Ankit Patel is co-founder and partner of Arunasset Investment Services, where he has been playing a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s growth trajectory over the past six years. With over a decade of experience in wealth management and financial planning,
Mr Patel brings fresh perspectives, deep technical expertise and a client-centric approach to help individuals and families achieve their long-term financial goals.

Before joining Arunasset, he had honed his skills at International Money Matters, one of India’s leading financial advisory firms, where he had spent four years, advising clients on personal finance and investments. His career also includes early stints at Cinemara and NewWave Computing, experiences that have shaped his understanding of business operations and client engagement. A graduate in marketing from Christ University, Bengaluru, Mr Patel combines strong analytical capabilities with a keen understanding of investor behavior.

At Arunasset, he focuses on financial planning, asset allocation and client relationship management, ensuring that investment strategies are both disciplined and tailored to each client’s unique needs. His advisory philosophy emphasises transparency, holistic planning and long-term wealth creation over short-term gains. By blending market research with macroeconomic insights, he ensures that portfolios are positioned to balance growth opportunities with prudent risk management.

Known for his hands-on style of engagement, Mr Patel works closely with clients, ranging from professionals and entrepreneurs to high net worth individuals, helping them navigate complex financial decisions with clarity and confidence. He is also deeply involved in driving the firm’s strategic initiatives, including digital adoption and expansion into new client segments.

Outside of work, he is a passionate follower of global financial markets and spends much of his free time exploring insights from books, research papers and documentaries on economics and personal finance.

Sharmila Chand meets up with Mr Patel for a brief conversation and is impressed with his management principles and practices that have helped him all along.

What are your five management mantras?

·         When something goes wrong, do not just fix the outcome. Fix the process, so that the same mistake never has the chance of repeating itself.

·         If honesty and goodwill are protected every day, the business eventually protects itself.

·         Research is not a department, it is a habit. Stay curious, stay uncomfortable, and never outsource your thinking.

·         A good leader covers for people. He hides their weaknesses, backs their strengths, and the team becomes stronger than any individual.

·         Think long term, even when it costs you in the short term. Decisions taken with patience and fairness always compound, even if the rewards come later.

Do you play any game which helps you in your work?
I follow cricket very closely and often wish that I had played it better. Watching the game teaches me that temperament matters more than flair, partnerships matter more than lone brilliance and the best results come from keeping your head still and hitting the ball as hard as you can.

Would you share with us the turning point in your career?
The real turning point in my career was discovering my love for personal finance and economics and then choosing long-term credibility over short-term gain. Once that decision was made, every professional choice became clearer and easier to live with.

What is the secret of your success?
There is no secret as such. I have simply stayed consistent, protected my reputation and tried to do the hard thing, even when it was inconvenient.

What is your philosophy of work?
I am naturally optimistic, but I also believe that optimism only works when it is backed by hard work. You put in the quiet years first, and the results follow in their own time.

Is there any particular person you admire who has inspired you?
I have always been inspired by the everyday working person who quietly puts in long hours for a very little reward and still puts family first. That kind of discipline, dignity and responsibility is humbling and far more motivating than any famous success story. But if I had to pick one, it would be Rakesh Jhunjhunwala for his ability to reach markets and economy.

What is the best advice you got?
The best advice I ever received was to focus on your strengths, because if you spend your life fixing every weakness, you end up becoming a person with strong weaknesses.

How has your journey been so far? What lessons have been learnt on the way?
The journey has been slow, demanding and deeply satisfying. The biggest lesson has been that patience, consistency and doing the right thing repeatedly matter far more than speed or short-cuts.

What are your favourite books?
I gravitate towards books on economics, markets and behaviour rather than quick-fix investing guides. They help me understand how people think, how cycles repeat, and why discipline and common sense matter more.

I often go back to The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham and Mastering the Market Cycle by Howard Marks, both of which offer timeless perspectives on markets, risk and discipline.

What is your fitness regime?
I stay fit through regular jogging and cycling in open surroundings. Being outdoors and close to nature keeps both my body and mind balanced.

How do you maintain calm and peace in stressful situations?
I remind myself that most problems are temporary and do not deserve permanent stress. Stepping back, staying grounded, and responding calmly usually leads to better decisions than reacting in the moment.

What message on management would you like to give to youngsters?
Keep learning, and be honest in self-criticism. Growth comes faster when you are willing to question your own assumptions.

Lastly, how would you like to define yourself?
I would rather not define myself with labels or reputations. The moment you accept one, you start acting to protect it instead of acting on merit.