In the world of long-term investing, not every day needs to be exciting. In fact, some of the most lucrative wealth-building happens when nothing seems to be happening.
As odd as it sounds, the times when markets move sideways or even drop are not the times to panic — they are the times to accumulate.
Two Seasons of Investing: Accumulation and Wealth Creation
Think of your investment journey like farming. There’s a season to sow and a season to harvest.
When markets are dull, volatile, or even slightly negative — that’s your sowing season.
When the bulls come running and prices start rising — that’s your harvest season.
What you’re really doing during the sowing season is accumulating units — especially in mutual funds via SIPs or lumpsum investments. When NAVs are lower, each rupee buys more units. You’re collecting silent soldiers.
And when the market cycle turns upward, those soldiers — the units you quietly accumulated — begin to show their true colors. The compounding magic begins, and the wealth shows up in your net worth.
As Charlie Munger once said:
“The big money is not in the buying and selling … but in the waiting.”
This Isn’t Just Theory — Even the Greats Agree
Here’s what some of the world’s smartest minds in investing have said — and how they’ve acted — in line with this approach:
1. Warren Buffett
“Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.”
Buffett has consistently added to his portfolio during down markets. In fact, during the 2008 crisis, he published an op-ed in the New York Times titled “Buy American. I Am.” He was actively accumulating while most were panicking.
2. Howard Marks – Oaktree Capital
Marks’ memos have emphasized how market cycles are essential to understand. He wrote:
“The greatest gains are made when people forget that cycles exist.”
He urges investors to recognize that bearish or flat markets are temporary — and often the best buying windows.
3. Ray Dalio – Bridgewater Associates
Dalio advocates for diversified long-term investing and emphasizes that market downturns are inevitable — and even healthy:
“Pain + Reflection = Progress.”
During downturns, portfolios get rebalanced, and patient investors get cheaper entry points.
4. J.P. Morgan Asset Management
In its annual “Guide to the Markets”, J.P. Morgan often showcases how missing just a few of the best days in the market (which often follow the worst days) drastically cuts long-term returns. This proves the importance of staying invested — especially during market slumps.
5. Vanguard Research
Vanguard, in several reports, has noted:
“Time in the market beats timing the market.”
They emphasize regular investing, especially during downturns, as a key to unit accumulation and long-term success.
Want to See This in Action?
If you’re curious about how volatile markets actually help you buy more mutual fund units (not hurt you), we broke it down with a simple illustration and story here:
👉 Tariff Tantrums and the Magic of Rupee Cost Averaging
It’s proof that even when markets zigzag, your SIPs zigzag smarter — and the result is more units in your pocket, quietly building wealth.
Ready to Put Market Cycles to Work for You?
Volatility and sideways markets aren’t setbacks — they’re setups. But you need a smart plan to make the most of them.
📞 Let’s review your current investments, fine-tune your SIPs, and set up a wealth creation roadmap that works in every market condition.
👉 Schedule a Free Consultation with WealthWisher
Because accumulating quietly today means compounding powerfully tomorrow.
And you deserve a future that’s not left to chance — but built with intent.
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