Investing During a Recession – Safe or Risky?

Introduction

Recession: the word itself triggers fear. Slowing economies, falling markets, job losses — it feels like the worst time to invest. But is it?

Surprisingly, recessions often offer the best long-term investment opportunities, especially through mutual funds. In this blog, we explore whether investing during a recession is safe or risky — and what smart investors actually do.

Let’s understand this better through the story of Dev and Asha during the 2020 COVID-led recession.

24/06/2025

How Mutual Funds React During Recession

Mutual funds mirror the market, but each category behaves differently:

Equity funds drop initially but recover well post-recession.
Debt funds, especially liquid/short-duration, remain stable and provide income.
Balanced Advantage Funds automatically reduce equity exposure when markets fall.

Real-Life Example: Dev vs Asha (2020 Recession)

  • Dev, fearing job loss and crash, exited equity mutual funds in April 2020 with a 20% loss and parked everything in FDs.
  • Asha, aware of market cycles, kept her SIPs running and even invested an extra ₹50,000 in Balanced Advantage Funds.
By 2024:
  • Dev’s returns = 5.1% CAGR
  • Asha’s returns = 12.4% CAGR


Key Takeaways

Recession Investment Insights
Insight Explanation
Recession = Opportunity Asset prices are low, giving better future returns
SIP during recession is powerful Rupee cost averaging gives more units at lower NAV
Stay diversified Combine equity and debt for balanced performance
Avoid timing the market No one knows the bottom — invest systematically

Conclusion

Investing during a recession feels risky, but it's actually one of the safest times for long-term investors. Mutual funds, especially those with dynamic asset allocation, can weather the storm. What matters more is your behavior, not the economy.


Don't stop your SIPs during downturns — consider increasing them if you can. Choose funds with smart allocation strategies and let time and patience do the work.


Summary Table: Investing During Recession

Post-Recession Investment Strategy Analysis
Fund Type / Strategy Avg. Return (Post-Recession CAGR) Avg. Risk (Volatility) Avg. Investor Behaviour
Balanced Advantage Fund 10% - 12% Medium Stable investing, less panic
Equity SIPs (continued) 12% - 14% High Long-term focus, compounding effect
Exited during crash 4% - 6% Low Emotional reaction, delayed growth

Dr. Satish Vadapalli
Research Analyst