My article on focused funds featured in April outlook money...

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

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

We are humans not computers.

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

Every person in our life whether it's our life partner, busineas partner, friend or family have some distinctive qualities which bonds our relationship.

Why is it that later on, we start expecting them to be perfect or to be the way we want. Every individual in this world is unique and none of them is perfect. So why don't we accept them the way they are.

On a lighter note the way Raj of DDLJ says "मुझे तो कोई एक लड़की पसंद आ ही नही सकती....अब किसी की आंखे अच्छी है, तो किसी की नाक अच्छी है, किसी के होठ अच्छे है तो किसी के कान"! It's a different issue that even he understands mistake and settles for one at the end.😉

Born in computer age, makes me think that our brain is also getting programmed like computers. The way computer understands only 2 outcomes (binary language) i.e. 0 (wrong) and 1(right), we are also expecting our relationships to be only (1) perfect.

But life doesn't come with only 2 outcomes and *individuals are not computers.* _There are some good things in everyone to cherish about and not so good things to ignore._

Even investing is about understanding distinctive quality of each and every asset class.

Nothing wrong in investing in Gold, FD,  PPF, NPS, Debt, Equity or Real estate.

Why would you invest in equity at the age of 75, when you can comfortably live remaining years without affecting your blood pressure jump due to sudden fall in markets.

Every asset class has it's own merits as well as demerit. So understand asset classes and make a winning team by combining them.

So listen to this Raj😉 and go beyond 0 and 1 in analysing your investments or personal relationships.

Have a wonderful weekend.

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

*Death is the only guaranted gift of life!!*

Investorshashtra !!! 📜📜📜
ईनवेस्टोशाष्त्र !!! 📜📜📜

Now a days *Murder, Suicide and accident* are the news which fills each and every page of newspaper.It is so common that Divya Bhaskar a leading daily who started a movement "Positive Monday" is forced to cover atleast one or two such news on every page by giving excuse "required to know".

Our reaction to such news is just read the heading check for any known names  and breathe a sigh of relief that no one is from our known circle.

*Only difference with me is for few moments I just imagine financial situation of the family and instead of praying for RIP, I first pray to God that deceased must have had enough coverage to provide financial security to his family.*

_Like they say "Only 'love' which comes with guarantee in life is 'parents love'_ and *only guarantee "life" comes with is Death.*

So, if you do not have enough insurance coverage for your family's financial security, just for a moment try and put your name in that news *(God forbid)*.It will make you understand it's real need.

We all know we are going to die. *But in absence of proper financial planning-if you die early your family will suffer and if you live longer both you as well as your family suffers.*

"So, this weekend just check for your insurance needs and cover it." *(Only term Insurance),*

Have a positive weekend.

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

"Goal are guesses"

Investoshashtra!!!📜📜📜
ईन्वेस्टोशाष्त्र!!!📜📜📜

Start of academic session was most exciting time when I was a kid. The smell of new books📖, enjoyment of writing in a new notebook, wearing new uniform, meeting friends etc etc...

I used to make detailed time table for entire day...when will I sleep, when will be the play time and specially dedicated time for studies. Not only that within study time it was fixed which day which subjects needs to studied.

But within few days time table used to become just a show piece on my study table.

Similar is the case with financial planning. Lot of clients comes to us understanding need of financial planning , fully motivated and committed .

Within a year or two goals and motivation gets lost in between.. and they just remains guesses without any action.

Realisation and regret comes when actually goal falls due.

*"Your level of success is determined by your level of discipline and preservance"- Annonymous*

Being  kid we had liberty of taking resolution again for the next year to be more disciplined.. *but being adult we can't afford it.*

Have a wonderful weekend.

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

Which Investor category you belong to..

Investoshashtra!!!📜📜📜
ईन्वेस्टोशाष्त्र!!!📜📜📜

According to a Chinese proverb there are 4 categories of people :

1)He who *knows*, and *knows* he knows, he is *a wise man*

2)He who *knows*, and *knows not* he knows, he is *asleep*

3)He who *knows not*, and *knows* he doesn't know, he is *a child*

4)He who *knows not*, and *knows not* that he doesn't know, he is *a fool*

The problem is percentage of people doubles as you move up the hierarchy and  more than 80% fall in final 2 categories.

