Vipin Khandelwal

Bahubali vs Khalbali – The single biggest learning

May 12, 2017 by Vipin Khandelwal

Bahubali – The conclusion has become the biggest movie from India grossing over Rs. 1000 crores world over. Estimates say that it is going to be the first movie raking up over Rs. 1000 crores from India itself.

It is definitely great entertainment and hit the right chord with a large populace.

It is groundbreaking since it will force several in the film making community to rethink movies.

And finally, it has got us to speak of a movie from India and not just a Bollywood, Tollywood or Kollywood production.

Now, this post is not a movie review. Neither do I wish to tell you what was in the movie or what you can learn from the movie. Enough has been said on that and more will come.

Well, for me the project Bahubali has proved a very different point. It is not what is in the movie but it comes out what it took to make the movie.

Confirmed – It’s a bull market

May 9, 2017 by Vipin Khandelwal

Long ago, I was told how to use common sense to find out if a bull market is peaking. Yes beyond the PEs and PBVs. When the paanwala, rickshaw driver and the house maid, that is the low income group, start asking for stock tips to make money – you run with yours.

Now, I believe there is a new indicator in town.

A whole new set of people are willing to join in the great bull run. They want to sing in the chorus and have fun with the rising markets.

Max Life Insurance – You are frustrated

May 8, 2017 by Vipin Khandelwal

The pressures of business can be huge and it can make you do things that bring serious damage to your reputation and credibility.

As you know, Max Life insurance is soon to be merged with HDFC Life insurance, leaving only the latter as the bigger company. I believe as a part of the mandate, Max Life has gone on an offensive to ensure that maximum active premium paying customers are transferred to HDFC Life. Who doesn’t want a fatter pot?

In the past 6 months of this pursuit, the insurance company has made my life difficult. I endured it so far. But this time what it doled out to me is appalling. I am worried as to how many customers might be falling for it.

As for you – beware!

Here’s the story.

Investment Advice – “I don’t need it”

May 3, 2017 by Vipin Khandelwal

Remember: Never ask a barber if you need a hair cut.

3 views on Investment Advice

View #1 – It’s worth nothing.

I can invest my own time and effort to make my own investment choices. I understand what I am after. I have the plan in my mind. I have the discipline to follow it through. I might make a few mistakes now and then but better to fall an learn by oneself than burn fingers based on someone else’s advice. I don’t need investment advice.

View #2 – It’s worth something.

I believe an advisor by the virtue of his specialisation, possesses more understanding and knowledge of the subject than I do. It is good to access and benefit from the same to compliment my own effort to build a solid investment portfolio. Plus the advisor helps me keep a control on my urges to act strange or invest in “fancy” products. I want this investment advice.

Forget Sensex 30000. Get ready for Nifty 30000

May 1, 2017 by Vipin Khandelwal

“Where will the markets go from here?” Ravi asked putting the coffee mug down.

“Why are you asking that?”

“You see Sensex has hit 30,000. The markets are overheated. Do you think I should book some profits?”

“Why? Do you need the money?”

“No, I am just… scared. What if the market falls, the gains made so far will be lost.”

“Don’t worry. Even if it falls, it is likely to come back in due course. And what is this all time high worry. If the markets don’t reach their all time highs, how will they move forward. It is just one step in the journey.”

“I understand that. But everyone is saying, there will be a correction for sure.”

The big bad world of mutual funds

April 21, 2017 by Vipin Khandelwal

I made my first investment in mutual funds on Nov 5, 2004. It was a tax saving mutual fund.

Before that, I was investing in stocks too. I invested in a few including an IPO. But stock investing was too much to handle for me. Given my laziness I could never make the effort to build a decent stock portfolio. (Yes, I believe it takes work.) I sold the IPO soon after pocketing some nice listing gains.

Now, the next best option was investing through equity mutual funds. I invested these ready made stock portfolios managed by some of the best minds, read, fund managers.

It has been so far, so good.

However, for the last few weeks I have been thinking, in fact rethinking, my decision.

I have been evaluating the other side of mutual funds. Yes, they have a lot of good features but then every coin has two sides. Here is what is going on in my mind.