Setting yourself free (without the BS) a story of financial freedom

The year was 2006. I had graduated a couple of years ago, and most of my time had been spent in learning from some phenomenal people, including Ravi Arapurakal Srinivas V MP Ranjan and others. These experiences greatly contributed to my life and professional experiences, but didn't leave me with much in my pockets :)

However, the pursuit of riches was not my aim, as I was never very driven by lifestyle goals (I still don't know what to do with with more earnings than are required to meet the lifestyle I’m already living). What I did want is the freedom to shape my own path & live life on my own terms. But the young professional in me was engrossed in my work, and at that time didn’t have a clue about how money worked, and whats more, didn’t care!?I was young, and it felt as though the world was a free place and life was unlimited!

One morning, my mother had a cerebral stroke and without any prior warning or health issues a health calamity had struck my family - as it often does- in the least expected times. Over the next month, our net worth plummeted and I could see that the weekly hospital bills often exceeded what my parents probably made in a year. It was a bit early in my life (I was 22) but the responsibility rested on my young shoulders.

I decided to study money just as we studied system design patterns back at the National Institute of Design with Mayank Loonker Tanu Sinha Pari Purohit Aparna Ranjan and others (super times!). When I began reading about it, I discovered there were masters of the art of wealth that had already created beacons of light for us mortals to follow. That Ben Graham had already cracked valuations and earnings led investing in the phenomenal Security Analysis , that Buffett had already cracked the case for Value investment ideas in his paper on Super Investors , that Phil Fisher had already given us a template for Growth investing with Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits. Studying with these masters in late evenings after work, I learnt that achieving financial freedom doesn't require complicated strategies; it can be attained through a few simple shifts in money management.

I began following the approach from?the book, Your Money or your life , and began saving aggressively - usually 75% of my income! At that point, it meant not partying, not spending on brand clothes, not taking up a mortgage and no buying of cars, all of which most of my peers had access to by now and liked to indulge in. On the basis of immediate, outward appearances and peer comparisons it seemed like the journey was going nowhere. But within, I knew I was making significant progress that would pay off in the long run.

From my first job to building my first company, getting aqui-hired, moving to New York and working with American Express and then PwC London , throughout I kept investing aggressively. Even through events like the Global Financial Crisis (biggest opportunity looking back!). I designed myself a stable career working with Asset Management, Private Equity and Financial Services understanding the field in depth across Business, Asset and Technology. Over time, armed with my industry expertise in asset management, I built an arsenal of reliable resources & guidance, that had begun with learnings from the masters and had now been tried, tested and fortified with practical knowledge and experience in the field.

This shielded me from the overwhelming array of consumerist options & allowed me to make prudent financial choices at the right time - witnessing the power of compounding savings over an extended period. If I were to take you through my portfolio - I adopted a growth focused mindset - A substantial portion of my investments was in the most aggressive growth Micro, Small and Mid Caps, often in concentrated fund positions in India and Globally. To weather market downturns, I diversified this with choice infra-industrial-financial-consumer large caps across market cycles favoring each of those sectors. As a safeguard, I added a touch of short positions, gold & silver to my portfolio, offering a hedge against volatility.

Throughout my career, as I achieved my financial independence milestones, I consciously avoided being swayed by material achievements such as extravagant homes or cars, luxury holidays, or designer clothes. This also led me to embark on meaningful journeys, such as designing a backpacking trip across Europe on a budget of just GBP 1000 (Approximately only 1Lac INR!) To supplement my income, I moonlit during my breaks with freelance projects. Clients came to trust me with reliable outcomes over a period of time. I seized every opportunity that came my way, never hesitating to take on requests, which eventually led to an unexpected high-end consulting position as well.This gradual progression allowed me to embrace the idea of self reliance. How are savings different from investments? Can I pick investments myself? Isnt is just about picking a few funds and staying invested? Then how do I select the right investment? Whom can I trust? Learnt answers the hard way.

It was during this phase, after a decade of working towards saving, investing and then working towards generating increasing amounts of passive income that I truly understood the essence of financial freedom. During this journey, it became clear to me that this essence was bigger than my journey. That if financial independence could liberate me to build and live a life that I wanted to, then it wasn't just about my own liberation, but also about sharing this knowledge, execution and ultimately the power to do so with others keen to walk on the path to Financial Independence.

And that was the intent behind starting Cambridge Wealth —a platform driven by research driven performance-oriented investment models , with transparency & integrity. A team that truly cares for your financial journey, quality and performance - not just today, but 20 years from now, when the power of having done the right thing today will be most evident. A team that does the right thing by you - even when you may not ask for it. A team that is by your side to work with you every step of the way - knowing Financial freedom is not an unattainable dream - it is a tangible reality within your reach. A team that appreciates awards , but is clear that its real mission is to help you realise your FIRE.

All you need is the right guidance, patience, discipline and someone that cares.?By making some simple shifts in your money management, you can transform your life & begin your own journey towards financial independence.?

And if you need any answers, experts to lean on, or just a shoulder that will be with you in times good and bad, we are here.