My First Blog

Few years back, in around 2000 I was busy preparing for my SSC. At that time all I could here my parents talking at home was about shares. At that time, I didn't understand anything about the stock markets and shares. As time passed by, I graduated from a reputed college in Mumbai and secured a fancy degree: BMS – Bachelor of Management Studies.

International Finance and Marketing were my main subjects in which I opted to specialize. We did many projects on capital markets, some training sessions on mutual funds, insurance and so on. In the meanwhile the Sensex was moving up at a phenomenal pace. In 2003 when I started my degree course, the Sensex was trading at around 3000 level. By the time I was graduated it was at 6500 levels in 2005. By this time I was fascinated by the way people made money by investing in the stock markets. Even I wanted to make money at a fast pace just as every one else around me did.

Companies came on campus giving us good profiles and a handsome package, I opted for something else. By this time I was very clear in my mind that I wanted to know and learn more about the shares and stocks. I got into one of the biggest brokerage houses in India at that time, which has maintained it’s dominant position till date. Though my profile initially sounded very boring but there was a lot of learning to be made. On one side I started working and on the other side I started investing slowly. Soon, I started making good amount of money. I thought, by now I knew everything about the markets. But I was wrong. Soon, I started making some wrong investment decisions by picking up stocks about which I had no information; the result was that I lost a good amount of money on them. This was the time when some one told me that you should also invest in Mutual funds. We were at 8000 levels and I started learning about mutual funds, structure, formation, philosophy etc. I realized it was a much efficient way of investing for people who do not have the knowledge and time to study the share market.

Taking forward a step in 2006, I decided to start on my own when the markets were at all time high 12000 levels. Everyone was jittery about the markets, they were confused as to invest rite now or wait for a correction and then invest. Initially it was a bit difficult to convince people that you should not time the market but then later it started becoming easier, even I gained confidence. Assay Investments was my dream from college days. I remember we did a project on market research, where we had given our company this name – ASSAY. Assay means To Seek, To Try. I didn't know about others but I always wanted to start up on my own. I do understand that it was not the time to start something at that point in time. But now that I have almost 2 yrs in the industry I am confident of at least advising people on how to go about investing in Mutual Funds.

Do watch out for more to come on the Mutual Fund Industry …. Lots of statistics and insights yet to come!