CEO Insights Magazine

For several reasons, including risk management and financial improvement, businesses make investments in securities. For many businesses, investing in securities is preferable to leaving cash in a regular savings account at the bank, where it may generate little income if any at all. Experts in the field of finance remind out that the higher the risk of an investment, the higher the possible return. However, it might be difficult for businesses to identify appropriate investment opportunities in such cases, they would benefit from the guidance of an expert in the field like Mahesh C. Gupta.

SMC Group was founded by Mahesh C. Gupta, who also serves as the company's Vice Chairman and Managing Director. Mahesh ensures the Group's smooth functioning by using his extensive background comprehensive knowledge and excellent analytical skills.Due to his extraordinary leadership and dedication, this Group is now among the most successful brokerage and distribution firms in the nation. After more than three decades in the securities industry, Mahesh is well-versed in every aspect of the Stock Market and how to manage it.

Below is an excerpt of Mahesh’s exclusive interaction with CEO Insights magazine

What inspired you to start this venture in this niche segment of financial services, and what drives you today?
My lifelong goal has been to establish a successful business of my own, and when I was completing my CA certification, I discovered that I had a passion for the financial

industry. This interest led to my involvement in the industry, and as a direct consequence, we established SMC Global Securities Ltd.

How would you define SMC Global Securities as an organization and its position in the market? What is the unique proposition that your organization offers to its clients?
SMC was founded in 1990 and has since won many awards for its work in the Indian financial services industry. The firm provides brokerage services for stocks, commodities, and currencies as well as investment banking and Wealth Management. In addition, we provide the following services for financial products from third parties: IPOs, mutual funds, bonds & FDs, financing, depository services, insurance broking (life & non-life),institutional broking, clearing services, and mortgage advising. And Real Estate consultancy services for corporations, institutions, high networth individuals retail customers, non-resident Indians and foreign portfolio investors. With over 2,500 locations in India and its international headquarter in Dubai, SMC has a substantial national and international footprint. A solid foundation of over 2 million customers is backed by a dedicated team of 3,300+ workers.

We have also specialized focus on providing a firstrate user experience by using innovative technologies. Our proprietary features include the research-based tool Auto Trender the mobile trading app SMC ACE, the emotion removing automation software AlgoTrader, the Robo Advisory enabled platform, the Portfolio Health Checker, and the ability to monitor the health of one's equity and mutual fund portfolio and restructure it as necessary.

Reflect on some of the major challenges you have experienced in your journey so far. How did you overcome them and what did you learn from them?

We have been around long enough to have experienced the lowest moments of the stock market's ups and downs. We triumphed against them by relying on our full strength and without compromising our principles. When it comes to our work, I am a firm believer in being completely forth right and honest.

How do you maintain the perfect balance between your personal and professional life? What is your success mantra?
Keeping your personal and professional lives distinct is the only way to strike a healthy balance between the two. When I'm on the job, work is work and life outside the office is life.

Going forward, what are the changes in market behaviour that you anticipate and what are the opportunities that you foresee? In light of your strong experience in the financial services industry, what advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
In today's economy, technology plays a major role, and in the not too distant future, advancements in technology will determine the success or failure of every industry.

Discipline and adherence to stringent rules of openness and honesty are prerequisites to success in any endeavour.

Mahesh C. Gupta, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, SMC Global Securities
Mahesh has a Bachelor of Commerce from Delhi University and is a fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India(ICAI). To further his interest in entrepreneurship, Mahesh founded SMC Global Securities in 1990. SMC is a multiaward winning financial service firm in India. The company provides brokerage services for stocks commodities, and currencies as well as investment banking, wealth management and distribution of third-party financial products.