Raamdeo Agrawal: The Investment Maven of Dalal Street Shaping Indian Financial Empire

Raamdeo Agrawal: The Investment Maven of Dalal Street Shaping Indian Financial Empire
Raamdeo Agrawal: The Investment Maven of Dalal Street Shaping Indian Financial Empire

Raamdeo Agrawal, a well-known figure in the world of Indian business and investments, is the co-founder and Chairman of the Motilal Oswal Group. Agrawal, with his keen financial vision and innovative approach, has brought about substantial changes to the Indian stock market. He is one of India's most respected business leaders in the Indian financial markets pertaining to his approach towards numbers and a strong reputation for making smart investments. 

In 1996, Agrawal started the "Motilal Oswal Wealth Creation Study,” a yearly analysis that looks at the past five years’ performance of various companies and highlights India's top wealth creators. This study changed the game of the financial market by giving buyers a data-driven guide to investing in stocks. 

Agrawal also came up with the "QGLP" method, which stands for Quality, Growth, Longevity, and Price, a strong way to think about investing in the financial market, showcasing his innovative ideas.

In this StartupTalker story, let us unpeel Raamdeo Agrawal’s life, challenges, achievements, and how he turned Motilal Oswal into a financial powerhouse that transformed the Indian stock market.

Raamdeo Agrawal: Biography

Name Raamdeo Agrawal
Born April 5, 1957
Nationality Indian
Hometown Raipur, Chattisgarh
Alma Mater Bachelor of Commerce, University of Mumbai Chartered Accountancy, Indian Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
Profession Chairman, Motilal Oswal Group
Net Worth $1.7 Billion
Spouse Sunita Agrawal
Children Vaibhav Agrawal (Son)
Parents Ramgopal Agrawal (Father)
Siblings Karoon Ramgopal Agrawal (Brother) Vinay R. Agrawal (Brother) Sukhdeo Ramgopal Agrawal (Brother)Govinddeo R. Agrawal (Brother)Satish Agrawal (Brother) Anita Anandmurty Agrawal (Sister) Suman Agrawal (Sister)

Raamdeo Agrawal: Early Life
Raamdeo Agrawal: Career
Raamdeo Agrawal: Personal Life
Raamdeo Agrawal: Motilal Oswal Group
Raamdeo Agrawal: Journey So Far
Raamdeo Agrawal: Investments
Raamdeo Agrawal: Controversies
Raamdeo Agrawal: Awards and Recognitions
Raamdeo Agrawal: Unknown Facts / Interesting Facts
Raamdeo Agrawal: Top Quotes

Raamdeo Agrawal: Early Life

Raamdeo Agrawal: Early Life
Raamdeo Agrawal Early Life

Raamdeo Agrawal was born in Raipur, a small town in Chhattisgarh, India. From a young age, he was instilled with the morals of empathy and hard work. Due to his natural interest in numbers since childhood, Agrawal developed a strong interest in the financial market by watching how local businesses worked. Seeing his talent and dedication, Agrawal’s family encouraged him to study accounting and pursue Chartered Accounting. 

To bring this dream, into reality, Agrawal traveled to Mumbai, to make it big and obtained his Chartered Accountancy (CA), which would enable him to expand on his future achievements. Moving to the city was challenging, but his constant dedication to education and personal development brought him success. This commitment prepared him for his vital work in the financial industry of India.

Raamdeo Agrawal: Career

Raamdeo Agrawal started as a subbroker in 1987 after studying to become a chartered accountant in Mumbai, embarking on his journey in the financial markets. In the same year, he co-founded Motilal Oswal Financial Services (MOFSL) with a goal to provide India with innovative, research-based financial services. The company has, in the last decade, grown into one of the best financial services companies in the country, with Agrawal and his family owning about 36% of its stake.

Agrawal's early knowledge of the market helped him co-write the “Corporate Numbers Game” in 1986. His next book, “The Art of Wealth Creation,” which is very well known, shares his investment ideas. Warren Buffett, whom Agrawal views as his mentor, has dramatically impacted his investment philosophy, which is based on value in the long term. For keeping the highest standards of honesty in tax payments from FY95 to FY99, the Central Board of Direct Taxes gave him the “Rashtriya Samman Patra,” further solidifying his image as a leader in the Indian financial world.


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Raamdeo Agrawal: Personal Life

Raamdeo Agrawal, co-founder and Chairman of Motilal Oswal Group is known for living a simple and disciplined life despite being very successful in business. Despite living in Mumbai, he believes in maintaining a balance between his work and family duties. 

Raamdeo Agrawal lives with his wife, Mrs. Sunita Agrawal, and their son, Vaibhav Agrawal, in Mumbai. However, due to his fame and popularity in the financial market, his family has had to suffer from kidnapping and blackmail multiple times. 

In 2005, Agrawal’s son Vaibhav was abducted from his hostel in Kota and was held for ransom. Even though it was scary, Vaibhav was saved by the police quickly, and the attackers' driver was caught. This event hugely impacted the Agrawal family, which made Raamdeo Agrawal even more dedicated to family values and strong willpower.

Agrawal likes to read and study market trends when he's not at work, showing his love for Indian economics and stocks. This has made him a finance star and a lifelong student of the market.

