I had just started my first job and spent every evening reading market forums. I convinced my father that Reliance Industries was the safest place for a large part of his savings because, in my words, "companies like this always come back." Whenever the position went against our expectations, I told him to add more. I was not investing with a plan anymore; I was defending my ego.
The loss eventually crossed ₹9 lakh on our combined positions and other leveraged trades I had taken secretly. My father never blamed the company or the market. He only asked why I had spoken with so much certainty when I clearly did not know what would happen. That question changed the way I look at financial advice. Even today, I never tell relatives that any stock is guaranteed.