My Path from Early Investing Struggles to Financial Freedom and Wisdom

Published on / By M. Pattabiraman Twitter: @pattufreefincal

Published: November 6, 2025 at 6:00 am

In this edition of the reader story, Rajkumar documents his path from early investing struggles to financial freedom and wisdom.

About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives, which benefits us all. Some of the previous editions are linked at the bottom of this article. You can also access the full reader story archive.

Opinions expressed in reader stories do not necessarily represent the views of freefincal or its editors. We must appreciate multiple solutions to the money management puzzle and empathise with diverse views. Articles are typically not checked for grammar unless it is necessary to convey the right meaning and preserve the tone and emotions of the writers.

If you would like to contribute to the DIY community in this manner, send your audits to freefincal AT Gmail dot com. You can publish them anonymously if you wish.

Please note: We welcome such articles from young earners who have just started investing. See, for example, this piece by a 29-year-old: How I track financial goals without worrying about returns. We also have a “mutual fund success stories” series. See, for example, how mutual funds helped me achieve financial independence. Now, over to the reader.

I started working at 21 in 2006, full of hope but unsure where it would lead. In my very first month, a friend casually mentioned stocks. That small conversation quietly shaped everything that followed.

🔥Secure your future with our Robo-advisory tool trusted by over 3,500 investors and advisors. From effortless retirement planning to funding your children’s biggest dreams,  turn your financial goals into reality. 🔥

Subscribe for money management solutions via email! (Link takes you to our email sign-up form) Join 32,000+ readers in our community.

In the beginning, I was all over the place—chasing tips, jumping into stocks and mutual funds without much thought. Returns were modest, as you’d expect from someone learning the hard way.

Then 2009 hit. The market crash nearly erased what little I’d built. Instead of stepping back, I made the usual mistakes: selling funds in panic, buying random stocks hoping for quick wins. It was messy, but each stumble taught me something.

Getting married in 2012 changed my outlook. Responsibility crept in, and I started taking mutual funds seriously. I kept it simple—just five funds: one Large Cap, one Mid Cap, one Small Cap, one Flexi Cap. No clutter, no chasing every new scheme. Over time, I saw the real magic of compounding. Once the base grew, the gains started accelerating on their own—not from clever moves, but from time and consistency.

In 2017, I moved to the Gulf for work. Life abroad came with higher income and new temptations. I increased my SIPs steadily. By 2020, the portfolio crossed ₹1 crore. At one point, I was investing ₹2 lakh a month—not to show off, but because I finally could.

The 2020 crash was brutal. I did put fresh money into stocks at the bottom, and yes, it paid off when markets recovered. But then came the mistake I regret most: overconfidence. Influenced by the wrong crowd, I got into F&O trading. It felt exciting at first. By 2022, it had wiped out nearly ₹2 crore.

That was a dark phase. I could’ve walked away entirely. But with my parents’ quiet support and a lot of reflection, I went back to basics. I leaned on research, patience, and later, trusted PMS advisors.

Slowly, things turned around. From near collapse, the portfolio grew to ₹5 crore. Then 2024 became a strong year. I realized I didn’t need to do it all alone. I signed up with an AIF for professional guidance. It’s given decent returns so far—I’m watching, learning, not assuming.

Right now, about 80% of my money—₹7.5 crore out of ₹9 crore—is in equities and mutual funds. That’s higher than I’d like long-term. I plan to gradually reduce it, bit by bit, toward balance. Still, assuming a modest 14–15% average return (nothing guaranteed, of course), the Rule of 72 suggests this ₹7.5 crore could quietly double in about 5 years. It’s not a promise—just math, and a reminder to stay grounded.

Today, the portfolio stands at ₹9 crore. The number matters less than the lessons: keep it simple, stay the course, learn from falls, and don’t be too proud to ask for help.

This isn’t a success story to boast about. It’s just one person’s winding road – proof that patience, humility, and a few good decisions can carry you further than you’d ever expect.

Reader stories published earlier:

As regular readers may know, we publish a personal financial audit each December – this is the 2024 edition: Portfolio Audit 2024: The Annual Review of My Goal-Based Investments. We asked regular readers to share how they review their investments and track financial goals.

These published audits have had a compounding effect on readers. If you would like to contribute to the DIY community in this manner, send your audits to freefincal AT Gmail. You can also publish them anonymously.