In financial world, most of the time initial investment success makes investor's overconfident and tends to believe that they belong to category 1😊😊. But by the time they realize that actually they belonged to category 4, it's too late.😪😪

Frankly most of so called _*"Experts"*_ also don't fall in category 1 as it requires regular upscaling of knowledge and skills to maintain that spot.

Investors in category 2 or 3 are at lesser risk, as good professional advisor can help and ensure that their financial goals are met.

Irony is majority of investors fall in category 4 and they are ignorant about it. I pray to God to watchover and protect them.

Have a wonderful weekend...

Inheriting Wealth or Mess

Investoshashtra !!!📜📜📜
ईन्वेस्टोशाष्त्र !!!📜📜📜

When we born we were like tender flower.But in zest of living life unknowingly we accumulate so much of trash (for others) which becomes difficult to manage for next generation.

Recently, I come across couple of cases where children's have settled down abroad and parents are no more. 

Parents had bank account with multiple banks, investments in all possible instruments like LIC, Bank FD, Postal Schemes,MF,Shares, SCSS etc etc.. and cherry on the top had several real estate.

Misery is now kids themselves doesn't know about what they have inherited whether it is a wealth or mess.

More than grief of losing parents they are worried about sorting out this mess in little time they have.

In Gujarat this is the story of most of the  families and will grow bigger as migration of next generation is increasing more and more.

So if you are one of such parents try consolidating holdings and limit it to financial assets as you grow older, which will ease transmission. 

Most important - Create will. If you fail to do so you become a reason for dispute amongst your own children's who had harmonious relationship when you were alive.

Try and *inherit memories, values together with wealth, but not the mess.*

Thank god March is over

Whether it's government or entrepreneur, a shopkeeper or an employee, chartered accountant or insurance agent, everyone takes a breather as soon as March is over..

Someway or other everyone manages to take over with March financial blues.

But have you ever thought how will you take over month of ''March of your life...(Final stage of Retirement)'' the biggest problem with life is we do know when Jan or Feb (Retirement) will arrive but no clue of when will March arrive and specially the D-day i.e. 31st March.

It might not be a big problem if you don't meet 31st target professionally, but you can't afford to lose March target of your life.

One thing I can guarantee, if not planned properly in advance it could be a worst nightmare which will become reality.

So, if you have not given a serious thought to your retirement planning, take sometime this weekend and do plan and review it.

Remember sooner the better.

Smart people are bad Investors

Sr.Issac Newton once invested and after making big losses said "could calculate the motions of the heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people."

Doctors, lawyers, scientist, engineers, sportsman are some of the brightest most educated and hard-working people around. Yet their portfolio reveals that they tend to be horrible investors.

In investment world EQ(Emotional quotient) matters more then IQ.

Apart from knowledge we need to have financial wisdom and little bit of common sense in avoiding big mistakes.

Seat belt pehni Kya!!

Seat belt pehni Kya!!

As soon as we settle down in a flight Airhostess starts safety demonstration. Does that mean flight is going to crash.

Does wearing a seat belt or helmet assures that we won't have injuries in case  of accident.

No but certainly it will help to avoid severe injuries.

Financial planners are actually seat belt or life jacket for the clients, who ensures that during a accident(sudden change in behavior of asset classes) your goals Don't have severe injuries.

They would ensure that your goal funding is safe in Black box which gets unaffected even if flight crashes.

The most important part of financial planning process is selection of a competent financial planner.

Concentrate on average not maximum

We always plan our road trip timings considering average speed.

There would be a stretch on which we may accelerate at 130-150 kmph and undoubtedly a roughy or crowded patch where we won't be able to exceed even 20-30 kmph, Unless driving on a formula 1 track.

So during our journey we will be moving somewhere in between the lower and upper band. Does that mean we should try and accelerate even on roughy patch at a speed of 100. Obviously NO

Then why we want to drive our investments either in top or first gear only. It is dangerous for our future to drive throughout financial journey only in extreme gears.

Why is it that if we are investing in Equities we try to chase best performing stock or mutual fund and keep playing with our money in shifting from  one to other. Remember data only shows past performance and *past performance is not guarantee of future.*

So this weekend decide average speed required to achieve your financial goals which will help you to avoid unnecessary diversions. It will minimise risk and make you reach destination safely in time.

Happy weekend!!

SPEED or DIRECTION !!

