MF Chronicles by Vikaas M Sachdeva

MF Chronicles by Vikaas M Sachdevahttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mf-chronicles-by-vikaas-m-sachdeva--6793667
MF Chronicles traces this extraordinary transformation, exploring three decades of India’s mutual fund journey through candid conversations with the people who built it.

The series moves through the early years after liberalisation, the expansion phase of the 2000s, and the digital, democratised era that followed - mapping how an unfamiliar concept slowly became one of India’s most trusted financial pillars.

Across nine episodes, the show brings together CEOs, CIOs, regulators, product creators, distributors, advisors, and industry innovators to reveal the real stories behind India’s investing culture. Their decisions, challenges, experiments, and breakthroughs form the core of this narrative - not as data points, but as lived experiences.

Through long-form, honest discussions, MF Chronicles uncovers how trust was built, how categories were created, how crises were navigated, and how mutual funds became accessible to millions of Indians. The series blends personal journeys with industry insight to offer listeners a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how India learned to invest.

Fresh episodes drop every alternate Tuesday.

Concept and Hosted by Vikaas M Sachdeva
Marketed and Produced by Blue Quill Communications and Kya Dekhte Ho Productions
Supported by Chetana's Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai]]>enBusinessCopyright Team KDHhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a4ca8f7e9ccc2f7c3ef3dd79e0d1a5b3.jpgMF Chronicles by Vikaas M Sachdevahttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mf-chronicles-by-vikaas-m-sachdeva--6793667Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:25:40 +0000Vikaas M SachdevaVikaas M Sachdevaimvikaassachdeva@gmail.comHow did an industry no one knew thirty years ago grow to nearly ₹80 lakh crore today? MF Chronicles traces this extraordinary transformation, exploring three decades of India’s mutual fund journey through candid conversations with the people who...
MF Chronicles traces this extraordinary transformation, exploring three decades of India’s mutual fund journey through candid conversations with the people who built it.

The series moves through the early years after liberalisation, the expansion phase of the 2000s, and the digital, democratised era that followed - mapping how an unfamiliar concept slowly became one of India’s most trusted financial pillars.

Across nine episodes, the show brings together CEOs, CIOs, regulators, product creators, distributors, advisors, and industry innovators to reveal the real stories behind India’s investing culture. Their decisions, challenges, experiments, and breakthroughs form the core of this narrative - not as data points, but as lived experiences.

Through long-form, honest discussions, MF Chronicles uncovers how trust was built, how categories were created, how crises were navigated, and how mutual funds became accessible to millions of Indians. The series blends personal journeys with industry insight to offer listeners a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how India learned to invest.

Fresh episodes drop every alternate Tuesday.

Concept and Hosted by Vikaas M Sachdeva
Marketed and Produced by Blue Quill Communications and Kya Dekhte Ho Productions
Supported by Chetana's Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai]]>falseepisodicVivek Reddy: How India’s First Mutual Funds Began | Kothari Pioneer AMC | MF Chronicleshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/vivek-reddy-how-india-s-first-mutual-funds-began-kothari-pioneer-amc-mf-chronicles--73755283
That simple ambition, born out of youthful energy and a belief in an opportunity no one had explored, would go on to shape India's private mutual fund industry. Vivek Reddy was at the helm of Kothari Pioneer when it launched India's first private-sector mutual fund.

But being first was only the beginning. From building an open-ended fund and putting investors at the centre to creating a culture of innovation and eventually walking away from the business, Vivek’s journey offers a rare look at what it takes to build an industry from the ground up.

We get into:
• Why the opening of mutual funds to the private sector looked like an incredible opportunity
• The youthful energy and competitive spirit that drove him to be first
• Building India's first open-ended mutual fund when there was no playbook
• Why customer centricity, transparency and faster access to money mattered from day one
• How innovation became part of Kothari Pioneer's DNA
• What the Templeton acquisition taught him about building, selling and moving on
• Why he believes the industry has focused too much on asset gathering and too little on capital allocation
• What needs to change in investment research and decision-making for mutual funds to create greater value

What makes this conversation particularly interesting is the perspective that comes with having seen an industry before it had a name, and then watching it become one of India's largest financial ecosystems.

Vivek Reddy's story ultimately comes down to curiosity, conviction and the willingness to question what everyone else takes for granted.

Recommended for:
Investors, mutual fund professionals, financial advisors, research analysts, finance students, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about the people, ideas and decisions that shaped India's mutual fund industry.
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Connect with me across social media. Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva

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📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
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Chapters:
00:00 — Presented By
00:05 — Trailer
01:41 — Disclaimer
01:46 — Introduction
02:58 — Vivek’s Day-to-Day Life
06:29 — Why Did India Need Mutual Funds?
09:53 — India’s Reality Then
11:32 — The Origin of Kothari Pioneer
16:27 — The Story of 1993
26:31 — Why an Open-Ended Fund?
29:48 — The NAV Leap of Faith
36:06 — The Adaptability Factor
40:49 — Thematic Funds Stroke
44:18 — The Templeton Acquisition
47:39 — Life After the Acquisition
52:19 — The Rear-View Mirror
01:01:29 — The Components of a Champion
01:03:03 — The Future of Indian Mutual Funds
01:07:56 — Outro
01:09:31 — End Credits

[Vivek Reddy, Vivek Reddy interview, Vivek Reddy MF Chronicles, Vivek Reddy mutual funds, Vivek Reddy Kothari Pioneer, Kothari Pioneer mutual fund, Kothari Pioneer AMC, first private mutual fund in India, India’s first private sector mutual fund, first open-ended mutual fund India, history of mutual funds in India, Indian mutual fund history, origin of mutual funds in India, private mutual funds India]]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73755283Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:30:02 +0000Vikaas M SachdevaLet’s be the first mutual fund in India.” That simple ambition, born out of youthful energy and a belief in an opportunity no one had explored, would go on to shape India's private mutual fund industry. Vivek Reddy was at the helm of Kothari Pioneer...
That simple ambition, born out of youthful energy and a belief in an opportunity no one had explored, would go on to shape India's private mutual fund industry. Vivek Reddy was at the helm of Kothari Pioneer when it launched India's first private-sector mutual fund.

But being first was only the beginning. From building an open-ended fund and putting investors at the centre to creating a culture of innovation and eventually walking away from the business, Vivek’s journey offers a rare look at what it takes to build an industry from the ground up.

We get into:
• Why the opening of mutual funds to the private sector looked like an incredible opportunity
• The youthful energy and competitive spirit that drove him to be first
• Building India's first open-ended mutual fund when there was no playbook
• Why customer centricity, transparency and faster access to money mattered from day one
• How innovation became part of Kothari Pioneer's DNA
• What the Templeton acquisition taught him about building, selling and moving on
• Why he believes the industry has focused too much on asset gathering and too little on capital allocation
• What needs to change in investment research and decision-making for mutual funds to create greater value

What makes this conversation particularly interesting is the perspective that comes with having seen an industry before it had a name, and then watching it become one of India's largest financial ecosystems.

Vivek Reddy's story ultimately comes down to curiosity, conviction and the willingness to question what everyone else takes for granted.

Recommended for:
Investors, mutual fund professionals, financial advisors, research analysts, finance students, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about the people, ideas and decisions that shaped India's mutual fund industry.
—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------

Connect with me across social media. Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva

----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapters:
00:00 — Presented By
00:05 — Trailer
01:41 — Disclaimer
01:46 — Introduction
02:58 — Vivek’s Day-to-Day Life
06:29 — Why Did India Need Mutual Funds?
09:53 — India’s Reality Then
11:32 — The Origin of Kothari Pioneer
16:27 — The Story of 1993
26:31 — Why an Open-Ended Fund?
29:48 — The NAV Leap of Faith
36:06 — The Adaptability Factor
40:49 — Thematic Funds Stroke
44:18 — The Templeton Acquisition
47:39 — Life After the Acquisition
52:19 — The Rear-View Mirror
01:01:29 — The Components of a Champion
01:03:03 — The Future of Indian Mutual Funds
01:07:56 — Outro
01:09:31 — End Credits

[Vivek Reddy, Vivek Reddy interview, Vivek Reddy MF Chronicles, Vivek Reddy mutual funds, Vivek Reddy Kothari Pioneer, Kothari Pioneer mutual fund, Kothari Pioneer AMC, first private mutual fund in India, India’s first private sector mutual fund, first open-ended mutual fund India, history of mutual funds in India, Indian mutual fund history, origin of mutual funds in India, private mutual funds India]]]>4180firstopen-endedmutualfundindia,firstprivatemutualfundinindia,historyofmutualfundsinindia,indianmutualfundhistory,indiasfirstprivatesectormutual,kotharipioneeramc,kotharipioneermutualfund,originofmutualfundsinindia,privatemutualfundsindia,vivekreddy,vivekreddyinterview,vivekreddykotharipioneer,vivekreddymfchronicles,vivekreddymutualfundsfalse115fullKN Sivasubramanian: One of India's Earliest Fund Managers | Kothari Pioneer | MF Chronicleshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kn-sivasubramanian-one-of-india-s-earliest-fund-managers-kothari-pioneer-mf-chronicles--73189544
Before mutual funds became mainstream, there were a handful of people building the industry from scratch. KN Sivasubramanian was one of them.

