Financial Mirage

There’s a beautiful Marathi movie called Taryanche Bet.

It follows a middle-class family from Alibaug. The father, a PWD employee, travels to Mumbai for official approvals. One day he takes his wife and young son along.

Mumbai dazzles the child — the traffic, the buildings, the lights. He expresses a simple wish:

“Baba, I want to stay in a five-star hotel.”

For the father, the dream feels far beyond reach. But the wish touches him deeply. He begins to think:

What if I could earn something extra? What if I could give him that experience someday?

In that emotional moment, he makes a decision many of us make — he tries to “grow money fast.”

He enters the stock market directly, hoping quick gains will bridge the gap between his reality and his dreams.

For a while, luck is with him.

Then the market crashes.

Everything he earned — wiped out.

A familiar story, isn’t it?

Because risk rarely looks like “risk” in the beginning.

It looks like hope.

It looks like ambition.

It looks like “bas thodasa paisa extra ban jaaye toh…”

---

Risky Behaviour Is Everywhere Around Us

People buy houses in illegal layouts hoping they’ll be legalised someday.

People put money into chit funds, EMU farms, and “upcoming project area” plots where airports exist only in brochures.

A part of them knows the risk.

But the itch to prove oneself smart, early, or lucky pushes them forward.

And then there are risks that come disguised as “expert advice.”

---

A Recent Example: The 546-Crore Penalty

Avadhut Sathe Trading Academy (ASTA) — a well-known stock market training brand — was recently hit with a ₹546 crore penalty for:

misleading ads

offering investment advisory without valid licences

and collecting over ₹600 crore from students seeking shortcuts to wealth

Thousands of people paid lakhs in course fees hoping to “learn fast returns.”

But again — hope is not a strategy.

Skill-building is not the same as guaranteed profits.

And unregulated advice can be more dangerous than no advice.

---

The Real Lesson

Whether it’s a father trying to fulfil his son’s wish…

Or a family buying a risky plot…

Or a salaried person signing up for “guaranteed trading success”…

The mistake is the same:

Jumping into risk without understanding our own limits.

Before any investment, ask yourself just one honest question:

“Am I doing this because it truly fits my financial situation — or because I’m hoping it will solve a problem faster?”

If it’s the second one, pause.

Slow down.

Plan.

Shortcuts may give confidence for a moment — but good financial decisions give peace for a lifetime.

Prasad Patwardhan 

VittaSiddhi 

QPFP®

Dancing to your own financial tune

If you prefer listening to podcast type of narration instead of reading click here

There’s a beautiful moment in Panchayat Season 2, Episode 1 (Naach).

Amid the chaos of a village celebration, the dancer says,
> “Sab apne-apne duniya mein, alag sur pe nach rahe hain.”
(Everyone is dancing in their own world, to a different tune.)

It’s one of those lines that lingers. Because beyond the literal dance, it reflects life — and, interestingly, the world of money too.

In trading and investing, everyone is indeed dancing to their own rhythm. Some move to the fast beats of the market — day traders reacting to every swing, chasing momentum. Others sway to a slower rhythm — investors building patiently, letting compounding do its quiet magic.

There’s no single song that fits all.

Each person’s rhythm depends on their circumstances, temperament, and goals.
For one, a 2% dip is an opportunity; for another, it’s a panic trigger.
For some, wealth means freedom; for others, it means security.
But there’s one common thread — sacrifice.

Every dancer gives up something for a future they believe in. The trader sacrifices calm for potential gain. The long-term investor sacrifices instant gratification for future peace.
Even the saver quietly forgoes today’s comfort to build a safety net.

And yet, amidst all this pursuit, there’s wisdom in knowing when to pause.

I once heard a Kaun Banega Crorepati participant say, “Jitna prapt hai, utna paryapt hai.”
(What I’ve earned is enough for me.)
It wasn’t defeat — it was peace.

Because sometimes, the most graceful move in life’s dance is knowing when to stop chasing and start living. Money, like dance, is deeply personal.

And when we see others moving differently, it helps to remember — they’re not out of step; they’re just following their own tune. And just as in investing, timing matters too.

There’s an old saying in equity markets — “Leave the party before the music stops.”
Because those who stay till the very end often end up paying the bill.