Raamdeo Agrawal: Motilal Oswal Group

Raamdeo Agrawal: Motilal Oswal Group
Raamdeo Agrawal: Motilal Oswal Group

In 1987, Raamdeo Agrawal and Motilal Oswal started Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. (MOFSL), with just two employees in a tiny securities division. From these modest origins, the business has expanded to rank among the largest financial services firms in India. Among its several financial services are Private Wealth, Retail Broking, Institutional Broking, Asset Management, Investment Banking, Private Equity, and Home Finance. The company's success results from honestly doing business, putting the customer first, acting professionally, and following research-based value investment.

MOFSL spends about 10% of its income on stock research and has a strong team of over 25 research analysts who follow over 250 companies in 20 different industries. This commitment to thorough research has made MOFSL's advisory services better and won the company praise in the AsiaMoney Brokers Poll and other awards. Media outlets and people in the financial world often quote Motilal Oswal's reports because they give complete information about market trends.

MOFSL has reached many vital goals while Agrawal has been in charge. The company serves over 5.5 million consumers from 2,500 business sites in 550 Indian cities and towns. These achievements and important honors, such as the CNBC TV18 Financial Advisor Honours’ Best Performing Equity Broker (National), demonstrate Motilal Oswal's commitment to innovation and superior financial services in India's capital markets.

Raamdeo Agrawal: Journey So Far

Vision, creativity, and drive influenced Raamdeo Agrawal's career at Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. (MOFSL). Agrawal and his partner Motilal Oswal started MOFSL in 1987 as a small sub-broking company with only two people. Over time, they grew into one of India's largest financial firms. 

With his strong number game and understanding of the stock market, Agrawal put MOFSL at the forefront of India's changing financial scene by focusing on practices that put the customer first, being open, and investing based on research. The company now has a vast network that spans 550 towns and serves more than 5.5 million clients. It provides various services, such as asset management, investment banking, and wealth management. 

By putting 10% of MOFSL's revenue toward research, Agrawal puts a lot of emphasis on thorough equity research. This has won the company a lot of praise and made it a leader in the Indian financial market.

Raamdeo Agrawal: Investments

Raamdeo Agrawal has become well-known as an investor by finding chances in equities others overlook using his scientific approach to wealth development. Beginning his career as a sub-broker, he built a portfolio of ten lakhs, which reached thirty crores during the bull run of the 1990s. However, it sank to ten crores following the Harshad Mehta mega stock market scam. 

Later, Agrawal visited the United States to meet Warren Buffett and study his Berkshire Hathaway letters in order to enhance his strategy and get useful knowledge. Drawing on his knowledge, he reduced his portfolio of 225 equities to only 15, which produced an amazing increase. By 2000, his portfolio was 100 crores, and he made large bets on firms including Hero Honda, Infosys, and Eicher Motors.


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Raamdeo Agrawal: Controversies

Even though Raamdeo Agrawal has done many great things in the business world, there has been some speculation about his life. One well-known report said that he and his business partner, Motilal Oswal, have been having tiffs lately, however, in an interview with Forbes India, Agrawal and Oswal stated that any talk of tense ties was just rumors. They talked about how strong their 40-year relationship is because they respect each other and have skills that support each other. They said their success was due to honesty and working together to make Motilal Oswal Financial Services bigger.

Raamdeo Agrawal: Awards and Recognitions

1. Rashtriya Samman Patra (FY95-FY99)

Central Board of Direct Taxes gave Raamdeo Agrawal the Rashtriya Samman Patra five years in a row, his unwavering dedication to tax purity. This prestigious award shows that Agrawal always follows the strictest rules for paying taxes and being responsible with money.

2. Chhattisgarh Citizen of the Year (2018)

Agrawal won the "Chhattisgarh Citizen of the Year" award at the Chhattisgarh Excellence Awards 2018. Dr. Raman Singh, the Honorable Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, gave Agrawal the award to recognize his essential work in the state and the banking sector as a whole.

Raamdeo Agrawal: Unknown Facts / Interesting Facts

  • Raamdeo Agrawal is a self-taught investor who attributes his success to continuous learning and curiosity.
  • He advocates the "Buy Right, Sit Tight" philosophy, emphasizing the value of holding stocks for the long term.
  • Warren Buffett deeply inspires Agrawal and has shared stages with him at global finance forums.

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Raamdeo Agrawal: Top Quotes

“When you buy a stock, you are buying a part of the business. Always remember this.” - Raamdeo Agrawal as Chairman of Motilal Oswal

“Investing is all about managing risk, not avoiding it.” - Raamdeo Agrawal as Chairman of Motilal Oswal

“Research, discipline, and patience are the keys to successful investing.” - Raamdeo Agrawal Chairman of Motilal Oswal

FAQ

What is the qualification of Raamdeo Agrawal?

Raamdeo Agrawal is a Chartered Accountant (CA) from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) degree from the University of Mumbai.

What is the net worth of Raamdeo Agrawal?

As of December 5, 2024, Raamdeo Agrawal's net worth is estimated at $1.7 billion.

Where is Raamdeo Agrawal from?

Raamdeo Agrawal is from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India.

Who is the owner of Oswal?

The owner of Oswal is Raamdeo Agrawal, co-founder of Motilal Oswal Financial Services.

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