5 simple steps to successful investing

A rather widespread misconception suggests that investing is a complex activity meant only for experts. Admittedly, there are certain investment avenues and investment styles which are complex, but investing per se, can be a simple activity. Also, successful investing is not beyond a lay investor who is willing to be disciplined and diligent. Here’s a checklist of 5 simple steps to successful investing.

1. Start early

Let me confess: When it comes to investment advice, this is a cliché, but it is spot-on, nonetheless. It is never too early to start investing. If you haven’t already started investing, get started now! An often-heard excuse for not investing is—“I don’t have sufficient monies now. I’ll invest when I have accumulated enough”. This is a cardinal mistake. Start investing with what you have, and then keep adding to it, as and when you can. For those who maintain that they can’t save at all, scan through your expenses and you will come up with ways and means to save money. Starting early means you have time on hand, which in turn will help you capitalize on the power of compounding, and grow your wealth.

2. Educate yourself 

Sure, there are investment advisers and financial planners who are equipped to manage your investments. But it will help in no small measure, if you equip yourself with investment-related information. The intention is not to become an expert or step into the shoes of your adviser, rather it is to enable you to make informed investment decisions. For instance, if your adviser/financial planner lays out choices, being informed will enable you to pick one that is most apt for you. Moreover, as an informed investor, you will be better equipped to manage your investments and finances. There are several investment-related websites and publications; select your areas of interest, and read up as much as you can.

3. Become resilient

While investing, the importance of having a sound temperament cannot be overstated. Let’s consider some scenarios to better understand this. In mid-2013, when equity markets were engulfed by volatility, were you tempted to discontinue your ongoing SIPs and exit your equity investments? Likewise, at present, when equity markets are soaring to record highs, are you tempted to invest all your surplus monies in equities? If the answer is ‘yes’, then there’s a case for changing your investment temperament.

A resilient long-term investor will typically use a market downturn to add to his investments. Likewise when markets enter frothy territory, he will be disciplined and not go overboard. The ability to block the noise and maintain a sharp focus on the basics of investing at all times, is worth its weight in gold.

4. Develop your investment style

Investing is a personalised activity. Your investment decisions must be guided by what is right for you. For instance, simply because your neighbour dabbles in derivatives or your colleague invests in micro-cap stocks, there is no cause for you to follow suit. Admittedly, it takes a while to develop one’s investment style, but it is certainly a doable task. This is where being informed about various investment avenues and aspects of investing helps. 

A major upside of developing your own investment style is that it makes investing a stress-free experience (as it should be). If you are at home with your investment style, you will be able to identify situations when it will not deliver, and navigate such periods without panicking.

5. Avoid superfluous comparisons 

The purpose of investing is to achieve investment goals. For instance, you might invest to accumulate wealth, set up a retirement corpus, or provide for your children’s higher education. If your investments help you to provide for those goals, you have succeeded. Do not complicate matters by comparing how your investments have panned out versus say those of your relatives, friends and acquaintances. 

You will do yourself a big disservice by indulging in such comparisons. For instance, even if others’ investments have fared better, it is likely that they were invested in avenues suited for them; perhaps those avenues offered a higher risk-return trade-off (versus your investments), and it paid off. But so long as you have met your investment goals, you are no worse-off. Investing isn't a cricket match where the team scoring more runs wins.

What HDFC AMC must do now...

HDFC Asset Management Company (AMC) is in the news, and sadly, not for the right reasons. If media reports are to be believed, the AMC has been served a show cause notice by market regulator SEBI. The front-running scandal which first surfaced in June 2010 has returned to haunt the AMC, with apparently more instances of questionable trades being uncovered. The popular belief that the matter had been laid to rest when the AMC and its managing director settled charges by paying fines was obviously incorrect.

There is a legal aspect to the episode which the fund house's legal team will undoubtedly deal with. However, to my mind, there's another side—pertaining to the AMC's stewardship—which is even more significant. In the mutual fund business, the importance safeguarding and acting in investors' interests cannot be overstated; likewise, it would be imprudent to undermine the significance of investor confidence and trust. On those counts, now is the time for HDFC AMC to step up to the plate.

The need to act is only accentuated by HDFC AMC's standing in the industry (remember the Spider-Man credo: with great power comes great responsibility). Not only is it among the largest fund houses, in my opinion HDFC AMC easily ranks among the best players in the Indian mutual fund industry. A disciplined investment process and a consistent long-term focus have contributed to the fund house's sterling reputation in no small measure. In an industry where high manager turnover is the norm rather than the exception, the AMC has been successful in both attracting and retaining talent over the long-haul. Performance-linked compensation structures ensure that the investment team's interests are aligned to those of long-term investors. It can be safely stated that the fund house fosters an investment culture rather than a marketing culture.

All the positives notwithstanding, it is disconcerting to hear that there is a likelihood that more questionable trades may have taken place, and that the AMC finds itself on the wrong side of the law yet again. HDFC AMC must assuage concerns of its stakeholders (read investors and distributors). And here's how they should go about doing so. 

To begin with, the AMC must start communicating. Instead of learning about the developments from the media, it would help if HDFC AMC were to communicate with its stakeholders and offer its side of the story. Don't get me wrong: I'm not suggesting that nitty-gritties of the legal proceedings or confidential matters be placed in public domain. But the AMC can and must offer its stance to let its stakeholders know that all is in order. If is as being alleged, questionable trades did indeed take place, then an apology is in order. All it takes is an unambiguous and forthright note from someone in the top brass, which can be put up on the AMC's website.

Then there's compliance; presumably, the AMC has already taken steps to ensure that irregularities such as front-running do not recur. It would help if the same are communicated to investors as a part of the confidence-building measure.

Finally, the AMC must also chart out a plan to compensate investors for losses suffered as a result of the alleged irregularities. The obvious solution would be to credit a sum equal to the loss suffered into the respective funds' assets. It may not be a bad idea for the AMC to go the extra mile, and consider issuing bonus units to all investors in affected funds.

At times in the world of investments, perception is as important as reality itself. No responsible AMC can afford to be perceived as having a cavalier attitude when it comes to investors' monies or dealing with irregularities. Hence, now is the time for HDFC AMC to stand up and be counted!