Mr Keshav Murugesh, Group CEO, WNS Global Services, an NYSE-listed offshore outsourcing company (BPO), manages over 22,000 employees who serve diverse clients. But how does he fare when it comes to managing his own wealth? Mr Murugesh shares his experience about savings and investment strategies.

What does money mean to you?

To me money means financial independence and I ensure I am making the right investments to secure my family's future. I believe that money earned and invested through comprehensive research can give you multi-fold benefits and investments made without proper home work may lead to financial loss. Money is a means to an end and one shouldn't get carried away with its importance.

What are your top financial goals?

It would be my children's education, my family's health and protection, some money needed for programmes dear to my heart as well as for rest and recreation. I have built my own financial goals and a strategy to protect my assets, which includes a savings plan I am adhering to.

What proportion of your money is invested in savings, bank deposits, bonds, stocks, real estate and gold?

Real estate at 40 per cent (residential as well as land bank) is a priority. Insurance to protect my family is a also important and the remaining 60 per cent is in equity, fixed maturity plans and in equity funds and liquid funds.

Tell us about your most successful investment.

My most successful investment is in the real estate sector where I put in Rs 5 lakh in a plot of land 15 years ago. It is today worth more than a crore. I plan to hold that land for many more years as the location it is in, is fast developing.

One mistake on investing or saving that you regret?

I have made investments twice in sector-specific funds and both investments were disasters as the fundamental law of investing points away from putting all your eggs in one basket. The bigger mistake I made was to advise my boss many years ago to make the same investment and he never forgot that transaction! .

Have you thought about building your retirement corpus? How are you creating this corpus?

Nobody wants to retire but we must plan for it. I have a few residential projects which should earn rental income. SIPs in equity funds should earn a decent return over the next few years but the bulk will be in safe and secure debt plans which can be redeemed.

How do you plan your investments to beat inflation?

I plan to stick to the investments done in key blue-chip companies. This may not give immediate profits but it is definitely a good long-term investment. With inflation at its peak, I have taken a few monthly income plans offered by the best performing mutual funds. However, currently these investments are suffering from the double whammy of high interest yield curves and a fire sale in the stock market. It is the FDs and FMPs that are working in the short run.

What your message on saving, investing to young people just starting out on their career?

Start planning your savings in advance. Do not forget the power of compounding. Invest in few but good stocks, which can give you long-term financial benefits. Use SIPs to invest in mutual fund equity schemes. Don't look at immediate benefits, as sometimes you may end up in losing a huge quantum of your hard earned money. Save a certain amount every day, which should be invested in life insurance, mutual funds or pension plans. Even investing in gold, through Gold ETFs, is a good idea.

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