How is my 5 year’s life experience in अर्थस्वातंत्र्य (financial freedom)!!

When I resigned from my reputed job at LTI, I was quite sure about my plan. However, as a responsible project manager, one always needs to track planned vs actual and make up for the differences, if any.

In continuation with my previous article, I’m happy to share with you that on 28 Feb 2023, I completed 5 years of successful अर्थस्वातंत्र्य (financial freedom)!! By the way, अर्थस्वातंत्र्य is much more comprehensive than mere financial freedom, it encompasses Health & Happiness too, will write another article sometime later.

So, what’s the scorecard? This is how I fared last 5 years.

My lifestyle – is elevated to the next level. Unlike many who expect that after “retirement”, you’ll need to cut down on your lifestyle expenses, I’m celebrating more than before because of the availability of time. I have also added quite a few healthy ingredients to my daily living to stay fit, healthy & happy!

Family, Friends, and relationships

As far as my family life is concerned, it’s enriching as I’m able to reach out to my relatives and friends like never before. My traveling has increased and so have the joy and happiness!!

Tours & Travel

As per the financial goals mapped in my planning, in the first year of freedom, we availed of 15 days tour in Dubai and 7 days leisure water sports tour in Kokan, Maharashtra. Within the last 4 years, I have traveled to so many places inside and outside of Maharashtra, including a foreign trip to Switzerland in the achievement of MDRT.

Learning & Growth – Your experience seldom counts if not backed by qualified certification. In the first few months, I went on a spree to get myself certified in financial acumen to endorse my wide experience in various personal financial instruments. Although my experience is sufficient, I felt this endorsement was necessary for me to guide my friends who would like to follow my steps. So, this is what I’ve achieved so far.

In the first year of my Financial Freedom, I passed the following exams

Exam Name	Date	%age	Exam Body	Governing Body
Investment Advisor – Level 1 – XA	7 March 18	84.75%	NISM	SEBI
Investment Advisor – Level 2 (Highest) – XB	22 March 18	77%	NISM	SEBI
Life Advisor – IC38	June 18	72%	III	IRDA
MF Distributor – VA	November 18	81%	NISM	SEBI

I became MDRT 2019 which is the insurance industry recognition for higher achievement.

I also became an Author in the SEBI-NISM joint conference named CLSM (Changing Landscape of Securities Market) in February 2020 and presented my paper on “Financial Freedom – a need and not a dream”, under the category of Personal Finance.

Continuing my commitment towards continuous learning, I added a few more credentials as follows (apart from numerous certificate courses on various topics related to finance)

Exam Name	Date	%age	Exam Body	Governing Body
MF Distributor – VA – CPE	July 21	Pass	NISM	SEBI
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL GOAL PLANNER (CFGP)	September 22	Pass	PGP Academy	NSE Academy

Financial Status

This one is for many of my well-wishers, who are still unable to digest my decision.

As I said my lifestyle cost is elevated because of the travel that I’m doing and celebrations that I’m participating in with different groups of friends. I do my financial health check-up every 3 months and I found that I’m still at least 5% in excess in my kitty to be spent from the monthly expense basket!!

Remember friends, this is despite the stock market Corona blowout during March 2020 where many well-to-do people got affected. For getting the conviction that I have, one must study how the stock market works and why investing in mutual funds turns out to be the safer investment over longer periods. If you are a regular reader of my articles, you would get the essence of the same.

Net Worth

I am opening my cards here! In Financial Terms – My net worth has doubled as compared to 5 years ago. It is interesting to know that this is despite of negligible active income and after consumption of 5 years of elevated lifestyle expenses. This is the true essence of अर्थस्वातंत्र्य.

Above chart will depict the relative performance of my portfolio and Net worth. Those who really want to study how it really works and do DIY investments, this chart actually answers a lot of questions.

Passion and Happiness

Besides, Now I’ve discovered few of my passion areas and re-connected with my hobbies in natural farming, composting, Healthy & Natural living, electronics, and so on. I’m also helping my friends to achieve financial freedom.

Yes, I am occupied, but with the things that I love to do, not with someone dictates me to. My latest interest I got reconnected was singing (discreetly that is ;)), credit goes to one of my friend. Also, another important activity that I am involved actively now is about Health – Natural Living and helping people reverse their ailments ranging from BP, Sugar to Cancer. It gives me immense satisfaction when I see people becoming free of diseases without doctors, costly tests, and medicines!! A topic close to my heart!

Friends, the purpose of this note is not to make you jealous but to create a dream in your mind that you all deserve to live this kind of dream life, full of Health, Wealth, and Happiness. All you need is discipline, commitment, and action. I’m always there to help n support you!

Have you started yet?

Kiran Bhave
Financial Freedom Director, AS-44.com