Women and Wealth – In conversation with Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, P J. Towers – Bombay Stock Exchange

Other celebrity guests:
Smriti Irani – TV personality and politician
Ekta Kapoor – film personality

Insights from Smriti Irani

– Believe in yourself; have confidence
– Even if you have small amounts to invest, don’t hesitate to ask for help with the thought that you will be ridiculed
– Don’t wait to accumulate large amounts; go ahead with small investments; they will build up over time.
– The simplest thing to do is ask your bank for advise
Insights from Ekta Kapoor
– Take risks; if you are ready to lose wealth, it shows that you are confident to gain it back and more
– Budgeting, saving and sensible money management is the key

Insights from Rakesh Jhunjhunwala

– Women are smarter investors than men
– Women should educate themselves on personal money management
– Equity investing can bring you wealth. So far, annualized returns from equity investing has been about 17%.
– Direct equity investing requires deep knowledge and full time commitment; avoid if you don’t have this.
– It’s advisable to invest in equity through mutual funds and that too, through the systematic investment plan (where you invest a fixed amount at fixed periods of time (every month, week, etc.)
– Don’t expect windfall gains overnight from equity investing.
– If you are unsure about which sector/stock to invest in, invest in the index (through an index mutual fund or exchange traded fund).
– Before you decide how much to invest, decide on your risk profile and asset allocation – how much risk you are willing to take and hence, how much you should invest in equity, debt, gold, etc.
– Invest in gold through gold Exchange Traded Funds. Gold jewellery involves a cost (labour charges for designing the jewellery).

Key takeaway: FLO Members participate in good numbers. Knowledgable Session!