25% of my family’s money is invested in India: Sanlam Investments CEO Carl Roothman

The CEO of Sanlam Investments says around 25 per cent of his children’s investment portfolio is allocated to India, reflecting his confidence in the country’s economic trajectory.

India’s long-term growth potential has convinced Carl Roothman to invest a portion of his family’s wealth in the country. The CEO of Sanlam Investments says around 25 per cent of his children’s investment portfolio is allocated to India, reflecting his confidence in the country’s economic trajectory.

“For my children, approximately 25 per cent of their investments are in India. It is a long-term investment with a horizon of around 20 years,” Roothman told businessline.

His personal conviction aligns with Sanlam’s India strategy. Having invested in the Shriram Capital Markets ecosystem about two years ago, the South African financial services group is now focused on accelerating growth across wealth management, asset management, and stockbroking.

“We are now looking to accelerate growth,” Roothman said, adding that stockbroking, wealth management, and asset management create a complementary ecosystem. “A broking client can become a wealth management client, while wealth management clients can access asset management products. Together, these businesses create a strong and scalable platform,” Roothman added.

Sanlam is exploring opportunities to expand its broking footprint. Industry executives indicated that the firm is evaluating investments in Way2Wealth Brokers as part of a broader plan to build an integrated financial services platform, although Roothman declined to discuss specific transactions.

Sanlam’s wealth management business is currently overseeing around Rs 5,000 crore in assets under advice and is targeting nearly $1 billion. The platform has about 170 wealth professionals across 14 cities and plans to expand to 20 cities by the end of this year.

“By 2030, we aim to build a network of around 500 wealth professionals across 50 locations. The focus is on building a sustainable business with a strong brand, the right products, and a clear value proposition,” Roothman said.

According to him, conversations with HNI and UHNI clients have changed significantly over the last year. While investors were previously focused almost entirely on domestic opportunities, they are now increasingly exploring international diversification.

“The conversation has definitely shifted towards global diversification. Clients are asking what offshore portfolios should look like, which markets they should consider, and how to balance growth with capital preservation,” he said.

Despite concerns about valuations, Roothman remains constructive on India. “There are very few countries that can sustainably grow at 6-7 per cent while maintaining political stability and policy continuity. India also benefits from a growing domestic savings pool and increasing retail participation in capital markets. These are powerful structural advantages,” he said.

As a result, Sanlam prefers to remain overweight on India in emerging-market portfolios, typically maintaining exposure four to five percentage points above benchmark allocations. On asset management, Roothman sees a long-term opportunity. Sanlam has invested about Rs 105 crore for a 23 per cent stake in the business and remains open to additional investments if growth opportunities arise.

“We would certainly consider additional investment. Our immediate priority is strengthening investment capabilities, improving distribution, and delivering consistent performance. Once those foundations are in place, growth can accelerate significantly,” he said.

He also sees growing demand for alternative investments as affluent investors look beyond traditional equity markets. “Private credit is one of our key focus areas. Clients are increasingly looking for diversification away from listed equity markets, and we see opportunities in private credit, private equity, mezzanine financing, and other alternative strategies,” he said.

For Roothman, India’s appeal ultimately extends beyond market cycles. “Over the long term, global investors will continue to allocate significantly to India. The combination of growth, stability, manufacturing potential, technology leadership, and financial-sector development is difficult to find elsewhere,” he said.

Published on August 31, 2026