Welcome to life's Golden day

Investoshashtra!!!📜📜📜

ईन्वेस्टोशाष्त्र!!!📜📜📜

Today is one of the most happiest day of my life - yesssss it's RETIREMENT hip hip hurray...

Today is the day I waited for life...with lot of dreams and aspirations of doing a whole lot of things.

Today I don't have a fixed schedule or daily commute or any stress related to job or profession.

Today I can spend time with friends and loved ones, time for hobbies, travel and exploration, giving back to society, personal growth and a lot more.

But only worrying thought I have amidst all this celebration is, will my kitty be sufficient to live and pursue my and my spouse's dreams happily and comfortably, Will it last for my lifetime?

So,I can't plan it haphazardly which I might regret later with no time left for course correction..

I need to understand today all the variables which can affect my life.

Like a Rs.2 crore retirement kitty gets wiped out or will be zero by the time I will reach 82 assuming total monthly expense of Rs.70k (including medical, travel, festivals, kids and grand kids etc.) and my own inflation rate of 8% (Including lifestyle inflation) with 7% rate of return (post tax).

Why did it happen?? 

The only reason is while planning I forgot the biggest devil for my retirement life i.e. inflation and taxes...

I invested assuming that interest earned today on my corpus of 2 crore is much more than the present expense of 70k/month. So my corpus will keep growing and I can comfortably live on interest component.

The fact is even though in initial years interest earned on kitty is going to be much higher than monthly expenses. But slowly with passing years expenses will keep scaling higher, whereas interest income will remain stagnant or might reduce due to reduction in interest rate.

It will eventually result in eating up capital or need compromise on life style or/and living standard.

I need to ensure that my  retirement for which I was waiting for life, shouldn't convert into a curse due to rising medical cost, inflation,taxes and higher life expectancy.

It is very important while planning the retirement that I earn a return higher than my inflation (not what the government declares) and that too net of taxes so that capital can remain intact rather keep growing.

Retirement planning is not a one-time task but a lifelong process. 

So, let's discuss clear cut layout, plan it and ensure that my retirement remains a happy  vacation and not only today every day becomes a golden day of my life......

Regards,

Raj Talati

Coverage of my presentation in Economic Times...

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/mf/analysis/plan-for-your-life-with-whatever-you-have-try-to-increase-investments-with-time/articleshow/72835452.cms

Invest directly in MF and save commission.

As always, Mutual fund Sahi hai has come up with another beautiful advertisement promoting direct investment in mutual fund, obviously with a caution "If you have knowledge of MF" and a disclaimer at the end.

It is a kind of ad which promotes to buy a toothpaste which you don't need to get a toothbrush free.

Have you ever thought why Virat Kohli or any of the best players inspite of being best, needs a coach. Does coach teaches them how to play, absolutely not.

Biggest role a coach plays is to guide them through their ups and downs, specially when they are performing well, that is the time they are prone to commit big mistake and hand holding them during lows.

Coach can help to see possibilities which you can't and they will make you stay focused on preparing and executing to meet the goal. They act as the lighthouse which is stationary and secure and provides a beacon to direct when you lose focus.

Investing or selecting a fund to invest in MF is not a big deal, but to stay focused and being rationale is.

That is where advisor comes handy.

A media house promoted platform is also publishing full page advertisement comparing extra money generated in 25 years, if invested directly or through MF distributor.

But the question of comparison arises if you invested for 25 years. Who will ensure, handhold and help you to make that journey of 25 years smooth.

Just seatback for a while and think whatever worth you are at today, was it possible to reach, if you wouldn't had an advisor.

*So don't be "Penny wise pound foolish".*

Just one right advise of advisor is worth much then saving few bucks by experimenting yourself.

Have a great weekend.

Regards,
Raj Talati
www.rajtalati-abminvestment.blogspot.com

No IPL or Politics for us

The most hot topic of discussion or time-pass these days is IPL and politics.

Normally, a player have limited career. Inspite of being in form they get retired in late 30's or many a times even in mid 20's. Think of a person getting retired in 30's and kind of retirement planning he would require to live atleast 50-60 years.

Atleast for cricketers IPL came as the biggest saviour to boost their career and delay retirement.