It’s a gentle reminder that knowing when to stop is as important as knowing when to start.
So, the next time you see someone chasing quick profits while you’re holding steady,
don’t compare. Just smile.

Because in the grand dance of life and money, you too are dancing — in your own world, to your own tune.

Prasad Patwardhan 

VittaSiddhi 

QPFP® 

Retirement Isn’t a Distant Dream — It’s a Monthly EMI Away

You’re on a long road trip.

Some cars are cruising with the windows down — maps ready, snacks packed, playlist on point.

Others are pulled over — lost, tired, running on fumes, unsure of what’s ahead.

That’s retirement.

Everyone gets on this road eventually. The question is — will you enjoy the ride, or get stuck halfway without a plan?

Most people avoid thinking about retirement because the stories they've seen — from Baghban to Natsamrat — make it seem like the beginning of the end. But the real tragedy isn’t aging — it’s entering the next phase of life unprepared, both financially and emotionally.

Let’s change the script.

Why Retirement Planning Often Starts Too Late

In your 20s and 30s, retirement feels like a far-off blur. The present is loud — there’s a car to buy, a home loan EMI to manage, a child’s future to plan. Even if some savings are earmarked for retirement, they often get diverted.

And then suddenly, you're 45.

By the time people begin thinking about retirement seriously, the corpus they need looks overwhelming. Many give up before they begin. YOLO kicks in, and spending increases to make up for lost time.

The “EMI Illusion” — It Works for Freedom Too

We’re conditioned to see affordability through EMIs. Whether it’s a phone, furniture, or a car, the monthly number makes even the unnecessary feel accessible.

     ₹7,000/month from age 25 can build a       ₹2 crore corpus by age 60.

That’s your financial freedom EMI.

Instead of viewing retirement as a mountain, break it into monthly steps. Suddenly, the peak feels climbable.

Most Don’t Know the Retirement Number — Or What to Do With It

Ask someone how much they’ll need to retire, and you’ll often get a blank stare. Ironically, even if someone were handed that amount today, chances are they wouldn’t quit their job — not because they love it, but because they wouldn’t know what to do with their time.

Retirement isn’t just a money problem. It’s a vision problem. If we can't imagine our life beyond work, no number will feel enough.

Retirement Comes in Four Flavors

You don’t always retire because you want to. Sometimes, retirement happens to you.

1. Wealth-based – You’ve built enough to stop.

2. Age-based – You stop because the system says so.

3. Boredom-based – You mentally check out, even if you show up.

4. Helplessness-based – You’re pushed out due to skill gaps or burnout.

Only one of these puts you in control. That’s the one worth planning for.

Our Retirement Will Look Very Different

Our parents' retirement came with default responsibilities — caring for grandkids, supporting sons or daughters-in-law, helping manage the household. 

That won’t be the case for most of us.

Nuclear families, career mobility, and evolving family dynamics mean we won’t have those ‘jobs’ after 60. We’ll need to find our own purpose — not just fill our time.

That makes emotional and financial preparation even more important.

When Life Hands You a Resignation Letter

Sometimes, your job decides to retire you.

Especially if your skills don’t match current needs after 50.

Job loss after a certain age is rarely followed by a career rebound. That’s why retirement readiness isn’t a luxury — it’s a buffer against uncertainty.

You either retire by choice or by circumstance. Only one feels like freedom.

He Had Alok. Whom Do You Have?

In Baghban, the lead character was lucky. He had Alok — the adopted son who stood by him when no one else did.

He had Alok. Whom do you have?

Emotional support is important. But so is having a plan. A retirement plan is you choosing to show up for your future self — financially, mentally, and with dignity.

Retirement Is Not the End — It’s the First Day You Work for You

Let’s move beyond fear, helplessness, and clichés. Let’s reframe retirement as the best chapter of life — one with freedom, purpose, and peace.

Start today with a few simple questions:

What would I do if I didn’t have to work?

What kind of life would excite me at 60?

Am I building something now that future-me will thank me for?

Because the road ahead is long, and whether you cruise, crawl, or coast —

it feels a lot better when you’re driving on your own terms, with your bags packed and destination clear.

Prasad Patwardhan 

VittaSiddhi 

QPFP®