probably buy.
George: Exactly. The stock market’s no different. When prices dip, it’s not always a disaster—it can be a discount. But panic makes us forget that.
Riya: But it feels scary. Every time I open a news app, it’s like the world is ending!
George: That’s what headlines are designed to do—grab attention. It’s like when a weather app shows “Thunderstorm Alert” but you just get a light drizzle. Doesn’t mean you cancel your whole trip, right?
Riya: True… I usually carry an umbrella and go on with my day.
George: Same with investing. Volatility is the drizzle. You don’t shut everything down—you just stick to your plan and keep going.
Riya: Okay, but my neighbor just sold off half his mutual funds and other investments. Says he’ll “re-enter when things settle.”
George: That’s like trying to jump on a moving train. Timing your exit and re-entry is extremely tough—even for professionals. You end up stressed, and often worse off.
Riya: But isn’t doing nothing kind of… lazy?
George: Not at all. It’s like planting a mango tree. You don’t dig it up every month to check if it’s growing, right? You water it, give it sunlight, and wait. Investing is the same. Staying invested is the hard part—not reacting.
Riya: Hmm… and what about my SIPs? Should I continue?
George: Absolutely. Think of SIPs like your gym routine. Skipping workouts when progress is slow won’t help. Staying consistent builds results. Right now, your SIP is buying more units at lower prices—that’s good for your future self.
Riya: And the extra cash I’ve been saving?
George: Deploy it gradually. Like how you don’t pour all the batter at once into a pan—you make pancakes one at a time, patiently.
Riya (laughs): Okay, now you’re making me hungry and financially wiser!
George: Good. Because investing, like cooking, needs timing, patience, and trust in the process. And when the news starts screaming again, remember—it’s just the smoke, not the fire.The hardest thing in investing isn’t picking the right fund—it’s doing nothing when everything screams at you to do something. It takes patience, discipline, and a bit of faith.
The hardest thing in investing isn’t picking the right investment—it’s doing nothing when everything screams at you to do something. It takes patience, discipline, and a bit of faith.
Riya: Wow, George. You always manage to calm me down. You should really start your own podcast!
George (laughs): Maybe I will like —”The Zen of Doing Nothing.” Episode 1: Ignore the Noise, Stay the Course. Ha…ha…
Simplified Money Talks 