A Financial Landscape Full of Noise
The Indian economy is growing at a record pace. From the rise of digital-first investment platforms to mutual fund SIPs reaching record highs, interest in investing has never been stronger.
Nowadays, ads for insurance, ULIPs, stocks, and mutual funds are everywhere, all promising a better financial future for investors.
But at the bottom of this shiny surface, there's a harsh reality: investors often feel lost and confused!
The financial marketplace is saturated with:
- Investors get pressured to buy insurance and ULIPs, but they aren’t explained well.
- Confusing terms that regular investors can’t understand.
- People are pushed to buy products without thinking about long-term financial goals.
For these reasons, people often make poor and unplanned financial decisions. Many investors buy products they don’t really understand, and sometimes even regret them later.
People must understand where and why they are investing. The rise in unsuitable policies and unpredictable returns shows that investors don’t fully trust wealth advisors, whose advice isn’t always transparent.
What’s Missing? Ethics, Empathy, and Education:
The key problem isn’t just the products themselves but the way they’re sold.
In India the financial advisors earn commissions from selling investments or insurance, so they often push these products to clients.
The main problem is that they focus too much on earning incentives and forget that their role is to serve clients by providing ethical investment advice to secure their financial future. Most of their income comes from selling financial products and earning commissions.
This leads to a situation where the advisor’s goals don’t always match the client’s best interest.
Many Indians are new to investing and lack basic financial knowledge, even though they are talented and successful in other areas. That’s why learning financial basics is important.
The result?
- Advisors care more about commissions than clients.
- Products are sold without explaining them to investors.
- Financial advisors often overlook what clients truly want to achieve financially.
This is not just professional failure — it’s a breach of trust.
In a country like India, where the economy is growing very fast and millions of first-time investors are putting their hard-earned money into the markets, the need for honest and ethical financial guidance has never been greater.
What Makes an Advisor Truly Ethical?
Ethical wealth advisors care about clients, not just their portfolios.
Here’s what sets them apart:
- Knowing what matters in life: Although some ethical wealth advisors focus on pushing products, they first comprehend their client about their dreams and priorities. It begins with life objectives, not investments, whether it is the purchase of a house, education funds, or a comfortable retirement.
- Avoiding products that encourage conflict: Ethical wealth advisors never sell products to benefit themselves and will always propose the best option that benefits the client.
- Teaching finance openly: Ethical money professionals can teach clients to be smart with money through teaching finance in plain language.
- Success is defined by client well-being: Ethical wealth advisors gauge their success not by the amount they earn but by whether their clients feel secure and at ease.
Varun Hiremath, a strong supporter of ethical finance, says: “Real wealth isn’t just returns. It’s clarity, stability, and sleep-at-night confidence.”
Fair Deal Wealth Advisors: A Case Study in Ethical Finance:
Fair Deal Wealth Advisors is among the wealth management firms in the country that focus on placing the clients at the center stage of all their activities. The company is the brainchild of renowned finance guru and former ET Now anchor Varun Hiremath, and integrates experience with a client-centric philosophy.
Varun Hiremath gave up a promising career in television to address old issues in the Indian financial advisory sector. His goal? Varun Hiremath is an experienced financial analyst who has got his own approach to the management of wealth. He committed himself to build a strong base upon which the investors would be able to obtain ethical, objective and transparent financial advice.
Here’s how Fair Deal Wealth Advisors stands apart:
- Clear planning: All financial recommendations are made clearly. They are more concerned with long-term growth than short-term returns.
- Working in underserved territories: Varun Hiremath and his team work in Tier-2 cities and rural areas of India where ethical financial advice is not widespread.
- No commissions, no pressure: The model they follow is completely client-oriented and does not have conflicts of any type.
- Financial literacy programs: Varun Hiremath has made a number of significant steps through the Hiremath Family Foundation to educate rural women and disadvantaged Indian communities. He is a futurist and understands that real changes can never occur without good education, healthcare, and financial literacy. He has also launched life-changing programs to enable rural youth to be financially independent.
They show wealth management can be about trust, empowerment, and real impact—not just fancy offices.
Why This Matters Now More Than Ever:
Now is the time for ethical wealth advisors. Post-COVID India faces an unstable economic landscape.
The Key issues are:
- Inflation is shrinking the real value of savings.
- Income is unpredictable due to volatile job markets.
- Many first-time investors lack proper knowledge.
- A mis-sold policy or a bad investment in these uncertain times can impact a family’s financial future for a long time.
What India needs are financial protectors, not salespeople— financial advisors who support their clients in good times and bad.
5 Questions Every Indian Should Ask Their Financial Advisor:
Choosing a wealth advisor can be difficult but the key is asking the right questions first.
Before handing your hard-earned money to a wealth advisor, make sure to ask:
- Are you suggesting this because it’s right for me, or because you earn from it?
- Please explain it in simple language that I can easily understand?
- Tell me clearly about the risks involved in this investment?
- What else can I consider?
- Do you hold SEBI registration and operate under its guidelines?
If a wealth advisor can’t answer these simple but effective questions openly, it’s best to say goodbye.
The Man Behind the Mission: Varun Hiremath:
The story of Varun Hiremath embodies the concept of purpose-based leadership — he is not only a successful TV anchor but also changing the way financial advice is given in India.
As the founder of Fair Deal Wealth Advisors and the Hiremath Family Foundation, Varun Hiremath believes in:
- Enhancing economic literacy among rural women and disadvantaged Indians.
- Promoting programs based on child-centered education.
- Giving rural India empowerment to access honest financial guidance.
His philosophy is simple yet powerful and transformative:
Knowledge + Financial Independence = True Empowerment
Final Thought:
Ethical wealth advisors are needed not only by the investors, but also by the financial eco-system of India. Transparency, empathy, and service to the client is paramount as markets expand, or profit precedes trust.
So, before making your next investment decision:
- Pick an ethical wealth advisor focused on your goals, not their pay.
- Don’t hesitate to question and seek clarity.
- Wealth that lasts is founded on ethical practices and trust.
