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January 18, 2013

Big Bull Badshah of Dalal Street Rakesh Jhunjhunwala needs no introduction he is known as the stock guru and warren buffet of India. By profession, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala is a qualified Chartered accountant. He started his investment in the stock market when BSE Sensex was at 150 in 1985. He started his investment with 5000 Rs/- and now his portfolio worth is more than 33350 Cr. He passed away on 14th Aug, 2022. Now, his wife manages his portfolio as a partner in his asset management firm, Rare Enterprises. Jhunjhunwala’s portfolio of stocks is tracked religiously by many followers.

Rakesh jhunjhunwala is indeed a successful stock market investor. So the question arises what are the things/qualities that make Rakesh Jhunjhunwala a successful & billionaire Investor?

India has many so-called stock experts, traders stock analysts but none of the traders or stock analysts are as successful as Rakesh Jhunjhunwala. So with close observation, I could locate the following 5 secrets that make Rakesh Jhunjhunwala a successful billionaire Investor.

Secretes Rakesh Jhunjhunwala success

5 Secretes that make Rakesh Jhunjhunwala Successful Investor

#1 Capital

To make money you need money, this may not be true in many cases but in the case of the stock market, you need a lot of capital to become a zero to hero or to become a successful billionaire Investor.

But another big thing is capital can be made also. This is what Rakesh jhunjhunwala has done. How he has gone from a starting capital of Rs 5,000 to a net worth of a few thousand crore rupees is now the stuff of urban legend.

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala said in one of his interviews – “I had no capital when I came to the markets, and no father gifts and no father-in-law gifts. So I had to earn the capital to invest. How do you invest if you don’t have the capital? And I got the capital by doing future trading.”

In 1985 when Rakesh Jhunjhunwala started 5,000 Rs/- was said to be good capital for investment today you at least required 2-3 Lakh as initial capital to start investing in the stock market.

#2 Knowledge

In today’s world for every business or job, you need relevant experience and skills. Without knowledge and experience, one cannot get a good job or cannot establish a good business. The same is true in the case of investment & stock market.

You require specific knowledge and skill sets to become successful like Rakesh Jhunjhunwala.

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala said “Markets are about money, but markets are also about knowledge. Markets are also about egos; markets are also about the satisfaction of having been proved right. Especially, when that right is from an original thought and not from a guided source or following somebody.”

You need to do a lot of research, a lot of data gathering, and a lot of knowledge accumulation before investing in the stock market.

#3 Right time Right Decision

For every investment you make a time of investment matters, especially in the stock market, you have to be selective and have to pick the right stock at the right time. Rakesh Jhunjhunwala is the master of that, he picks the correct stock at the correct time.

He made his first big profit of Rs 0.5 million in 1986 when he sold 5,000 shares of Tata Tea at a price of Rs 143 which he had purchased for Rs 43 a share just 3 months prior. Between 1986 and 1989 he earned Rs 20-25 lakhs. His first major successful bet was the iron mining company Sesa Goa. He bought 4 lakh shares of Sesa Goa in forward trading, worth Rs 1 crore, and sold about 2-2.5 lakh shares at Rs 60-65 and another 1 lakh at Rs 150-175. The price rose to Rs 2200 and he sold some shares.

So right from the beginning, he has the quality to select the right stock and click the correct deal at the correct time. This is an important quality to become successful in the stock market.

#4 Patience

Controlling emotion and keeping patience is extremely important in the stock market. The stock market moves upward as well as downwards. During a downtrend or during a market crash one should maintain patience. In other words, one should have faith in investments made in stocks.

Jhunjhunwala’s stocks fell by up to 30% in December 2011. But he has the quality to keep patience and that patience pays its fruit. He recovered his losses in February 2012. This year his portfolio has given around 35% returns.

#5 Vision

I believe that if a person can dream up something he/she can do it. It may take time and effort and persistence but it’s not impossible. I believe dreams are worth fighting for because they are a representation of our truest selves and our innate abilities.

In the words of Industrialist Dhirubhai Ambani “Only when you dream it you can do it.” Or “For those who dare to dream, there is a whole world to win!”

According to me, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala is a visionary. He started with a capital of Rs 5,000 in 1985 and now in 2022, he is sitting on a portfolio worth 33350 Cr. To start with Rs 5,000 and to reach Rs 33000 Cr in the stock market is indomitable. He sees Dreams and can turn a dream into reality.

To be successful in the stock market like Rakesh Jhunjhunwala one must have a vision.

There could be many other factors responsible for the success of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala but preliminary I could find the above 5 things that make him successful in the stock market.

