Kotak AMC’s Nilesh Shah warns against ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ investment chase

Nilesh Shah, Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company, has cautioned investors against chasing investments marketed as 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunities, arguing that missing one is not an irreversible loss. Speaking at Kotak Private's 'Take and Counter Take' platform on 30 September, Shah said investors should not let fear of missing out drive decisions. He compared opportunities to trains, saying another will always arrive.

Shah also noted that the line between startups and large listed companies may blur as established firms create entrepreneurial units. At the same event, Renuka Ramnath of Multiples Alternate Asset Management argued that private markets offer greater control during a crash, while Shah said public markets can present opportunities when assets are sold cheaply. Both agreed on diversification across asset classes, as reported by Business Today, Livemint and the Economic Times.

Separately, DSP Mutual Fund's Netra report highlighted hidden risks like poor timing and concentration that erode investor returns. It noted that missing the ten best trading days since 1979 would drastically reduce Sensex gains.

Update, 3 October 2026: The Economic Times published an opinion column arguing that the 'SIP karo, bhool jao' orthodoxy should not prevent investors from pausing contributions when valuations reach extremes. Separately, Edelweiss Mutual Fund MD Radhika Gupta, as reported by the Economic Times, said trust is key to navigating weak market fundamentals and AI disruption. CNBC-TV18 added a narrative report of the Take and Counter Take event.