In this episode, we speak with a seasoned finance leader and CFO who, despite decades of professional experience, only began actively tracking his personal finances in his mid-40s.

We explore the turning point that led to this realization and the practical steps he took to gain clarity and control over his financial life.

This conversation covers:

• Why financial knowledge doesn’t always translate to personal wealth
• The importance of tracking net worth
• How to distinguish between good and bad expenses
• The role of discipline in long-term financial success
• What investors and successful founders consistently get right

A thoughtful discussion for anyone looking to build a more structured and intentional approach to personal finance.

If you'd like to share your story with us, please fill out the form: https://forms.gle/Ha9nEbXyJWm3ow4x7 If you would like to connect with us and share your feedback, please drop an email at financewithmihir@gmail.com

Most people think financial freedom is about earning more, investing better, and hitting a number.

But what if that number… doesn’t matter as much as you think?

In this episode, Vinayak Sapre (author of Dohanomics) breaks down why behavior, mindset, and clarity of “enough” matter far more than returns.

From “10 crore is more than 100 crore” to why retirement may not be your choice, this conversation challenges everything you think you know about money.

💡 What you’ll learn:

• Why behavior matters more than income or returns
• The real meaning of financial freedom (it’s not retirement)
• Why most people are forced to retire, not choose to
• How lifestyle inflation quietly destroys wealth
• Why following the crowd leads to losses
• The importance of liquidity (and why real estate can fail you)
• Simple math mistakes that cost people lakhs
• Why investing should feel boring

🎯 Key takeaway:

Financial freedom is not about how much money you have.

It’s about:

• knowing what is “enough”
• controlling your behavior
• and building a life where money supports your choices

👤 About the guest:

Vinayak Sapre is a wealth advisor and author of Dohanomics, where he blends personal finance with Indian philosophy (Kabir, Rahim) to simplify how people think about money and life.

Most people think if you don’t start investing in your 20s… you’re already late.

But what if you could start at 50 — and still achieve financial freedom in just 7 years?

In this episode of The Long Game Podcast, I sit down with Lakshmi Narayan, a wealth and retirement strategist who did exactly that.

We break down the exact principles, decisions, and mindset shifts that helped him go from almost zero savings to financial independence — even after facing an 80% market crash early in his journey.

This episode is not about shortcuts. It’s about what actually works.

🔑 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• How he saved 60% of his income and accelerated wealth creation
• Why an 80% market crash didn’t stop him (and actually helped)
• The biggest mistake he made — and why you should avoid it
• Why most people fail with SIPs (and how to fix it)
• The correct order: Insurance → Emergency Fund → Investing
• Why jumping between mutual funds destroys your returns
• The concept of “pay yourself first” (especially for founders)
• How to think about retirement planning realistically
• The 3 biggest risks people ignore in retirement
• Why starting late is still better than not starting at all

⚠️ WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR

• People who feel they’ve started investing “too late”
• Anyone struggling with consistency in investing
• Salaried professionals & startup founders
• Beginners looking for a simple, practical framework
• Anyone serious about financial independence (FIRE)

💡 KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Wealth is built through consistency, not timing
• Automation beats motivation every time
• Your savings rate matters more than stock picking
• Financial planning is a living process, not a one-time decision
• Starting late is a disadvantage — but not a death sentence

📌 FOLLOW & CONNECT

If you found this helpful, share it with someone who needs to start their investing journey.

Follow for more conversations on wealth, investing, and financial independence.

If you'd like to share your story with us, please fill out the form: https://forms.gle/Ha9nEbXyJWm3ow4x7 If you would like to connect with us and share your feedback, please drop an email at financewithmihir@gmail.com