In a revealing episode of the Simple Hai! podcast, hosted by veteran finance journalist Vivek Law, one of India’s earliest Certified Financial Planners (CFPs), Surya Bhatia, shared his journey from Chartered Accountant to financial planning expert. Packed with real-life anecdotes, observations on evolving investor behavior, and candid advice, the conversation offers timely lessons for both budding investors and seasoned professionals.
The Turning Point: A Question Without an Answer
Surya Bhatia’s transition into financial planning began with a moment of self-doubt. “For the first time in my life, Vivek, I didn’t have an answer,” he recalled, when a senior client once asked him for investment advice beyond tax-saving instruments. Though he had completed his Chartered Accountancy, Surya realized that specialization in personal finance required a deeper, more holistic understanding of wealth management.
Breaking the Myth: Investing Is Not Financial Planning
One of the most critical misconceptions in India today, Surya believes, is equating investing with financial planning. “Starting a SIP or a PPF account is not the end of the journey,” he emphasized. True financial planning involves aligning investments with life goals, understanding risk tolerance, building emergency funds, and maintaining proper asset allocation.
In today’s app-driven world, investors often chase top-performing funds without understanding the context or the risk. This behavior, driven by easy returns during a bull market, is dangerous, especially when a market correction occurs — something many young investors have never experienced.
The Instant Gratification Trap
Bhatia pointed out a worrying trend: the rise of “instant gratification” in young investors. Many start SIPs only to withdraw them after 12–24 months to purchase gadgets or cars. “They say it’s for the long-term, but the moment they see returns, they exit,” he warned.
This mindset, he says, breaks the very foundation of compounding — the powerful force that builds wealth over decades, not months.
The FIRE Movement: Dream or Delusion?
The discussion also touched on the popular FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement. While Surya admires the philosophy — live frugally, save aggressively, and retire early — he believes most young professionals are not prepared to back it up with action. “To retire at 40, you need to save 60-70% of your income and live on just 3-4% of your corpus annually,” he explained. “It’s aspirational, but rarely actionable.”
How Young Indians Are Spending: EMI Overload
According to Bhatia, India’s youth today are encouraged to spend before they earn. From buying high-end phones on EMIs to owning depreciating assets like cars early in their careers, many live paycheck to paycheck.
He highlighted how advertisements now promote monthly installments instead of product prices, creating a culture of ‘Buy Now, Pay Later.’ This, Surya warns, is a slippery slope — especially when the purchase is not for an appreciating asset.
Teaching Children About Money: Start Small and Speak Their Language
Another important part of the discussion focused on financial education for children. Surya believes parents need to start money conversations early — not by lecturing, but through relatable tasks. “If you give your child ₹100, tell them to save ₹10 and you’ll match it. That’s how you teach interest, without calling it that,” he explained.
Parents must shed the traditional mindset that children should be kept away from financial matters. Instead, they should involve them gradually — starting with saving, followed by budgeting, and eventually investing.
Health Is Wealth: The First Investment Must Be in Yourself
In a moment of light-hearted banter, Vivek Law pointed out Surya’s long-standing fitness. Surya responded seriously, “You can’t build wealth if you haven’t built your health first.” He stressed that health insurance is a non-negotiable priority — especially in a world where medical expenses can wipe out years of savings.
Big Goals Are Achievable — One Step at a Time
The episode concluded with a reflection on rising costs of education and retirement. With education inflation touching 10–15%, parents today might need over ₹4 crore to send a child abroad. Similarly, maintaining an inflation-adjusted monthly retirement income of ₹3 lakh could require a corpus of ₹10 crore.
But Surya insists these numbers aren’t unachievable. “Break them into 3–4 year goals. Compounding will do the rest. As inflation is your enemy, compounding is your friend,” he said.
Final Advice to the Youth: Patience Is Power
Bhatia’s closing advice to the 20-something investor was simple but profound: “Don’t chase instant results. Understand the power of compounding. And always invest with a plan.”
For a generation flooded with quick returns and easy apps, this grounded perspective is more valuable than ever.
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