Queries Sarah, email I have seen many friends invest in equity based on stock recommendations given by experts on TV or YouTube videos or other media. Is it correct to follow these ‘buy’ recommendations? First and foremost, when it comes to investing, it is very important to understand why you are investing in any security. Typically, you should start with your personal risk appetite, investment objectives and time horizon. This will determine your asset allocation and how you should invest your portfolio. There are many influencers on YouTube, on TV and on social media – it is very important to get an idea about their credibility and background, and understand their incentives in suggesting a certain product to the world. A big part of this is to see if these influencers are registered with the regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), and the type of registration they have in place. The reason that this is important is that they can be held accountable for any advice they give. Even after considering this, a person who is giving...