“Sir, my portfolio is down today. Should I do something?”
I smiled and asked, “Did your financial goal change
overnight?”
“No.”
“Did you suddenly need the money?”
“No.”
“Then why are you checking your portfolio every hour?”
That conversation reflects a common habit among today's
investors.
We check our investments more often than we check our
bank balance!
Sometimes, it feels like checking WhatsApp—open the app,
look at the number, refresh, close it… and repeat after an hour.
But there is one big difference.
WhatsApp needs your attention. Your long-term investments
usually need your patience.
Markets don't move in a straight line
Equity markets will rise. They will fall. Sometimes they
will fall sharply.
We have seen this before.
During the 2008 financial crisis, markets suffered a
massive decline. In March 2020, the COVID-19 crisis created another
sharp fall.
Yet, investors who remained invested and followed their
long-term plans eventually participated in the recovery.
The problem is not market volatility.
The problem is what we do because of it.
When prices rise, we feel confident.
When prices fall, we become nervous.
And when our neighbour says, “I sold everything
yesterday,” suddenly we feel that perhaps we should do the same!
This emotional reaction can damage a perfectly good
investment plan.
So, how often should you check?
Instead of checking your portfolio every day, ask yourself:
Has my financial goal changed?
Has my income or financial situation changed?
Has my risk-taking ability changed?
Has my asset allocation moved significantly away from my
plan?
If the answer is No, another portfolio check may not
add much value.
Your SIP doesn't become better because you watched it for
three hours.
Your long-term investment doesn't become safer because you
refreshed the app ten times.
Remember this:
Your portfolio is not your WhatsApp Status.
It doesn't need constant checking, constant commenting or an
immediate reaction.
Give your investments something they need more than
attention—TIME.
Watch your goals. Review your strategy. Don't watch every
market tick.
Because successful investing is often less about doing
more and more about avoiding unnecessary decisions.
