My Portfolio is in the Red! What should I do?!
I know the feeling.
You open your portfolio app - and it’s all red.
The instinct? “I should have invested somewhere else.”
The temptation? “Maybe I should quit.”
Trust me, I hear this from clients all the time. But here’s the truth: Markets can’t be predicted in the short term. What matters is patience and routine.
For instance: Think of Amazon.
During the dot-com crash, its stock fell almost 90%. Most people gave up, thinking the company was finished.
But Jeff Bezos didn’t quit. He stuck to the routine of building, innovating, and scaling.
Fast forward to today - Amazon is one of the most valuable companies in the world. The few investors who stayed through the storm saw unimaginable returns.
Lesson: greatness comes not from avoiding volatility, but enduring it.
The Power of the Boring Routine
It’s the same in real life.
Bodybuilding, learning an instrument, mastering a sport - it all requires:
👉🏾 The boring, daily routine.
👉🏾 Showing up consistently, even when it’s unexciting or hard.
Investing works the same way.
Volatility is like the wear and tear your muscles go through during training. It hurts at the moment, but it’s necessary for growth.
Trust me - boring routines build champions, and boring investing builds wealth.
Market Lessons from History
Markets are unpredictable - especially in a downturn. No one can say with certainty which sectors will emerge stronger. To understand this better, let’s revisit a few crisis you already know, but through a different perspective:
▪️COVID (2020): Who knew pharma and IT would be the biggest winners when markets crashed 40%?
▪️2008 Crisis: Who knew markets would rebound within 18 months after crashing 50%?
▪️GST Reforms: Who knew logistics, auto, and organized retail would emerge stronger after initial challenges?
This is the perspective I want you to consider: One pattern is clear - every downfall in history has been followed by significant growth. That’s the trajectory.
Why I Believe in India
India’s story is just beginning:
▪️The 4th largest economy and fastest-growing among developing nations.
▪️Domestic consumption, with rural India leading the way.
▪️Digital Revolution - UPI, Aadhaar-linked services, and fintech adoption making India a leader in digital transactions.
▪️Renewable Energy & Sustainability - India is among the fastest adopters of solar and green energy, positioning for future growth.
▪️GST reforms, Make in India, repo rate stability - building strong foundations.
▪️A young, ambitious workforce driving innovation and progress.
While all this is great – the true question comes down to per capita income.
Yes, per capita income growth has been slower compared to GDP, and most wealth is concentrated among the top 10–20%.
But salaries are rising. Incomes are improving. Spending power is growing. Aspirations are expanding - not just in metros, but across tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
Once India crosses the per capita income threshold, consumption-led growth will explode.
Always Remember
Short-term volatility? Normal.
Red screens? Normal.
Boring routine? Essential.
Because just like bodybuilding or mastering a skill, investing is about showing up, enduring the wear and tear, and trusting the process.
📉 Red screens are temporary.
Stick to your boring routine:
▪️Insurances for protection
▪️Goal-oriented SIPs for disciplined wealth creation
▪️Diversification across asset classes
▪️Explore opportunities when the timing is right for you
Trust the process. Trust your wealth managers. And most importantly, trust yourself!
Because patience, consistency, and discipline are the real superpowers of investing.
Akash Neelakantan
Wealth Manager at Infiniti Financial Services