Squirrel: [skwir-uhl] – verb (used with object): to store or hide (money, valuables, etc.), usually for the future
We've been squirrelling (for ourselves) since 1984 and Squirrelling (for others) since 2011.
That's given us loads of experience to draw on – 3.5 decades worth.
Be a Squirrel and take advantage of that.
Welcome to Squirrel
Financial Literacy
Why should I invest? How do I invest? What works best?
It really isn't rocket science, and it should be taught in every school and college and induction seminar. But it isn't.
We think it's really important that every Squirrel achieves a level of financial literacy that helps them understand why and how they're investing and what they're investing in.
We help you get there, explaining stuff as simply as possible and stripping away the jargon to get to the plain unvarnished truth.
Read our occasional blog here.
Solutions
What should I invest in? Debt? Equity? Mutual funds? Gold? Diamonds? Real estate? Is the market going up or down or sideways? Should I sell now? Buy?
There are no answers to these questions that are universally true at all times and for all types of investors. But, like you, we've been there. Probably unlike you, we've done that, we got the t-shirt.
Over thirty years of investing for ourselves, we've figured out what really works in the long run and what's the simplest and arguably the most effective approach. Keep it simple.
We're Different
We think investing is truly worthwhile only in the long-term.
We recommend balancing your exposure to equity with a debt portfolio based on your ability to take risks (not just your willingness to do so).
We strongly advocate the systematic investment approach to investing.
We help you understand all of the above and we're always happy to explain it till you get it.
We are completely transparent in our dealings with you — you know what we know and you decide.
Money is personal. We get that. We help you decide what is going to work for YOU when you invest your money.
We help you understand your risk-taking ability and your risk-taking willingness.
And we help you tailor your portfolio to match your earnings, your goals and your timelines.
The Squirrels
Mom Squirrel
Kavita is our investment guru. With 35+ years of banking experience she was the 'mother' of private banking in India, starting India's first private bank in the '90s with ING and creating a whole new banking experience, which she grew to an $800m portfolio. She then went on to head ING's mutual fund growing it twenty-fold in 5 years to Rs.5,500 crores and was named as one of the 25 most influential women in India.
Pop Squirrel
Vivek is our operations guru, with 40 years of operations experience, 18 of them as an entrepreneur running a technology company, publishing India's first CD on taxation with a commentary, launching India's first online resource for legal information and one of India's first LPOs (legal process outsourcing companies) serving clients in the US, UK, EU and China. He's a chartered accountant and technophile.
Squirrel is just the two of us. No relationship managers. No levels of bureaucracy. You always talk to one or both of us.
Our approach
That's an acronym for what we advocate and how we help you.
Simplify your investing and your portfolio. Rationalise, clean up and streamline.
Manage your portfolio on an on-going basis. Decide when to invest more, when to divest, when to switch.
Help you start investing and keep on investing. Help you match your investing to your life stage.
Manage how you leave a clean legacy for your heirs and avoid complications and issues.
Help you learn how to evaluate your choices; how to spot potential problems and too-good-to-be-true options.
Contact
We'd love to hear from you.
info@beasquirrel.com"Financial literacy rocks for nuts like us," said the Squirrel. Read our blog.
Yep, can't avoid the fine print, the legalese, the caveats and the disclaimers, so read on and don't say you weren't warned.
Remember those TV ads for public issues where the voice-over races through at breakneck speed telling you, "MutualFundsAreSubjectToMarketRiskReadTheOfferDocumentCarefullyBeforeInvesting"?
Sure you do. This is exactly that but you can read it at your own pace.
All investments are subject to market risks. Which means, in plain English, that no matter what you do, markets could change and you could end up losing money. We can't control that, you can't control that, nobody can control that, no matter what they claim.
So, always be aware that there are always risks to any kind of investing and be prepared (mentally and fiscally) to lose money.
There are always information memoranda and documents available explaining the particulars of investing in a mutual fund or public offering. They may not be easy (or fun) to read, but we always advise you to ask for them, read them carefully and make sure you know what you're investing in. When investing in a particular scrip or company, there may not be such formal, legal information, but there is usually information available publicly on the company's performance and prospects. Ensure you do your research and understand what you're investing in, especially on such parameters as duration of the investment, expected return and market risks.
The future is inherently unpredictable. No matter what Nostradamus or the newspaper horoscope or your family astrologer or your stockbroker or your private banker claims, when it comes to investing, absorb and internalize that first statement. It means that no matter what anyone (including us) says or claims, nothing is certain. Read the section on Market Risk on this page for more.
Understand that no matter what we say or advise or recommend, you make your investment decisions yourself. We can't and won't decide for you. We'll tell you what we think is wise and sensible, but, hey, we could be wrong. (Refer to the Market Risk and The Future sections on this page for more.) Which means you need to make your own decisions and be aware that you're doing so. If something goes wrong (though we try like blazes to make sure nothing does), all we can offer is sympathy and a cup of tea. We are not liable beyond that. Period.
AMFI REGISTERED MUTUAL FUND DISTRIBUTOR
As per SEBI circular: SEBI/IMD/CIR No. 4/ 168230/09, and in line with our best practices following are details of the comparative commission earned by us from various AMCs, whose products are being distributed:
| Fund Categories | Upfront Income | Trail 1 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Balanced & Equity Schemes | 0% | 0.45%–1.25% |
| Arbitrage | 0% | 0.40%–0.65% |
| Sector/Thematic Funds | 0% | 0.50%–1.50% |
| Debt – Liquid/overnight | 0% | 0.02%–0.10% |
| Debt – Ultra Short-term | 0% | 0.10%–0.50% |
| Debt – Short-term | 0% | 0.25%–0.75% |
| Debt – Dynamic/Gilt (Incl. Gilt) | 0% | 0.40%–1.00% |
| Debt – Corporate/Banking & PSU | 0% | 0.25%–0.40% |
We work with over 20 fund houses and help our Squirrels invest in literally hundreds of schemes. Listing all of them is possible but hard to digest.
The above commission details are a broad range for different categories of mutual funds that we earn on. And these change from time to time.
Details of Scheme level commission on Mutual funds are available with us on demand. Just ask.
This is on a best effort basis and commission rates are updated as and when actual rates are received from AMCs.