10 Choices I Made to Achieve Financial Independence While Working a Corporate Job

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Written by Upasna Gautam: A Senior Platform Product Management Leader at CNN, Chair of the Board of Directors at the News Product Alliance, angel investor, startup advisor, meditation practitioner, writer, mother, and daughter of Indian immigrants.

I’m a 39-year-old daughter of Indian immigrants, my family didn’t come from wealth, and I didn’t attend elite private schools - I went to public school and a big state university (GO GREEN!). My career wasn’t handed to me. It was built on blood, sweat, resilience, and a some tears.

A few years ago, I crossed the 7-figure net worth threshold, achieved full financial independence, and my investments began outpacing my 9-5 salary.

Here are the 10 tough choices and truths that helped me break the cycle, build wealth, and start creating generational security:

1. Learn to play the game.

In America, we exist in a capitalist oligarchy. The system teaches you how to make money, but never how to make it work for you. For women of color, the traps are even deeper. Here’s the harsh reality: You can’t save your way to wealth. You have to invest. The narrative that it’s “too complicated” is a lie designed to keep you powerless.

2. Pivot into a high-paying field early.

At 23, I pivoted my career into tech. By 27, I secured a six-figure base salary of $130,000. If you can land a high-income role early on, your path to financial independence will be faster and clearer.

3. Say “yes” before you're ready.

In my 20s, I said yes to every opportunity, even if I wasn’t sure how to execute it. I made it my mission to learn fast, build new skills, and become indispensable to every company I worked for. I had no time for office politics or gossip, and I steered clear of those who did.

4. Build a trusted circle of money mentors.

I let go of friends who spent their time and money impressing others. Instead, I surrounded myself with people who were focused on their goals and building wealth. They talked openly about money—and I listened. Then I immediately put their advice into action.

5. Max out your tax-advantaged accounts.

I made it a habit to max out my 401k (up to the company match), HSA, and Backdoor Roth. This laid the groundwork for my future. When I learned about the Mega Backdoor Roth, and when my salary could enable it, I started maxing that out, too.

6. Streamline.

Credit card debt is a silent killer of wealth. I use one card for everything, pay it off monthly, and earn perks and points along the way. A high-yield savings account handles my liquid cash, earning interest.

7. Index funds are the game-changer.

The real game-changer? Opening a brokerage account and consistently buying index funds. I automate monthly investments and add lump sums at the end of each year. This accelerated my net worth growth exponentially.

8. Build your credit score.

A good credit score isn’t just for borrowing—it's a tool for building wealth. I boosted mine above 800, allowing me to lock in a 3.1% mortgage rate on my dream home in 2020. Every year, my home equity grows.

9. Build a personal brand that isn’t tied to your 9-5.

I invested in building a personal brand focused on helping people solve problems and showcasing my expertise. Over time, I secured consulting gigs and public speaking opportunities worth 5 and 6 figures. Nearly 100% of this “side gig” income goes straight into my investments.

10. Stop caring what others think.

This is the most freeing realization of all. I stopped caring about the opinions of people who didn't have my best interest at heart or care about my well-being, and focused on what would actually build my future.

Yes, there is a lot of nuance to achieving a goal like this, but I always go back to this: Achieving complete financial independence and building generational wealth comes from doing to the basics, everyday, for years (and decades). The power of compoundig, patience, and investing is the trifecta.

It's never too late to take control of your financial health. To live completely peacefully and freely in this country, it is necessary. If I can do it, you can do it.

If you want to learn more, I did a candid deep dive on this topic on my friend Simran Kaur's podcast, Girls That Invest . You can listen to it here.

I'd love to hear from you! Did these tips help you ? What did you find to be most valuable? Do you have another other helpful lessons from your own journey? Let me know in the comments!

Other Ways I Can Help You:

1. Connect with me on Instagram: I create a lot more content here on career growth and money. As I always say: "My content is my coaching."
2. Check out my library of free resources: From podcasts, articles, and webinars, I have a lot of free resources available for you to level up your life inside and outside of work.