Investoshashtra!!!📜📜📜
ईन्वेस्टोशाष्त्र!!!📜📜📜

Dear friends ,

There is a big correlation in traveling and financial planning. I will use this analogy in Investoshashtra broadcast for next few weeks.

*SPEED or DIRECTION* - What is more important??

Whenever I ask this question during my presentations, majority of audience reply speed.

Actually, right *direction* is more important to reach our destination.

Even if we drive with full throttle, one wrong turn and will end up nowhere.

In financial planning most of the time investors concentrate on returns (speed) instead of where they want to reach-Goal(direction).

This weekend decide your direction right, speed could be managed afterwards to reach destination.

Have a rocking weekend.

Regards,
Raj Talati

Conducted session on "Bitcoin - Past, Present and Future" for "Vadodara Individual Financial Advisor Association".

Future of GOLD is glittering???

Just thought of sharing some interesting facts about gold today.

There is roughly 7000 years (beginning of civilization) of history of gold.

We all seek permanency and gold comes near to that.

Gold does not get corroded or rusted. It is not soluble in any acid. It is very difficult to demolish.

Most of the gold digged from time immemorial is still in circulation.

So we may even be using the some of the gold (recycled) that was used in the times of Rama, Krishna, Buddha and Jesus.

It is very soft that you can beat the gold down so thin that sunrays can shine through it.

The quantity of steel poured in an hour in our planet is more than what has been poured for gold since the civilization. That is how limited the availability of the gold is.

It is estimated that total gold available (in circulation and storage) in the world is 1,65,000 tonnes.

1 tonne is 1000 Kgs. At Rs.3000/- a gram, the cost of 1kg of gold is Rs.30 lakhs. So 1 tonne of gold is worth Rs.300 crore.

Indians privately own anywhere between 15,000 to 20,000 tonnes of gold. Even pegging it at 15,000 tonnes, the value comes above Rs.45 lakhs crore.

Since I cannot not talk about equity, the entire fund management industry in the country only manages Rs.6 lakh crore worth of equity assets.

Indian government owns only around 550 tonnes of gold.

No one knows how much gold the Indian temples have.

Tirupathi is estimated to have gold worth Rs.90,000 crores. Around 4000 kgs of gold is offered annually by his devotees to Lord Balaji. Interestingly as per legend, Balaji borrowed from Kubera 1.14 crore coins of gold for his marriage. Marriages have always been expensive in this country. By any standard, Balaji’s wedding with Padmavathi is the most expensive marriage that has ever happened so far in our world.

Till few years ago, we never knew Lord Padmanabha is so rich. Is that why he is very relaxed (ananda sayanam)? The very conservative estimate suggests that the value of gold in his abode is around Rs.4 lakh crore.

Reading various estimates and guesstimates looks like we (including deities) may have even 30,000+ tonnes of gold in our country. So we own around 20% of the entire gold in the world.

This means at today’s price, we have Rs.90 lakh crore worth of gold. India can be amazingly rich and poor at the same time.

Since gold is so malleable, just one gram of gold can be beaten into a sheet of one square metre.

The entire gold available in the world today can easily fit within a cube measuring 67 feet. Just one good shipping container would do. Golden Voyage!

75% of the gold available today has been extracted only after 1910.

The U.S.government (Fed Reserve + FortKnox) has close to 10,000 tonnes of gold.

During great depression, in 1933, U.S. government banned private holding of gold. People were ordered to handover the gold they have and were provided instead with dollars of equivalent value. Once the process was over, the government devalued the currency by over 40% eroding people’s wealth overnight. This coupled with high inflation was an extremely tough time for its citizens.

This ban was subsequently lifted only in 1975 and Americans were again allowed to own gold.

Since China has lot of dollar or dollar denominated assets; they understand the above risk better than anybody else. Chinese people were not allowed to own gold for more than 40 years and possessing gold was a severely punishable offence. Sometime during last decade this ban was removed and China has been encouraging its citizens to buy gold and silver.

Talking about silver, Buffett who rarely touches commodity, purchased 37% of the entire silver available in the world (yes, you read it right) in late nineties and sold it some time in the middle of the last decade. I think that considering the growing industrial demand and limited supply then, he saw value in purchasing the same and selling it at a very good profit. Silver was selling at abysmally low prices during the time of his purchase.