60 Inspiring Quotes & Tips by Rakesh Jhunjhunwala

Investment Philosophy of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala

Rakesh Jhnunjhunwala’s stock-picking strategy is influenced by George Soros’s trading strategies and Marc Faber’s analysis of economic history. He endorses the rule, “The trend is your friend.”

His investment philosophy says “Buy right and hold tight”.

He admits to having been a bear in the Harshad Mehta days and believes that investors should be like chameleons. He has said that the markets are temples of capitalism and believes that they are the ultimate arbiters.

He claims to base his trades, in part, on the business model of a company, its growth potential, and its potential for longevity. He factors in heavily the competitive ability, scalability, and management quality of the enterprise. The entrepreneur, according to Jhunjhunwala, makes an invaluable difference to his expected investment returns. According to Jhunjhunwala, believing in the vision and the beliefs of the entrepreneur and evaluating risks that may not be perceived by the entrepreneur are key success factors for a trader.

Final Words

In end I would like to share with you a famous quote from Evan Esar on Success

“Success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration, and inspiration.”

10 Money Mantras – 2013

Personal Finance

Shitanshu Kapadia

January 11, 2013

Money is vital need today for everyone. Anything and everything is purchased by money except love. 2013 is begin and we are herewith 10 Money mantras of 2013. Following these money mantras will help you in achieving financial freedom.

Making more money:-

Very simple and basic rule to follow this year is making more money or try to find out way to make more money. One can make more money by doing additional task (Working extra mile) or can make more money by doing work smartly.

The important thing is to find the best way for you to make more money, and then to build your goals around this. For making more money you can use these simple money making ideas.

Your Money Mantra: ‘I will make Rs.______ extra money every month!’

Protecting your money:-

Once you earn your money, you need to hold onto it. Protecting your money is another mantra this year. Many people earn money and make money but they are poor at protecting money. I am not talking about theft. I am talking about protecting your money from unwanted expense, taxes, brokerage and additional charges. Remember small charges that adds up to big money.

Your Money Mantra: ‘I will protect my money from unwanted expenses and taxes’

Budgeting your money:-

If you are not budgeting your money these year you must start budgeting your money, Budgeting money will give idea about your spending habit and your limit. If you are facing budget crunch there are two ways to solve it decrease you’re spending or increase your income. Either will erase a budget deficit. In the long run, increasing income is a better solution.

Your Money Mantra: ‘I will budget money for my need’

Leveraging your money:-

Extra money in your pocket should pull extra money or how surplus money you have is generating more money is called as leveraging your money. It is often thought of as doing more with less. If you put your money in a bank deposit, it is very safe but you don’t get a real lot out of that leverage decision. However, if you decided to invest same money in investment class which can give more return like equity or real estate, you have got more leverage out of your money.

Your Money Mantra: ‘I will leverage my surplus money to earn more money’

Improving your financial information:-

Financial information doesn’t just mean knowledge of basic financial concepts — it also means detailed knowledge of the investments you make.

Warren Buffett is the most successful investor of all time, yet he never takes a gamble. He conducts extensive research before buying a company. Obtaining this information allows them to invest with confidence. This year you must try improving financial information about asset class where you invest your money.

Your Money Mantra: ‘I will improve my financial knowledge about product where I invest my money’

Setting Smart Goal:-

Knowledge is Power. Once you ‘know’, you can ‘do’.

If you want to retire, start figuring out when. Say to yourself ‘I want to retire in __ years, I want to live a lifestyle of Rs. _________ per month’ and start working towards it!

Remember to keep in mind inflation.

If something costs Rs. 10,000 today, and we assume 8% inflation per year, then in 10 years it will cost Rs. 21,589. This means that simply to keep pace with inflation your money must earn 8% return, wherever it is invested. And if you want to do more than just keep pace, you must earn more than 8% per annum over the long term.

Your Money Mantra: ‘I will have S.M.A.R.T financial goals!’

Saving more money every month:-

The best way to figure out how much more you can save every month, is to look at your budgets of the past 6 months. But there might be a problem. Most of us don’t keep budgets.

Here’s a little tip: look at your bank statements of the last 6 months – they won’t tell you everything but they will show you broadly what your spending habits have been like, and if you have been using your credit or debit card more than cash, then you will have a clearer picture.

Use very simple categories – groceries, utilities bills, travel & conveyance, medical, house & vehicle maintenance, shopping, insurance premiums (includes life, non-life, vehicle and any other insurance you have, take the per annum premium and divide by 12), eating out & entertainment, and 1 or 2 other categories if you need them.

