Ajay Merchant

I have held a variety of roles before joining Banyan Tree Advisors. I owned my own manufacturing business and managed my own family office. Additionally, I held various positions at Price Waterhouse Coopers (now PwC), ENAM Group, Anand Rathi Wealth, and Multi Act Consultancy, where I was involved in client acquisition, retention, and providing financial advice to clients.

The works of investment luminaries like Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, and Howard Marks have profoundly influenced my approach, especially their emphasis on value investing and understanding market cycles. In the world of investment, patience and prudence are the twin pillars upon which true wealth is built. As Benjamin Graham famously said, “In the short run, the stock market is a voting machine, but in the long run, it is a weighing machine.” In other words, it is very hard to predict the market in the short term due to its volatility, making equity markets risky for short holding periods without a long-term orientation.

I forge and nurture strong client relationships based on trust, transparency, and integrity – qualities that clients have come to appreciate over the years. My goal is to educate clients on the principles of patient investing and risk avoidance. As Charlie Munger aptly put it, “The big money is not in the buying and selling, but in the waiting,” a principle I firmly believe in and communicate to my clients.

In addition to my professional responsibilities, I believe that a balanced life is crucial for sustained success. Physical activities like yoga, swimming, and running help me stay grounded and foster discipline and resilience. My passion for lifelong learning led me to explore spiritual texts like the Bhagavad Gita, enriching my understanding of wealth, wisdom, and well-being. These lessons, particularly the emphasis on Dharma and equanimity, help me approach wealth management and client relationships with honesty and stability.