From joining Kothari Pioneer as a Research Analyst to becoming Chief Investment Officer at Franklin Templeton India, his journey mirrors the evolution of India's mutual fund industry itself. We get into:

Why skepticism became his greatest investing advantage
Building India's first private mutual fund when there was no playbook
The thinking behind launching India's first IT mutual fund
Why he cut IT exposure before the dot-com crash despite severe underperformance
How "making fewer mistakes" became his framework for long-term wealth creation
Why information is no longer a fund manager's edge and judgment matters more than ever
His candid views on active vs passive investing, AI, and the future of fund management
How he thinks investors should approach the next decade of wealth creation

The biggest takeaway from this conversation isn't the beginning of an era, a sector, or a market. It's a way of thinking.

In a world where information is available to everyone, lasting investing edge comes from asking better questions, staying patient, and having the conviction to think differently.

Recommended for:
Investors, mutual fund professionals, financial advisors, research analysts, finance students, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about how one of India's most respected CIOs thinks about markets, investing, and decision-making.
—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------
Connect with me across social media. Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:02 Trailer
01:32 Disclaimer
01:37 Introduction
02:13 The Big Shift
04:13 Kothari Pioneer
06:45 First Principles
09:09 Competitive Edge
11:12 Analytical Mindset
13:30 Hiring Great Talent
15:46 India's First IT Fund
18:27 Thematic Investing
25:11 Managing Expectations
27:07 Risk Guardrails
29:03 Joining Franklin
36:57 Franklin Learnings
38:45 Power of Consistency
41:12 Investment Landscape
43:52 Then vs Now
45:54 Efficiency vs Judgement
50:49 Predictability
53:17 AI & Investing
1:04:41 India on Global Stage
1:08:47 Final Advice
1:11:21 Outro
1:12:43 End Credits

[Mutual Fund Podcast, MF Chronicles, Investing Podcast, Indian Mutual Funds, Fund Management, Mutual Fund Industry, KN Sivasubramanian, Kothari Pioneer, Franklin Templeton India, Active Investing, Value Investing, Investment Philosophy, Long-Term Investing, Stock Market India, Asset Management, Portfolio Management, Financial Education, Investing in India]]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73189544Tue, 28 Jul 2026 05:30:02 +0000Vikaas M Sachdeva"Great investing isn't about chasing markets. It's about questioning them." Before mutual funds became mainstream, there were a handful of people building the industry from scratch. KN Sivasubramanian was one of them. From joining Kothari Pioneer as...
Before mutual funds became mainstream, there were a handful of people building the industry from scratch. KN Sivasubramanian was one of them.

From joining Kothari Pioneer as a Research Analyst to becoming Chief Investment Officer at Franklin Templeton India, his journey mirrors the evolution of India's mutual fund industry itself. We get into:

Why skepticism became his greatest investing advantage
Building India's first private mutual fund when there was no playbook
The thinking behind launching India's first IT mutual fund
Why he cut IT exposure before the dot-com crash despite severe underperformance
How "making fewer mistakes" became his framework for long-term wealth creation
Why information is no longer a fund manager's edge and judgment matters more than ever
His candid views on active vs passive investing, AI, and the future of fund management
How he thinks investors should approach the next decade of wealth creation

The biggest takeaway from this conversation isn't the beginning of an era, a sector, or a market. It's a way of thinking.

In a world where information is available to everyone, lasting investing edge comes from asking better questions, staying patient, and having the conviction to think differently.

Recommended for:
Investors, mutual fund professionals, financial advisors, research analysts, finance students, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about how one of India's most respected CIOs thinks about markets, investing, and decision-making.
—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------
Connect with me across social media. Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:02 Trailer
01:32 Disclaimer
01:37 Introduction
02:13 The Big Shift
04:13 Kothari Pioneer
06:45 First Principles
09:09 Competitive Edge
11:12 Analytical Mindset
13:30 Hiring Great Talent
15:46 India's First IT Fund
18:27 Thematic Investing
25:11 Managing Expectations
27:07 Risk Guardrails
29:03 Joining Franklin
36:57 Franklin Learnings
38:45 Power of Consistency
41:12 Investment Landscape
43:52 Then vs Now
45:54 Efficiency vs Judgement
50:49 Predictability
53:17 AI & Investing
1:04:41 India on Global Stage
1:08:47 Final Advice
1:11:21 Outro
1:12:43 End Credits

[Mutual Fund Podcast, MF Chronicles, Investing Podcast, Indian Mutual Funds, Fund Management, Mutual Fund Industry, KN Sivasubramanian, Kothari Pioneer, Franklin Templeton India, Active Investing, Value Investing, Investment Philosophy, Long-Term Investing, Stock Market India, Asset Management, Portfolio Management, Financial Education, Investing in India]]]>4374assetmanagement,chiefinvestmentofficer,cio,creditanalyst,financepodcast,franklintempleton,franklintempletonindia,fundmanager,indianmutualfunds,investingpodcast,investmentmanagement,knsivasubramanian,kotharipioneer,mfchronicles,mutualfundpodcast,mutualfunds,portfoliomanagement,sivasubramanian,stockmarketpodcastfalse114fullSanjiv Shah & Rajan Mehta: Building India's ETF Story | Benchmark AMC | MF Chronicleshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sanjiv-shah-rajan-mehta-building-india-s-etf-story-benchmark-amc-mf-chronicles--72947563
Long before ETFs became mainstream, Sanjiv Shah and Rajan Mehta bet on an idea that very few believed in. They didn't just build India's first ETF - they helped lay the foundation for passive investing in the country.

We get into:

Why they believed it was nearly impossible to consistently beat the market
The entrepreneurial journey behind launching India's first ETF
How Nifty BeES, Gold BeES and Liquid BeES changed the industry
Why passive investing took years to find acceptance in India
The incentive problem that shaped active investing
How EPFO and institutions accelerated ETF adoption
The biggest myths around passive investing
What they would build if they were starting all over again

Why they believed it was nearly impossible to consistently beat the market
The entrepreneurial journey behind launching India's first ETF
How Nifty BeES, Gold BeES and Liquid BeES changed the industry
Why passive investing took years to find acceptance in India
The incentive problem that shaped active investing
How EPFO and institutions accelerated ETF adoption
The biggest myths around passive investing
What they would build if they were starting all over again

What stayed with me was that the biggest ideas don't begin with consensus. They begin with conviction.

Recommended for:
Investors, financial advisors, mutual fund professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about how conviction can create an entirely new category.
—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------
Connect with me across social media. Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:05 Trailer
01:55 Disclaimer
01:59 Introduction
03:53 Why Passive Investing?
06:01 The History of ETFs in India
07:16 Why They Believed in ETFs
09:11 Why ETFs Didn't Take Off
10:53 Finding the First ETF Investors
15:23 India's First Gold ETF
16:33 How Gold ETFs Actually Work
18:38 Total Return Index (TRI) Explained
20:42 Active vs Passive Investing
25:09 Mid-Cap Funds vs Passive Investing
27:26 Why Benchmark AMC Was Sold
30:57 The Story of Liquid BeES
34:41 Real Stories Behind ETFs
36:42 How ETF Market Making Works
41:32 Convincing EPFO to Invest in ETFs
44:54 ETF Myths Busted
50:45 India vs Global ETF Markets
52:45 Advice for New Entrepreneurs
54:32 Audience Q&A
54:39 Q1: Biggest ETF Risk
55:06 Q2: Safest ETF to Invest In?
55:45 Q3: Future of Passive Investing
56:28 Q4: Advice for Young Investors
57:18 Closing Thoughts
57:55 End Credits

[Sanjiv Shah, Rajan Mehta, Benchmark AMC, MF Chronicles, ETF, Exchange Traded Fund, Passive Investing, Index Investing, Nifty BeES, Gold BeES, Liquid BeES, India's First ETF, Active vs Passive Investing, Mutual Funds, ETF Investing, Gold ETF, Total Return Index, TRI, Market Efficiency, EPFO, Product Innovation, Financial Markets, Investing in India, Benchmark Asset Management ]]]>3486activevspassive,benchmarkamc,benchmarkassetmanagement,etfindia,etfinvesting,etfsindia,exchangetradedfunds,goldbees,goldetf,indexfunds,indexinvesting,indiasfirstetf,liquidbees,mfchronicles,mutualfunds,niftybees,passiveinvesting,passivevsactive,rajanmehta,sanjivshahfalse113fullNilesh Shah: The Man Who Watched Mutual Funds Grow Up | Kotak Mahindra AMC | MF Chronicleshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/nilesh-shah-the-man-who-watched-mutual-funds-grow-up-kotak-mahindra-amc-mf-chronicles--72634279
When I sat down with Nilesh Shah, Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra AMC. I wasn't looking for market predictions or investment ideas. I wanted to understand something deeper: how India's mutual fund industry evolved through crises, mistakes, reforms and reinvention.

Nilesh has had a front-row seat to some of the most defining moments in Indian investing.

We get into:
• Why the Unit 64 crisis became a turning point for Indian mutual funds
• What it was like when investors wouldn't even allow private mutual fund managers into the room
• How SEBI transformed a financial "Wild West" into a regulated ecosystem
• The leadership lesson behind building processes instead of relying on star performers
• Why some fund managers chose to lose AUM rather than mislead investors
• How transparency became more important than performance
• The real story behind Flexi Cap funds and scheme rationalisation
• Why trust remains the industry's most valuable asset

What stayed with me after this conversation was a simple thought: trust wasn't built through bull markets. It was built through difficult moments, tough decisions and the willingness to learn from mistakes.
Perhaps that's why every crisis ended up making the industry stronger.

