Based in Livingston, New Jersey, Jay Sailesh Sheth joined Arete Wealth in 2022. As the senior vice president of Arete Wealth, he assesses the financial needs of individual clients and provides a range of financial planning services. Jay Sailesh Sheth focuses his efforts on niche financial products, ranging from alternative investment vehicles to various structured products.
Before his time at Arete Wealth, Jay Sailesh Sheth spent nearly two decades at National Securities. He amassed more assets under management than any of the company’s more than 100 brokers before moving to Arete Wealth following B. Riley’s acquisition of National Securities.
Jay Sheth garnered numerous achievement awards during his time at National Securities. He has also received honors from AAPI-QLI and the Rajasthan Alliance of North America in recognition of his leadership and outstanding contributions.
Mr. Sheth was a member of the Honor Society and Finance Committee at Sydenham College and a member of the Academic Honor Society at Adelphi University. He received his business administration degree from Adelphi. When he is not following stock market trends and performing market research, he enjoys world travel.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical day starts at 6:15 a.m. and ends at about 10 p.m. It’s a mix of calls, research, and team and client building projects. I also travel extensively and am on the road for at least two to three days a week. Travel is comprised of meeting clients and future prospects plus meeting financial professionals who are leaders in the industry
How do you bring ideas to life?
Mostly by doing in-depth research on whether an idea is worth pursuing. Once I feel that it’s worth it, we have a team that will continue to dig into the idea to find the most efficient ways to bring it to life. There have been multiple occasions when we have abandoned an idea even if the later stages have been achieved. The goal is to have ideas that have a higher probability of success.
What’s one trend that excites you?
As AI is the talk of the town right now, the one trend that excites me is the other side of AI. It’s the human interaction and the inflection point where people will be more and more inclined to deal with humans over computers. There will be certain industry areas which will do better than the rest because of their ability to not replace humans.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
One habit that helps me stay productive is writing down my thoughts, ideas, and tasks on a piece of paper. This allows me to organize my mind and clearly understand what needs to be done. I often go back to what I have written throughout the day so that I can remind myself of my goals, stay focused, and avoid getting distracted. Reviewing my notes also helps me track my progress and make any necessary changes to my plan. I continue referring to the paper until I have completed the task, which gives me a sense of responsibility and motivation. This simple habit helps me remain organized, focused, and determined to achieve my goals.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would advise my younger self to stay away from feelings of entitlement and to understand that no one owes me anything. Everything I achieve in life will require effort, patience, and responsibility. Instead of expecting people to give me opportunities or support, I should appreciate what I receive and work hard to create my own success. This mindset would help me become more humble, independent, grateful, and prepared to face life’s challenges.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Wealth is the most important thing in the world. Over anything and everything. Wealth dictates, healthcare, family, perspective, lifestyle, everything.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
One thing I repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do is write down their thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Putting your thoughts on paper helps you organize your mind, understand yourself better, and find clarity when you feel confused or overwhelmed. I also believe in giving to others without expecting anything in return. Whether it is time, support, kindness, or knowledge, giving freely creates meaningful relationships and brings a sense of fulfillment. When we stop focusing on what we will receive back, we become more generous, peaceful, and appreciative of the positive impact we can have on others.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When I feel overwhelmed or unfocused, I take some time to step away from distractions and give myself a chance to reset. I usually have a couple of drinks, put my phone on silent, and spend some quiet time thinking about the bigger picture in life. This helps me distance myself from immediate stress and look at my problems from a broader perspective. By slowing down and reflecting, I can clear my mind, regain focus, and think more calmly about the next steps I need to take.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
One strategy that has helped me grow my business and advance in my career is building strong relationships. Meaningful connections with colleagues, clients, mentors, and partners develop through years of trust, honesty, communication, and consistent effort. By keeping my commitments and supporting others, I have built a reliable network that has created opportunities, opened doors, and helped me overcome challenges. Relationships are a vital foundation for long-term success.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
It was also an important part of my success, although I learned that trust should be balanced with research and careful judgment. Not everyone deserves the same level of trust in your life, so it is important to set boundaries and compartmentalize your relationships.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
ChatGPT helps me be productive by providing useful information quickly and helping me organize my thoughts. After verifying its sources and checking the accuracy of the information, I use it to research topics, generate ideas, and complete tasks more efficiently.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
Buying a random person a drink on the World Cup soccer final night in Verbier, Switzerland. He turned out to be a huge wildlife enthusiast like me and also someone that visits places in Africa every year. We hit it off well and now talk regularly on ideas for the future in finance and conservation.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
One of my all-time favorite books is Rich Dad Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
In terms of TV I normally only watch National Geographic, Smithsonian, or the Discovery Channel, leaving obviously the business news shows like Bloomberg and CNBC.I would see anything related to big cats on TV. My dream in life is to open a camp in Africa.
Key learnings
- Relationships are the most important growth builders.
- The feeling of entitlement and arrogance is your biggest downfall.
- Karma is real.
- Everything revolves around the wealth you build.
- There is no second to honesty and hard work.