Veteran investor Shankar Sharma on the best investing decision ever: ‘Move abroad, unleash the power of uncaged capital’

When young investors seek advice from Shankar Sharma, the veteran investor suggests they move abroad to access the “Uncaged USD capital.”

“I say: ‘Move abroad. Get any job—even a driver in the Gulf makes ₹75k per month. Build knowledge on the side. In a few years, you will have knowledge AND mobile, free-flowing, UNCAGED USD capital,’” said Sharma, founder of First Global and GQuant, in a post on his social media platform X.

“And then, magic will happen; you will glide in and out of markets, assets, and currencies,” the post added.

He highlighted the advantage of having freely movable capital, which enables investors to shift seamlessly across markets, assets, and currencies. Sharma likened this agility to a sniper's precision, emphasising that those with domestic capital are often restricted by local economic conditions. He argued that investors with global capital are not emotionally tied to a single market but operate with the freedom to seek opportunities wherever they arise.

His comments come during a prolonged correction in Indian equity markets, one of the longest in recent history. While the benchmark Nifty 50 index has stayed above bear market territory, several segments are gradually edging closer to it. His remarks suggest that in uncertain times, Indian investors might find better opportunities beyond domestic markets.

With a hint of sarcasm toward the Indian rupee—and by extension, the economy—Sharma added, “You won't be emotional about your cage and zoo because now you are a free animal that can hunt anywhere it sees food.”

He said that for him, moving out of India since 1999 was the “single BEST investing decision.” He added, “I love my country. But I love more my Uncaged Capital’s freedom to love many countries.”

Sharma has previously pointed out that the downturn is driven by local factors rather than global trends, emphasising the need for homegrown solutions to navigate the slump.