Recommended for:
Investors, fund managers, distributors, regulators, and anyone who believes that the story behind an industry is often more valuable than the products it sells.
—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------
Connect with me across social media. Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented by
00:05 Trailer
01:37 Disclaimer
01:42 Introduction
02:25 Early Days
03:20 Unit 64 Crisis
06:11 Perception Mismatch
15:05 Open Door Regulations
24:05 Transparency
29:38 Distributors Check
34:21 NFO myth
38:25 Cost of Mutual Fund
42:36 Adaptation
48:55 Noise vs Impact
51:35 Sources to follow
52:28 What NOT to do
55:40 Outro
56:02 Endslate

[Nilesh Shah, Nilesh Shah Kotak, Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund, Kotak AMC, MF Chronicles, Vikaas M Sachdeva, Mutual Funds, Mutual Fund Industry India, SIP, SIP Investment, Systematic Investment Plan, Unit 64, UTI Crisis, SEBI Regulations, SEBI Reforms, Investor Education, Investor Awareness, Personal Finance, Wealth Management, Asset Allocation, Financial Planning, Stock Market India, Investing Podcast, Finance Podcast India, Mutual Fund Podcast, Financial Advisor, Distributor Model, Flexi Cap Funds, Multi Cap Funds, Floating Rate Fund, Franklin Templeton India, Market History India, Retail Investing India, Long Term Investing, Investor Psychology, Trust and Transparency, Indian Economy, Wealth Creation India, Portfolio Management, Financial Literacy India]]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72634279Tue, 23 Jun 2026 05:30:02 +0000Vikaas M Sachdeva"Every crisis leaves a scar. The best ones leave a lesson." When I sat down with Nilesh Shah, Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra AMC. I wasn't looking for market predictions or investment ideas. I wanted to understand something deeper: how India's...
When I sat down with Nilesh Shah, Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra AMC. I wasn't looking for market predictions or investment ideas. I wanted to understand something deeper: how India's mutual fund industry evolved through crises, mistakes, reforms and reinvention.

Nilesh has had a front-row seat to some of the most defining moments in Indian investing.

We get into:
• Why the Unit 64 crisis became a turning point for Indian mutual funds
• What it was like when investors wouldn't even allow private mutual fund managers into the room
• How SEBI transformed a financial "Wild West" into a regulated ecosystem
• The leadership lesson behind building processes instead of relying on star performers
• Why some fund managers chose to lose AUM rather than mislead investors
• How transparency became more important than performance
• The real story behind Flexi Cap funds and scheme rationalisation
• Why trust remains the industry's most valuable asset

What stayed with me after this conversation was a simple thought: trust wasn't built through bull markets. It was built through difficult moments, tough decisions and the willingness to learn from mistakes.
Perhaps that's why every crisis ended up making the industry stronger.

Recommended for:
Investors, fund managers, distributors, regulators, and anyone who believes that the story behind an industry is often more valuable than the products it sells.
—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------
Connect with me across social media. Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented by
00:05 Trailer
01:37 Disclaimer
01:42 Introduction
02:25 Early Days
03:20 Unit 64 Crisis
06:11 Perception Mismatch
15:05 Open Door Regulations
24:05 Transparency
29:38 Distributors Check
34:21 NFO myth
38:25 Cost of Mutual Fund
42:36 Adaptation
48:55 Noise vs Impact
51:35 Sources to follow
52:28 What NOT to do
55:40 Outro
56:02 Endslate

[Nilesh Shah, Nilesh Shah Kotak, Kotak Mahindra Mutual Fund, Kotak AMC, MF Chronicles, Vikaas M Sachdeva, Mutual Funds, Mutual Fund Industry India, SIP, SIP Investment, Systematic Investment Plan, Unit 64, UTI Crisis, SEBI Regulations, SEBI Reforms, Investor Education, Investor Awareness, Personal Finance, Wealth Management, Asset Allocation, Financial Planning, Stock Market India, Investing Podcast, Finance Podcast India, Mutual Fund Podcast, Financial Advisor, Distributor Model, Flexi Cap Funds, Multi Cap Funds, Floating Rate Fund, Franklin Templeton India, Market History India, Retail Investing India, Long Term Investing, Investor Psychology, Trust and Transparency, Indian Economy, Wealth Creation India, Portfolio Management, Financial Literacy India]]]>337264,asset,creation,financial,fund,funds,india,industry,investing,investor,kotak,mutual,nilesh,planning,sebi,shah,sip,trust,unit,wealthfalse112fullKenneth Andrade: The Mid-Cap Mogul | Old Bridge Capital | MF Chronicleshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kenneth-andrade-the-mid-cap-mogul-old-bridge-capital-mf-chronicles--72289024 These words. Decades of investing wisdom.

Kenneth Andrade has spent most of his career looking where others aren't. Before he became one of India's most respected mid-cap investors, he was a journalist studying businesses one report, one IPO and one industry at a time.

His investing philosophy is surprisingly simple: when everyone is looking in one direction, start asking what they're missing.

We get into:

The transition from journalism to investing
Why mid-caps became India's discovery engine
What the dot-com bubble taught him
How to think about market cycles
Why dominant businesses survive downturns
Active vs passive investing
The psychology of underperformance
Where he sees opportunity today

The transition from journalism to investing
Why mid-caps became India's discovery engine
What the dot-com bubble taught him
How to think about market cycles
Why dominant businesses survive downturns
Active vs passive investing
The psychology of underperformance
Where he sees opportunity today

The biggest takeaway isn't about mid-caps.
It's about curiosity, patience and surviving long enough to be right.

Recommended for:
Investors, fund managers, finance students, equity researchers, CFA aspirants, and anyone trying to build conviction in an increasingly noisy market.

—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------

Connect with me across social media. Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva

----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:04 Trailer
01:35 Disclaimer
01:38 Mid-Cap Origins
03:57 The Journey
06:10 Journalist to Investor
09:04 First Investment
09:49 Finding Winners
11:12 Mid-Cap Growth
13:23 Growth Cycles
16:44 Investor Mindset
20:36 Reality Check
21:51 Investment Framework
29:23 Promoter Profile
32:02 Industry Cycles
34:20 Investment Filters
35:23 Reading Signals
37:19 Staying Consistent
40:53 Performance Pressure
43:51 Risk Management
45:31 Exit Decisions
47:43 Active vs Passive
50:17 Future Outlook
52:16 AI & Investing
53:54 Audience Q&A
53:58 Spotting Bargains
55:27 Macro Trends
56:39 Lessons Learned
57:19 Final Thoughts
57:47 End Credits

[Kenneth Andrade, Kenneth Andrade podcast, Kenneth Andrade interview, MF Chronicles, mid cap investing, mid cap stocks India, mutual fund investing, stock market investing India, value investing India, active investing, passive investing, active vs passive investing, stock market podcast, investing podcast India, wealth creation, long term investing, portfolio management, investment strategy, equity investing, stock picking, market cycles, business cycles, investor mindset, alpha generation, mutual fund manager, fund manager interview, investing lessons, stock market education, Indian stock market, investment philosophy]]]>3477cap,conviction,finding,fund,hidden,how,investor,journalist,management,managers,market,mid,multibaggers,opportunities,portfolio,psychology,risk,stock,think,turnedfalse111fullSundeep Sikka: The Man Who Backed ETFs | Nippon India | MF Chronicleshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sundeep-sikka-the-man-who-backed-etfs-nippon-india-mf-chronicles--72055639
For years, ETFs in India quietly stayed in the background while active investing took centre stage. But somewhere along the way, passive investing stopped being an alternative and started becoming infrastructure.

My conversation with Sundeep Sikka, ED & CEO of Nippon India Mutual Fund, goes far beyond ETFs. We spoke about conviction, investor behaviour, scale, and why some of the biggest shifts in investing happen slowly… until suddenly everyone notices them.

We get into:
● Why India took time to accept ETFs
● The Goldman Sachs acquisition and the early passive bet
● How ₹6,000 crore became ₹2.26 lakh crore
● Why ETF growth is really a story of behaviour change
● Gold ETFs, demat accounts, and post-Covid retail participation
● The philosophy of “profit is a byproduct”
● Why risk management is an invisible parachute
● Active vs Passive and why both will coexist

Some conversations explain products. This one explains how investing culture changes.
The episode starts with ETFs, but somewhere along the way, it becomes a conversation about how India builds wealth.
—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------
Connect with me across social media. Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:05 Trailer
01:24 Disclaimer
01:27 Passive Investing Rise
03:06 Selling ETFs Early
05:34 Goldman Sachs Deal
08:01 Betting on Trends
10:07 Passive Investing Boom
11:53 EPFO Enters ETFs
14:08 CPSE ETF Partnership
15:14 Institutional ETF Push
16:52 Retail ETF Journey
20:16 Why Back ETFs?
28:04 Active vs Passive
30:26 Distributor Dynamics
32:07 Rise of FOFs
33:39 Risk Management Philosophy
36:41 Sundeep’s Philosophy
41:22 Understanding Tracking Error
42:31 Dominant ETF Types
45:31 India vs Global Investors
50:11 Audience Q&A
50:16 Investing at Highs
51:52 Reaching Young Investors
54:21 Importance of Allocation
55:24 First-Time Investing
57:10 Final Thoughts
58:03 End Credits

[ETFs, Passive Investing, Sundeep Sikka, Nippon India Mutual Fund, MF Chronicles, Index Funds, Investing India, Mutual Funds India, Retail Investing, Wealth Creation, Financialisation, Active vs Passive, Gold ETFs, Risk Management, Investor Behaviour, Demat Accounts, Long Term Investing, Indian Markets, ETF Investing, India Growth Story]]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72055639Tue, 19 May 2026 05:30:02 +0000Vikaas M Sachdeva“Why beat the market… when you can simply access it?” For years, ETFs in India quietly stayed in the background while active investing took centre stage. But somewhere along the way, passive investing stopped being an alternative and started becoming...
For years, ETFs in India quietly stayed in the background while active investing took centre stage. But somewhere along the way, passive investing stopped being an alternative and started becoming infrastructure.

