Why asset allocation, not prediction, drives long-term returns
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. In a world defined by volatility and uncertainty, building disciplined, well-balanced portfolios is key to compounding wealth. At the Mint Money Festival 2026, investment and personal finance experts shared practical insights on managing money and investing wisely.
Saugata Chatterjee, president and chief business officer, Nippon Life Asset Management, in a presentation, explained why asset allocation, not prediction, remains the most reliable strategy for long-term investors. In his presentation, ‘Your Money Playbook: Asset allocation beats stock tips,’ Chatterjee said that volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) are not new to markets. “They were present ten years ago, twenty years ago, and they will remain part and parcel of our investing lives." The world today, he said, is shaped by VUCA at every level—economic, political, geopolitical, and even geo-economic.
“Everything we read in newspapers, everything we see on the market screen, eventually comes back to these four forces." While this environment makes investing difficult, it does not make it impossible. “Markets have gone through immense ups and downs," he said, “yet over long periods, compounding has still worked." India’s equity markets, despite repeated disruptions, have delivered meaningful long-term returns. “The CAGR may look linear on paper, but the journey has been anything but smooth.
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