Over the next couple of weeks TheEquityDesk will have a new segment titled �Basant�s Corner�. This will be a premium �subscription� segment and will function independently to the Forum. In other words the Forum will continue to operate as before whereas this premium stock advisory service can be accessed on payment of a specified charge.
While the Discussion Forum is a storehouse of information on close to 500 companies �Basant�s Corner� will have a sub segmental classification of the companies that I consider worthy from an investment point of view. It will have explicit buy and sell opinion on various companies with logic and reasoning from the way I see it. Most of these stocks will also have targets based on CAGR in earnings and valuation calls and even though those targets are long term in nature I will try and re-visit the thesis on any material change impacting the company�s operations. In this connection we have to understand that looking at the future is a part of an educated guesswork and comes with its own drawbacks.
What do you get in this package? �Basant�s Corner� will essentially comprise of:
1. a) Basant�s Top Ten
b) Basant�s Universe
c) Current Buy list from (a) and (b) above
d) Market updates
2) Ask Basant
Here (1) with its four segments will comprise one subscription package whereas (2) �Ask Basant� will function as a supplementary add on package which one can sign up at the time of registration.
Basant�s Top Ten- This will be the set of ten best investment opportunities that I consider fit from a long term perspective. The list of Basant�s Top Ten will also be updated regularly and subject to changes (additions and deletions) depending on valuations and opportunities. In other words the list of stcoks in this section will be dynamic in nature.
Basant�s Universe � This will be the total set of companies that will be followed in this service. Here I will introduce and track new ideas at reasonably regular intervals (maybe one stock a week) thus taking the total number of stocks to around fifty within one year. The list of Ten stocks discussed above will be a drawn from �Basant�s Universe� and sometimes returned back. Companies in the Universe will be further segregated into:
� Large Cap Blue Chips
� Emerging High Growth Companies
� Dividend Yield Stocks
� Cheap Stocks
� Open Offer and De-listing plays
These stocks will be closely followed, monitored, evaluated and appropriate opinions will be issued depending on price and valu
The Current Buy list: This will consist of those stocks out of Basant's Universe that are fit for buying at the current market price. This list will change dependinhg on changes in market price or fundamentals - as the case may be.
Market Updates: This will have a list of changes, in the above segments, their archives, market insights and some market talk based on what the Big Boys are reported to be doing.
Why not several different packages? Unlike other advisory services we are not marketing the services by breaking it into different sub-segments. This is because I understand that unless a subscriber makes money he will never come back and trying to sell your services like a Loaf of Bread cut into four pieces with cherry on one and butter on another will do more harm than good. People should be given the entire bouquet of services rather than be made to sign up for it in bits in pieces. Service providers do this to increase volumes and revenues. For instance one of our favourites Titan is a large cap and another Page is a small cap how can I advise one person to buy one of these and the other to buy another. Such strategies will dilute the quality of service and also reduce the proximity of gains. It is with this intent that I have bundled all the stock ideas as one single package.
Why such a large universe of stocks when you always advocate concentration in holdings? Many of you will rightly argue about the need to have anything more than Basant�s Top Ten. That is because I personally have had a portfolio of less than 10 stocks at almost all times during the last decade. The thought behind creating a larger spectrum of ideas is that it provides a whole bouquet of offerings for an investor to choose his stock picks from. All investors need not buy just a handful of companies and it is with that intent that I have decided to have a detailed exhaustive list of companies covering almost all the secular growth stories in India. Also some stocks in the Universe could do better than the stocks in the Top Ten hence people can make informed decisions by looking at my entire stock list.
Ask Basant: This segment will be a Question and answer segment where I intend to take questions and answer them depending on my capability. I am how-ever not inclined on taking academic queries. Questions on prioritizing stock buys and sells, their prospects both within and beyond �Basant�s Universe� are something that will form the cornerstone of this segment.�
What investment strategy is to be followed behind the stock picks? The detailed investment matrix that will decide the nature of stocks behind each of these segments will be put up when we are ready with the launch. In any case the quality of service is something that is for the user to decipher and for that my little history at TheEquityDesk is something that can be set as a benchmark.
How much? The entire package (1 and 2) above should cost you approximately Rs 1250* per month, (this will be charged upfront though). The break-up and other details about the subscription package shall be available when we launch this service.
I guess we are digressing a bit from the agenda.
