12/02/2026
The Rs. 6 Lakh Mistake
Priya vs. Meera: The Rs. 6 Lakh Mistake
2015: Two friends, same salary.
Both start SIP of Rs. 5,000/month in same fund.
2025: After 10 years
Priya: Rs. 12.68 lakhs
Meera: Rs. 18.96 lakhs
Rs. 6.28 lakh difference. Why?
--------------------------------------------
2016: Market dips 8%
Priya: Stopped SIP
Meera: Continued
2017: Friend's fund gave 38%
Priya: Switched (paid exit load + tax)
Meera: Stayed put
2020: COVID crash -35%
Priya: Sold at bottom
Meera: Kept investing
2021: Market up 68%
Priya: Re-entered at higher prices
Meera: Her 2020 buys up 60%
2023: Portfolio in profit
Priya: Booked 40% profits
Meera: Stayed invested
2024: Market corrects 12%
Priya: "I was right!" (stayed in cash)
Meera: Understood risk-return tradeoff
2025: Market rallies 18%
Priya: Cash earning 6%
Meera: Compounding at 18%
--------------------------------------------
Result:
Fund gave 18.3% to both.
Priya's behavior gave her only 12.1%.
Where Priya lost Rs. 6 lakhs:
- Paused SIP: Rs. 1.2 L
- Switches: Rs. 45,000
- Panic selling: Rs. 2.8 L
- Profit booking: Rs. 1.6 L
-----------------------------------------------
The Difference?
Meera learned for 3 weeks before investing.
Priya jumped in without understanding.
--------------------------------------------
5 Rules Meera Followed:
1. Learn first - Understand investing, SIPs, costs, taxation, psychology, risk-return tradeoff. Match funds to your temperament.
2. Don't stop SIPs - Consistency beats timing. Dips are opportunities.
3. Ignore past returns - Choose based on philosophy, not last year's performance.
4. Master crash psychology - Every crash recovered. Panic selling destroys wealth.
5. Let compounding work - Review quarterly. Activity kills returns.
-----------------------------------------------
The Truth:
Education + Discipline = 18.3%
Emotions + Activity = 12.1%
Value Research studied 170 equity funds over 10 years. Average investor made 12.1%. Average fund gave 18.3%. The 6.2% gap?
That's behavior, not the market.
-----------------------------------------------
Source: ET Wealth (Jan, 2026) Data: Value Research, CAMS, AMFI