मुक्तपणे, कोणतीही चिंता न करता, उडत उडत आयुष्य जगायचं असेल तर आर्थिक स्वातंत्र्य मिळवणं अत्यावश्यक आहे.

Investing in the stock market is one of the most powerful ways to grow wealth. But the stock market comes with inherent risks; some are obvious, while others are hidden. Before investing, one must understand these risks and make informed decisions. The key is not to avoid these risks, because that is impossible, but to understand them, respect them, and manage them wisely. Here’s a list of 10 inherent stock market risks every investor must understand before investing:

Investing is not about thrill or speed. It’s about compounding quietly in the background, while you have the patience to let time do its work. The real magic of compounding works only for those who master the art of waiting. In investing, time is not your enemy; it’s your greatest ally. So, the question is not “How fast can you make money?” The real question is: “How long can you wait?”

A year of zero returns may feel like lost time, but in reality, it resets valuations, strengthens the market’s foundation, and sets the stage for future growth. History is full of examples where periods of silence were followed by breakthroughs. The investors who stayed disciplined, resisted the urge to time the market, and kept compounding their capital emerged stronger. Every pause in the market is a reminder that investing is a marathon, not a sprint.

Price may fluctuate daily, but value endures. The market will always create illusions of cheapness or expensive thrills. Investors who focus on intrinsic value, resist behavioral traps, stay disciplined, and act with patience cut through the noise. They don’t just chase returns; they build lasting wealth with clarity, confidence, and conviction.

Over the last decade, the Indian equity market has undergone a profound transformation in its investor base. Once dominated by FIIs, the market is now witnessing the rise of a confident and empowered DII class. This is reshaping market behaviour, stability, and growth. For the first time in modern history, domestic capital has overtaken foreign money. This shift reflects the deepening financialisation of Indian households and marks a turning point in who drives the market’

Crypto is back in the spotlight once again. Full-page ads in newspapers. Prime-time TV commercials. Sponsored business shows. WhatsApp groups buzzing with “next big thing” tips. This is extreme euphoria. \And that’s exactly when you should be cautious.

Flexibility is a core principle in the art of war.  A general who refuses to adapt to fresh intelligence risks losing the battle.  An investor who ignores new facts risks losing capital. Conviction is important. But blind conviction is dangerous.

About ten years ago, I stepped out of uniform into civilian life. I thought the hardest part would be building a business. But the real challenge was unlearning 22 years of structured military discipline and adjusting to a world where most things run on “maybe” and “let’s see.” Today, as the founder of Defensive Investments, I help people manage their wealth and interact with individuals from all walks of life.  Here are a few real-world lessons I’ve learned, mostly the fun

Investing is more than just numbers. Selecting a stock to invest in is the application of theory into practice. It’s about conviction, clarity, and a structured decision-making process. Here’s a deep dive into how I personally approach stock selection. This is a method that’s been shaped by years of research, portfolio reviews, mistakes, and learning. If you are a DIY investor, this framework can guide you.

You don’t build wealth by collecting mutual funds. You build it by following a structure. Driven by goals, tuned to your risk profile, and built to survive market cycles. And if it feels overwhelming, that’s because it genuinely is. Choosing the right mix, staying disciplined, and ignoring noise, all of it, is easier said than done. Because when the next bear market hits, you don’t need tips:-  You need conviction in your portfolio  And a trustworthy advisor who can navigate

Even if you pick the right stock: You might sell too early during a bad quarter. You might panic during a crash. You might switch when something else moves faster. The problem isn’t just analysis. It’s behavior.

Stock market investing is decision-making under uncertainty. Just like war, uncertainty, chaos, and complexity are inherent to the stock market. To survive in this invisible battlefield, you need to understand two things: 1. Why the market is uncertain and 2. How to navigate through this fog without losing your way

I’m an introvert. I don’t talk much. I often feel lost in a crowd. I struggled with this for a long time. But over the past few years, I’ve slowly built my own way of networking, one that feels natural, honest, and aligned with who I am. It’s not loud. It’s not flashy. But it works. Quietly. Consistently. Authentically. So here’s the introvert-friendly networking checklist I follow. And maybe, it can help you too.

₹36,000+ crore in profit. ₹1.85 lakh crore lost by retail traders. This isn’t bad luck. This is alleged market manipulation, uncovered by SEBI. Global trading giant Jane Street and its India-registered FPIs (Foreign Portfolio Investors) are accused of manipulating index expiry levels across 18 days, specifically 15 BANKNIFTY and 3 NIFTY50, using high-speed algorithms and massive capital.

Of the 88 SME IPOs listed in 2025 so far, only 47% are trading above their issue price. Some are down 60–70% within 3 months. Liquidity dries up, and exits get painful. This isn’t just volatility. It’s a structural feature of SME stocks.

So when Trump says, “Nobody knows what I’m going to do,” the market doesn’t wait for clarity; it recalibrates. Uncertainty goes up. Risk premiums rise. Probabilities get reassessed. Markets rarely react to events in isolation.They move in response to how those events are anticipated, priced in, and emotionally processed. Investing Is Not About Certainty. It’s About Probability. Investing is decision-making under uncertainty.

The world runs on oil, and oil runs through Hormuz. That’s not just geopolitics. That’s global vulnerability. The Strait of Hormuz may seem like a narrow strip of water in a distant part of the world, but it holds immense power over the global economy. With nearly 30% of the world’s seaborne oil passing through it daily, the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran carry implications far beyond geopolitics. A disruption here doesn’t just spike oil prices; it can fuel infla

Defence officers retire at different stages—some after 6 or 13 years (Short Service), others after 20, and a few hang up their boots after 57. No matter when you transition, one truth holds steady: leaving the Forces is not just a job change—it’s a shift in identity, a cultural shock. That’s why I’ve created this practical, experience-backed checklist—designed to help Defence Officers make a smooth, smart, and meaningful transition to civilian life. This guide is divided into

Many Defence Officers retire with strong savings, often crossing the ₹1 Crore mark with discipline and frugality. But very few grow that into a ₹5 Crore+ portfolio. Why? Because the habits that build your first ₹1 Cr aren’t always the ones that will take you to ₹5 Cr and beyond. More importantly, the battlefield of investing is different from saving: the enemy here is not inflation or market crashes, it's behavioral missteps and unchecked risks.