New Delhi, Sept. 22 -- Investors often describe themselves as long-term investors, but a few months of weak returns can be enough to trigger anxiety, frequent portfolio checks or even a change in investment strategy. The gap between saying you have a long-term horizon and actually following one can become particularly visible during periods of market volatility.

According to Rhishabh Garg, CEO, FundsIndia.com, investors often use "long term" to describe a return expectation rather than a fixed investment horizon. "The label is easy to hold onto while things are going well, and it's often the first thing that gets quietly renegotiated once a few months disappoint," he said.

He added that part of the problem is that investors often compar...