This is the archive of all our articles from readers detailing their investment journeys.
You too can share your investment journey in this section (anonymously if you wish). You do not need to be financially independent, a crorepati, or have experience to write your journey.
Just write down your relationship with money in chronological order. You do not need to include portfolio amt or investment details (you can if you are comfortable). Please write naturally without the use of AI.
This will inspire the DIY community, and most authors tend to get a better perspective on money management as a result.
There is no required format or age limit. English fluency is also not required — only a willingness to share and aid the community.
Contact us if you are interested. You can send the article to the email from which you respond.
PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL NOT OFFER ANY PERSONAL ADVICE ON YOUR PORTFOLIO.
In this edition of the reader story, we meet a DIY investor who has transformed his approach to money management from making random purchases to a focused goal-based portfolio. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives for the benefit of readers. Some of the previous editions are…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, we meet 31-year old GB. When family responsibilities were suddenly thrust on him, as a 24-year old, he realised his family had a five lakh debt to clear. He cleared it, arranged his sister’s marriage and his own marriage with proper planning and no debt. He is now on…
Continue reading →This time in the reader story we meet young Vidur who has just started his goal-based investing journey. His attitude towards mutual funds and equity investing has changed from “it is gambling” to “I want to hold 60% equity in my long term asset allocation”. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, we meet a young couple who prefers anonymity. They share their money management journey and how they wish to achieve a retirement corpus 50 times annual expenses. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives for the benefit of readers….
Continue reading →Last year in our reader story series, we met 30-year old Rohit, whose early struggles led him, to start investing early in a goal-based manner. He has been kind enough to share an update on his finances – how he handled short term goals last year and why he feels confident about his retirement planning. About…
Continue reading →In this article, a client shares how a SEBI registered investment advisor and fee-only financial planner (Swapnil Kendhe) helped him set his finances in order. Those wondering what to expect from a fee-only financial planner will benefit from this. The client prefers the pen name ‘safed pigeon’. About the advisor: Swapnil is a SEBI Registered Investment…
Continue reading →This time on reader stories we meet a 24-year-old budding lawyer who prefers the pseudonym Mr Rakmo Hurtak. He believes his investment strategy is ‘okay’ (for his age and circumstances) but has a curious problem. He is not satisfied with “wealth creation” and needs a goal for his investments! This is of course fantastic as a…
Continue reading →As regular readers may know, we publish an annual personal finance audit every December – our 2021 audit was posted a few days ago. Since last year regular readers have been sharing their investment journey and portfolio reviews. Suhas who was among the first to do this shared an update last week: Why I hiked my…
Continue reading →As regular readers may know, we publish an annual personal finance audit every December – our 2021 audit was posted a few days ago. Since last year regular readers have been sharing their investment journey and portfolio reviews. Suhas was among the first to do this. He has most graciously agreed to share an update…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, we start a new series – mutual fund investment journeys. We requested members of the Facebook group Asan Ideas for Wealth with more than ten years of mutual fund investing experience to share their journey. This is the first episode from an investor who prefers anonymity. Let us…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader audit, 29-year-old Mr Yo (name withheld on request) explains in detail how he has structured his money management in a systematic manner and how he tracks his financial goals without considering returns. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives for the…
Continue reading →In Jan 2021, Gowtham Subramanian discussed how he had started goal-based investing, focusing on asset allocation and how it has made him feel more in control over his finances. In this follow-up audit, he explains why he had to make bold and tough choices, like increasing equity mutual fund investments by 275% and reducing PPF…
Continue reading →In this article, Vishal discusses why he decided against buying a house and how his mindset towards owning property changed over the years. Note: The following is a point of view and not a recommendation against buying property. It is worth sharing it with the freefincal community as it is a well-thought-out view suitable for…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, we meet Mr H (name withheld on request), who explains that it is better later than never to get your finances back on track and start goal-based investing. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives for the benefit of readers. …
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, we meet Suresh Murugan. In Dec 2019, Suresh had shared his first financial audit with us: I met with an accident the day I got married and learned key money lessons. Since then, Suresh’s life has changed for the better significantly. About this series: I am grateful to…
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