A Bengaluru-based Chartered Accountant has sparked conversations about personal finance after candidly sharing her biggest money mistake—waiting too long to start investing despite earning a high salary in her early twenties.
Meenal Goel, now 30, revealed on social media that she did not begin her first Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) until she was 25. Reflecting on the decision, she admitted regretting the years when her savings remained largely idle.
High income, limited investing
Meenal qualified as a Chartered Accountant on her first attempt and completed her articleship with a leading accounting firm. She secured her first job at the age of 22 with an annual package of ₹13.5 lakh.
While she invested in Public Provident Fund (PPF) accounts and fixed deposits, a large portion of her earnings remained in a savings account for nearly three years.
Looking back, she described it as a missed opportunity to benefit from the power of long-term compounding.
A simple conversation changed everything
According to Meenal, her perspective shifted after a colleague casually mentioned that a trip to Dubai had effectively been “sponsored” by returns from SIP investments.
The comment prompted her to learn more about personal finance, investing and wealth creation. She began attending financial education sessions and reading extensively about investment strategies.
Importance of financial awareness
Today, Meenal follows a diversified investment approach that includes index funds, multicap funds and small-cap mutual funds, while maintaining a smaller allocation to traditional savings instruments.
Her experience highlights a lesson many young professionals can relate to: earning well does not automatically translate into building wealth.
She emphasised that financial awareness and disciplined investing are crucial for achieving long-term goals, adding that while starting late is understandable, remaining uninformed can prove costly over time.