At the Money9 Financial Freedom Summit, TV9 Network MD and CEO Varun Das highlighted the evolving investment landscape in India. Reflecting on the sharp rise in gold prices—which have nearly doubled in the last 18 months—he noted that the 27,000 tonnes of gold held by Indian families have added approximately ₹100 lakh crore to their collective net worth, reinforcing the traditional belief in gold as a safety net.

Varun Das emphasized that retail investors, rather than institutional players, have become the true heroes of the stock market. With SIP investments reaching ₹31,000 crore monthly and over 26 crore active SIP accounts, retail participation is at an all-time high.

He advised caution against the risks of F&O trading, asserting that retail investors are losing money in derivatives. Instead, he advocated for Mutual Funds and SIPs, noting that Indian investors have matured and now understand that “Time in the market” is far more powerful than “Timing the market” for long-term wealth creation.