The Profit Prism

“Real estate never goes to zero.” We’ve all heard this statement. It’s one of the most common beliefs in Indian households when it comes to investing. But does that make real estate the best place to put your money? In this post, we explore a real-world 10-year comparison between real estate and mutual fund investments, told through the story of two colleagues who made very different choices with the same ₹50 lakh in 2014. Note: Names and locations in this story have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals. All financial figures are based on real data from the Indian market between 2014 and 2024. The ₹50 Lakh Decision - Rajeev’s Real Estate Investment In 2014, Rajeev, a 35-year-old working professional, bought a 2BHK flat worth ₹50 lakh in a growing suburb. He took a home loan to fund the purchase and was confident that the property would give him great returns over time at the same time, he would like to live rent free. Fast forward to 2024, and the reality is ...

Name and location changed to protect privacy. Investor Profile: Name: Meena (name changed) Age: 32 Occupation: Domestic helper in Mumbai Monthly income: ₹14,000 Marital status: Widowed in 2020 (lost husband to COVID) Dependents: One son (age 7 in 2020) Her Goal: A Better Future for Her Son In 2020, Meena lost her husband during the COVID pandemic. Suddenly, she was the sole breadwinner with a 7-year-old son and a dream - to make sure he goes to college and lives a better life. How She Got Financial Awareness In early 2021, while working in one of the homes, Meena overheard her employer discussing investments with a mutual fund advisor. Curious, she asked a few questions. The advisor explained mutual funds and SIPs in simple terms. He showed her how even a small monthly investment could grow over time and support her son’s education. This conversation changed her life. The Role of the Mutual Fund Advisor Helped her set a clear goal for her son's edu...

Name and location changed for privacy. The Beginning: 1999 - A Young Techie with Big Dreams Rajeev Menon was just 26, working at a top IT MNC in Bangalore, and earning a solid ₹60,000/month, a princely sum in 1999. Eager to ride the tech wave, he invested ₹15 lakhs into international dot-com stocks. The catch? ₹5 lakhs of that was borrowed money. He was chasing quick wealth - just like many others during the dot-com boom. Then came March 2000 . The bubble burst. His ₹15L turned into near zero. He was in debt, humiliated, and directionless. 2001–2007: Playing Safe, But Standing Still Rajeev took a step back and changed jobs. His income grew to ₹1.2L/month, but the fear of markets gripped him . He refused to touch equity again. Invested only in FDs and RDs . In 2007, he bought a 2BHK flat with a ₹30L loan (EMI: ₹27K). His financial progress was safe, but stagnant. 2008: Double Hit - Job Lost, Debt Rising In early 2008, during the global recession, ...

Why Prepaying Your Home Loan Might Be the Dumbest Financial Move - Here's What the Wealthy Do Instead Many people think that prepaying a home loan as fast as possible is the ultimate sign of financial wisdom. While being debt-free may feel good emotionally, it might actually be a costly mistake when viewed through the lens of wealth creation. In this detailed guide, we’ll show you a smarter alternative : how you can use mutual fund investments to repay your home loan and build long-term wealth - at the same time. Note : Names used in this article have been changed to protect client privacy. 1: The Cost of Prepaying Without a Plan Let’s take the case of Rajiv , who takes a home loan of ₹50,00,000 (₹50 lakhs). Loan Details : Loan amount: ₹50,00,000 Interest rate: 8% per annum Tenure: 15 years (180 months) Monthly EMI: ₹47,783 (calculated using financial formula) Rajiv diligently pays his EMI for 5 years (60 months), thinking that he’s making great progress. B...

How to Invest Without Market Knowledge? Use This Simple, Smart Strategy Are you earning well but your money is just sitting idle in the bank? Or are you confused by all the market noise and feel you’re not “smart” enough to invest? Here’s a secret: You don’t need to be a stock market genius to grow your wealth. You just need to follow a rational system - like the one legendary investor Charlie Munger lived by. Let’s break it down. The Problem: Investing Feels Overwhelming If You Don’t Understand Markets Most people hesitate to invest because: They feel they lack the time or knowledge to study the markets. There’s fear of loss due to volatility. There's too much confusing advice out there - from stock tips to crypto hype. So, they either keep money in savings (earning next to nothing) or take risky bets based on emotions, not logic. This leads to poor returns, unnecessary stress, and missed opportunities. The Insight: Wealth Is Built on Rationality, Not Complex...

Top 7 VC Secrets Every Mutual Fund Investor Should Know When it comes to investing, most people think like value investors - looking for low prices, strong fundamentals, and past performance. But venture capitalists (VCs) look at things differently. They focus on companies with strong execution, market timing, and real-world results. As a mutual fund investor, you can learn a lot from how VCs think - and your mutual fund advisor can help you apply these lessons to build long-term wealth. Here are 7 VC-inspired insights that can help you choose better mutual funds and avoid costly mistakes. 1. Focus on Real Performance, Not Just Potential Many investors chase companies that “might grow someday.” VCs avoid this trap. They back businesses that are already growing , not just promising to. What it means for you: Choose mutual funds that invest in companies with proven results - strong revenue, actual profits, and growing customer bases. Ask your mutual fund advisor to help you...

Whether you're new to mutual funds or have tried and given up, you're not alone. Starting is easy. Sticking with it? That’s where most people struggle. Here are some real-life questions (and straight answers) on how to just show up—for your money. Q: I know mutual funds are good, but I haven’t started yet. What’s holding me back? A: Most people wait for the “perfect time” to invest. Truth is—there’s no perfect time. The best moment to start was yesterday. The next best? Today. Even ₹500 a month is a start. The goal is not timing the market—it’s spending time in the market. If you feel stuck, a SEBI-Registered Mutual Fund Advisor can help you take the first step confidently, with a plan tailored to your goals. Q: What if I start a SIP but stop after a few months? Is it still worth it? A: Absolutely. A few months of SIP is better than zero. And if you paused—just restart. SIPs are flexible. There’s no penalty for missing a beat. Think of it like exercise: you don...