Managing Risk
Shyam Sekhar,Ithought's Chief Founder on what we have done @ithoughtadviser and our learnings over the past decade :
Let me share my learnings at @ithoughtadviser. Firstly, I believe firmly that my primary role as an advisor is managing risk. Not maximising returns. My choice of the MF space was simply because i clearly saw the need existed in 2008. #ManagingRisk#ContrarianInvesting
MF's offered ease of scalability, management & ample liquidity. We could buy as much quantity at same valuation. MF's wide product choice outside of diversified & largecap funds favoured advisory alpha generation. #ContrarianInvesting #ManagingRisk
Generally, advisors let fund managers decide portfolio composition and risk management. @ithoughtadviser believed it was our responsibility to play a constant role. So, we brought fund research, client risk profiling, market opportunity & #ManagingRisk closer in our work.
We had our fair share of cynics. "How can you do what fund managers can't?". We let our work speak. Early in 2009, we called financials the next market leading theme. We played themed MFs till January 2018. Timely entry, #PositionSizing, patience & exit gave #AdvisoryAlpha
It was not about just one scheme or theme. A holistic approach of fund choices, forward looking fund research & measured decisions helped. We did MF investing very differently. FMCG, midcap, pharma, tech- we were open to everything.#ManagingRis#ManagingRis#ManagingRisk stayed our constant focus.
We saw #Innovation as the key. But, MF's wanted advisors to do their bidding. There was a clear disconnect. We broke free by becoming an #RIA The entry of direct was a dramatic & tectonic shift. In Sept 2017, we moved on to only advise clients under direct option.
In a cost centric industry, advise must be clearly differentiated. Afterall, customers constantly judge. We use #ManagingRisk as the differentiator. Be it advising investing in tech & pharma in 2017-18 or advising exit in financials & midcaps in early 2018, we stay ahead.
Over a decade, our model has worked well, rationalised costs, improved process and stuck to forward looking fund research as the prime driver.
We don't make tall claims on returns. But, our belief that sound process leads to consistent performance is well established.
10 years is a good time to prove a model. Our clients helped us establish that clearly.#Returns remain a function of how we advise on #ManagingRisk . We zealously keep our Clients ahead of risk. #Returns remain an outcome.
The future will be very challenging. @ithoughtadviser must constantly improve fund research processes,hold balanced macro & micro understanding & constantly help clients stay ahead of risk. Our gratitude to those who believed in us will always be our driver.