At 15, Divam Sharma believed he\u2019d cracked the code. The stock market looked like a shortcut to success, fast, exciting and full of promise. But just a few trades later, the illusion shattered. Futures and options wiped out his savings. The thrill turned into a crash course in humility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this episode of the Simple Hai! Visionaries series, veteran finance journalist Vivek Law sits down with Sharma, now the co founder of Green Portfolio, a \u20b9650 crore SEBI registered PMS, to trace the journey from reckless bets to research backed investing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How did he bounce back from that early loss? What shaped his approach to managing other people\u2019s money? And what can young investors learn from his hard won wisdom?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is not just a story about markets. It\u2019s a story about mindset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Early Stumbles and Hard Lessons<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sharma began investing in 2005 at just 15 years old, curious and confident. But the initial years were rocky. He admitted to losing \u20b91 lakh in the F&O segment, a heavy loss at the time and a humbling experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also invested in penny stocks, many of which turned out to be hollow promises. Promoters made big claims but failed to deliver, leaving him and many others with worthless shares. The early attraction to quick gains slowly gave way to the realisation that investing required more than just guts; it needed groundwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why He Swore Off Futures and Options<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pain of that \u20b91 lakh loss stuck with him. When Sharma later launched Green Portfolio, he took a clear stand, no futures and options. That discipline was made part of the company\u2019s onboarding material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t understand F&O, and we didn\u2019t want to pretend we did,\u201d he told Law. He referred to SEBI data showing that a majority of retail investors in F&O ended up losing money. Green Portfolio, instead, chose a longer, slower, but surer path through fundamental equity investing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Emotions Undermine Smart Investing<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sharma explained that even seasoned investors struggled when it came to handling their own money. \u201cYou can\u2019t detach emotionally,\u201d he said, drawing an analogy to a doctor trying to operate on their own child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He noted how investors often exited winning stocks too early and clung to losers out of fear or ego. The flood of tips, alerts and noise on social media only worsened this behaviour, leading to impulsive decisions based on headlines rather than fundamentals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fundamentals Over FOMO<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With time and experience, Sharma pivoted to a fundamental first approach, spending less time looking at charts and more time studying annual reports, earnings calls and management interviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He cited examples like Tata Motors, where a long term bet that initially dipped later paid off handsomely. \u201cIf the fundamentals are intact, don\u2019t panic. But if the business model breaks, get out fast,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For New Investors: Don\u2019t Stop When the Market Dips<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sharma acknowledged that many new investors had entered during a bull run and were unprepared for corrections. Some stopped their SIPs, others exited in panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His advice? Stick with it. Use corrections as opportunities to reassess, not abandon, your portfolio. \u201cYou need to understand what you own. That\u2019s the only way to hold through the dips,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Education as a Superpower<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sharma\u2019s academic path included a B.Com, MBA, Corporate Law, Chartered Accountancy, and a Credit Analyst certification. He credited this education for sharpening his ability to analyse companies deeply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, he didn\u2019t believe formal degrees were a must for good investing. \u201cWhat matters more is your willingness to keep learning,\u201d he noted. \u201cYou have to stay curious and disciplined.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Divam Sharma\u2019s journey offers a compelling reminder that both investing and entrepreneurship are long games shaped by early missteps, steady learning and focused execution. His shift from speculative trading to disciplined, fundamentals based investing underscores the value of patience, research and emotional control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you\u2019re a new investor or building a business from the ground up, this episode highlights that sustainable success rarely comes from shortcuts, it comes from clarity, conviction and a commitment to continuous learning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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