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A New Year Reminder for Smarter Investing

Happy New Year!

As we step into a new year, it’s worth reflecting on a powerful but often overlooked truth in investing:

Your success in the stock market is deeply influenced by the people you surround yourself with.

Investing may look like a solitary activity—charts, numbers, screens—but in reality, it’s highly social. The conversations you have, the opinions you absorb, and the attitudes you’re exposed to quietly shape your decisions.

Why Your Circle Matters More Than You Think

If you regularly spend time with experienced and successful investors—through direct interaction, books they’ve written, or even thoughtful voices you follow on social media—you dramatically increase your chances of long-term success.

Their thinking rubs off on you:

• You learn patience instead of panic.
• You focus on process instead of noise.
• You think long term when others think short term.

Over time, this compounds—just like returns.

Be Mindful of Who You Keep Close

Just as important as who you learn from is who you keep distance from.

Be cautious around:

• The naysayers, who see danger everywhere.
• The critics, who mock every idea but offer none.
• The cynics, who believe markets never reward discipline.
• The energy drainers, who turn every correction into a crisis.

Such influences don’t just affect mood—they affect decisions. And poor decisions are costly in markets.

A Simple 3-Minute Investor Audit

Here’s a quick exercise you can do right now:

• List the three investors you spend the most time talking to or listening to
• Put a “+” next to those who energize, educate, and inspire you
• Put a “–” next to those who drain confidence or spread fear
• Invest more time in the positives
• Set clear boundaries with the negatives

This small step can make a big difference over time.

Make Space for the Right Relationships

As we move into 2026, be intentional about your investing environment. Make space for new, aligned relationships—people who think constructively, act rationally, and believe in long-term wealth creation.

The more you surround yourself with voices that foster doubt, the less you step into your potential.
The more you surround yourself with thoughtful, ambitious investors, the more you are called into your own greatness.

And the market—just like the world—needs investors who think clearly, act responsibly, and stay committed.

Cheers to your success in 2026 and beyond.

For your success!

Dr Anil Kumar Asnani

SEBI Reg. Research Analyst

WhatsApp: 9755920780

Mobile: 9131361959

Website: https://www.smartverc.com

Most investors spend their time asking one question: “Which stock will give the highest return?”

But seasoned investors know a more powerful truth: Returns improve dramatically when losses are reduced.

Protecting capital is often more important than chasing the next multibagger. Here’s a simple, disciplined framework to help you clean up your portfolio and improve long-term returns.

1. Re-evaluate Non-Dividend Paying Companies

Non-dividend paying companies are not bad by default—but they must justify why they retain earnings.
If profits are not coming back to shareholders either through growth or dividends, it’s time to question their relevance in your portfolio.

Ask yourself:
Is the retained capital truly creating value?

2. Be Extra Careful with Low-Priced Stocks (Below ₹50)

A low share price often creates a false sense of cheapness.
Many such stocks remain low-priced for years due to weak fundamentals, poor governance, or lack of growth visibility.

If a stock is cheap only because the business is weak, it doesn’t deserve a place in a serious investor’s portfolio.

3. Review Stocks That Have Underperformed the Sensex

If a stock has underperformed the Sensex over the last two years, it’s sending a signal.
Markets may fluctuate, but sustained underperformance often reflects deeper business issues.

Underperformance doesn’t always mean “buy the dip.”
Sometimes, it means listen to the message.

4. The Most Powerful Question: Would You Buy It Again Today?

Imagine you sold your entire portfolio today.
Now ask: Which of these stocks would I confidently buy again at current prices?

If the answer is “no” or even “maybe,” that stock deserves serious review. Capital is precious—allocate it only to your highest-conviction ideas.

5. Revisit the Story Behind Every Stock

Every stock in your portfolio should have a clear, compelling story:

• Why does this business exist?
• What is driving its future growth?
• Is management capable of navigating challenges?

If the story is no longer strong, relevant, or believable—don’t hesitate to exit. Hope is not an investment strategy.

The Big Takeaway

Improving returns isn’t always about finding new stocks.Often, it’s about removing the weak links.

By cutting laggards, questionable stories, and low-conviction holdings, you free capital, reduce stress, and improve portfolio quality.

In investing, winning starts with not losing unnecessarily.

For your success!

Dr Anil Kumar Asnani

SEBI Reg. Research Analyst

WhatsApp: 9755920780

Mobile: 9131361959

Website: https://www.smartverc.com

In the world of stock investing, experience is the greatest teacher. But the wisest investors know that there are two kinds of experience — your own, and that of others.

The best way to learn stock investing is not only by participating in the market but also by learning from the successes and failures of others. Every great investor has walked a path filled with mistakes, insights, and turning points. Fortunately, they’ve documented much of that journey for us.

When we read books authored by the great investors themselves, we gain access to decades of wisdom distilled into a few hundred pages. We get to see how they thought, what they avoided, and how they made decisions when the market tested their patience. That kind of learning saves us years of costly trial and error.

The best way to overcome struggle, too, is with the help and perspective of others. Being around thoughtful investors — through communities, clubs, or even mentorship — allows us to see the market through calmer eyes when volatility strikes.

And last but not least, our own successes and failures eventually become our finest mentors. Each mistake teaches humility; each success builds conviction. Over time, they shape not only our investment returns but also our temperament — the true edge in long-term investing.

“It’s good to learn from your mistakes. It’s better to learn from other people’s mistakes.”

— Warren Buffett

If you wish to start this journey of learning, begin with The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham — a timeless classic that continues to guide generations of investors on how to think, not just what to buy.

For your success!

Dr Anil Kumar Asnani

SEBI Reg. Research Analyst

WhatsApp: 9755920780

Mobile: 9131361959

Website: https://www.smartverc.com