MasterMind : Art of Advising

What an elevator teaches us about investing successfully

Rajesh Hattangady, THiiNK Financial Planners, Thane

In a nutshell

Art of Advising is a new series within MasterMind, which puts a spotlight on a novel way of client communication that a highly innovative advisor uses - charcoal sketches. Rajesh Hattangady combines his left brain understanding of markets with his right brain artistic flair to produce simple charcoal sketches that drive home important messages to clients that words perhaps cannot.

In the 3rd edition of Art of Advising, Rajesh takes us through the message that an elevator gives us on how to invest successfully.

Message from an elevator: Just get in

You are waiting for an elevator to take you from ground floor to the 21st floor. As the elevator door opens, you walk in, along with others. You don't know how many stops the elevator is going to make in its journey. You see others pushing various buttons - you get some idea of how many stops, after you've got in. But then, beyond these "known" stops, there are other stops it makes - to take in people from different floors. Do you ever try to predict how many stops the elevator will make before you reach your destination? Or do you simply wait, in full knowledge that the elevator will get you to your destination? When the elevator door opens, the only message it gives you is, "Just get in, I'll get you to your destination".

Markets give us the same message: Just get in, don't worry about how many stops you'll encounter in the journey, you'll get to your destination. To get to your destination, you need to first get in. And then have patience through the journey and confidence in its outcome.

We don't try to be Nostradamus to predict the number of stops the elevator will make in its journey to our destination. Why then do we try to become Nostradamus with markets?

Coming up next on Art of Advising: Predict or participate? Choose wisely.

Check out the previous sketches in the Art of Advising series:

ECG : (Click Here)

Sale: (Click Here)

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