Almost all investors are inclined to make decisions based on their unique set of expectations, market comprehension and investing experience. A positive experience means an improved willingness for higher and longer investments. A negative or displeased experience, on the contrary, means a lower probability of continuity or incremental investments.

In this article, we shall delve into the top don’ts for building a portfolio meant for long-term wealth creation.

Don’t follow the herd

When it comes to investing, the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach is a myth as each one of us is different in the way we think, our likes and dislikes, etc. Each investor has their own set of expectations, objectives, time horizon, risk profile, etc. Therefore, trying to mimic what a large population is doing —without considering self-goals and objectives—could lead to unexpected or suboptimal returns or outcomes.

What’s more important is to align the investments with the individual’s financial goals and objectives and review them at periodic intervals to make sure they are on the right track.

Don’t have unrealistic expectations

We often get to hear from many investing gurus or legends about how much wealth they have made by investing. While it’s fascinating to hear such stories, it can be misleading to think that one may realise similar gains from investing. This is because everyone’s journey of investing would be different based on their age, time horizon, investment goals, understanding of the markets, risk-taking ability, etc.

While there is no guarantee of past performance, looking at the long-term track record of the fund could help in understanding the fund’s ability to generate returns across market cycles and in setting realistic expectations.

Don’t rely only on near-term past performance

It’s not uncommon for investors to get obsessed about the near-term performance of their portfolio. However, frequent monitoring of the portfolio—particularly when the season is not favourable—could lead to undue churning of the portfolio. This could even impact the long-term performance of the portfolio. Therefore, it is advisable to not get emotionally attached to investment ideas that have either yielded good or bad results in the past. Every fund in the portfolio goes through its own phase of ups and downs, therefore, it’s important to understand the factors responsible for such performance with patience. A phase of underperformance in a fund could be a good opportunity for incremental allocation and vice-versa.

Hence, staying away from making decisions based on near-term performance is a healthy sign of a mature investor and positive for long-term wealth creation opportunities.

Don’t try to time the market

Trying to “time the market” is a strategy that relies upon guessing when the market is at its lowest or highest points. Most often, this strategy requires investors to put in a lot of energy and effort in figuring out the best time to invest. However, it is only in hindsight that one can realise if it was the best time for entry/exit. Although one may get lucky in a few instances, it’s impossible to correctly predict the markets every time as there are numerous factors that influence market movements. Therefore, “time in the market” is more important than “timing the market”.

Moreover, staggered investments in the form of a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) into the identified funds would aid in tiding over the market ups and downs, making volatility your friend. This approach brings in the much-needed discipline to investments and aims to gain from the power of compounding in the long run.

Don’t react to market noise

Volatility is a feature of the equity market and it’s inevitable. Most investors get anxious the moment they see the market behave irrationally with high volatility. However, the market volatility could be a dear friend of a long-term investor if used wisely. Volatility helps and works well in averaging out the investments; therefore, it can be a boon for an investor investing regularly.

In a connected world, wherein markets tend to react to the news and information across the globe, markets are bound to be highly volatile. Be it a market crash or rally, it’s difficult to predict and time the market. Therefore, in addition to investing in markets on a regular and periodic basis (through SIPs), allocating funds to various asset classes (through Asset Allocation Plans) and periodically rebalancing the asset classes in the desired ratio would help investors ride out the volatility.

When it comes to investing, there is no perfect handbook or manual to follow, as investing needs and objectives could be unique based on individual choice and preference. However, these simple suggestions can help you strategise your investments in the long run.

Lastly, be on guard to ensure that your investments are guided by research and rationale and not by your emotions.

Disclaimers: The views expressed are the author’s own views and not necessarily those of UTI Asset Management Company Limited. The views are not investment advice and investors should obtain their own independent advice before taking a decision to invest in any asset class or instrument.

The information in this article is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute any offer, recommendation or solicitation to any person to enter into any transaction or adopt any hedging, trading or investment  strategy, nor does it constitute any prediction of likely future movements in rates or prices or any representation that any  such future movements will not exceed those shown in any illustration. Users of this document should seek advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities, financial instruments or investment strategies referred to on this document and should understand that statements regarding future prospects may not be realized.  The recipient of this material is solely responsible for any action taken based on this material. Opinions, projections and estimates are subject to change without notice.

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