Authored by Devina Mehra—one of India’s most formidable financial minds and the founder of First Global—this book is more than a guide; it’s a transformative lens for navigating the complexities of financial markets.
Perceiving the Financial Realm through an Innovative and Insightful Perspective
From the intricacies of asset allocation to the psychology of human behavior in investing, Money, Myths, and Mantras distills decades of experience into actionable insights. It challenges conventional wisdom with deep first principles understanding and a data-driven approach, while seamlessly blending advanced techniques like AI and machine learning with the timeless principles of risk management and diversification.
A Reflection of Knowledge and Experience
Devina’s journey—spanning from being the first Indian investment firm to globalize to being listed among Fortune India’s ‘50 Most Powerful Women’—is woven into the fabric of this book. Her ability to simplify the arcane, while remaining rooted in rigorous analysis, ensures that this isn’t just another book on investing. It’s a blueprint for financial independence, written with the clarity of a teacher and the precision of a pioneer.
Highlights of the book include:
- Demystifying Asset Allocation: Why it’s not just the best strategy but the only one that ensures long-term financial health.
- Global Diversification: How to navigate SCCARS (Single Country, Single Currency, Single Asset Risks) and future-proof your portfolio.
- The Science of Selling: A rare focus on when and how to exit investments—arguably the most overlooked aspect of investing.
- Behavioral Insights: How cognitive biases and storytelling impact investment decisions and even sabotage your portfolio, and how to counter them.
AI, Technology and the Psychology behind Investment
It debunks the popular myths and also the evolution in the realm of finance with the advent of Artificial Intelligence and increased mechanisation, and also includes references to books, sources and stories surrounding the psychology behind investment and trading.
Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just beginning, this book promises to reshape your perspective on wealth creation. It’s not just a collection of theories but a pragmatic toolkit, backed by real-world examples and Devina’s unparalleled track record.
Praise for Money, Myths and Mantras
Devina Mehra, a truly first-generation brilliant professional mind, shares her experience of going from zero to busting global investing myths. Emphasizing that the era of databased investing is here, she explains that when the playing field changes, the game changes. Money, Myths and Mantras is an authentic read for anyone who wants to take the plunge in the world of ambiguity and probability called the stock market. ― Ramdeo Agrawal, chairman and co-founder, Motilal Oswal Financial Services
You now have no excuse. In one book, you can learn the importance of building a robust investment portfolio, starting with asset allocation and diversification across geographies and assets, and then understand how to value companies and what are the behavioural and analytical mistakes you must avoid. While stressing that she does not want to storify her investments, relying more on numbers and data, Devina tells great stories about Buffett and Lynch and many others, which effectively convey the different messages she is trying to drive home. ― Samir Arora, founder and CIO, Helios Capital
About the Author
Devina Mehra is the founder and CMD of First Global, which began as a securities firm and investment bank and later transformed into an Indian and Global Quantitative Asset Management firm. She is a gold-medallist from both from the Indian Institute Of Management, Ahmedabad and Lucknow University, breaking a 60 year record, she has been declared one of India’s leading entrepeneurs by Outlook Business and Entrepreneur magazines and has also been featured in Fortune magazine’s 50 Most Powerful Indian Women in Business 2022. Through her work and now with this book, she continues to leave an indelible mark on the economic history of the country with all her accomplishments and breakthroughs.
