We often think our savings disappear because of luxury cars, vacations, or weekend indulgences — but that’s not the real problem. The real reason most people lose money is their short-term mindset, believes CA Abhishek Walia, founder of Zactor. Walia recently took to LinkedIn wherein he explained in a post that people don’t go broke because they spend too much — they lose wealth because they start investing too late, quit too soon, or expect quick results. When we delay starting our SIPs, pause them during tight months, or panic-sell when markets fall, we unknowingly destroy the one thing that truly builds wealth — the power of compounding. Sharing his insights, CA Abhishek Walia wrote in the post, “You think expensive cars and holidays drain your money? No. Your short-term mindset does.“We want quick returns. We panic-sell when markets dip. We delay SIPs because “this month is tight.” And then we wonder why wealth never compounds.”He further explained his views with an example. “If you invest ₹10,000/month for 20 years at 12%, you’ll have ₹92 lakh. But if you start 5 years late, you’ll end up with ₹47.5 lakh. That delay – those few “I’ll start next months” – just cost you ₹45 lakh,” he said.And so, his advice to people is to start investing as soon as possible because, “Not making decisions isn’t free. It’s the most expensive thing you’ll ever do.”Instead, “Patience is the new alpha. Because the only shortcut in wealth creation is staying long enough to let compounding do its job,” he said.
10 powerful investing lessons every Indian should learn
In October 2024, Walia had shared his thoughts on investing and what one should know about it in another LinkedIn post. The post was titled ’10 Powerful Investing Lessons Every Indian Should Learn’ in which Walia shared his expert tips on investing one should be aware of for creating wealth. They are:1. “You’ll make mistakes — and that’s okay.”Even top investors like Rakesh Jhunjhunwala lost money early on. Learn, adapt, and keep going.2. “Wealth grows only when you invest.”Saving money isn’t enough — smart investing multiplies it over time.3. “Humans are emotional investors.”Fear makes us sell low and greed makes us buy high — learning to manage emotions is key.4. “Confidence fluctuates with markets.” When stocks rise, you feel smart; when they fall, you doubt yourself. Stay steady.5. “Study market history and psychology.” Crashes repeat because human behavior doesn’t change. Learn from past patterns.6. “Good stocks and bad stocks both fluctuate.”Even great companies like Bajaj Finance saw wild ups and downs — volatility is normal.7. “Handling losses is harder than it sounds.”Staying calm when your portfolio dips separates investors from traders.8. “A 30% fall feels worse than it sounds.”Real experience teaches more than any advice can.9. “Strong finances matter more than returns.”Build savings and clear debts before investing big.10. “Be optimistic yet cautious.”Hope for growth but prepare for rough patches — balance builds lasting wealth.Do you agree with Walia’s views? Meanwhile, what plans to you follow for smarter investments? Tell us about it in the comments section below.