Investor Shankar Sharma, Founder of GQuant & First Global, sparked discussions on social media with his unconventional take on wealth-building, advising individuals to avoid the stock market. His remarks shared on X (formerly Twitter), have drawn widespread attention, particularly during a period of market uncertainty, on March 12, 2025. Sharma disclosed that for 35 years, he had advised his sister and brother-in-law, residents of a small town, to steer clear of stock investments. Instead, he recommended a straightforward portfolio allocation: 40 per cent in fixed deposits (FDs), 30 per cent in gold, and 30 per cent in undeveloped land situated about 25 kilometers from a town. According to Sharma, this strategy has provided them with financial stability, liquidity, and peace of mind.
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“My sis & bro in law live in a small town. Have pestered me for 35 years " Tell us where/ how to invest in stocks/ MFs". My standard reply: "Stay away. This isn't for folks like y'all. Put 40 per cent in good FDs, 30 per cent in Gold. 30 per cent in raw land 25 kms out of town,” Sharma posted on X.
His post came at a time when mutual fund inflows saw a decline in February. Net equity inflows stood at Rs 29,241.78 crore, marking a 26.29 per cent drop from January’s Rs 39,669.6 crore. Overall mutual fund inflows fell by 79 per cent in February, coinciding with a 5 per cent dip in the Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex indices.
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Sharing their financial success, Sharma further wrote, “Today, they are stress-free, liquid, and wealthy beyond dreams. Without knowing what the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is, who the Guv is, what the US Fed is, what debt/GDP is, what trade wars are.”
His post prompted responses from users debating the effectiveness of his approach. When one X user suggested that trading could also lead to substantial wealth, Sharma responded by emphasizing the role of luck in market success. He noted that only a small number of individuals fewer than 50 to 70 over the past 35 years, had accumulated significant wealth through stock investments. “We were lucky, that’s all,” he acknowledged.
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In a separate post, he highlighted the difficulty of sustaining long-term gains in stock trading. “Let nobody tell you otherwise. It’s very very difficult to bat for decades, on different pitches, and survive. And it requires a big bull market tailwind too,” he stated.