You might find that you are spending more on medical expenses than you thought, or more on entertainment and eating out. The best way to save money is cut down on unnecessary expenses. Even if you save Rs. 3,000 per month and invest it, over 30 years you can earn Rs. 2.07 crores (assuming 15% return per year).

Your Money Mantra: ‘I will save Rs. ____ more every month!’

Make your Finance Easier:-

The trick to making things easier is just to get organized once. Once is all it takes to get everything set up, and then you can sit back and relax.

So, sit down right now, and make a list of the bills you are paying. From electricity to gas to family cell phone bills, you can have a combined list, and if you have the option of making it an online payment (direct debit), do so. You can still check your bills every month when you receive them, but you save yourself the hassle of remembering to write cheques, standing in queues, and having to take hours off work to do it.

Your Money Mantra: ‘I will get more organized today!’

Maximizing Tax Saving:-

One should find out way to maximize tax saving in alignment with goals. It is imperative that you start with the tax planning activity right from the beginning of the financial year, rather than towards the end. The tax saved can be invested towards achievement of your crucial goals such as children education, their marriage, your retirement and your other financial goals.

Your Money Mantra: ‘This year I will save tax effectively and prudently’

Taking help from Financial Expert:-

Let’s face it. If you want your car serviced, you’re going to go to a service center you trust. If you have a medical concern, you’ll go to the best doctor you can find. Self-service only works sometimes on matters which do not require expert opinion. But in certain matters where you need to obtain expert opinion; you must! You must hire a financial planner to plan your finances. The clarity, the benefits, and the feeling of control over your financial life will make you wonder why you never did this before!

Your Money Mantra: ‘I will hire a financial expert this year’

These 10 money mantras are short, easy and very, powerful.

Don’t wait. Don’t think ‘I’ll do this tomorrow’, because postponement can disrupt the objective of putting your finances right. So you need to do it now – do it today!

To summarize 10 Money Mantras of 2013 are:-

7 Financial Fantasies you should avoid

Financial Planning

Shitanshu Kapadia

January 6, 2013

Someone has rightly said, “Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living”. However, that does not mean a flight of fancy works in real life. One has to be practical enough to actually implement something in reality to achieve one’s targets. No fantasy will help, until you sweat hard for your goals. We are herewith 7 Financial fantasy you should avoid.

Going through life expecting a large boom is being foolishly optimistic. It gives you false hopes and expectations and can prove to be a silly justification to making bad financial decisions. One should understand that there is nothing FREE in this world, there is no free lunch. Moreover, gaining something at the cost of nothing is fiction which will be revealed some day.

These financial fantasies are followed by people with the hope of discovering shorter and faster ways of getting rich.

I will win big Lottery
I will flip houses and become carorepati
My child will help me in my retirement
Why should I work I will be receiving grand Inheritance
I will become big celebrity in bollywood
I will settle in abroad and earn big money
I will invest in stock and become wealthy

(1) I will win big Lottery

Winning a lottery sounds exciting and easy, but the chance of it happening is very less. It involves a high odds probability of winning. Having a 6-digit or 10-digit lottery number, involves permutations which reduce the probability of winning, still, millions play it every day.

There can be nothing easier than winning millions by just buying a lottery ticket. But there is no short cut to success.

Buying lottery tickets is a waste of money. In fact, the lottery can actually be a burden for the average person. He may waste too much money buying tickets in the first place as the chances of winning are incredibly low.

Even if you do win, you might not be able to embrace it for long as one day that money will get over, but your needs and wants will not. It might just turn out to be a vicious circle as once you win, you will feel you can do it again and will start the process all over again.

Therefore, one must have the skills to manage money. One needs to understand that playing a lottery is not a profession but a mere stroke of luck. The windfall gain of the lottery must be handled responsibly.

(2) I will flip houses and become carorepati

Flipping items and assets may earn you a lot of money, but it requires tremendous experience in the real estate market to buy and sell the property at a feasible cost. This is entirely based on how much money one is capable of investing and how much cash is reserved for the intense period.

One should be capable of holding a property for an elongated period of time in case it does not get sold for 1-2 years. He must be in a financial position to hold the property and avoid being affected by the crisis. Thus, flipping houses is not a child’s play.

(3) My child will help me in my retirement

I have seen many people who believe that once they are retired their child will be ready to take his/her responsibility in terms of finance/money. I do agree that child will defiantly help financially when you are retired but if they are unable to do so you will be nowhere. So instead of making fantasy that child will help in retirement one should plan retirement in manner that without help of anyone you can enjoy your retirement independently.

