Rupee cost averaging in SIP is just a strategy to row the boat through ups and downs of the market and build wealth over a period of time. It is investing money systematically at regular intervals in a mutual fund scheme, irrespective of the market's performance at that point in time. The brilliance of SIP Rupee Cost Averaging lies in the simplicity with which it works, more so when times are volatile.
Rupee Cost Averaging in SIP is an investment strategy simplified with the management of market risk. Suppose you are investing Rs. 5,000 every month in a mutual fund through an SIP. In a month when the market is down and the mutual fund's NAV falls to Rs. 50 per unit, your investment of Rs. 5,000 will buy 100 units. Another month, when it bounces back and the NAV touches Rs. 100 per unit, the same Rs. 5,000 would buy 50 units. As time goes by, this will help in averaging out the cost per unit of your investment. It will help you by avoiding the risk of investing a large sum of money at an unfavorable time.
This can be useful in volatile markets, where the price keeps changing frequently. For example, during a market downturn, most investors would panic and sell their holdings fearing further losses. However, in Rupee Cost Averaging in SIP, you do the opposite: buy more units at lower prices, positioning yourself to grab some gains when the market bounces back. On the other hand, you buy fewer in a rising market, thus saving you from buying too much when the price is very high.
The key advantage of SIP Rupee Cost Averaging is that it removes the necessity for timing the market. Timing the market is notoriously hard, and at times it has led to emotional decisions on the part of investors whereby they buy high out of greed or sell low out of fear. With a committed SIP, you are sure to get invested at regular intervals, no matter what the market condition is. Moreover, a SIP is automated, and hence it is easy to stay committed to the plan of investment. For instance, when an SIP is started, at regular intervals like monthly, a fixed sum of money for investing will be auto-debited from your bank account.
Rupee cost averaging in SIP helps build a diversified portfolio over some time. With each investment, your units get accumulated at different price points, and thus the risk gets spread out. This gradual accumulation can lead to huge wealth creation in the long run, since the power of compounding acts in your favour. For example, an SIP initialised in early thirties, with an investment of Rs. 5,000 each month for 20 years, will see the value of your investment grow multifold due to the compounding effect and cost averaging of units, even with moderate market returns. This makes SIP Rupee Cost Averaging an ideal strategy for long-term financial goals such as retirement planning, buying a home, or funding your children's education. As you continue investing, units get accumulated at various price points, thereby spreading out the risk.