In Outlook Money’s “Wealth Wizards” series, Outlook Money Editor Nidhi Sinha speaks to Jim Rogers, celebrated investor and author of books such as the Investment Biker. Known for his extensive travels and deep investment insights, Rogers reflects on his journey, his decisions, and his evolving perspective on Asia, especially India.
Rogers was critical of India initially, but now he believes that was a mistake. “The leadership is the first in India’s life which they seem to believe in entrepreneurship and economic growth,” he says.
Indian markets are at an all-time high; however, he says he would invest if the valuations came down. Besides India, other Asian economies that Rogers is very positive about are China. He described the stock market as undervalued and attractive, after China recently experienced some economic slowdown and property crisis.
In explaining why he relocated to Singapore, Rogers says it was basically so that his children could learn Mandarin because he thinks this century is “the century of Asia” and, as such, China, Korea, and India represent transformational countries.
For young investors, Rogers advises sticking to areas that they genuinely understand, rather than chase trends. He emphasises that investing in one’s knowledge base leads to better results. He also shares his long-standing belief in commodities, such as gold and silver, which he calls “insurance policies” in times of economic uncertainty.
Thinking about his life, Rogers admires adventure equally with investment success and motivates the youth to spend some time abroad to gain global awareness. He hails the richness of Indian culture and suggests that if tourists can visit only one country, it should be India, which is an exciting destination that is now gaining appeal among global investors.