(4) Why should I work I will be receiving grand Inheritance

Many people fantasize about receiving a fat sum in inheritance on the death of their close relative. It is extremely selfish and shameful that a person would wait for someone to die and live off that person’s money rather than work and earn his own money.

In some cases, the one who passes away may also leave behind tons of debt for the next generation. Then, you will have to live your remaining life in misery. Thus, it is always better to depend on one’s own skills rather than waiting to get things easily.

(5) I will become big celebrity in bollywood

Many people especially in Mumbai fantasize to become super star of bollywood like salman khan, sahrukh khan. Believe me chance of becoming bollywood super star like these are almost nil.

If you have skill & ability to become actor it is ok. But if you are struggling for more than year or so, you should stop fantasizing and start believing in reality.

(6) I will settle in abroad and earn big money

Many people in India still believe that abroad especially USA is place where they can earn big money; I do believe that USA is good place but if you have specific skill and job.

Don’t make fantasy in air that you will settle in abroad and earn big money. Situation at USA and other country in terms of job is not good. Job generation is big issue at USA. It is now Brain Drain time many people are coming back to India from USA.

(7) I will invest in stock and become wealthy

Investing money in stocks is not a bad idea it can make you wealthy too. But to invest in stocks, one must have the money. Picking the right stocks is possible with knowledge, experience and expertise. You can get this exposure if you study portfolio management and become intensely knowledgeable about companies or an industry. You need an eye for detail and some foresight to pick out a stock that may become the next big thing.

I have seen many people invested in stock market to become wealthy in 2008 still they have not come out from loss. Thus, before investing in a particular stock, you must consult an expert if you are not sure of your decision.

It is possible that one believes in himself. In today’s world, there is nothing which one could completely rely on, may it be the rising market or lottery tickets. The best person to rely on to achieve your financial goals is you. Dump your financial fantasies, work hard, spend and invest money wisely, and turn the odds of financial success in your favor.

5 Methods of Checking Purity of Gold

Gold Silver

Shitanshu Kapadia

December 30, 2012

Checking the purity of Gold – One of the most sought-after items by Indians is gold. Since ancient times Gold has been considered as a storehouse of value in India. Be it urban India or rural India, rich or poor India, each one tries to buy gold at the first available opportunity. Ladies always eye for this yellow metal. Mostly they prefer to purchase gold in the form of jewelry.

5 sign of checking gold purity

Whenever one plans to purchase Gold or gold jewelry, the very first thing that he should ensure is the purity of Gold i.e. how pure the gold is.

But here comes a question how an individual can check the purity of gold? So to protect the rights of consumers government has made hallmarking of gold jewellery mandatory in India. Hallmarking of gold jewelry will not only help to keep control of quality but also safeguard consumers from corrupt jewelers.

We are herewith guidelines given by BIS which everybody must read to know the basic facts about gold and what to check while purchasing gold jewelry.

How to Check the Purity of Gold? – 5 Important Signs

Under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Act, hallmarking agency certifies gold on the basis of Indian standards. In other words, gold jewellery will be evaluated and tested at official hallmarking centers and then certified that the metal conforms to the national and international standards of fineness and purity.

What Sign One Should Check Before Purchasing Gold Jewellery?

One must check the hallmark before purchasing gold jewellery. Hallmark consists of five components i.e.

(1) BIS Standard Mark

BIS hallmark looks likes this:-

(2) Purity Grade

Gold purity grade shows how pure the gold is.

999 – 24 carat – Pure Gold
958 – 23 carat
916 – 22 carat
875 – 21 carat
750 – 18 carat
708 – 17 carat
585 – 14 carat
417 – 10 carat
375 – 9 carat
333 – 8 carat

(3) Mark of Hallmarking Centre

One must check for Logo of Hallmarking centre where the jewellery has been hallmarked. A list of hallmarking centers is given here.

(4) Year of Marking

Alphabets represent the year of hallmarking of jewellery and is decided by BIS e.g. letter ‘A’ Donates Year 2000, ‘J’ for 2008, ‘N’ for 2010, ‘M’ for 2011 and ‘N’ for 2012 etc.

(5) Jewelers Identification Mark

Many jewelers keep their own identification mark of BIS Certified Jeweler/ Jewellery Manufacturer.

Important Points To Keep In Mind While Purchasing Gold Jewellery

Look For :- Jewellery Showroom selling BIS Hallmark Jewellery.
Buy:- Hallmark Jewellery only. It assures the mark of purity/fitness.
Ask For: – Cash Memo /Invoice which will help BIS to resolve complaints (if any).