Every year, the new gold produced / recycled is consumed 50% as jewellery, 40% for investments (including ETFs) and 10% for industry. I was under the impression gold has no industrial use whatsoever till one of our client told me that electronics industry uses gold.

Though South Africa has been one of the world’s largest producers of gold, its citizens were not allowed to own gold till 2009.

For sports fan, do you know that Olympic gold medal is not made of gold! A ‘gold’ medal contains only 6 grams of gold. Only till 1912 Olympics, the gold medals were actually made of gold.

In 1991, our country’s situation was so bad that 65 tonnes of gold was taken out of the country  and mortgaged to tide over external payment crisis.

If you are worried that gold’s supply would get exhausted soon, fear not!

About 10 billion tonnes – 10,000 million tonnes (yes, you read it right) of gold is estimated to be held in the oceans of the world. An economically viable model of extraction is being explored.

Necessity is the mother of invention. If gold prices continue to rise and if the demand would only increase, who knows, a technological innovation can happen in extracting gold from ocean.

May be we can all then plan for building with our own golden bathrooms and specially bath tub so that we can have a golden bath....

What about our bappida???

Ensure chicken is not pecking up your investments...

There were Two grains lying side by side on the fertile soil. 

The first grain said: “I want to grow up! I want to put down roots deep into the ground and sprout from the ground. I dream to blossom in delicate buds and proclaim the coming of spring. I want to feel the warm rays of sun and the dew drops on my petals!”.

This grain grew up and became a beautiful flower.

The second grain said: “I’m afraid. If I put down my roots into the ground, I don’t know what they will face there. If I grow tender stems, they can be damaged by wind. If I grow flowers, they may be disrupted. So I’d rather wait for the safer time.

Thus the second grain was waiting, until the chicken that passed by did not peck it.

I found similar is the situation of Indian investor they are always fearful about their investments in equity. What would happen if market will go down, what if GDP growth would not be as expected, what if inflation rises, what if I would loose my hard earned money, why should I pay fees to advisor, why should invest in Mutual funds.

Now we are having almost 22 years of history of mutual fund investment, not a single fund has not given return lesser then market, inspite of seeing all the worst a economy can face in this 22 years. We have seen a government for 13 days, a communist supported 3rd front government, Asian Financial crisis,Kargil war, Sanctions imposed on us due to nuclear test, Tech Bubble,9/11 attack, Ketan Parekh scam, terrorist attacks of parliament and of Mumbai, Corruption/scams, Sub prime crisis and lot more.

Inspite, of that there are funds which has given annualised returns to the tune of 24%, which even god of investment Warren Buffet have not been able to generate consistently for such a long period. 

Which means if someone would have invested Rs.100000 in the fund 20 years back that would have been worth 80.00 Lakhs, i.e multiplied his money 80 times or have made an SIP of Rs.5000 (Total Investment Rs.11.80 Lakhs) per month would have transformed into Rs.2.51 Crores.

So let us try to reap the benefit of equity investments and not become like other seed waiting for inflation and taxes in the form of chicken to peck it.

Time to make some NEW YEAR Resolutions

New Year is the time for celebration, gifts, drink and dance. But it also reminds you to take some resolutions, so that New Year can be better than the one just passed by. So this year let’s make some of the following resolutions to make a better managed financial life. It will help you to reach your financial goals.

1) Contingency Planning: First thing you should do is plan a contingency fund may be 3-6 months of your expenses, depending on kind of a job or business you are in. Always create and maintain an emergency fund. This is the only source which you can access in case of emergency may be medical or job loss.

2) Prioritise your Debts: Understand not all debt is same. Make list of all your debt and try to get rid of the ones against which you are paying highest rate of interest. It doesn’t make sense to invest your money in an Fd or Mutual fund when you are paying 30% interest on your credit card due.

3) Budgeting: If you haven’t make a budget then it is the time you should start making one. Budgeting help you to plan your bigger expenses and help you avoid impulsive buying.

4) Know your goals: Our tagline is “Aao Sapno Ko TARIKH De” which means first list down your dreams and then put a date by when or in which year I want to achieve it. To start any planning we need to list down what all we want to achieve. So this new year just make a list of financial goals you wish to achieve. Then break it into 2 parts i.e need and want. Needs are the one which in any circumstances you have to achieve e.g. your child’s education, Daughter’s marriage or your retirement. The balance left out will be your wants e.g. owning a vacation home, foreign trip every year etc. From the definition it is clear your needs will be given first priority and wants after that.

