Investment advisers are financial professionals who offer guidance and strategic advice to clients in exchange for specific fees. They have a fiduciary duty, meaning they are legally and ethically required to prioritize their client's interests above their own at all times. One method investment advisers use to minimize real or perceived conflicts of interest is through their compensation structure. Instead of earning commissions on the products they recommend, they are paid through fees that align their success with that of their clients. This fee-based model ensures that advisers remain focused on providing the best possible outcomes for their clients, as their financial success is directly linked to the success of their client's investments.

At Neev Investment Advisories, the focus is on conservative investing, to help clients grow and preserve their wealth to secure their goals both today and in the future. To achieve this, Neev adheres to two guiding principles: approaching investing with a broad and deep perspective and combining time-tested investment specialization to identify promising opportunities over time. Ranita Gupta, the Director of Neev Investment Advisories, has been instrumental in the growth and success of the organization. She has played a pivotal role in steering the company forward and has dedicated herself to educating people about the intricacies of financial investment.

In a personal interview, she shared how a pivotal life decision led to the creation of a financial company.

What are some important facets of your life and professional journey?

A career was not something that I was very serious about. Initially being trained as a systems analyst, my career was shelved for a while after marriage when I became a mother. After a stretched period of parenting, my children moved out and it left a great void in my life leaving a lot of room to think. But looking back I just had an outdated degree in computer programming and Systems Analysis, and I had no clue how much would it help. Living in Abu Dhabi then, did try my hands at Forex trading, and got some exposure to the currency market, but was not something I felt passionate about. We moved to India in 2002 and by 2005, I started my search all over again, for doing something with my time, but not sure what to do - That is when I stumbled upon financial advisory services. However, I took some courage to present myself with a resume that pointed out a significant career gap of around 15 years. I was given a chance and this changed my whole perspective. To be frank I was not a great fan of working in the programming field as it never felt like something that I could enjoy. I figured I had a natural talent for reading complicated Mutual Fund Portfolio reports, and understanding the numbers, I embraced every challenge that came my way and learned the industry’s language in no time. Also, I drowned myself in understanding the market movements, ratios, and the emotions driving the market. This is how my passion for financial advisory started. I aspire to empower women through financial literacy. Educating and guiding women in finance fosters independence, confidence, and economic growth, creating a more equitable and prosperous future for all.

Can you describe your professional journey in the wealth management industry and highlight the key areas off expertise you have developed over the years?

Reminding me back of my early days, my husband was the one who used to look after the financial requirements of our household. This is when he came across several investment avenues, deciding to invest in a Japanese mutual fund on a bank's recommendation. That was my first exposure to Mutual Funds and I didn’t understand anything. This was back in the days when we were residing in the Gulf. We returned to India in 2002 with a substantial sum that needed investing, and we discovered a small brokerage house where we invested in mutual funds. This is when I realized how much I could immerse myself in listening to mutual funds. As the market boomed, we began investing through SIPs eventually even growing our money. Once I was free when our children moved out, the thought of doing something to myself sprang back to me. As mentioned previously, I was given a chance to start in this small firm - with sales, I slowly started expanding my expertise once I understood the concepts and back-office operations. As I grew in this career I began offering financial consulting to women and helped them get an idea about the basics of market movements. I got accredited with the exams needed to become a wealth advisor. Looking back now, 14 years later, I have now a client base of about 350 individuals. While I do handle HNI clients, who require more technical discussions, my strength lies in empowering women – old and young with financial knowledge and confidence. Building trust and providing accessible financial advice is my give back to society.

“Educating & guiding women in finance fosters independence, confidence, & economic growth, creating a more equitable & prosperous future for all”

Introduce us to Neev Investment Advisories and explain the various responsibilities you have as the Director of the company.

As the founder and director of Neev Investment Advi­sories, I oversee the development and implementation of financial strategies for my clients, managing client rela­tionships and ensuring compliance with industry regu­lations. My responsibilities also include analyzing finan­cial data, developing investment strategies, and creating comprehensive financial plans. Additionally, I engage in business development, manage client portfolios, and co­ordinate with their financial professionals. As the direc­tor, I set the strategic direction for the expansion of Neev, drive revenue growth, and maintain high standards of client service and satisfaction. My son, Anand Kumar Gupta, graduated from Harvard Business School with an MBA in Finance, and I am proud to have played a piv­otal role in shaping the careers of my children, guiding them throughout their journey, and helping them make informed career decisions. Anand is currently working with a Japanese bank in New York but plans to join me in the business next year to help with its functioning. His choice demonstrates his dedication to our mission, and we're excited to have him join us. We anticipate his inno­vative contributions and believe his expertise and enthu­siasm will propel us to greater success. My daughter is working on various interests in alternative healing while taking care of her child and supporting her spouse, who has a demanding job and travels half the year. Currently, I manage 350 clients with varying activity levels, ensuring their portfolios grow as planned over the years by execut­ing their requests. When meeting a new client, my main focus is aligning their investments with their goals. I ad­vocate for a disciplined approach, mapping investments to specific goals to avoid reactive investing and leverage the power of compounding.

What have been the most critical challenges you encounter in your current role? How do you overcome the said roadblocks?

Wealth advisors face a multitude of critical challenges, spanning regulatory, client management, business operations, and market dynamics, along with grasping industry-specific financial lingo. Keeping up with changing regulations and compliance requirements is time-consuming and costly while staying updated with tax law changes is crucial for providing accurate advice and maintaining compliance. Managing client expectations involves educating clients about market realities, long-term planning, and balancing empathy with data-driven advice, especially during market volatility. Achieving growth while maintaining high service levels is particularly challenging for small setups, necessitating the leveraging of technology and improving operational efficiency. The fast pace of technology requires wealth advisors to adapt constantly, using tech for client communication, portfolio management, and efficiency. They must stay versatile, learn continuously, and adopt new tools and strategies to offer top-notch services, ensuring compliance and operational efficiency.

What do you predict for the future of wealth management in India, and which industry trends do you think will have the most significant impact?

With increased stringency in compliance regulations, wealth management is in high demand today. With stricter adherence to compliance standards, investment avenues have become more rewarding. Even though the Sensex has reached around 75,000 there is always room for expectations and positivity in the market with fund managers suggesting that this is just the beginning of positive trends. The landscape is evolving with the emergence of index funds, ETFs, and direct investment options, although this also brings new challenges such as reduced business interventions and fluctuating commissions. Surviving in this evolving market requires substantial business volume and adaptability to navigate these industry changes effectively.

Ranita Gupta, Director, Neev Investment Advisories

Ranita is the founder, chairman, and managing director of neev investment advisors. Previously a systems analyst in bangalore and later experimenting as a forex trader in abu dhabi, she returned to india in 2002 and boosted a leading firm's retail mutual fund business. In 2009, she founded neev, focusing on mutual fund investments and portfolio management.