Remember Hallmarking charge on Gold Jewellery is only Rs. 35 per article & KDM jewellery is not Hallmarked jewellery. So KDM can not ensure purity of Gold.

Hallmark Rule for Gold

From June 1, 2022, jewellers can only sell hallmarked gold jewellery, irrespective of its purity. This would mean that every gold jewellery item irrespective caratage must be mandatorily hallmarked.

The government had made gold hallmarking mandatory effective from June 16, 2021; this was done for items with cartage of 14KT, 18KT and 22 KT. It was later expanded to six caratages of gold jewellery/artefacts – i.e., 14,18,20,22, 23 and 24, effective from April 4, 2022.

The government has also revised the signs of purity on gold jewellery. From June 1, 2021, hallmarked gold jewellery will have the following three signs:
a) BIS logo
b) Purity/Fineness grade
c) Six-digit Alphanumeric code, also known as HUID
Before that, there were four signs of hallmarking. These were i) BIS logo, ii) Purity/Fineness grade, iii) Assay Centre’s identification mark and iv) Jeweller’s identification number.

The fineness or purity of gold jewelry will be reflected as follows on the hallmarked item –

Purity	Sign
24KT	24KS995
23KT	23K958
22KT	22K916
20KT	20K833
18KT	18K750
14KT	14K585

For more information refer to Gold Assurance Pyramid Given Below.

Gold Purity

Gold Purity in Karats

Understanding Gold Karats. Gold purity is measured in karats (K), with 24K being the purest form of gold. Common Gold Purity Levels in India are given below.

24K Gold (99.9% pure) – Too soft for jewelry, mostly used for investment.

22K Gold (91.6% pure) – Commonly used in jewelry.

18K Gold (75% pure) – Durable and used for designer jewelry.

14K Gold (58.5% pure) – Affordable and sturdy, often used in Western jewelry styles.

Always check the karat marking on gold items before purchasing.

Acid Test for Gold Purity

What is the Acid Test?

The acid test is a simple method used to check gold purity by applying nitric acid.

How is it Done?

A small scratch is made on the gold surface. Nitric acid is applied to the scratch. If the gold remains unchanged, it is pure; if it turns green, it’s fake.

Is the Acid Test Reliable?

While it gives a quick indication, it is not the most precise method. For better accuracy, rely on BIS hallmarking and electronic gold testers.

Magnet Test for Impurities

Why Use a Magnet to Check Gold?

Pure gold is non-magnetic. If your gold jewelry or coin gets attracted to a magnet, it likely contains other metals like iron or nickel.

How to Perform the Magnet Test?

Take a strong magnet. Hold it close to the gold item. If the gold gets pulled, it is impure.

Limitations of the Magnet Test

This test only helps detect metals mixed with gold, but it doesn’t determine the exact purity. It’s best used along with other testing methods.

Professional Gold Testing Machines

What are Gold Testing Machines?

Jewelry stores and gold dealers use advanced machines like XRF (X-ray Fluorescence) testers to check gold purity.

How Do These Machines Work?

The machine scans the gold item. It provides an accurate reading of gold content and alloy composition.

Where Can You Get Your Gold Tested?

You can visit a BIS-certified jeweler or a gold testing lab to get a precise purity test.

Additional Tips to Ensure Gold Purity

Check for Weight and Density
Pure gold is dense. If a gold piece feels too light, it might be mixed with other metals.
Verify with a Trusted Jeweler
Always buy gold from reputed jewelers to ensure authenticity and quality.
Look for Buyback Policies
Jewelers with transparent buyback policies are more likely to sell genuine gold.

Conclusion

Checking the purity of gold in India is essential to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth. Always look for BIS Hallmark, check the karat purity, perform simple tests like acid and magnet tests, and, when in doubt, get it tested professionally. Following these steps will help you make informed decisions and avoid purchasing impure gold.

FAQs

1. How can I check if my gold is BIS hallmarked?

Look for the BIS logo, karat value, a six-digit identification number, and the jeweler’s mark on the gold item.

2. Is 22K gold better than 24K gold?

It depends on the use. 24K is the purest but too soft for jewelry, while 22K is durable and ideal for ornaments.

3. Can I test gold purity at home?

Yes, using methods like the magnet test or acid test, but for accurate results, get it checked by a professional.

4. Why does my gold jewelry turn black?

Gold doesn’t tarnish, but impurities in lower-karat gold can react with sweat, perfume, or chemicals, causing discoloration.

5. Where can I get my gold tested for purity?

Visit a BIS-certified jeweler or a professional gold testing lab for precise results.

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