Kalpen Parekh
Managing Director & CEO at DSP Mutual Fund
About
I'm Kalpen Parekh, the Managing Director & CEO at DSP Mutual Fund. My career has spanned over two decades in asset management, starting in sales and distribution before moving into leadership roles at major firms like Prudential ICICI, Birla Sunlife, and IDFC, ultimately leading DSP Mutual Fund. I'm passionate about evidence-based investing and believe that investor behavior is the key to long-term success—not market timing or complex products. I focus on simplifying investment principles, debunking market myths, and supporting financial advisors in guiding their clients. I'm always looking to connect with fellow professionals who value discipline, clarity, and genuine value creation in the financial ecosystem.
Networking
What I can offer
- ›Distilling complex investment concepts into clear principles
- ›Providing behavioral coaching frameworks for advisors to use with clients
- ›Promoting a disciplined, long-term approach to investing
Looking for
- ›expanding my professional network
- ›exploring mutual opportunities in investment management and financial services
Best fit for
Current Interests
Background
Career
Started at Prudential ICICI AMC (1999-2008), then ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Ltd (2006-2008), Birla Sunlife AMC (2008-2010), IDFC AMC (2010-2012), IDFC ASSET MNGT CO. PVT. LTD. (2012-2016), Idfc Asset Management Co Ltd (2016-2017), and DSP Mutual Fund (2017-present) progressing from Joint President to President to Managing Director & CEO.
Education
Bachelor of Engg in Chemical Engg from Bharati Vidyapeeth (1991-1995), Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in Finance from SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) (1996-1998), Investment Management Workshop at Harvard Business School (2019).
Achievements
- ›Under his leadership, DSP Mutual Fund established a scholarship at the Indian School of Business (ISB) providing a 100% tuition waiver, starting with 2 students and scaling to 5 per year.
Opinions
- "Behaviour and evidence based investing are source of alpha."
- Forecasting is "a fool's errand," noting he has never met a business plan target within a 20% variation in 28 years.
- "60% of the time, equity investors deal with disappointment," with NAVs rising only one-third of the time.
- Believes in "simple mutual funds that are boring and label free" over complex, high-fee products.
- Argues that when a narrative becomes "common wisdom," it usually means you are "buying yesterday’s returns and tomorrow’s risks."
- Critiques "authority bias," arguing that titles and photographs are less valuable than the substantive, ongoing work of financial advisors.