My conversation with Sundeep Sikka, ED & CEO of Nippon India Mutual Fund, goes far beyond ETFs. We spoke about conviction, investor behaviour, scale, and why some of the biggest shifts in investing happen slowly… until suddenly everyone notices them.

We get into:
● Why India took time to accept ETFs
● The Goldman Sachs acquisition and the early passive bet
● How ₹6,000 crore became ₹2.26 lakh crore
● Why ETF growth is really a story of behaviour change
● Gold ETFs, demat accounts, and post-Covid retail participation
● The philosophy of “profit is a byproduct”
● Why risk management is an invisible parachute
● Active vs Passive and why both will coexist

Some conversations explain products. This one explains how investing culture changes.
The episode starts with ETFs, but somewhere along the way, it becomes a conversation about how India builds wealth.
—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------
Connect with me across social media. Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:05 Trailer
01:24 Disclaimer
01:27 Passive Investing Rise
03:06 Selling ETFs Early
05:34 Goldman Sachs Deal
08:01 Betting on Trends
10:07 Passive Investing Boom
11:53 EPFO Enters ETFs
14:08 CPSE ETF Partnership
15:14 Institutional ETF Push
16:52 Retail ETF Journey
20:16 Why Back ETFs?
28:04 Active vs Passive
30:26 Distributor Dynamics
32:07 Rise of FOFs
33:39 Risk Management Philosophy
36:41 Sundeep’s Philosophy
41:22 Understanding Tracking Error
42:31 Dominant ETF Types
45:31 India vs Global Investors
50:11 Audience Q&A
50:16 Investing at Highs
51:52 Reaching Young Investors
54:21 Importance of Allocation
55:24 First-Time Investing
57:10 Final Thoughts
58:03 End Credits

[ETFs, Passive Investing, Sundeep Sikka, Nippon India Mutual Fund, MF Chronicles, Index Funds, Investing India, Mutual Funds India, Retail Investing, Wealth Creation, Financialisation, Active vs Passive, Gold ETFs, Risk Management, Investor Behaviour, Demat Accounts, Long Term Investing, Indian Markets, ETF Investing, India Growth Story]]]>3494active,chronicles,creation,etfs,financialisation,fund,funds,gold,index,india,investing,mf,mutual,nippon,passive,retail,sikka,sundeep,vs,wealthfalse110fullNavneet Munnot: The Man Who Saw It All | HDFC AMC | MF Chronicleshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/navneet-munnot-the-man-who-saw-it-all-hdfc-amc-mf-chronicles--71589247
To really understand that shift, I spoke to Navneet Munot, Managing Director & CEO, HDFC AMC.

There was a time when you didn’t need markets to make money. 14% was normal, debt did the job, and equity felt unnecessary.

From that world to today’s world of SIP culture - let’s understand how India’s relationship with markets actually evolved.
We get into:

Why equity was a tough sell in the 90s
How debt funds brought the first wave of investors
What actually built trust over time
The shift from institutions to everyday investors
And why time in the market still beats timing it

Why equity was a tough sell in the 90s
How debt funds brought the first wave of investors
What actually built trust over time
The shift from institutions to everyday investors
And why time in the market still beats timing it

And somewhere along the way, we realise - nothing about markets is easy… except the rules we keep ignoring.
—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------
Connect with me across social media. Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:05 Trailer
01:14 Disclaimer
01:17 Meet The Guest
02:41 Inside The Early MF Industry
08:38 How Indian Investors Think
13:21 From Unit 64 To SIP Boom
21:11 The Rise Of AUM
24:17 How ELSS Took Off
28:08 Why FDs Dominated
36:56 The B30 Growth Story
40:51 Barni Se Azaadi Explained
45:25 Direct Plans: What Changed
51:03 Future Of Mutual Funds
56:36 Active vs Passive Debate
1:02:36 Rapid Fire Q&A
1:02:56 Q1: Geopolitics Impact
1:04:49 Q2: Demand Supply Shift
1:05:53 Q3: New Age Investors
1:06:53 Q4: Leadership Mindset
1:07:42 Closing Thoughts
1:08:45 End Credits
1:08:55 Riskometer & Disclaimer

[fd vs mutual funds, fixed deposit vs equity, why fds popular, 14 percent interest india, debt vs equity india, indian investing journey, mutual funds india growth, sip investment india, why people avoid equity, stock market trust india, investor behaviour india, retail investors india, capital markets india, wealth creation india, long term investing india, market cycles india, fixed income india, bond returns india, equity investing india, financial evolution india, indian economy growth, mutual fund industry india, investment shift india, saving vs investing india, passive investing india, active investing india, portfolio allocation india, financial mindset india, stock market india insights, finance podcast india]]]>414914percent,debtdominance,debtreturns,equityadoption,equityrisk,fdvsequity,fixedreturns,highinterest,indianinvestors,investingshift,investormindset,marketevolution,marketfear,markettrust,mutualfundjourney,returnexpectations,riskaversion,sipculture,trustdeficit,wealthshiftfalse19fullDhirendra Kumar: The Data Doesn’t Lie | Value Research | MF Chronicleshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dhirendra-kumar-the-data-doesn-t-lie-value-research-mf-chronicles--71203792
In this episode, I’m joined by Dhirendra Kumar - Founder & CEO, Value Research, who’s seen India’s investing journey up close for over three decades.

We get into:
• Magnum Multiplier, Mastergain, and the frenzy of the 90s
• How PSU mutual funds shaped early investing in India
• The shift from share certificates to SIPs and digital access
• Why investors still end up chasing performance
• Investing vs just collecting funds
• Active vs passive: skill vs discipline
• Why star fund managers can be a trap
• How regulation actually helped the industry grow
• What real portfolio data says about investor behaviour
• And why discipline quietly does the heavy lifting

From paper-based investing to a few taps on your phone - a lot has changed. But the way we behave as investors? Not so much.

If you want to understand what actually drives your returns - beyond markets and funds - this episode is for you.
—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------

Connect with me across social media.
Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:05 EpiEndslateiler
01:46 Disclaimer
01:51 Introduction
04:25 Early Curiosity
06:53 Role of UTI
08:29 PSU Entry
12:17 Mastergain Era
15:01 Value Research
16:01 Investor Behaviour
19:06 Platform Insights
27:15 Tier Comparison
35:52 Narrative vs Reality
44:15 Market Peaks
47:38 Direct Plans
49:40 Active vs Passive
55:48 Regulations
1:08:41 Q&A Session
1:09:05 Industry Changes
1:10:19 Life Lesson
1:11:43 Allocation vs Timing
1:12:59 When to Invest
1:16:52 Outro
1:17:33 Endslate

[investing, mutual funds, stock market India, investor behaviour, personal finance India, SIP investing, long term investing, market cycles, financial literacy, wealth creation, equity investing, passive vs active investing, portfolio management, financial planning, investment mistakes]]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71203792Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:17:40 +0000Vikaas M SachdevaWhy do investors enter at the top… and exit at the bottom? Let’s break that down. In this episode, I’m joined by Dhirendra Kumar - Founder & CEO, Value Research, who’s seen India’s investing journey up close for over three decades. We get into:...
In this episode, I’m joined by Dhirendra Kumar - Founder & CEO, Value Research, who’s seen India’s investing journey up close for over three decades.

We get into:
• Magnum Multiplier, Mastergain, and the frenzy of the 90s
• How PSU mutual funds shaped early investing in India
• The shift from share certificates to SIPs and digital access
• Why investors still end up chasing performance
• Investing vs just collecting funds
• Active vs passive: skill vs discipline
• Why star fund managers can be a trap
• How regulation actually helped the industry grow
• What real portfolio data says about investor behaviour
• And why discipline quietly does the heavy lifting

From paper-based investing to a few taps on your phone - a lot has changed. But the way we behave as investors? Not so much.

If you want to understand what actually drives your returns - beyond markets and funds - this episode is for you.
—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------

Connect with me across social media.
Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:05 EpiEndslateiler
01:46 Disclaimer
01:51 Introduction
04:25 Early Curiosity
06:53 Role of UTI
08:29 PSU Entry
12:17 Mastergain Era
15:01 Value Research
16:01 Investor Behaviour
19:06 Platform Insights
27:15 Tier Comparison
35:52 Narrative vs Reality
44:15 Market Peaks
47:38 Direct Plans
49:40 Active vs Passive
55:48 Regulations
1:08:41 Q&A Session
1:09:05 Industry Changes
1:10:19 Life Lesson
1:11:43 Allocation vs Timing
1:12:59 When to Invest
1:16:52 Outro
1:17:33 Endslate

[investing, mutual funds, stock market India, investor behaviour, personal finance India, SIP investing, long term investing, market cycles, financial literacy, wealth creation, equity investing, passive vs active investing, portfolio management, financial planning, investment mistakes]]]>4665chasing,dhirendra,era,fund,funds,harshad,history,india,investor,kumar,magnum,mastergain,mehta,multiplier,mutual,psu,psychology,research,returns,valuefalse18fullSwarup Mohanty: The Global AMC That Cracked The India Code | Mirae Asset India | MF Chronicles | Vikaas M Sachdevahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/swarup-mohanty-the-global-amc-that-cracked-the-india-code-mirae-asset-india-mf-chronicles-vikaas-m-sachdeva--70618092
It came from Swarup Mohanty, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mirae Asset Mutual Fund (India) and it changed how I think about the future of investors in this country.

