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By:

Kaustubh Kale

10 September 2024 at 6:07:15 pm

The Umbrella Mindset

In Mumbai, July is the month when the monsoon is no longer a possibility, but a full-blown reality. Over the last week or so, the city has seen heavy rains. One minute the rain slows down, the next - the skies open up again without warning. And yet, most of us carry an umbrella. Not because it is raining every single minute, but because we know it can start again anytime. The Umbrella Mindset We don’t wait for the first drop to go shopping for umbrellas. We keep them ready in advance, knowing...

The Umbrella Mindset

In Mumbai, July is the month when the monsoon is no longer a possibility, but a full-blown reality. Over the last week or so, the city has seen heavy rains. One minute the rain slows down, the next - the skies open up again without warning. And yet, most of us carry an umbrella. Not because it is raining every single minute, but because we know it can start again anytime. The Umbrella Mindset We don’t wait for the first drop to go shopping for umbrellas. We keep them ready in advance, knowing full well that even if this moment looks clear, the next could be a downpour. The umbrella becomes our silent weapon - a simple tool that saves us from chaos. Oddly enough, this very logic is often forgotten when it comes to our finances. Timing the Market Most investors want to “time” the market. They wait for the perfect entry point. They follow headlines, economic predictions, even astrological forecasts, hoping to invest only when the conditions are ideal. But markets, like weather, move on their own terms. They rise without notice. They fall when you least expect it. And the biggest gains often come in short, unpredictable bursts. If you miss even a few of those good days, your long-term returns could take a serious hit. Discipline beats Prediction This is why seasoned investors don’t obsess over timing. They focus on discipline. Just like carrying an umbrella during the monsoon might seem unnecessary when the rain pauses for a few hours, investing through monthly Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) might feel boring during flat markets or downturns. But the magic lies therein. This very habit - regular, automatic, and emotion-free - helps you achieve financial goals and financial freedom. Financial Umbrella A good investor doesn’t predict the market. They prepare for it. Think of your SIPs as your financial umbrella. You may not need them to perform immediately, but when volatility hits, they shield you. When markets recover, they make sure you are already in. And just like Mumbaikars would never step out in July without checking for an umbrella, serious investors never skip their SIPs. Lumpsum Investing Importantly, besides SIPs, it is also necessary to keep doing lumpsum investments frequently, without worrying too much about markets. Just ensure your time horizon is long term, ideally 5+ years. So, the next time someone asks, “Is this the right time to invest?” - just smile and point to the umbrella in your bag. The goal isn’t to wait for the rain. It’s to be ready when it comes. Conclusion Don’t wait to invest. Invest and then wait. The best time to invest is as soon as you have the money to invest. Don’t try to time the market - your time spent in the market, meaning remaining invested, beats timing the market. The pessimist bear may sound smart, but the optimist bull creates wealth. Keep deadlines. Execute. Don’t indulge in analysis-paralysis. Scared money never wins. (The author is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor. Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)

Lateral upgrade to ailing annihilation

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Lateral upgrade to ailing annihilation

Being the first person from the private sector to be appointed as chairperson of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) as part of the government’s lateral initiative, Madhabi Puri Buch also holds the honour of being the first woman to hold the top post as capital market regulator.

But the laurels that the former private sector banker enjoyed in her earlier stint with ICICI Bank, was marred with allegations that she and her husband were having a stake in offshore entities, which were used to artificially inflate shares of Adani group companies.

Terming the allegation as `character assassination, Buch clarified that all disclosures have already been furnished and the fund in question did not invest in any securities involving the Adani group.

When it rains, it pours. This allegation was subsequently followed by Congress Party allegation that Buch had received salary and post-retirement benefits from ICICI Bank after she quit the private sector bank.

In its clarification to the stock exchanges, ICICI Bank asserted that the payments made to Buch were purely retirement benefits after her exit from the bank and they were neither salary nor employee stock options.

Prior to these allegations, Buch tenure at SEBI was all about bringing in quick reforms on operational issues by changing the format of consultation paper to bring in larger responses digitally. Being data savvy, the rationale of her decisions were democratic based on big data analysis derived from the responses received to the consultation papers.

Further she bifurcated the duties of the SEBI staff between operations and enforcement, which were done by the same persons earlier. Having worked for the private sector in the capital market domain space, Buch had a better understanding of the subject compared to officers from the administrative service in the past that reflected even in her orders as a whole-time director at SEBI before becoming the chairperson. As a whole time director at SEBI, her orders on adjudication issues were more directional to the capital market space, according to experts in the compliance space. She was also quick to revamp the old provisions of the 90s at SEBI.

Being tech and data savvy, Buch enhanced regulatory surveillance and detection of market manipulation, insider trading and fraud while also emphasizing on strengthening corporate governance by introducing stricter rules for independent directors and enhancing disclosures for related-party transactions.

To put in perspective, the annual report of the capital market regulator in the just concluded financial year revealed that the number of investigations related to insider trading jumped to 175 in 2023-24 from 85 in the preceding year while probes related to front running jumped over three times to 83 from 24 in the preceding year.

Transparency in mutual funds by implementing measures to protect retail investors along with tightening norms for initial public offers, particularly in the SME platforms were some of her other positive initiatives including confirmation of denial of any market rumours within 24 hours for the top 100 listed companies which will be extended to top 250 companies from December 1. However increased transparency and compliance with tightening regulations led to increased operational costs for the market participants and hence faced resistance from certain quarters. Born in 1966, Buch completed her primary education in Mumbai and graduated with specialization in Mathematics from Delhi and later obtained a management degree from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. In between, she got engaged to Dhawal Buch, a director at a consumer goods multinational at the age of eighteen and got married at the age of 21.

Besides ICICI Bank, Buch also worked as a lecturer at a college in England, worked at Greater Pacific Capital in Singapore and ICICI Securities as its CEO. She also worked as executive director on several private sector companies and as a consultant for New Development Bank (Brics Bank).

What now remains to be seen, is whether Buch, who survived the 26/11 terror attack when she along with her husband, was attending a meeting at Taj, be able to overcome the current ordeal. Keeping fingers crossed for the times to come.

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