Money9 Financial Freedom Summit 2026: Leaders gather on a single platform, experts share the right investment path

The Money9 Financial Freedom Summit 2026 brought together several prominent financial leaders. The event featured in-depth discussions on key issues related to investing, the economy, and financial freedom. 

The message from the forum was that amid the ups and downs of the stock market, only those investors who remain patient and invest for the long term will succeed.

The summit began with a welcome address by TV9 Network MD and CEO Barun Das. Several experts, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, renowned investor Vijay Kedia, and HDFC Asset Management Company MD-CEO Navneet Munot, attended the event.

Retail investors become the real power of the market

Barun Das said that retail investors have been the biggest contributor to the strength of the Indian stock market over the past two years. 

He believes that despite the selling pressure from foreign investors during 2024 and 2025, domestic small investors held the market together and emerged as the market's driving force.

Vision for economic progress of Maharashtra

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the summit via video message. He stated that Maharashtra has set a goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2047. To achieve this, the state has developed a phased vision for a developed Maharashtra. 

He added that Maharashtra is a leader in the country in terms of investment, infrastructure, startups, and employment. Investment is no longer limited to Mumbai and Pune, but industrial activity is rapidly expanding in other districts of the state as well.

There is no need to panic about the market crash.

Investor Vijay Kedia described the market decline as a normal process. He said that the strong returns of the past few years had raised investor expectations. 

However, the stock market does not always move in the same direction. He advised new investors to avoid investing in mid-cap and small-cap stocks without adequate understanding.

Inspiring women honored

During the event, Barun Das and Navneet Munot honored Dr. Deepti Verma, Pratibha Sharma, and Manisha Kalra for their work. These women have achieved great success in their respective fields.

Only long-term investments provide the benefits of compounding.

Additionally, Devina Mehra, Chairperson of First Global, said that a major mistake investors make is withdrawing investments mid-investment to reap quick profits. 

This prevents them from reaping the true benefits of compounding. 

She added that mutual fund industry data shows that many investors exit their schemes within two years, whereas maintaining long-term investments is essential for achieving better returns in equities.