Radhika Gupta: Physical Assets vs. Real Investments

When you’re starting your financial journey, it’s easy to get confused about what truly counts as an investment. Radhika Gupta, MD & CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, recently offered some clear advice on this at the India Today Woman Summit 2026, urging you to rethink common assumptions about physical assets.

She cautions against viewing items like gold jewellery, luxury handbags, and even your primary residence as sound financial investments. The key difference, she explained, lies in an asset’s liquidity—how quickly and easily you can convert it into cash when you need it most.

Understanding Investment Types

Gupta highlights a crucial distinction between assets that serve a purpose and those that genuinely grow your wealth and are easily accessible. This perspective helps you build a more robust financial plan.

• Gold Jewellery: Often bought for consumption or tradition, not easily liquidated.
• Luxury Handbags: Can appreciate, but gains are speculative and not reliable.
• Primary Residences: Provide shelter and emotional value, but are illiquid in a financial crisis.

Gold: Jewellery Versus Financial Options

For many, gold jewellery feels like a safe bet, but Gupta suggests you differentiate between buying it for personal use and for investment. Physical gold comes with considerations like storage, security, and making charges, and it’s rarely sold off when cash is needed.

If you’re looking to invest in gold, she recommends