When it comes to investing, patience is often the hardest part. Many Indian investors begin their Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) with enthusiasm, only to stop midway when markets turn rough. But this short-term panic often costs them big in the long run.
According to CA Abhishek Walia, co-founder, Zactor Money, nearly 90% of Indian investors stop their SIPs within the first three years. “This one’s painful to watch,” he says, explaining how emotions tend to take over when markets fluctuate.
The pattern is common.
“Year 1: Excited. Returns look fine.
Year 2: Market dips — panic — stop SIP.
Year 3: Market recovers — regret — start again,” Walia notes.
This cycle of fear and regret prevents investors from experiencing the real benefits of compounding. and it’s during market downturns that they actually do their best work — by buying more units at lower prices.
Walia explains it with a simple example. If you invest Rs 5,000 every month for 20 years at an average return of 12%, your investment can grow to around Rs 45 lakh. But if you stop for just three years due to market fear, you could lose more than Rs 15 lakh in potential wealth.
“Compounding needs time and patience — not perfection,” he reminds. The key is consistency, not timing. Every skipped SIP instalment delays your wealth-building journey.
Most investors feel tempted to pause their SIPs when markets fall. However, these dips are often opportunities in disguise. Lower prices mean you accumulate more units, which boosts your returns when markets recover.
Walia emphasised that SIPs are not meant for short-term gains but are long-term wealth-building tools.
“Don’t turn it off when it’s doing its best work — during the tough years,” he advised.
In other words, the next time markets wobble, remember why you started. SIPs reward discipline, not emotion. Staying invested through ups and downs is what separates successful investors from the rest.
In the end, time in the market truly beats timing the market.