Similar, is the case with politicians, they hardly retire. If retirement is enforced even at age of 91 years they make a headline.😜

Most of us are not a cricketer or politician or an actor, but luckily our career graph is much longer.

In the era of fast changing technology and being one of the youngest country, we might not have option to delay our retirement. As our job might become obsolete or will be taken away by an youngster.

*Skip one match of IPL or hot debate of prime time and plan for your retirement corpus judiciously during this working years, we won't have any IPL or political career to support us.*

Regards,
Raj Talati
www.rajtalati-abminvestment.blogspot.com

Storms are inevitable

Investoshashtra !!!📜📜📜
इनवेस्टोशास्त्र !!!📜📜📜

Summer is next door, when it comes brings sand/dust storm with it. Sandstorms usually arrives suddenly in the form of advancing wall of dust and debris may be kms long and several feet high.

They strike with little warning, but best thing is they don't last long. If not handled properly It may damage our eyes, lungs or even result in big accidents.

Similar is the case with investing. Here are also Storms of uncertainty and volatility keeps striking irrespective of summer or monsoon in India, It will strike even if temperature rises in U.S.,North Korea, Europe,China or middle east.

Whenever, such storm of news flows, instead of being reactive we should look at our needs, goals and ask big question "does it  have any implication on my financial future."

If planned properly, you can sail through storm easily and reach financial destination without  being hurt avoiding  accidents.

So, don't make news to be *basis* of your investment decision.

Have a great weekend.

Regards,
Raj Talati

Lesson I learnt from a Mango farmer

Investoshashtra !!!📜📜📜
इनवेस्टोशास्त्र !!!📜📜📜

Just after 12-14 months of planting mango plant, if it's well grafted plant flower will start coming during the season, but first thing they do is pluck off the flowers.Next season again flower comes and are again taken off. They keep doing like this for few years. They don't let that flower to bear the fruit.

They will wait for plant to grow because they know if fruit starts coming out of that plant it would never grow to a full-fledged tree. It will not bear as much fruit as it could, if it bears too early.

This is what an investor must learn from farmer's wisdom, don't try to leave too early. This is the time to think about future as well and for bigger goals, liabilities and expenses in life.

So together with living in today, also *"plan for future as _that is the place you are going to spend most of your life._*"

If you start living too early, you might not be able to live a full-fledged life.

We have built habit of spending without planning, *since 2011 India's household savings has fallen from 26.1% to 16.3% of GDP.*

*Most surprising part is, in past consecutive 6 years personal consumption expenditure has outgrown household income. That means we are spending much more than our earnings.*

So this weekend let's learn and implement some of farmer's wisdom for creating a secured and safe future.

Have a rocking weekend.

Regards,
Raj Talati
www.rajtalati-abminvestment.blogspot.com

Was part of Panel discussion for knowledge series on debt conducted by Reliance MF in association with Cafemutual

Easiest way to evaluate Equities.

Investoshashtra !!!📜📜📜
इनवेस्टोशास्त्र !!!📜📜📜

Most of the investors during fall in equity markets become sceptical about it and about future of their investments.

I, suggest an easy 3 step decision making process which will be handy to decide whether you should hold on to equities or come out of it.

*1) Just ask yourself how you see our countries _economic_ future as far as income, spending, infrastructure, development, savings, education, power etc etc...*

If you have a conviction it is going to be *better or much better* compared to today. Then, here comes result of first test that you may continue with your equity investments or make fresh allocations as well.

*2) How Much time according to you it will  take to see few or all of above changes to happen. If answer is 3,5,10 or 15 years, then here comes answer for your time horizon to invest in equities.*

Let's say you feel there are challenges in short term due political uncertainty, geopolitical issues, crude, Inflation, current account deficit, fiscal deficit, imports, depreciating currency etc... but you are sure that we will be well off or _atleast better_ in 5 years then here comes your horizon to look for equity investing i.e 5 years.  If your assumption is 10 years then for you it would be 10 years.

But for few of you who feels nothing will change or economy will go in doldrums, then *please please* stay away from equities.

*3) Now, match your goals which you have tagged to equities with above horizon and stop worrying about day to day market movement.*

Have worry free weekends.

