Know Your Fund Manager | Gurvinder Singh Wasan, CFA, Senior Fund Manager, Baroda BNP Paribas Mutual Fund

Synopsis

With over two decades in fixed income, this Mumbai-born CA and CFA charterholder now leads multiple debt and hybrid funds at Baroda BNP Paribas Mutual Fund. His strategy blends macro insights with tactical moves. The real drive? Earning investors' trust and delivering alpha while ensuring safety and liquidity.

Let's start with your personal story

I am a Mumbai boy, born and brought up in a joint family of businessmen. I have completed a Master’s in Commerce and am a Chartered Accountant by qualification. In addition, I am a CFA charter holder from the CFA Institute, USA.

How did you land this job?

I have been working in the fixed income industry for about 21 years now. All my previous roles have been great learning curves, where I had the opportunity to learn from experienced colleagues, talented subordinates, and enthusiastic peers.

This is a small industry where most professionals in the investment segment know each other. I would say I was at the right place at the right time, and was fortunate to land my current role as Senior Fund Manager with Baroda BNP Paribas Mutual Fund.

Prior to this, I was associated as a Senior Fund Manager and Credit Analyst with JM Financial Mutual Fund. Before that, I was part of Principal Mutual Fund, where I had my longest stint. I have also worked as a structured finance analyst at CRISIL and ICICI Bank.

Which funds are you currently managing?

I have been entrusted with a diverse mix of funds that stimulate my interest and enhance my professional profile. On the duration side, we manage Gilt and Dynamic Bond Funds. On the shorter end of the curve, there are Ultra Short Term and Low Duration Funds. In the mid-tenor segment, we have Short Term and Corporate Bond Funds. We also manage a Credit Risk Fund with a credit play.

On the hybrid front, I manage Balanced Advantage, Conservative Hybrid, Aggressive Hybrid, Equity Savings, and Retirement Funds. Additionally, I handle Fund of Funds schemes such as the Multi Asset Fund of Fund, as well as passive offerings like the Nifty SDL and Gold ETFs.

What is your investment philosophy, and how would you describe your investment strategy?

My investment philosophy combines a top-down macro approach with a core-tactical strategy. We closely track macroeconomic indicators and, based on our assessment, determine a suitable duration profile for each mutual fund scheme.

Within this framework, we construct a core portfolio and aim to generate alpha through tactical allocations, which we actively manage to take advantage of market opportunities. Overall, our mandate is to prioritize safety and liquidity while consistently seeking alpha generation.

What gives you the kick while managing other people’s money?

The real kick lies in being entrusted with the responsibility of managing someone’s hard-earned savings. That trust itself is a powerful driving force.

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