BOSTON—A few weeks before being honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award 2023, America’s top Financial Advisor Raj Sharma sat down for an exclusive interview with INDIA New England News, and opened about romance and love, among other pertinent issues such as poverty disruption, philanthropy and and your leadership.
Over 400 entrepreneurs, corporate executives, philanthropists, educators, and community leaders are expected to attend the awards gala on Oct. 29, 2023, which will be held at Burlington Marriott Hotel in Burlington, MA.
To watch the full interview, please click here, or on the image below.
Here is a brief Q/A with Mr. Sharma:
INDIA New England News: Who has influenced you most in your personal and professional life?
Raj Sharma: In my professional life, I have always admired Warren Buffett for his integrity, intelligence and altruism. Second is Bill Gates for using his wealth and knowledge to improve public health for the poor around the world.
There are many mentors and heroes in my personal life:
-My mom and dad for believing in me and fostering the belief that you can achieve any goal as long as you fervently believe in it
-Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King – for their commitment to peace and non- violent change
– Maharishi Mahesh Yogi – for bringing the power of meditation to the world.
– Dalai Lama – for his quest to spread good will and happiness
– Brian Tracy – for his motivational messages of optimism, goal setting and success.
INE: How do you define success and the three key ingredients of success?
RS: To me, success is all about achieving peace of mind, feeling a sense of gratitude, personal fulfillment and helping others succeed. Monetary success is fleeting, durable success equals happiness and contentment.
INE: Your two favorite books?
RS: Factfullness by Hans Rosling, and Eat that Frog! By Brian Tracy
INE: Your two favorite quotes or sayings?
RS: “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you know why” – Mark Twain
“Giving liberates the soul of the giver” – Maya Angelou
INE: Your hobby?
RS: Love bird watching and exploring new places around the world.
INE: Your passion?
RS: My passion is uplifting the less fortunate, helping young people find their purpose and highlighting the power of optimism to change the world.
INE: Why you do what you do?
RJ: In my day job as a Wealth Advisor, my singular purpose is to enhance the lives of my clients and provide them peace of mind so they can focus on things that matter to them.
INE: If you get a second chance, what will you chose as your new career and why?
RJ: If I had a chance to do this again- I’d have liked a career in public service because of the ability to impact policy and improve lives on a large scale.
INE: Your favorite Bollywood and Hollywood actors and actresses?
RS: Bollywood: Hema Malini and Amitabh Bachchan.
Hollywood: Richard Gere and Robert Redford
INE: Your all-time favorite songs?
RS: “ Thum Bin Jahun Kahaan”.
“ Pal Bhar Ke Liye”
“ Dil Kya Kare.”
More about Mr. Sharma below:
Mr. Sharma is Managing Director – Wealth Management and Head of The Sharma Group, a high end boutique within Merrill Lynch’s Private Banking and Investment Group and has over three decades of experience in customized investment and wealth management for entrepreneurs, corporate executives, families and institutions. Raj runs a national wealth management practice based in Boston.
He has been featured in the Barron’s and Forbes Top 100 Advisor list since inception. In 2021 and 2022, he was recognized by Forbes and Barron’s Magazine as the number one Financial Advisor in Massachusetts. In addition, Mr. Sharma is on the Barron’s Hall of Fame list– one of a small group of advisors who have appeared in Barron’s ranking of America’s Top 100 Advisors for ten consecutive years. He was also recognized by the Financial Times of London ranking of top Global Advisors. He was featured on the inside cover of the September 2019 issue of Forbes Magazine.
Most recently, he is the author of “The Purposeful Wealth Advisor” released by Amplify Publishing in 2022. The book is ranked as a Best Seller on Amazon in the Financial Services category.
Mr. Sharma is an ardent believer in philanthropy and is involved with several domestic and global organizations in the areas of poverty disruption, education, youth leadership and the environment.
He is a current trustee and former Chairman of Boston Harbor Now and a member of the Board of Trustees of Emerson College. Raj is also a Founding trustee and Director Emeritus of the American India Foundation (AIF), an organization devoted to disrupting poverty in India through a spectrum of programs.
Mr. Sharma and his wife Nalini established the New England chapter of AIF in 2004 and have been responsible for raising over $30 million for AIF, including programs for Covid relief in India. He served on the national AIF board for over a decade.
The husband-wife team was catalyst in establishing AIF’s chapter in Hyderabad, the first in India. Mr. Sharma is on the Board of Youth LEAD, now part of Emerson college – an internationally recognized organization promoting cultural understanding and tolerance among high school students. He was also recently appointed to the board of The Boston Foundation, one of the oldest community foundations in the country.
In 2013, Mr. Sharma was the recipient of the “Solas Award” from Rian, formerly called the Irish International Immigrant Center for his commitment to promoting cross-cultural dialogue and for his inspirational example of achievement and civic engagement as an immigrant.
In May 2023, he was included in Boston Magazine’s list of “150 Most Influential Bostonians”.