*_Wish you all happy and prosperous Diwali and New year._*

Regards,
Raj Talati
www.rajtalati-abminvestment.blogspot.com

Financial literacy seminar conducted at SNDT College, Vadodara

Future is product of preferences made today.

Investoshashtra !!!📜📜📜
इनवेस्टोशास्त्र !!!📜📜📜

Recently we conducted an Investor awareness program for investors of our association members. We had a capacity of 500 pax.

We invited India's renowned speaker Mr.Krishan Sharma and event was organised at one of the best venue i.e. INOX, Vadodara with food.

Only guests who confirmed their availability, were invited. To take care of last moment cancellation due to some emergencies or unavoidable situation we distributed additional 7% invites.

Each one of us worked really hard to ensure it's packed to capacity.

But to our surprise only 65% of investor turned up out of total invitees.

*I was wondering if we had invited similar no. of guests at same venue for screening of movie _"Badhai ho"_ which was running in adjacent screen, I am sure situation would have been totally different."*

First of all we would have got full capacity by may be calling only 700 pax instead of making over 3000 calls. Secondly, provisioning of 7% for last moment cancellation had to be brought down to 1-2%.

We all want to have entertainment in life so nothing wrong with it.But awareness, knowledge and preparing for future is equally important..

I, always believe majority of Investor's considers financial planning as last priority. Amongst few who are conscious they also have big gap in decision making and implementation or may be goes out of their focus in few years.

*Remember "Future is not decided by how much we earn, but by how we manage it."*

*This weekend give a serious thought and make financial planning atleast your 4rth preference in life.(After may be job, family and entertainment).*

Regards,
Raj Talati
www.rajtalati-abminvestment.blogspot.com

*Is there a Big billion sale in Indian Equity markets too??🤔🤔🤔*

Investoshashtra !!!📜📜📜
इनवेस्टोशास्त्र !!!📜📜📜

Word *Sale* made me puzzled of what it actually means.

As per dictionary Sale means "Period during which goods are sold at a discount to it's MRP (Maximum retail price)."

*The big question is who decides an MRP and does it remain same during the lifetime of the product. _Obviously no_. It keeps on increasing or decreasing depending on seller's wish.*

So only aspect which decides *sale* is real or not is the *value* we get against such *discounted products.*

That is the reason 90% (In many a cases 100%) of shopping my wife does online, goes for a return. (Thanks to free return policy😜😜). Reason is inspite of buying it in a sale she doesn't find value and that shows how word "Sale" is being manipulated by seller's.

Similarly, I have been getting lot of forwards from advisors as well as investor's regarding Big Billion sale going on in Indian Equity Market.

Big question strikes me again can this be termed as sale.May be "Yes" reference to historical prices, as it is available at big discount. *But what about value against the price we will be paying even now.*

Remember "The markets is most intelligent and dumbest at times". It's our job to find when it is behaving as a dumb (Opportunity) and when intelligent (Safety).

Looking at present macros like ; Crude price, Depreciation of Rupee, Increasing interest rate, Challenges with fiscal prudence, current account  deficit, political uncertainty, trade war etc etc, I don't think market is behaving like a dumb at all.

Actually, It was running much ahead of fundamentals due to heavy liquidity and Tina effect (there is no alternative).

*"Market can remain irrational for longer than you can remain solvent - John Keynes."*

*So do not try to leverage your equities looking at "Sale" even now and stick to asset allocation.*

Remember, it doesn't mean stopping SIP's these are the times it is best suited for.

Have a great weekend.

Regards,
Raj Talati
www.rajtalati-abminvestment.blogspot.com

Your Outlook decides your fate

Investoshashtra !!!📜📜📜
इनवेस्टोशास्त्र !!!📜📜📜

Once a wise man was taken to a construction site. He was blindfolded and given a task of identifying what job 3 people standing in front of him do, by just asking one question.

He thought for a while and asked each one of them "What does you do at this site".

First one replied I am laying bricks, second one replied building a wall and third one *I am building a beautiful House 🏠.*

For same question there were totally different reply *although all of them doing the same job.* Which also explains reason for kind of income they earn.