Over the last three decades, global asset managers have entered India with strong processes, big brands and global playbooks. Yet many of them struggled to stay the course.

So what makes India such a different market? Let’s find out.That leads us to questions like:
• What global AMCs underestimated about India
• Why track record beats launching more products
• How IFAs quietly shape a fund house’s growth
• Why several marquee global names eventually exited
• The Korean mindset of “destroying yesterday”
• And how the next generation of investors could change the game

One theme runs through it all: patience.

In asset management and in India sometimes the biggest edge is simply staying long enough.

—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------
Connect with me across social media.
Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:05 Trailer
01:40 Disclaimer
01:46 Introduction
02:37 Welcoming Swarup
03:23 MF Chronicles Existence
03:57 Global Arrival
07:16 Earlier Products
10:02 Global Practices
12:28 Speed Comparison
14:17 Product Ideology
16:38 Distribution Mistakes
19:45 Control Diversity
22:12 Global Comparison
25:51 Korean Mindset
28:24 Global Exit
32:26 Regulatory Support
35:59 Domestic Practices
41:18 Product Replication
43:06 Active ETFs
43:55 AMC Reality
46:22 Mirae Beginnings
47:25 Early Issues
54:10 Launch Comparison
55:39 Future Outlook
59:30 Student QnA
59:43 Q1. Recognition
1:00:50 Q2. Misconception
1:01:46 Q3. Business Mindset
1:03:08 Q4. Achievement
1:05:24 Outro
1:05:44 End Credits

[mutual funds india, asset management india, global amc in india, investing in india, indian stock market, wealth creation india, finance podcast india, business podcast india, investing podcast, capital markets india, indian financial markets, fund manager insights, asset management industry, global investors india, korean investing mindset, south korea business culture, korea investing philosophy, korean business strategy, korean work culture, hallyu wave, k pop culture influence, south korea global expansion, mutual fund industry india, finance leadership india, long term investing strategy, active vs passive investing, financial education india, money management podcast, wealth building india, investing mindset, finance conversations, podcast on investing, mutual fund insights, indian economy investing, global business strategy, finance learning podcast, market behaviour india, investor psychology, investing discipline, asset allocation insights]]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70618092Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:55:33 +0000Vikaas M Sachdeva“The third generation will approach life very differently from the way we did.” That line genuinely made me pause. It came from Swarup Mohanty, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mirae Asset Mutual Fund (India) and it changed how I think...
It came from Swarup Mohanty, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mirae Asset Mutual Fund (India) and it changed how I think about the future of investors in this country.

Over the last three decades, global asset managers have entered India with strong processes, big brands and global playbooks. Yet many of them struggled to stay the course.

So what makes India such a different market? Let’s find out.That leads us to questions like:
• What global AMCs underestimated about India
• Why track record beats launching more products
• How IFAs quietly shape a fund house’s growth
• Why several marquee global names eventually exited
• The Korean mindset of “destroying yesterday”
• And how the next generation of investors could change the game

One theme runs through it all: patience.

In asset management and in India sometimes the biggest edge is simply staying long enough.

—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------
Connect with me across social media.
Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:05 Trailer
01:40 Disclaimer
01:46 Introduction
02:37 Welcoming Swarup
03:23 MF Chronicles Existence
03:57 Global Arrival
07:16 Earlier Products
10:02 Global Practices
12:28 Speed Comparison
14:17 Product Ideology
16:38 Distribution Mistakes
19:45 Control Diversity
22:12 Global Comparison
25:51 Korean Mindset
28:24 Global Exit
32:26 Regulatory Support
35:59 Domestic Practices
41:18 Product Replication
43:06 Active ETFs
43:55 AMC Reality
46:22 Mirae Beginnings
47:25 Early Issues
54:10 Launch Comparison
55:39 Future Outlook
59:30 Student QnA
59:43 Q1. Recognition
1:00:50 Q2. Misconception
1:01:46 Q3. Business Mindset
1:03:08 Q4. Achievement
1:05:24 Outro
1:05:44 End Credits

[mutual funds india, asset management india, global amc in india, investing in india, indian stock market, wealth creation india, finance podcast india, business podcast india, investing podcast, capital markets india, indian financial markets, fund manager insights, asset management industry, global investors india, korean investing mindset, south korea business culture, korea investing philosophy, korean business strategy, korean work culture, hallyu wave, k pop culture influence, south korea global expansion, mutual fund industry india, finance leadership india, long term investing strategy, active vs passive investing, financial education india, money management podcast, wealth building india, investing mindset, finance conversations, podcast on investing, mutual fund insights, indian economy investing, global business strategy, finance learning podcast, market behaviour india, investor psychology, investing discipline, asset allocation insights]]]>3955amc,asset,creation,finance,fund,funds,global,in,india,indian,industry,insights,investing,investors,management,market,mutual,podcast,stock,wealthfalse17fullS Naren: Fund Design, Hybrids & BAFs, AI & CIO | ICICI Prudential | MF Chronicles | Vikaas M Sachdevahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/s-naren-fund-design-hybrids-bafs-ai-cio-icici-prudential-mf-chronicles-vikaas-m-sachdeva--70247047”That line stayed with me.

In this chronicle, I sit down with Sankaran Naren - currently the CIO at ICICI Prudential AMC, but once a fund manager navigating the excesses of the 90s, the lessons of 2008, and the eventual rise of hybrid investing.

He has seen the industry evolve - from unchecked optimism to tighter regulation, from pure equity enthusiasm to disciplined asset allocation.

This conversation isn’t about predicting markets. It’s about designing for them.

We talk about the mistakes of 2007–08, why investors got scarred, and how Balanced Advantage was built to manage risk first - buying when markets fall, trimming when they rise.

We discuss:• What the industry learnt the hard way after 2008
• Why “not scarring investors” became a philosophy
• Asset allocation as discipline - not a marketing pitch
• Value vs quality cycles and surviving long underperformance
• IPO froth and why sellers often know more
• Why risk management becomes harder at scale
• The real challenge of being a CIO
• And whether AI will assist - not replace - decision-making

What I appreciated most was his clarity:
Markets will always be volatile. The job is to build systems that survive them.

If you care about how the hybrid category truly evolved and what responsible fund management looks like - this episode is for you.
—----------------—----------------—----------------—
----------------—----------------—----------------
Connect with me across social media.
Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners.
Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:05 Episode Trailer
01:45 Legal Disclaimer
01:50 Episode Introduction
03:15 Fund Origins
06:33 Design Flaws
09:02 Telecom Analogy
10:07 Market Triggers
11:41 Market Myths
14:21 BAF Story
19:27 SIP Perception
20:37 Dividend Design
22:43 Process Debate
24:06 MF vs FD
26:03 Post Commissions
29:28 Value Reality
33:21 IPO Mania
36:47 Asset Allocation
38:46 MAF vs BAF
39:46 ETF vs AIF
40:41 Category Future
43:19 Manager Advice
45:29 AI vs CIO
46:17 Old vs New
47:16 CIMR QnA
47:31 Conviction Building
48:31 SME View
48:54 Stock Prediction
50:18 Investing Tips
51:28 Core Skill
52:46 Episode Outro
53:29 End Credits]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70247047Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:30:02 +0000Vikaas M Sachdeva“Investing isn’t arithmetic. It’s judgment. ”That line stayed with me. In this chronicle, I sit down with Sankaran Naren - currently the CIO at ICICI Prudential AMC, but once a fund manager navigating the excesses of the 90s, the lessons of 2008, and...”That line stayed with me.

In this chronicle, I sit down with Sankaran Naren - currently the CIO at ICICI Prudential AMC, but once a fund manager navigating the excesses of the 90s, the lessons of 2008, and the eventual rise of hybrid investing.

He has seen the industry evolve - from unchecked optimism to tighter regulation, from pure equity enthusiasm to disciplined asset allocation.

This conversation isn’t about predicting markets. It’s about designing for them.

We talk about the mistakes of 2007–08, why investors got scarred, and how Balanced Advantage was built to manage risk first - buying when markets fall, trimming when they rise.

We discuss:• What the industry learnt the hard way after 2008
• Why “not scarring investors” became a philosophy
• Asset allocation as discipline - not a marketing pitch
• Value vs quality cycles and surviving long underperformance
• IPO froth and why sellers often know more
• Why risk management becomes harder at scale
• The real challenge of being a CIO
• And whether AI will assist - not replace - decision-making

What I appreciated most was his clarity:
Markets will always be volatile. The job is to build systems that survive them.

