Hello fellow investors

Ishq hai, toh Risk hai!! Today, I am going to talk about the most acclaimed show of the Indian network currently - Harshad Mehta - 1992 Scam. Don't worry I am not going to give any spoilers. Through this article, it is my attempt to share the learnings about investing that we all can take home and apply.

Harshad Mehta, a name which is could be new to many young investors but is the reason why my father moved to Bombay and took up finance as his profession. He was the living God for many young investors back in 1992 and he also helped many people make money in the market. However, when the basis of his work and reality came to light, he also became the reason for many people losing their entire life savings. 

Let's check out the learnings you budding investors can take from the show:

1. The 3 main fundamentals of investing in the stock market are 1. Have common sense 2. Do research on the fundamentals of the company 3. Do not underestimate how behavior and investors' confidence changes the tides of the market.
2. The entire show in fact focuses on the fact that the blinding trust of people in Harshad made them buy stocks of companies he was buying even where some of the companies had no business or value. Never just invest in tips + articles - Do your own research, it is your money. 
3. Fear of missing out (FOMO) can lead to higher losses if not managed properly. You need to be able to control your emotions. Buying when the market is going up in the fear of missing out could make you lose more money. Buy when the price is right, not because everyone else is buying.
4. When you invest on the basis of a tip from anyone you are gambling in the market, playing your chances not really investing any money on fundamentals.
5. No one is the god of the market, the market waits and listens to nobody, there are many players and forces that make the market move, and having a proper process which guides you when to enter and when to leave will help you manage your risk of investing. One such process is asset allocation. We have written many articles to explain how this process helps you overcome your fear and FOMO and invest as per your risk-taking capacity.
6. Equity Investing is RISKY and has always been but over time, various financial institutions and SEBI has better control to protect the interest of investors, having said that there have been many crashes after 1992 which are beyond our control (including the one in March 2020). One thing to remember as an investor is a market high in 1992 was 4000 and 2020 was 40,000. After every crash, the market does bounce back, all you have to do is give it time. Hence, the key to success in Equity Investing has always been Long term !!
7. There will always be another market crash around us waiting to happen, we can never time that or control. As investors what you and I can control is our learnings, investing basis true fundamentals, and building a balanced portfolio that is designed based on goals and asset allocation, phir Harshad Aaye ya corona, Hume Nahi koi Rona Dhona.

This was a small email with some very detailed take-aways. Do enjoy the show, there are so many things to learn from it and I could not feel more proud to be a part of the time and space where Indian television is making shows which highlight the importance of financial literacy. The main learning from the entire show is that we must know how to manage our money, we must be financially aware so that no one can take any undue advantage of us and our money.

On this note of learning and becoming more aware, I want to inform you that we are coming out soon with our new course on money management - Namaste Money only for you - newbie investors. This will be a detailed online course where we will teach you everything from debt and equity to mutual funds to asset allocation. All our days and nights are going into finalizing the content of this course and opening it for registration. You can read all about 1this course here. Don't forget to give us your feedback.

Disclaimer: - The articles are for information purposes only. Information presented is general information that does not take into account your individual circumstances, financial situation, or needs, nor does it present a personalized recommendation to you. You must consult a financial advisor who understands your specific circumstances and situation before taking an investment decision.