Same is true with investors, there are the one's who just enters the market to trade, other set of people who speculate or follow herd mentality enters the market to make quick gains and very few comes with clearcut vision of *building a beautiful House 🏠.(Wealth creation or achieving a long term goal.)*

So the gains are dependent on outlook or purpose either lay a brick(trader and have small gains), build a wall(speculator - gains when calls go right and lose when it's wrong) or can be an investor who dreams, lay down a plan and work for ultimate final goal ignoring intermittent hick ups.

*This week just ignore noise around, think of your goal and  stay committed, everything else will automatically fall in place(But ensure you goals are long term).*

Regards,
Raj Talati
www.rajtalati-abminvestment.blogspot.com

"Experience should define your age and not no. of years".

Investoshashtra !!!📜📜📜
इनवेस्टोशास्त्र !!!📜📜📜

Just watching an advertisement of Flipkart which defies age related stereotypes.(Link : https://youtu.be/3WFGHCqC_1c ) Very often we deny ourselves opportunities and experiences because we are being afraid of failed or judged by others.

Do we stop driving vehicle after an accident or do we stop living life because of a big failure.Obviously no, rather *we count it as an experience and learn lessons for future to be more wiser.*

But, why is it that when when it comes to investing we consider our mistake as permanent. If we dig dipper into it to find reasons, *It can make us wiser investor  to be benefited out of it next time instead of falling prey to it.*

The best example is recent turmoil in mid and small cap segment which *would have been sensed by any experienced advisor more then a year back.*

There were investors who kept pumping money by ignoring valuations dazzled with charts, returns and growth shown by newspaper,NFO's, business channels and even business hungry distributors.

So, there is nothing wrong in investing in equities or even mid and small cap stocks or companies. But try to be wiser with your experiences instead of moving away.

*_Financial Advisor wisdom not only comes with the knowledge and experience he have, but is much wiser because of lessons learned from mistakes done in past._*

*So you can be wiser by experiencing mistakes yourself or can become one by hiring a financial advisor.*

Have a great weekend

Regards,
Raj Talati
www.rajtalati-abminvestment.blogspot.com

Today's Sandesh Newspaper

"Defining true friendship"

Investoshashtra !!!📜📜📜
इनवेस्टोशास्त्र !!!📜📜📜

Sorry for using true before friendship, I believe it's granted that friendship is always true. But I was digging little hard how can we define it. I came out with following criteria.

It's like you understand each other by just looking or talking each other and many a times even without talking.

They will abuse you, fight you, pull your leg, try to do everything to irritate you and even calling with wierd names. (My friends can understand which names I am pointing to😜). *There is only one relation where you can be yourself and are least bothered what others think because of your social, financial or even marital status.*

*_They will forget thousands of reasons which can break it but don't need one reason to make it everlasting._*

It's difficult to have both quality of a true friend and wisdom as well as professional qualification in a financial planner.  *But there are some basics which a financial planner should possess like: being Loyal,Good, helpful, understanding, truthful, trustworthy, supportive, always with you, intelligent and with little sense of humour.*

*_Like friends they should never judge you, help to avoid mistakes, take informed decision, guide and continuously counsel for a successful financial future._*

"If you are really rich can you find an hour a week for your friends." -  P.V.Subramanayam

Take some time out with  friends this weekend to make it wonderful.

Regards,
Raj Talati
www.rajtalati-abminvestment.blogspot.com

Every seat is a Hot Seat

Investoshashtra !!!📜📜📜
इनवेस्टोशास्त्र !!!📜📜📜

Most of the time seating at home and playing "KBC along" is totally different then  being a contestant. In playing along you have hardly anything to loose. So you play it for fun, but if you get a chance to play in front of Big B, situation might be totally different. Inspite of knowing an answer just in pressure you go for a lifeline or give a wrong answer.

A wrong answer before second leg won't affect much, but any wrong answer after 2nd stage of Rs.320000 comes with a big cost. That might be the reason many contestants instead of trying a sure guess to double prize money, settles  down may be for 12.50 or 25 or 50 lakhs, as a wrong answer at this stage can bring them down to Rs.360000.

