Beyond the Act: Navigating SEBI’s AML and CFT Compliance Frameworks

Imagine you are an Investment Adviser conducting a periodic review of a high-net-worth client’s portfolio. You notice a series of rapid, fragmented deposits into their brokerage account that seem inconsistent with their...

Beyond the Advice: Distinguishing Mutual Funds, PMS, and AIF Structures

Imagine you are reviewing a client’s portfolio proposal for an HNI client who is frustrated by the limited alpha generated by traditional index-linked schemes. As an analyst, you realize that simply selecting a fund...

Beyond the Audit: Navigating SEBI’s Enforcement Escalation Process

Imagine you are a research analyst finalizing a detailed report on a mid-cap brokerage firm. During your due diligence, you discover an inconsistency in their reported client-margin accounts that seems to conflict with...

Beyond the Average: Arithmetic vs. Geometric Returns

Imagine you are an analyst at a domestic brokerage firm reviewing a mid-cap fund’s performance report for a client. The report proudly highlights an arithmetic average return of 10 percent over two years, derived from a...

Beyond the Balance Sheet: Assessing True Personal Net Worth

Imagine you are reviewing a prospective client’s financial profile. On paper, they appear wealthy, possessing a portfolio of blue-chip equity stocks and a sprawling farmhouse in the outskirts of Pune. However, a deeper...

Beyond the Balance Sheet: Asset-Based Valuation vs. DCF

Imagine you are an analyst at a Mumbai-based brokerage firm tasked with evaluating two companies: a high-growth IT consultancy and a legacy infrastructure firm. For the IT firm, you naturally gravitate toward a...

Beyond the Balance Sheet: Interpreting Household Insolvency Risks

Imagine you are reviewing a prospective client’s financial disclosure for an advisory mandate. On the surface, their income appears robust, and they maintain a high standard of living, yet a deeper look at their asset...

Beyond the Balance Sheet: Mastering Asset Class Categorization

Imagine you are reviewing a client’s portfolio in Mumbai. Your junior analyst presents a spreadsheet listing 'Fixed Deposits,' 'Nifty 50 Index Funds,' 'Gold ETFs,' and 'Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).' They ask if...

Beyond the Balance Sheet: Mastering Debt-Servicing Capacity

Imagine you are reviewing a client’s profile for a comprehensive financial plan. On paper, the client shows a robust net worth, bolstered by a significant investment in a high-end residential property in Mumbai. However,...

Beyond the Balance Sheet: Navigating Liquidity and Solvency

Imagine you are reviewing a high-net-worth client’s portfolio in Mumbai. On paper, their net worth is robust, bolstered by substantial holdings in unlisted real estate and long-term equity locked in promoter stakes....