New Delhi, Sept. 6 -- Should you expect a 13-14% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) from the Indian stock market? This question is not easy to answer with a simple yes or no. However, for investors with a horizon of more than 10 years, the target does not seem overly ambitious-especially in an economy like India, the world's fastest-growing major economy, supported by structural positives such as a demographic dividend and the rising participation of retail investors in the stock market.

Equity investing gives healthy returns in the long term. However, because of market volatility, impatient investors with a short-term horizon may often be disappointed.

For example, the Nifty 50 has delivered a negative return of about 2% over the past ...