*The most reliable and consistent lifeline at this stage of game is expert advice*. There might be cases when they would say sorry for not knowing the answer *but I have hardly come across an instance when they went wrong. The irony is you can use this lifeline only once.*

Thank god!  there is no such limitation in real life.You can have a reliable advisor, specially in financial planning who will always be there to help and guide you to path of success.

*In absence of good advisor most of the time investors makes big mistakes time and again, to settle for a lower value (3.60 lakhs).They needs to make big compromises later in life instead of making it bigger and better.(may be 50 lakh, 1 crore or even a jackpot).*

Advisor helps to avoid mistakes and handholds you in tough times to achieve goals comfortably.

*Good things in life comes with a price, but value and wisdom comes with it is - _priceless._* Only one right advise can make good of cost paid during lifetime.

*So don't be Pennywise and pound foolish.*

Have a great weekend with Bappa.
*Ganpati Bappa Moriya*

Regards,
Raj Talati
www.rajtalati-abminvestment.blogspot.com

Investment is not buying Vehicle

Investoshashtra !!! 📜📜📜
ईनवेस्टोशाष्त्र !!! 📜📜📜

This week we decided to buy new vehicle for my wife.

Since then only thing we can see around is different vehicle options, color and look.Even while riding on road or standing on signal instead of looking at  the beautiful girl standing besides me, I was lookng at her vehicle😉😉.

I was surprised by my behaviour, untill last week inspite of everything being same it was non existent for me, and after 2-3 months of buying the vehicle everything again will be non existent for me. Rather I would be list concerned with even color, model or brand WE BOUGHT.

It reminds me of investors who invests on their own and falls prey to such behaviour.

Whenever they have surplus money just invest looking at what everyone else is investing in or most fancied product or asset class in the market. They forget purpose of investment and in many a cases even purpose is undecided.

But investment is not like buying a vehicle, TV, refrigerator or Home theatre. It is like growing a plant, it needs regular care, watering, nurturing and  even trimming as and when required.

So it's always better to have a good financial gardener who will help and nurture to blossom garden of your Life.

Have a blooming weekend.

Regards,
Raj Talati
www.rajtalati-abminvestment.blogspot.com

How much reliable EPF/PPF for Retirement Funding???

I have come across lot of investors who lives in an fool's paradise as far as there retirement planning is concerned. They purely rely on EPF or PPF assuming that they would have a happy and comfortable retirement.

I did the same for one of my investor Mr.Nikhilesh, who is just 28 years of age and works with a IT company. He assumes a salary growth rate of 10% every year. On the basis of it, his EPF corpus works out as follows :

Nikhilesh is married and blessed with a daughter. Let's find out what would be his retirement expenses and his corpus requirement his present monthly expense is Rs.18000.00. We have not considered any of his intermediate goals considering that it will be taken care by his savings or some extra ordinary jump in the salary during his most productive phase.

So his EPF corpus at the time of retirement would be Rs.3.15 Crore and whereas his required corpus to maintain similar lifestyle would be Rs.5.22 Crore. So there would be a gap of Rs.2.07 Crore. Remember we have not considered any medical expense and emergencies.

To accumulate the above amount he would be required to contribute additional Rs.1.50 Lacs per annum (@8.7% for 30 Years). 

The PPF investors are worst as in above case Nikhilesh would be investing 24% of his basic salary (12% own contribution and 12% employer's contribution) whereas in PPF maximu limit you can invest is Rs.1.50 Lacs which will work out to be 2.10 Crore that too if entire limit is exhausted from day 1 of Rs.1.50 lacs. So his shortfall would be Rs.3.12 Crore.

I know Salary, EPF corpus, Expenses  and Salary growth rate would vary from individual to individual, but purpose is to demonstrate and make investor aware that only EPF or PPF corpus will not suffice their retirement needs.So plan your retirement much before you hit it to make it the best period of your life.

It is always advisable to calculate the retirement corpus required either yourself or may be through a professional financial planner and try achieving that instead of playing blind. If

Real Life case study on Retirement Planning of one of my client in Times Dtd.13/01/2015

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r4tg9lm91z68phy/TOI%20-Jan%2013%2C2015-%20Retirement%20PlanningDB.pdf?dl=0