Starting a SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) is like starting a fitness routine. Many begin with excitement, but a few months in, they stop thinking it’s not working fast enough. But stopping your SIP too soon is like quitting the gym just because you didn’t lose weight in the first month.
SIPs are designed to work over time, not overnight. The real benefit comes when you stay invested consistently, especially when working towards long-term goals.
Why People Stop SIPs Early
There are a few reasons why people cancel SIPs early:
- Some expect quick returns and get disappointed when that doesn’t happen.
- Others get influenced by negative news like market dips, economic slowdowns, or job insecurity.
- Some believe SIPs only go up and are shocked when they see short-term losses.
This mindset leads to impatience, and without proper understanding, people pull out too early, missing the real magic of SIPs.
Investing Is Not a Shortcut; It’s a journey.
Think of equity investing as a way of raising a child. There will be falls, setbacks, and tough days. But if you give up midway, you miss out on the growth and strength that comes later. Stock markets naturally go through ups and downs. But over time, they have always bounced back stronger. Continuing your SIPs during temporary declines lets you accumulate more units, which can benefit you when values rise again. Read our blog Preparing for a Secure Future to gain more insights.
What Happens If You Stay Invested
History shows that those who continued their SIPs during tough market times had good investment value once the market recovered. Even during periods of uncertainty, the value of regular investments continued to grow over time. Those who stayed invested without trying to “time the market” gained much more than those who stopped their SIPs and waited for the “right” time to restart. Watch our YouTube vlog Investment Insights with Sameer Narayan| Head – Alternate Investments – Equity at ABSL Mutual Fund to gain more insights.
Temporary Slips Don’t Mean You’re Off Track
Market corrections and crashes are part of the game. But your financial objectives shouldn’t disappear just because the market dropped. You may need to adjust your timelines slightly, like postponing a big purchase, but giving up on investing is not the solution. Watch out latest Youtube podcast Your Mindset, Your Investment | Mr Rahul Singh | CIO – Equities, Tata Mutual Fund to gain more insights.
Stay Calm and Stay Invested
The key is to stay calm during market swings. Review your investments regularly, but don’t panic and cancel your SIPs at the first sign of trouble. SIPs are meant to bring discipline. They allow you to invest gradually through every phase, buying more when the market is low and less when it’s high.
Think Long-Term, Not Just Short-Term
Having a long-term mindset is important. Just like a sapling needs time, care, and patience to become a tree, your investments need time to grow, too. SIPs help average the buying cost and protect you from the risks of trying to “guess” the market. Watch our latest vlog The Road Ahead for Mutual Funds | Ganesh Mohan, CEO, Bajaj Finserv AMC & Prabin Agarwal to gain more insights.
So, once you start your SIPs, give them time. Don’t cancel them because the market had a bad month or two. Keep nurturing them, and they’ll take care of your future.