If you care about how the hybrid category truly evolved and what responsible fund management looks like - this episode is for you.
—----------------—----------------—----------------—
----------------—----------------—----------------
Connect with me across social media.
Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners.
Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:05 Episode Trailer
01:45 Legal Disclaimer
01:50 Episode Introduction
03:15 Fund Origins
06:33 Design Flaws
09:02 Telecom Analogy
10:07 Market Triggers
11:41 Market Myths
14:21 BAF Story
19:27 SIP Perception
20:37 Dividend Design
22:43 Process Debate
24:06 MF vs FD
26:03 Post Commissions
29:28 Value Reality
33:21 IPO Mania
36:47 Asset Allocation
38:46 MAF vs BAF
39:46 ETF vs AIF
40:41 Category Future
43:19 Manager Advice
45:29 AI vs CIO
46:17 Old vs New
47:16 CIMR QnA
47:31 Conviction Building
48:31 SME View
48:54 Stock Prediction
50:18 Investing Tips
51:28 Core Skill
52:46 Episode Outro
53:29 End Credits]]>3229ai,aivscio,assetallocationstrategy,balancedadvantagefund,capital,during,fundproductdesign,hybridfundsindia,iciciprudentialamc,india,indian,investing,ipo,markets,mfchronicles,podcast,snaren,valuevsqualityinvesting,vikaasmsachdeva,volatilityfalse16fullThe Test-Cricket Investing of PPFAS | Neil Parikh & Rajeev Thakker | MF Chronicles | Vikaas M Sachdevahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-test-cricket-investing-of-ppfas-neil-parikh-rajeev-thakker-mf-chronicles-vikaas-m-sachdeva--69811812
This episode of #MFChronicles features two leaders who have quietly built one of India’s most respected long-term investing journeys - Neil Parikh and Rajeev Thakkar of Parag Parikh Mutual Fund.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Why “not losing money” matters more than chasing returns
• How they invested when markets fell nearly 40% during Covid
• Building a long-term institution without corporate backing
• The Swiss Army knife approach to portfolio construction
• Managing investor behaviour through communication and exit loads
• Active vs passive investing in a growing market
• Why underperformance is sometimes the price of discipline
• How fintech and SIPs are reshaping investor behaviour
• The role of global diversification in reducing risk
• Why thinking in decades changes everything

Neil and Rajeev also share rare insights on building trust without noise, growing without marketing hype, and choosing process over popularity.

For me, this was a reminder that real success doesn’t announce itself. It compounds quietly through patience, clarity, and conviction.

If you believe in playing the long game, staying at the crease, and letting time do the heavy lifting, this episode is for you.Watch the full episode to understand how great investing begins with survival - and grows through discipline.
—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------
Connect with me across social media. Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:03 Episode Trailer
01:51 Disclaimer Note
01:54 Show Introduction
03:24 Early Powerplay
07:01 Swiss Army Knife Concept
08:40 Early days of MF
09:09 PPFAS Memories
09:23 Core Ideology
11:22 Investing Style
15:01 Demonetisation Impact
19:24 Entrepreneurial Mindset
20:26 Survival Phase
25:16 Mutual Fund Sahi Hai Campaign
28:22 Investor Behaviour
34:30 Digital Distribution
37:22 Key Data
39:25 Passive Investing
45:00 Covid Impact
48:45 Communication Shift
53:49 Distributor Strategy
57:54 Global Allocation
1:03:56 Student QnA
1:04:07 Legacy & Gold
1:08:10 Gold Bubble
1:10:43 Portfolio Flexibility
1:14:21 GDP vs Markets
1:16:58 Closing Thoughts
1:18:01 End Credits]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69811812Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:05:02 +0000Vikaas M SachdevaThe hardest part of investing isn’t earning returns. It’s staying in the game. This episode of #MFChronicles features two leaders who have quietly built one of India’s most respected long-term investing journeys - Neil Parikh and Rajeev Thakkar of...
This episode of #MFChronicles features two leaders who have quietly built one of India’s most respected long-term investing journeys - Neil Parikh and Rajeev Thakkar of Parag Parikh Mutual Fund.

In this episode, we discuss:
• Why “not losing money” matters more than chasing returns
• How they invested when markets fell nearly 40% during Covid
• Building a long-term institution without corporate backing
• The Swiss Army knife approach to portfolio construction
• Managing investor behaviour through communication and exit loads
• Active vs passive investing in a growing market
• Why underperformance is sometimes the price of discipline
• How fintech and SIPs are reshaping investor behaviour
• The role of global diversification in reducing risk
• Why thinking in decades changes everything

Neil and Rajeev also share rare insights on building trust without noise, growing without marketing hype, and choosing process over popularity.

For me, this was a reminder that real success doesn’t announce itself. It compounds quietly through patience, clarity, and conviction.

If you believe in playing the long game, staying at the crease, and letting time do the heavy lifting, this episode is for you.Watch the full episode to understand how great investing begins with survival - and grows through discipline.
—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------
Connect with me across social media. Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:03 Episode Trailer
01:51 Disclaimer Note
01:54 Show Introduction
03:24 Early Powerplay
07:01 Swiss Army Knife Concept
08:40 Early days of MF
09:09 PPFAS Memories
09:23 Core Ideology
11:22 Investing Style
15:01 Demonetisation Impact
19:24 Entrepreneurial Mindset
20:26 Survival Phase
25:16 Mutual Fund Sahi Hai Campaign
28:22 Investor Behaviour
34:30 Digital Distribution
37:22 Key Data
39:25 Passive Investing
45:00 Covid Impact
48:45 Communication Shift
53:49 Distributor Strategy
57:54 Global Allocation
1:03:56 Student QnA
1:04:07 Legacy & Gold
1:08:10 Gold Bubble
1:10:43 Portfolio Flexibility
1:14:21 GDP vs Markets
1:16:58 Closing Thoughts
1:18:01 End Credits]]>4691capitalpreservation,compoundingwealth,disciplinedinvesting,financialliteracyindia,globalinvesting,investingmindset,investorbehaviour,longterminvesting,mfchronicles,mutualfundindia,neilparikh,paragparikhmutualfund,passivevsactive,personalfinanceindia,portfoliodiversification,rajeevthakkar,stockmarketindia,testcricketinvesting,valueinvestingindia,wealthbuildingindiafalse15fullA Balasubramanian on India’s Debt and Bond Market | Ep. 4 | MF Chronicles with Vikaas M Sachdevahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-balasubramanian-on-india-s-debt-and-bond-market-ep-4-mf-chronicles-with-vikaas-m-sachdeva--69495660This episode of #MFChronicles features a leader who has closely seen the growth of India’s mutual fund industry, especially the debt and bond markets, since the early 2000s.

He is A Balasubramanian from Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund.

From the early days of limited bond market depth to today’s evolved debt investing landscape, Balasubramanian shares how debt funds, interest rates, and investor behaviour have changed over time.
We talk about:

The evolution of India’s debt and bond markets
How interest rates and liquidity impact debt funds
Managing risk during market cycles and crises
The growing role of debt funds in investor portfolios
Building long-term trust in mutual fund investing

This episode offers clear insights into the quieter but critical side of markets that shape long-term investing.

Watch the full episode to understand India’s bond market journey and the thinking behind debt investing.

—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------
Connect with me across social media. Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters
00:00 Presented By
00:06 Episode Trailer
02:02 Disclaimer
02:06 Episode Introduction
02:53 The Rajnikanth Analogy
03:34 From Dealer to CEO & MD
04:19 How the Debt Market Scaled Up
08:27 Understanding the Debt & Bond Market
09:47 The Early Days of Overnight Lending
11:48 How the Bond Market Developed
12:50 Mutual Funds as a Market Catalyst
16:15 Early Memories of Goal Seeker
17:44 The Initial Fund Launch Phase
19:42 Money Market Funds & Schemes
20:55 Birla Cash Plus: The Liquid Fund
21:28 Mutual Fund Returns vs Bank Deposits
23:29 The Promise of Guarantees in Debt Funds
24:11 Inside the Bond Market Matrix
25:31 Categorising Debt Funds
31:25 Managing Risk in Debt Markets
34:50 Financial Narrative Processing (FNPs)
40:03 Adapting to New Regulations & Policies
45:59 Ground Reality of Mutual Fund Growth
47:44 Audience Q&A
47:47 Q1: Major Market Trends
49:16 Q2: ETFs vs Mutual Funds
51:50 Q3: Skills for the Future
54:08 Episode Wrap-Up
54:39 End Credits]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69495660Mon, 19 Jan 2026 05:00:09 +0000Vikaas M SachdevaThe foundation decade is over. Now begins the decade that made mutual funds stronger. This episode of #MFChronicles features a leader who has closely seen the growth of India’s mutual fund industry, especially the debt and bond markets, since the...This episode of #MFChronicles features a leader who has closely seen the growth of India’s mutual fund industry, especially the debt and bond markets, since the early 2000s.

He is A Balasubramanian from Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund.

From the early days of limited bond market depth to today’s evolved debt investing landscape, Balasubramanian shares how debt funds, interest rates, and investor behaviour have changed over time.
We talk about:

The evolution of India’s debt and bond markets
How interest rates and liquidity impact debt funds
Managing risk during market cycles and crises
The growing role of debt funds in investor portfolios
Building long-term trust in mutual fund investing

This episode offers clear insights into the quieter but critical side of markets that shape long-term investing.

Watch the full episode to understand India’s bond market journey and the thinking behind debt investing.

