Not skill or qualifications: Gurmeet Chadha says financial freedom came down to his digestive ability

Market expert and Complete Circle Consultants’ Managing Partner and CIO, Gurmeet Chadha, has offered a refreshingly candid take on what truly shaped his journey to financial independence. It has little to do with degrees, technical skill, or superior stock-picking ability, but rather his ability to accept and digest stock market volatility.

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Chadha said that the single most important factor behind his wealth creation was what he called his “digestive ability” — the mental strength to endure market ups and downs over long periods without losing conviction.

“One reason which contributed to my financial independence journey is not my skill, knowledge or qualification. It’s the stomach to digest and accept that volatility is integral,” Chadha wrote.

The seasoned investor emphasised that wealth creation in equities is less about timing the market or chasing quick riches and more about surviving through cycles. According to him, investors who can stay invested for 15–20 years, avoid get-rich-quick schemes, and maintain faith in India’s long-term growth story are far more likely to end up wealthy.

“One reason which contributed in my financial independence journey is not my skill, knowledge or qualification. It’s the stomach to digest n accept that volatility is integral. If u survive 15–20 years, do not chase quick rich schemes & believe in India, u will be very wealthy,” Chadha said in a post on X.

As the year comes to a close, volatility has come down considerably. The fear index, India VIX, is down 36% on an annual basis. It was at its highest point in April and was up 43%, according to Trendlyne. The year also started amid strong volatility, with India VIX jumping 12%. It was again up nearly 10% in October.On Wednesday, India VIX closed at 9.19, down 2%. Its 52-week high stood at 23.19.

Chadha regularly shares his insights on investments and stock markets.

Recently, he welcomed the decision by Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, to invest in Indian stocks via a mutual fund. The fund will be benchmarked to the Nifty 50. The move now paves the way for Russian investors to invest in Indian stock markets, he said.

“Russia’s largest bank SBER offering Nifty 50 index to local Russians is BIG. Russia has significant rupee surplus,” Chadha said.

Counting the advantages of the move, Chadha said that the NSE can use this as a template to tie up with other BRICS nations, along with smaller nations in Africa, South America, Asia, and even Australia and New Zealand.

(Disclaimer: The recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times.)