5) Clean up: Every investor investment bucket is filled up with the products advised by a friend, neighbor or a relative. Just review them whether they still holds some value. There are lot of better alternative products are available especially in mutual fund space. Which are transparent as well as cost and tax efficient. So close down all such products and switch it to better alternative. May be you need to pay some penalty today but in long term it can add multiples of such penalties to your wealth.

6) Know where you money goes: Gaining control of your financial situation and using money to help you reach your goals is possible, but first you must recognize where your money goes. Evaluate your habits. Start by jotting down everything you think you spend money on during a one-month period. Within the expenses differentiate between discretionary (e.g Eating our, Watching movies, replacing gadgets more frequently etc) and non discretionary (e.g. Electricity bill, Rent, Grocery etc). Start cutting down on discretionary expenses.

7) Avoid tips or offers giving assured, fixed and high returns: Remember every extra % of return offered over and above market return comes with that extra % of risk, so try to shy away from the schemes which doubles your money in very short span. Also check investments products you are investing in are regulated by govt. Appointed regulator and avoid ponzy or tip based investment. Your friend or relative might have recommended that but it is you who loses money when it bursts.

8) Consult a Financial Advisor: It is always beneficial in long run to seek professional help. In short run it might look like a cost but over a period of time, it would help you to avoid unnecessary investments. He will guide and a hand holds you during your financial journey and helps you reach your goals comfortably.

9) Do some Charity : Lastly do not forget to do some charity, help the people who are less fortunate. Remember we are lucky that we have access to the things which atleast 50% of the population don’t have.

So let’s create a bright future for ourselves and for the country. Wish you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

How to restraint from being a member of CLUB 99

​Once upon a time, there lived a King who, despite his luxurious lifestyle, was neither happy nor content.

One day, the King came upon a servant who was singing happily while he worked. This fascinated the King; why was he, the Supreme Ruler of the Land, unhappy and gloomy, while a lowly servant had so much joy.

The King asked the servant, 'Why are you so happy?'

The man replied, 'Your Majesty, I am nothing but a servant, but my family and I don't need too much - just a roof over our heads and warm food to fill our tummies.'

The king was not satisfied with that reply. Later in the day, he sought the advice of his most trusted advisor. After hearing the King's woes and the servant's story, the advisor said, 'Your Majesty, I believe that the servant Has not been made part of The 99 Club.'

'The 99 Club? And what exactly is that?' the King inquired.

The advisor replied, 'Your Majesty, to truly know what The 99 Club is, place 99 Gold coins in a bag and leave it at this servant's doorstep.'

When the servant saw the bag, he took it into his house. When he opened the bag, he let out a great shout of joy... So many gold coins!

He began to count them. After several counts, he was at last convinced that there were 99 coins. He wondered, 'What could've happened to that last gold coin? Surely, no one would leave 99 coins!'

He looked everywhere he could, but that final coin was elusive. Finally, exhausted he decided that he was going to have to work harder than ever to earn that gold coin and complete his collection.

From that day, the servant's life was changed. He was overworked, horribly grumpy, and castigated his family for not helping him make that 100th gold coin. He stopped singing while he worked.

Witnessing this drastic transformation, the King was puzzled. When he sought his advisor's help, the advisor said, 'Your Majesty, the servant has now officially joined The 99 Club.'

He continued, 'The 99 Club is a name given to those people who have enough to be happy but are never contented, because they're always yearning and Striving for that extra 1, saying to themselves: 'Let me get that one final thing and then I will be happy for life.' We can be happy, even with very little in our lives, but the minute we're given something bigger and better, we want even more! We lose our sleep, our happiness, we hurt the people around us; all these as a price for our growing needs and desires.

Same is the situation with most of the investors, they are also engaged in converting 99 to hundred, without knowing they might need much lesser then that.

Financial planning is a big eye opener and will help you to avoid being an member of CLUB 99 and help you to live your life happily.

ABM Investment Views published in "TIMES OF INDIA", Mumbai edition June 10,2014

To view click on link below :

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5Vaf3Lc5zYgbUdRTzQxYUdaVFZtYWlMTFd3el8xelBKRjg0/edit