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Smart investing
Ashwin Vasan on diversification and responding to global trends
If you want to be successful in the long run, working is not enough. You must also learn how to successfully invest your money. But the investment landscape can be overwhelming and confusing, especially to a first-time investor. Add in the stress of investing during turbulent times and the stress level doubles.
One of the best lessons you can learn, both in investing and in business, is how to succeed during economic winters. If you can succeed when things are hard, you will thrive when things get easier. It is important to learn how to prosper, but still protect, yourself in times of trouble to navigate the landscape and create long-term wealth. The first step to achieving this goal is to understand the economic environment you are investing in and leverage it to your advantage.
Who is Ashwin Vasan?
In this episode of the Tony Robbins Podcast, you will hear from Ashwin Vasan, CIO of macro hedge fund Trend Capital. Prior to starting Trend Capital in 2011, Ashwin helped to build a variety of large multi-million dollar businesses including Shumway Capital Partners, Tudor Investment Corporation, Oppenheimer Funds and Citibank.
He discussed how he went from building massive businesses for other people to building a successful hedge fund company of his own. His success did not come easy. In the first 12 months of Trend Capital’s existence, Ashwin made no money. He discusses how he pulled the company out of the red and into the black during an economic winter.
Diversification is key
A good way to start studying how to prosper in times of struggle is to learn from people who have done it before you. As Ashwin discusses in this episode, building a business and navigating an investment landscape are similar but different.
Both investing and building businesses are more powerful when you diversify your interests. When it comes to investing, you want to diversify your portfolio. Putting too much money in one place is never a good idea. The same is true when building businesses. It is important to have multiple streams of income at all times. This helps to protect you if one form of income hits a roadblock.
Succeeding in turbulent times
In addition to diversification, if you want to succeed in all financial seasons, it is important to pay attention to the world around us. Global trends have a significant effect on whether our economy is struggling or if it is booming.
Don’t write off hope if current events are causing the economy to tank. Some of the biggest businesses – like Apple and Pizza Hut – were founded in the middle of desperate times. However, these companies succeeded because they were smart about the world around them. Follow their lead and learn about your current economic environment before making any major decisions. Preparing yourself will lead to a path of undeniable success.
Ashwin Vasan, Chief Investment Officer at Trend Capital Management
SHOW NOTES
[3:50] Introduction of Ashwin
[5:22] Ashwin’s Business Background/Story
[6:38] How Ashwin became involved with Tony Robbins
[9:28] Overachievers and The Art of Fulfillment
[11:36] Challenges Ashwin faced with personnel, scaling and culture
[16:16] Jack Bogle and MONEY: Master the Game
[17:30] The Markets – Where are we at? What are you most interested in?
[20:25] Political Risks
[22:05] Cold War is back – Expect more volatility with Russian and China
[24:30] What to expect in 2016
[27:00] Political climate – what impact will this have?
Team Tony
