The stock market can often appear complex to those entering it for the first time, with investors navigating market movements, technical charts, financial information and, perhaps most importantly, their own emotions. For Hitesh Somani, the journey into the markets began with formal financial education and gradually developed into a broader mission to promote learning and discipline among investors.
His professional journey started with the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) programme, where he gained an understanding of financial markets, companies and equity. His subsequent exposure to technical analysis introduced him to another dimension of market behaviour and sparked his interest in trading as a career.
Over the years, Somani’s experience in the market also made him focus on a recurring challenge: people often enter the stock market without adequate knowledge or a structured approach. This observation eventually led him toward financial education and the establishment of Aakar Investments in 2009.
Today, alongside his work as a trader, CFA and SEBI-registered Research Analyst, Somani has also taken on the role of mentor, with more than one lakh students reached through his educational initiatives. In this conversation, he reflects on his journey, the lessons he learned from the markets and why he believes learning and discipline remain fundamental to navigating the stock market.
1. Take us back to the beginning of your journey what first drew you towards the stock market, and what made you decide to turn trading into a long-term career?
Hitesh Somani: So as such, I have started my career with CFA. I’ve done the course called CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst). And CFA in the curriculum, we were having some very important subjects regarding the stock market and all. And it was more related to fundamentals like how the companies work, how the equity markets work, and why it is required for raising equity.
So, from there I started everything. After that, what happened, I went to an office where technical analysis charts were being used. And there was some person who was guiding people like, “Look, from here buy forms, it is showing buy.” So, everyone was buying on his call, and people were making profits.
So, I thought that this is a good and very interesting thing, that people are making money by just listening to someone and looking at this chart. So, this could be a good career. And then I was very much inspired by such things, and we started doing detailed research on it. I started learning on it. So, then I started more on CFA and technical analysis. That was the starting of the career.
2. After years of experiencing the highs, lows and psychology of the markets, what was the biggest lesson you personally learned that changed the way you approach trading?
Hitesh Somani: Now, in trading, the biggest lesson, or the simplest word, what I always recommend everyone is called discipline. In this market, the only one thing that can make you successful is called discipline.
And the other thing that is very much important is called learning. This learning and discipline, these both things if you have in you, then you can definitely win the market, because in this market 93% of people are losing. While the probability of losing is only 50%, the only reason of losing in this market is that people don’t learn it.
That “learning” word has a spelling called “earning” when ‘L’ drops, then earning starts. So, first you need to have a knowledge about the market, first you need to learn technical analysis, and then you have to follow a strict rule that is called discipline.
Whatever you have learned, you will trade according to it. Once you learn, and then the second step is the discipline. Whatever you have learned, you have to follow it with discipline. You cannot then ignore the learnings, or you cannot even ignore the discipline. Whatever you have learned, you have to follow with strict disciplinary things, then only you can be successful in this market.
3. You started Aapka Investments in 2009 with a focus on financial literacy. What personal experiences during your early years in the market made you feel that people needed simpler and more practical financial education?
Hitesh Somani: Yeah, before 2009 also, I was in a job for two years. There also I learned a big lesson that too many people are losing in this market. I was continuously and continuously working on the psychology and the concept, because most of the people say stock market is a gamble, it is a casino, nobody can win in this market.
So, for so many years, three-four years, I worked. After 2009, I established a company called Aakar Investments, more into, you can say, advisory and broking.
So, what I felt that when I am advising a client, he is making money, but when he is doing on his own, he is losing the money. Most of the clients were losing the money. Then I worked on that psychology that why they are losing, and the reason what I found was very interesting.
First and very important thing, that we study for 20 years and then we get a job of 20,000. But stock market, how do we do it? “I feel like this,” “I feel like that,” “this should be bought,” “this should be sold,” “I have tips from above,” “someone told me.” And that was the main reasons where people were losing.
Then I realized that why I am not losing because I have learned CFA, I have done so much research, I have done so much about technical analysis that is giving me an edge that I am not losing and these people are losing.
So, then I realized that I should impart this knowledge to everyone, that this thing also needs learning. This is the main reason.
4. From being a professional trader to becoming a CFA, SEBI-registered Research Analyst and mentor to 1 lakh+ students, how has your own definition of success evolved over the years?
Hitesh Somani: Yeah, 1 lakh plus students, and more than 2,000 plus students have completed their two-month course sitting on a table near me. So, these are all big achievements, and the only reason what I am doing is that I want everyone.
I tell everyone very clearly that after doing this course, how much you will earn is your discipline, but you will not be losing, that is my discipline.
So, that is the power of learning, and that is the power of confidence with which we teach.
5. Looking at your journey so far, what is the one thing you want people to remember about Hitesh Somani beyond stock-market trading?
Hitesh Somani: Not only one thing, I would always tell two things: one is keep learning, and the second is keep following discipline.
This learning and discipline, these are the two words what I have learned with this market. This market needs a strong learning command, and second very important thing is a strong discipline to follow that command.
For Hitesh Somani, the stock market journey has evolved from learning financial fundamentals and technical analysis to helping others understand the importance of education and disciplined participation. His experiences have shaped a philosophy centred on continuous learning and the consistent application of that knowledge. As financial markets continue to attract new participants, his central message remains focused on preparation, understanding and discipline principles he considers essential to developing a more informed approach to the market.