Fear in Investing: How to Stay Calm and Invest Smartly
Fear makes investors run away from wealth—this blog shows you how to face it with clarity, courage, and chai.
Bunny was staring at the news.
"Sensex crash! Market bloodbath! Bear Market fears!" screamed the headlines everywhere.
He switched off the TV, opened his Investing App, and let out a painful gasp.
“Uncleee… mere ₹2 lakhS ka mutual fund portfolio ab ₹1.8 lakh ho gaya. Should I sell everything before it becomes ₹0? It is very Painful”
He looked genuinely scared. Like a kid who just found out that Maggi is banned again.
I took a sip of my chai, smiled gently, and pulled out a packet of Parle-G.
“Bunny,” I said, “Fear is normal. But fear se decision lena? Woh toh financial suicide hai.”
He blinked.
“Yeh GREED ka bhai hai. Dono milke investor ka portfolio loot lete hain.”
Bunny was in full panic mode.
“Uncle, mera mutual fund 10% neeche aagaya hai! Stock Market crash ho gaye toh? War shuru ho gaye toh? Mere paise? Mera future?”
He was sweating more than a groom in a July afternoon marriage with no AC, wearing a ‘Sherwani’.
He was making the classic mistake every investor makes:
Short-term fear. Long-term goal with Zero patience.
Investing Uncle offers Calm & Clarity
“Bunny,” I said, “Tum kya karte ho jab 2 din bukhar hota hai?”
“I rest, take medicine, wait,” he replied.
“Correct! You don’t sell your organs and declare yourself dying!”
We both laughed.
“Market ka fever bhi yahi hota hai,” I continued.
"Kabhi-kabhi girta hai. Toh kya portfolio ICU mein daal de?"
I explained to him:
Stock market is not a straight road. It’s a roller-coaster.
Fear makes you jump off halfway — and miss the destination.
Volatility is not risk. Panic is the real risk.
“Fear bolta hai – ‘Nikal ja market se!’
Wisdom bolta hai – ‘Chup-chap baithe raho, SIP chalne do, asset-allocation set hai.’”
Face Fear with a System
I gave Bunny my 3-step, Fear Detox Formula (FDF):
1. Logic Lagao, Emotion Nikaalo
Don’t look at headlines. Look at hisaab kitaab.
Why did you invest? Retirement? Education? Wealth-building?
Then ignore today’s drama. Focus on the 10-years, 20-years picture.
2. Systems Banao, Feelings bhagao
Invest with SIPs. Monthly, auto-debit.
Markets down? Great! You’re buying at a discount.
Markets up? Great! You’re compounding.
“System and Discipline banane se investor aesi Wealth bana sakta hai jo kabhi sochi bhi nahi”
3. Asset-allocation Karo
Don’t put all money in equity.
Some in debt
Some in liquid
Some in gold (if you like)
Fear kam hoga, portfolio zyada stable rahega.
“Portfolio banao — sirf biryani hi mat khaao”
Bunny Gets a Vision
Bunny’s face lit up.
“Oh! Matlab yeh normal hai? Loss dekh ke bhaagna nahi chahiye?”
“Bilkul nahi. Loss dikhta hai jab tum paise chhoti soch se dekh rahe ho.”
“Long term mein toh yeh sale ki tarah hai na, Uncle?”
I smiled. “Bunny, tum ab real investor ki tarah soch rahe ho, That’s like, My Buoy.”
Bunny 2.0
From a panicked beginner, Bunny had become a calm investor.
He stopped his app-checking obsession.
He made a plan:
Continue SIPs
Stick to asset-allocation
Uninstall fear-inducing apps (including Tinder)
And for the first time, he said:
“Uncle, I’m not scared anymore.”
Just like Bunny, you can take control.
Fear is not your enemy.
It’s your teacher.
It shows what you don’t understand yet.
But Investing Uncle is here.
Every week.
With chai, charts, and cheeky jokes.
You’ll not only survive.
You’ll invest smart. With a smile.
“Fear sirf breaking news ke liye theek hai — financial planning ke liye nahi.”
If Bunny can conquer fear, toh aap bhi kar sakte ho.
Hit that Subscribe button, aur chai ke saath aana har week.
(Pichle blog mein GREED (lalach/lobh) samajhaya tha — agar woh nahi padha, toh link yeh raha: How Greed Destroys Your Investments (And Peace of Mind))
Chinta chhodo. Investing Uncle sambhal lenge.
See you next Sunday at 09:15AM, my hero!
Hope this blog adds real value to your long-term investing journey.
If YES, Maybe you treat Uncle with a cup of Tea?
Disclaimer: Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully before investing. The past performance of the mutual funds is not necessarily indicative of future performance of the schemes. Investors are requested to review the prospectus carefully and obtain expert professional advice with regard to specific legal, tax and financial implications of the investment/participation. This blog/Website is for Educational purpose only. Any reference should not be treated as any form of Financial Advice
Any person referred to in this post is purely coincidental. The characters, names, and situations mentioned are for illustrative and educational purposes only and are not intended to represent any real individual.
‘Investing Uncle’ is NISM Series V-A Certified (Mutual Fund Distributor’s Certification Examination) conducted by National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM)
Investing Uncle is not SEBI/AMFI Registered.