Hi, I’m Rahul Chauhan, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) with over a decade of experience at global investment banks.

As you might expect, my work requires me to have a deep understanding of all things money. And yet, the irony is that the biggest transformation in my financial life came not from a professional high point, but from a personal low point.

One night in 2014, as I wearily shuffled back into the rented Mumbai apartment where I lived all alone, a sobering realisation seized me and refused to let go:

That painful epiphany eventually brought me face-to-face with a life-altering idea: FIRE.

FIRE: A New Way to Think About Money

For me, FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) wasn’t about quitting work. All I wanted was the freedom to choose how, when, and where I worked.
And so began a decade-long journey rooted in intentionality, discipline, and long-term thinking. Here’s what I learned along the way:

Save First, Spend What’s Left

When I got married, my wife (a corporate banker herself) and I committed ourselves to a 70% savings rate.

We’ve kept ourselves on track using nothing more than a humble Excel sheet, and we’re still going strong.

So trust me: it might sound cliched, but the most important wealth multiplier really is just good old-fashioned discipline.

No Wealth Until You’re No-Debt

Before you get serious about investing, make sure you eliminate high-interest debt.

We had some debt of this kind ourselves, and we worked aggressively to clear it all. Only then did we turn to systematic investing.

Mutual Funds = Mental Peace

Despite my market expertise, the rule I follow is: 75% in mutual funds, 25% in direct equities.

Why? Because wealth creation requires dedication, if not obsession, and I simply never had that kind of time on my hands.

So I let professionals handle the bulk of my portfolio. This lets me focus on my habits, rather than worrying about hot tips and annual reports.

Renting: Compromise or Choice?

Many people consider home ownership to be a non-negotiable milestone, but I made a conscious choice to rent.

Buying a house would’ve locked up the capital that I wanted to grow. But renting gave me both financial flexibility and geographic freedom.

Insurance: A Lesson Learned Late

A major blind spot in my initial plan was risk management. It wasn’t until my CFP training that I truly understood the importance of life and health insurance.

I sympathise: They do seem like pointless expenses… until they don’t.
When life throws a curveball at you, having insurance makes all the difference.

My Current Asset Allocation

So with all that gyaan out of the way, let me now show you what my portfolio allocation looks like today:

• 75% equity (mostly mutual funds and index funds)
• 15% debt
• 10% gold

I did dabble in microcaps and penny stocks in my early days, but quickly realised that large caps and index funds were much smarter choices.

Parting Thoughts: Start Small, Stay Consistent

My journey is proof that financial independence isn’t reserved for high earners or finance pros. It all starts with one decision, one spreadsheet, one habit and a willingness to stick with it.

I still work today, but on my own terms. I spend time on projects I care about, driven by passion rather than pressure.

Ultimately, it’s all about getting started and course-correcting as needed. As my sneakers remind me every morning, sometimes all you need to do is to Just Do It.

We hope the stories in this series help you reflect on your financial journey, and give you the confidence to chart your own course, one decision at a time.

We’d also love to hear what parts of Rahul’s journey resonated with you: let us know in the comments!