—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------
Connect with me across social media. Stream the MF Chronicles podcast on your favourite app. - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters
00:00 Presented By
00:06 Episode Trailer
02:02 Disclaimer
02:06 Episode Introduction
02:53 The Rajnikanth Analogy
03:34 From Dealer to CEO & MD
04:19 How the Debt Market Scaled Up
08:27 Understanding the Debt & Bond Market
09:47 The Early Days of Overnight Lending
11:48 How the Bond Market Developed
12:50 Mutual Funds as a Market Catalyst
16:15 Early Memories of Goal Seeker
17:44 The Initial Fund Launch Phase
19:42 Money Market Funds & Schemes
20:55 Birla Cash Plus: The Liquid Fund
21:28 Mutual Fund Returns vs Bank Deposits
23:29 The Promise of Guarantees in Debt Funds
24:11 Inside the Bond Market Matrix
25:31 Categorising Debt Funds
31:25 Managing Risk in Debt Markets
34:50 Financial Narrative Processing (FNPs)
40:03 Adapting to New Regulations & Policies
45:59 Ground Reality of Mutual Fund Growth
47:44 Audience Q&A
47:47 Q1: Major Market Trends
49:16 Q2: ETFs vs Mutual Funds
51:50 Q3: Skills for the Future
54:08 Episode Wrap-Up
54:39 End Credits]]>3291abalasubramanian,adityabirlasunlifemutualfund,bondinvestingindia,bondmarketevolution,bondmarketexpert,debtfundsexplained,debtfundspecialist,debtmarketgrowthindia,debtmutualfundsindia,fixedincomeindia,indiabondmarket,indianassetmanagementindustry,indiandebtmarket,indianfundmanager,indianmutualfundindustry,interestratesindia,liquiditycycle,mutualfundceoindia,mutualfundhistoryindia,rbipolicyimpactfalse14fullAjay Srinivasan: Built Big. Built Young. Built To Last | Vikaas M Sachdeva | Ep. 3 - MF Chronicleshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ajay-srinivasan-built-big-built-young-built-to-last-vikaas-m-sachdeva-ep-3-mf-chronicles--69299532
In this episode of MF Chronicles, I sit down with Ajay Srinivasan to revisit the 1990s - when Prudential ICICI entered the mutual fund space and India was learning how to invest amid rapid change. From cricketing highs to economic uncertainty, these years quietly shaped the foundations of the industry.

Ajay takes me back to 1998, when he joined Prudential ICICI Mutual Fund - a period marked by the Pokhran nuclear tests, the dotcom boom and bust, and global disruptions like SARS. These events weren’t just background noise; they influenced how funds were managed, teams were built, and investor trust was earned.

In this conversation, we discuss:

What it took to build a mutual fund business when the category itself was still new
How Prudential ICICI thought about scale and market size in its early years
The evolution of policy and regulation alongside industry growth
Building a team of passionate sellers who took mutual funds to Indian households
Navigating global crises, FII outflows, and periods of extreme market uncertainty
The mindset shift needed to grow from a startup-like setup into a large institution
And how Ajay saw Indian markets change after returning from Hong Kong

This episode is about conviction, patience, and building something meaningful before the rules were fully written.

Watch the full conversation and step into the formative years of India’s mutual fund industry.
—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------
Do check out for more listening options - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapters
00:00 Presented by
00:05 Episode Trailer
01:49 Disclaimer
01:55 Introduction
02:55 Cricket & Market Parallels
03:49 Early Days at Prudential ICICI
06:24 The Launch Moment
07:11 Building the Core Team
09:00 Defining the Market Opportunity
11:11 Evolution of Policy & Regulation
13:27 The FD Disruption
14:27 The ITC Threadneedle Phase
18:05 Navigating FII Outflows
19:37 Lessons from the Trinidad Test
21:18 Scaling to India’s Largest AMC
27:38 Street-Smart Decisions
29:39 Inside Partnerships
32:36 India vs Hong Kong — A Contrast
34:23 Expanding the Category
38:12 Dotcom Boom & Bust Learnings
39:04 The M&A Phase
41:11 Why M&A Made Sense
42:43 Infrastructure That Enabled Scale
47:14 Strategy Shifts After Hong Kong
49:19 Early Mistakes, Lasting Lessons
53:35 Then vs Now — A Playbook
57:28 Audience Q&A
58:50 Closing Thoughts
1:00:21 End Credits]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69299532Mon, 05 Jan 2026 05:30:08 +0000Vikaas M SachdevaBefore mutual funds became part of everyday conversations, the industry was being built from the ground up. In this episode of MF Chronicles, I sit down with Ajay Srinivasan to revisit the 1990s - when Prudential ICICI entered the mutual fund space...
In this episode of MF Chronicles, I sit down with Ajay Srinivasan to revisit the 1990s - when Prudential ICICI entered the mutual fund space and India was learning how to invest amid rapid change. From cricketing highs to economic uncertainty, these years quietly shaped the foundations of the industry.

Ajay takes me back to 1998, when he joined Prudential ICICI Mutual Fund - a period marked by the Pokhran nuclear tests, the dotcom boom and bust, and global disruptions like SARS. These events weren’t just background noise; they influenced how funds were managed, teams were built, and investor trust was earned.

In this conversation, we discuss:

What it took to build a mutual fund business when the category itself was still new
How Prudential ICICI thought about scale and market size in its early years
The evolution of policy and regulation alongside industry growth
Building a team of passionate sellers who took mutual funds to Indian households
Navigating global crises, FII outflows, and periods of extreme market uncertainty
The mindset shift needed to grow from a startup-like setup into a large institution
And how Ajay saw Indian markets change after returning from Hong Kong

This episode is about conviction, patience, and building something meaningful before the rules were fully written.

Watch the full conversation and step into the formative years of India’s mutual fund industry.
—----------------—----------------—----------------
—----------------—----------------—----------------
Do check out for more listening options - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapters
00:00 Presented by
00:05 Episode Trailer
01:49 Disclaimer
01:55 Introduction
02:55 Cricket & Market Parallels
03:49 Early Days at Prudential ICICI
06:24 The Launch Moment
07:11 Building the Core Team
09:00 Defining the Market Opportunity
11:11 Evolution of Policy & Regulation
13:27 The FD Disruption
14:27 The ITC Threadneedle Phase
18:05 Navigating FII Outflows
19:37 Lessons from the Trinidad Test
21:18 Scaling to India’s Largest AMC
27:38 Street-Smart Decisions
29:39 Inside Partnerships
32:36 India vs Hong Kong — A Contrast
34:23 Expanding the Category
38:12 Dotcom Boom & Bust Learnings
39:04 The M&A Phase
41:11 Why M&A Made Sense
42:43 Infrastructure That Enabled Scale
47:14 Strategy Shifts After Hong Kong
49:19 Early Mistakes, Lasting Lessons
53:35 Then vs Now — A Playbook
57:28 Audience Q&A
58:50 Closing Thoughts
1:00:21 End Credits]]>3631ajay,amc,asset,building,business,chronicles,company,fund,icici,india,indian,industry,leadership,management,mf,mutual,prudential,srinivasanfalse13fullBharat Shah: The OG of Calm Compounding | Vikaas M Sachdeva | Ep. 2 MF Chronicles 1991-2000https://www.spreaker.com/episode/bharat-shah-the-og-of-calm-compounding-vikaas-m-sachdeva-ep-2-mf-chronicles-1991-2000--69043915
Bharat Shah, Executive Director at ASK Asset & Wealth Management Group, reflects on his journey across market cycles from the early 1990s onwards, when the industry was still finding its footing.

I sat down with Bharat to talk about the period after the 1991 economic crisis, the formation of SEBI, and the many moments that tested investor confidence.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Bharat navigated the markets through the 1991 riots, the 1992 scam, the Asian crisis, and the dotcom crash
His experience working at GrowMore, Harshad Mehta’s firm, and his interactions with Dhirubhai Ambani
How markets lost credibility - and what it took to earn trust back
The role IT companies played in reshaping the markets
Mistakes he made along the way, and the lessons they offer
How these moments shaped the future of Indian investing

Watch the full conversation and step into the formative years of India’s mutual fund industry.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Do check out for more listening options - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:05 Trailer
01:47 Disclaimer
01:53 Introduction
02:39 Early 90s Markets
03:42 1992 Scam Aftermath
05:21 Honest Confession
07:50 Before 1990
08:54 Early Market Memories
11:39 Dhirubhai Ambani
14:08 SEBI’s Entry (1992)
15:11 Death of Capital
24:07 CRB Collapse
24:45 UTI & Mastergain
25:13 Birla MF Days (1994)
30:20 Changing Markets
32:53 Mastergain Story
33:32 Indexation Money
34:49 Asian Crisis (1997)
42:59 Managing the Crisis
49:34 A Key Moment
51:13 IT Boom
54:52 Key Learnings
56:51 Investor Appeal
57:41 Opportunity Size
1:02:07 Mistakes to Learn From
1:10:12 UTI Collapse
1:19:18 REMIT Rules
1:22:36 Regulation’s Role
1:25:19 Wild West 2000s
1:26:46 What Needs Fixing
1:33:16 Q&A (Part 1)
1:35:31 Q&A (Part 2)
1:37:03 Closing Thoughts
1:38:30 End Credits]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69043915Mon, 15 Dec 2025 05:30:08 +0000Vikaas M SachdevaIn the second episode of MF Chronicles, we bring you a voice that has seen the Indian mutual fund industry from the inside - through its most uncertain and defining years. Bharat Shah, Executive Director at ASK Asset & Wealth Management Group,...
Bharat Shah, Executive Director at ASK Asset & Wealth Management Group, reflects on his journey across market cycles from the early 1990s onwards, when the industry was still finding its footing.