It is clearly evident that Basant ji is sharing his acumen and expertise at Basant's Corner at monthly charges which are at deep discount. There is no debate regarding this.
The main issue raised yesterday was the future relevance of stock based discussions on TED as most people will shift to Basant's Corner and will not discuss stocks anymore on TED.
In this regard, can we explore a subscription based paid forum model for TED with reasonable annual charges which would recover operating costs for the forum as well keep TED limited to the perspective of only serious investors and keep it open for stock based and academic discussions.
[QUOTE=LearningToFly]It is not a question of affording 1200 Rs per month. All of us can afford it. I mean we spend this much when we go for drink. Isn't it. It is just that in case of investing, we have been habituated to get free and wrong nonsense by every tom, dick, and harry. How many of us really think twice before paying 200 bucks for a useless movie.
1200 Rs a month from Basantji is very reasonable. Do not forget the lessons we learn from him. The PMS advisers do not give you lesson.
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As in most endeavors in life including investing its better to be optimistic and see the glass as half full.
For every one person who cannot afford the service there will be five who can. Lets be happy about that.
Also to give you a personal anecdote - when i joined TED i was a student and i probably could not have afforded such a service.But its because of TED that today i am in a position to afford it. So if someone is really inclined they can read and re-read the treasure trove that are the TED archives and very soon get to a position where they can not only afford the service but importantly be in a position to appreciate the advice, see the rationales and if their mind agrees only then actually apply it rather than blindly following the advice on borrowed conviction which could be perturbing especially during uncertain and volatile times.
[QUOTE=basant] Thank you everyone! Personally I was a bit reluctant to get this through because for some reason it looked a bit embarrassing for me to come out with a commercial arrangement that could in some way compete with TheEquityDesk but then I thought that if I can have a structure that adds real value to people as they get access to my opinions and also my investment bets it should be a product/service with some difference.
Apart from the views on this thread I have also received several phone calls and emails from people who are on TED and for some reason are hiding their identity. The response has left me overwhelmed.
The "Ask Basant" section is cumbersome as I would have to respond to queries but I thought that without that it would have been difficult to supplement my thoughts and opinions. Hence inspite of the issues of responding to questions I took this up because without that the other part looked a bit unfinished.
About the PMS, it is in the pipeline but some distance away but that at the moment I am too much focused on "Basant's Corner".
I hope to be of even more assistance to you all then I have been through the forum.
Thank you again.
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Basant ji this is the greatest idea >i dont know abt anyones benefit it will definetely benfit me in making large amount of wealth over another 15-20 years or so also i intend to use most of that wealth for charitable causes.as per your policy size of the investible p>folio doesnot matter only % returns matter ......
Basantji,
You will be doing a great service ....
because if some one had something specific abt a particular buis and he wanted to ask personally that was not at all poss( only in terms of suiatable price to buy a buis) >
here there will be more scope of getting the answers without even asking the question.
sir when exactly u are starting it i think deepawali will be perfect time to start .
The charges that Basant ji has mentioned are absolutely okay for the "Basant's Corner", especially since he has given a lot in the past to the TEDdies.
People who cannot afford it, should try to get a job(part-time or full-time) and then try to pay for the wisdom that Basant jee provides. Nothing in life comes free! Think of the payment as tuition fees.
I hope I have not hurt anyone with my comments. If I have, sorry...but just wanted to share my feelings!
Smart prof: Thank you. It should be up latest by next weekend.
basant: Smart prof: Thank you. It should be up latest by next weekend Wow, Exciting time coming..This Diwali is going to be great for us when we actually do Laxmi Puja by Investing..I am feeling lucky as got fantastic Mentors in My Life..
Read My Last Comment as (Not able to Edit :-():---> [QUOTE=basant]Smart prof: Thank you. It should be up latest by next weekend [/QUOTE] Wow, Exciting time coming..This Diwali is going to be great for us when we actually do Laxmi Puja by Investing..I am feeling lucky as got fantastic Mentors in My Life..
Posted on:10/21/2011 12:41:55 AMkailasp4u
If someone compares it to Mutual Fund, which charges 2-2.5% as annual fund management fees, someone investing more than 6lacs in an year should not have problem subscribing to this service, provided he takes bets as advised without thinking otherwise on the advise offered. And performance would be surely better than the best MF or index.