Just like in Sports, we believe it is important in Markets to retain composure and manage the funds with consistency

- Vikas Arora

Dear Investor,

"Cricket is the most popular sport in our country and to have some legends from there tweeting about golf was great." Few know more about both the games than the Cricket legend Kapil Dev who’s turned to Golf and lauded Aditi Ashok’s performance in the recent Olympics.

Coming out of nowhere and not in the reckoning, a 23-year-old, Aditi from India saw her world rankings improve to 154 from 200 after her remarkable performance during the Tokyo Olympics, 2020. She not only made India proud finishing fourth but narrowly missed a medal, leading the pack and going toe-to-toe with the best in the world. Almost everyone who saw or followed the 23-year-old Indian’s performance at the Olympics has become a fan of her and the sport for the way she played on the biggest of stages. She ensured that India learned how golf is played. Bear in mind that golf in Tokyo began as early as 4 am on most days but such was the impact of her performance that people were still watching on the final day.

By the end of it, it didn’t matter to the viewers as much that Aditi narrowly missed a medal after being in the top three for the majority of the tournament but what mattered was her COMPOSURE and CONSISTENCY with which she played all the rounds, was a sign of just how talented and great a golfer she is.

It is the same when it comes to Investment Management and everyone associated with it. Investing is all about FOCUS, DISCIPLINE, and CONSISTENCY.

Here are a few lessons from the golf course that can help informed investor’s financial long game:

Follow a Routine
If you’ve ever watched a golf tournament, you may have noticed that many of the pros go through a routine before making a shot. This routine can be key to sustained performance.
Investors can also create a routine that drives action. That routine should include specific steps, such as defining your overall financial strategy, measuring risk tolerance, knowing your time horizon and saving aggressively.

Seek Good Advice
Even with all their success, top pro golfers still work regularly with a swing coach and adhere to their guidance. Similarly, even investors who think they are on top of their game may want to find reliable Financial Portfolio Managers who can help them assess their strengths and weaknesses, identify long-term goals and design a plan to help them reach their goals.

Your Swing Is Your OwnEach professional golfer has a unique swing that works best for their game. Still, many amateur golfers look to emulate those swings when they hit the links on the weekend, rather than developing their own. The same is often true for investors. Resist the temptation to make sweeping changes in your portfolio when a friend brags of better returns. Instead, stick to the unique financial strategy created for your situation to help find investmentsuccess. In both golf and investing, persistence and consistency will reward you.

Bad Shots Happen
Experienced golfers know that they will hit a certain number of bad shots per round. Professionals say the goal shouldn’t be to avoid making any bad shots but to develop and maintain the emotional equilibrium to focus on the next shot, and the one after that, so that you ultimately stay on track.

Similarly, investors working toward a financial goal can’t and shouldn’t expect a constant upward trend. Market volatility and down cycles are bound to happen. When market volatility hits, the key is to not make a rash decision that upends all of your progress.

As an avid golfer and a part of the Banking & Financial Services Industry, I genuinely and humbly feel that the game teaches us a lot. Just like in Sports, we believe it is important in Markets to retain composure and manage the funds with consistency.

Thank you all for the trust you have reposed on us.

We wish all of you festive times ahead and pray for good health and happiness always.

Keep Smiling.