WALTHAM, MA– With managing a whopping $7.2 billion in assets and bringing “peace of mind” to his clients, Raj Sharma has made to the Financial Times’ annual list of top financial advisors. Out of 400 advisors on this year’s list, Financial Times chose only two advisors for a profile and Mr. Sharma was one of them.
“He is, though, among the more successful broker-dealer advisers in the US, being only one of 19 individuals to have made it on to the elite list of the FT 400 since it started in 2013,” said Financial Times. “Mr. Sharma, who calls himself an “accidental adviser”, deals with $7.2bn in client assets from his office in Boston, Massachusetts, where he moved from India in 1981.”
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.
“Fundamentally, what our clients want is peace of mind,” Mr. Sharma told Financial Times. “I really believe we are in the business of giving peace of mind.”
For 15 consecutive years, Mr. Sharma has been recognized by Barron’s Magazine as one of America’s Top 100 Financial Advisors. In addition, Barron’s recognized Raj in their “All Stars” list – one of fifteen advisors who have appeared in Barron’s ranking of America’s Top 100 Advisors for fifteen consecutive years.
When Mr. Sharma is not advising his clients, he spends his time with various charities. He is an active member of the community and is involved in many local and global organizations. He is a current trustee and former Chairman of The Boston Harbor Island Alliance.
He is a member of the Board of Trustees for Emerson College and a trustee and board member of the American India Foundation (AIF), an organization devoted to accelerating social and economic change in India. In addition, Mr. Sharma is Chairman of the Board of Youth LEAD, an internationally recognized organization promoting cultural understanding and tolerance among high school students.
The Financial Times quoted Mr. Sharma as saying there is too much information available to the investing public, “but not enough wisdom”. He believes investors seek out advisers because they want someone they can trust, the Financial Times said.
“Mr Sharma says his immigrant background has also helped him become more appreciative of the circumstances of his clients — many of whom are entrepreneurs — and their need to protect and cultivate their wealth. He became an American citizen 24 years ago,” said Financial Times. “Most of my clients have first-generation wealth, and that speaks to me as an immigrant.”
The Financial Times said that Mr. Sharma is selective with clients these days as he takes on only those who open a minimum investment account of $5 million and the average size of his client accounts is $15 million.