I sat down with Bharat to talk about the period after the 1991 economic crisis, the formation of SEBI, and the many moments that tested investor confidence.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Bharat navigated the markets through the 1991 riots, the 1992 scam, the Asian crisis, and the dotcom crash
His experience working at GrowMore, Harshad Mehta’s firm, and his interactions with Dhirubhai Ambani
How markets lost credibility - and what it took to earn trust back
The role IT companies played in reshaping the markets
Mistakes he made along the way, and the lessons they offer
How these moments shaped the future of Indian investing

Watch the full conversation and step into the formative years of India’s mutual fund industry.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Do check out for more listening options - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
----------------------------------------------------------------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:05 Trailer
01:47 Disclaimer
01:53 Introduction
02:39 Early 90s Markets
03:42 1992 Scam Aftermath
05:21 Honest Confession
07:50 Before 1990
08:54 Early Market Memories
11:39 Dhirubhai Ambani
14:08 SEBI’s Entry (1992)
15:11 Death of Capital
24:07 CRB Collapse
24:45 UTI & Mastergain
25:13 Birla MF Days (1994)
30:20 Changing Markets
32:53 Mastergain Story
33:32 Indexation Money
34:49 Asian Crisis (1997)
42:59 Managing the Crisis
49:34 A Key Moment
51:13 IT Boom
54:52 Key Learnings
56:51 Investor Appeal
57:41 Opportunity Size
1:02:07 Mistakes to Learn From
1:10:12 UTI Collapse
1:19:18 REMIT Rules
1:22:36 Regulation’s Role
1:25:19 Wild West 2000s
1:26:46 What Needs Fixing
1:33:16 Q&A (Part 1)
1:35:31 Q&A (Part 2)
1:37:03 Closing Thoughts
1:38:30 End Credits]]>5920ask,asset,bharat,capital,chronicles,fund,funds,history,india,indian,investing,m,management,mf,mutual,sachdeva,shah,stories,vikaas,wealthfalse12fullSamir Arora: The SRK of Mutual Fund Industry | Vikaas M Sachdeva | Ep. 1 - MF Chronicleshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/samir-arora-the-srk-of-mutual-fund-industry-vikaas-m-sachdeva-ep-1-mf-chronicles--68833346
In this debut episode, I sit down with Samir Arora, Founder of Helios Capital, to explore a decade that changed everything: 1995 to 2005.What stands out in this conversation isn’t just Samir’s track record, but his honesty. He speaks openly about arriving in India in ’93 with curiosity, stumbling into fund management almost by accident, and learning to navigate a market where price discovery was guesswork, data was scarce, and relationships mattered more than terminals.

Together, we deep dive into:

Why Alliance Capital chose India and how its surprising joint venture with UTI led to UTAM
How Samir built an investing approach that beat the market by 32% for eight straight years
His clever brokerage-saving “hack” in the 90s that gave him an unexpected edge
What the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997–98 looked like from inside the fund house
The origins of iconic products like the Alliance 95 Fund and the India Liberalisation Fund
How inflation, NAV spells, market sentiment, and even office competitiveness shaped the era
The difference between investing in the 90s and today — from transparency to SEBI norms to the rise of thematic funds

Watch the full conversation and step into the formative years of India’s mutual fund industry.
—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------
To know more, click here - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
—-------—-------—-------—-------—-------—-------—-------—-------—-------—-------—-------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:05 Trailer
01:55 Disclaimer
01:58 Introduction
03:20 Arriving in India: Samir’s 1993 Beginning
04:30 Why Alliance Entered India
05:15 UTI × Alliance: The Birth of UTAM
07:33 What Investing Looked Like in the 90s
11:23 How Samir Outperformed the Market for 8 Straight Years
13:02 The Asian Crisis of ’97–98 & Other Shocks
17:01 Inside the India Liberalisation Fund
17:20 Inflation Challenges: Samir’s Take
18:51 How the Alliance 95 Fund Was Born
21:47 NAV Spells & Market Turbulence
22:24 Views on India’s Liberalisation
23:18 Price Discovery: 90s vs Today
25:05 The Rise of Thematic Funds
28:36 More on NAV Spells
29:16 Strategy Behind the Frontline Fund
31:18 Mutual Respect Among Competitors
32:51 Lessons from the Dot-Com Bubble
39:12 Samir’s Competitive Edge
39:42 The 200% NAV Year: 1998–99
40:33 Meeting Mohandas Pai
41:04 IFAs, Banks & The Distribution Landscape
43:02 SEBI’s Push for Transparency
46:08 Setting Industry Standards
46:49 Q&A – Part 1
48:55 Q&A – Part 2
51:22 Wrap-Up
52:09 End Credits]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68833346Wed, 03 Dec 2025 05:30:08 +0000Vikaas M SachdevaWelcome to the very first episode of MF Chronicles with Vikaas M Sachdeva. In this debut episode, I sit down with Samir Arora, Founder of Helios Capital, to explore a decade that changed everything: 1995 to 2005.What stands out in this conversation...
In this debut episode, I sit down with Samir Arora, Founder of Helios Capital, to explore a decade that changed everything: 1995 to 2005.What stands out in this conversation isn’t just Samir’s track record, but his honesty. He speaks openly about arriving in India in ’93 with curiosity, stumbling into fund management almost by accident, and learning to navigate a market where price discovery was guesswork, data was scarce, and relationships mattered more than terminals.

Together, we deep dive into:

Why Alliance Capital chose India and how its surprising joint venture with UTI led to UTAM
How Samir built an investing approach that beat the market by 32% for eight straight years
His clever brokerage-saving “hack” in the 90s that gave him an unexpected edge
What the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997–98 looked like from inside the fund house
The origins of iconic products like the Alliance 95 Fund and the India Liberalisation Fund
How inflation, NAV spells, market sentiment, and even office competitiveness shaped the era
The difference between investing in the 90s and today — from transparency to SEBI norms to the rise of thematic funds

Watch the full conversation and step into the formative years of India’s mutual fund industry.
—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------
To know more, click here - https://linktr.ee/vikaasmsachdeva
—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------—----------------
📌 Disclaimer: All visuals and graphics used in this video belong to their respective owners. Credits are mentioned on-screen wherever applicable.
—-------—-------—-------—-------—-------—-------—-------—-------—-------—-------—-------
Chapters:
00:00 Presented By
00:05 Trailer
01:55 Disclaimer
01:58 Introduction
03:20 Arriving in India: Samir’s 1993 Beginning
04:30 Why Alliance Entered India
05:15 UTI × Alliance: The Birth of UTAM
07:33 What Investing Looked Like in the 90s
11:23 How Samir Outperformed the Market for 8 Straight Years
13:02 The Asian Crisis of ’97–98 & Other Shocks
17:01 Inside the India Liberalisation Fund
17:20 Inflation Challenges: Samir’s Take
18:51 How the Alliance 95 Fund Was Born
21:47 NAV Spells & Market Turbulence
22:24 Views on India’s Liberalisation
23:18 Price Discovery: 90s vs Today
25:05 The Rise of Thematic Funds
28:36 More on NAV Spells
29:16 Strategy Behind the Frontline Fund
31:18 Mutual Respect Among Competitors
32:51 Lessons from the Dot-Com Bubble
39:12 Samir’s Competitive Edge
39:42 The 200% NAV Year: 1998–99
40:33 Meeting Mohandas Pai
41:04 IFAs, Banks & The Distribution Landscape
43:02 SEBI’s Push for Transparency
46:08 Setting Industry Standards
46:49 Q&A – Part 1
48:55 Q&A – Part 2
51:22 Wrap-Up
52:09 End Credits]]>314190s,alliance,arora,capital,chronicles,fund,helios,history,indian,m,market,mf,mutual,sachdeva,samir,stock,stories,utam,uti,vikaasfalse11full9 Episodes. 3 Decades. 1 Incredible Story of Mutual Fund | MF Chronicles Podcast Teaserhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/9-episodes-3-decades-1-incredible-story-of-mutual-fund-mf-chronicles-podcast-teaser--68562885
The answer lies in the people who built it. MF Chronicles brings you their stories - the challenges, the breakthroughs, and the moments that changed India’s investing culture forever.

3 decades, 9 episodes, 1 incredible journey.

Follow Vikaas M Sachdeva for more market wisdom:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vikaas.m.sachdeva/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VikaasMSachdeva
LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikaasmsachdeva/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/vikaasmsachdeva

For more stories from the Chronicles, follow:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicles_of_mutualfund/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CHRONICLESbyVikaas

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68562885Fri, 14 Nov 2025 08:18:46 +0000Vikaas M SachdevaHow did an unknown industry grow into an ₹80 lakh crore giant? The answer lies in the people who built it. MF Chronicles brings you their stories - the challenges, the breakthroughs, and the moments that changed India’s investing culture forever. 3...
The answer lies in the people who built it. MF Chronicles brings you their stories - the challenges, the breakthroughs, and the moments that changed India’s investing culture forever.

3 decades, 9 episodes, 1 incredible journey.

Follow Vikaas M Sachdeva for more market wisdom:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vikaas.m.sachdeva/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VikaasMSachdeva
LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikaasmsachdeva/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/vikaasmsachdeva

For more stories from the Chronicles, follow:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicles_of_mutualfund/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CHRONICLESbyVikaas

]]>90amfi,asset,chronicles,documentary,finance,fund,funds,history,india,indian,industry,investing,journey,m,mf,mutual,sachdeva,sip,story,vikaasfalse1trailer