Aashish Somaiyaa, CEO of WhiteOak Capital Asset Management Company, emphasizes the significance of long-term investing over market timing in a recent discussion. He illustrates this with the example of an investor who consistently bought into the Sensex at its 52-week high for 35 years, ultimately growing an investment of ₹35 lakh to over ₹3 crore. Somaiyaa explains that while market timing may influence short-term outcomes, its impact diminishes significantly over 10-15 years due to the effects of compounding. He warns against the common psychological trap where investors believe they can predict future market movements based on past patterns, a flawed assumption that often leads to missed opportunities. For systematic investment plans (SIPs), he advises maintaining consistency even during market downturns to benefit from lower-cost averaging. For lump-sum investments, a staggered approach is recommended to mitigate risks associated with market volatility. Ultimately, Somaiyaa advocates for a disciplined asset allocation strategy, which helps investors buy low and sell high across different asset classes.