Are there gaps between the best and the worst performers? Of course, yawning gaps. But the point being made here is that in the end, equity delivered. All that was required of the investor was to do nothing during all the upheavals but diligently continue with the SIPs.
I have so often read this statement that describes flying a small airplane: “It is hours and hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror.” While one can argue that it even applies to life, investing can also be thought of along the same lines.
Doing nothing may sound like terrible advice. But long-term investing is about doing nothing 99% of the time. In fact, the world renown investor Seth Klarman is known to have said that the greatest edge an investor can have is a long-term orientation. Should you manage to keep your wits around you when everyone is either getting euphoric or losing their cool, you will ultimately emerge the winner.