Conversation - A Zoom Call With CA Srini

The Zoom Call That Changed How They Saw Money

A week after the first meeting at S&Co, Arjun messaged Srini.

“Sir, I spoke to my friends. They’re also interested in learning about money. We were thinking… if you’re okay, could we have a short Zoom call?”

Srini agreed. The following evening, four young faces appeared on his laptop screen, Arjun, two of his college classmates, and Asha, a software trainee.

Srini: “Good evening, everyone. So tell me, what brings you here today?”

Asha (smiling nervously): “Sir, nobody teaches us about money. We want to avoid mistakes early.”

Srini: “That’s a great reason to be here. So let’s start. What’s your biggest financial doubt right now?”

One of the boys jumped in.

Rohit: “Sir, everyone’s talking about the share market, my colleagues say it’s easy money. Should we just start trading?”

Srini smiled patiently.

Srini: “Let me clarify something important. The stock market is not a casino. It is a tool to grow wealth, but you need knowledge, patience and discipline. Long-term investing builds wealth, while impulsive trading often destroys it.”

Asha nodded seriously.

Asha: “So how should we start?”

Srini: “First, invest only after building the basics: emergency fund, insurance and monthly budget. Once that is in place, start simple - index funds or mutual funds through SIPs. The aim is steady growth, not thrill.”

Arjun added:

Arjun: “Sir, what about learning before investing?”

Srini: “Absolutely. If you’re serious about direct stocks, take time to understand businesses, not tips, not rumours. Invest in companies you’d confidently hold for 5–10 years. Wealth comes from patience, not excitement.”

There was a pause, then the last friend, Vikram, asked:

Vikram: “Sir, what if we make mistakes? Everyone says the 20s are about risk-taking.”

Srini: “Take risks, but educated risks. Financial mistakes at 20 can be costly at 40. If you experiment, do it with small amounts, your learning budget. Keep major money in stable, structured investments.”

The group listened more attentively than in a classroom.

Srini: “And remember, comparison kills financial progress. Someone buying a bike, someone going on trips, someone showing returns from crypto, that doesn’t mean you have to copy. Your journey is yours. Don’t chase trends, follow goals.”

Asha leaned forward.

Asha: “So the formula is balance?”

Srini: “Exactly. Enjoy life, build skills, invest consistently, and protect yourself from avoidable mistakes. If you start now, financial freedom is not a dream, it’s simply the result of good habits repeated over time.”

The call ended with smiles and clarity, not hype, and four youngsters felt they had finally begun their financial journey with direction.

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Conversation with CA Srini - Money Lessons Every 20-Year-Old Should Hear

 

Money Decisions in Your 20s - The Conversation That Matters

A calm morning at S&Co. Rahul walked in with his younger cousin Arjun, who had just started earning.

Rahul: “Sir, yesterday’s discussion helped me a lot. I wanted Arjun to hear this early in life.”

Srini: “Of course! Arjun, tell me, what does money mean to you right now?”

Arjun (sheepishly): “I just want to enjoy… I haven’t really thought long-term.”

Srini (smiling): “And you should enjoy. But with a plan. If you don’t control money, it will control you someday.”

He slid a notepad towards Arjun.

Srini: “Start with a budget. Know exactly where your income goes - outings, online shopping, fuel… a budget gives clarity and control.”

Arjun nodded.

Srini: “Next, build an emergency fund. Life throws surprises - medical issues, sudden repairs. Save gradually until you have 3 to 6 months of expenses separately. It protects you from panic borrowing.”

Arjun: “That will take time…”

Srini: “Every good habit does. Small steps, consistently.”

He leaned forward.

Srini: “Now - debt. When you get a credit card, use it wisely. Not as extra income. Pay the full amount every month to avoid traps. Good credit will help later when you want a car or home.”

Arjun’s interest grew.

Srini: “Your 20s are the best time to invest in yourself by way of skills, courses, certifications. The more valuable you become, the faster your income grows.”

Arjun: “So I am the investment?”

Srini: “Your biggest one! And while you’re growing, let your money grow too. Start investing small amounts early. Compounding rewards those who start sooner, not those who invest more later.”

Arjun looked thoughtful.

Srini: “Control lifestyle inflation. Understand needs vs. wants. Living slightly below your means creates freedom, not restriction.”

He continued gently:

Srini: “Learn the basics of taxes, insurance, and investments. You don’t have to master everything, but awareness prevents costly mistakes. Ensure you have the right insurance, especially health, before you start building wealth.”

Arjun made notes quickly.

Srini: “Set financial goals, short and long-term. Maybe a bike now, a house later. Goals keep you motivated.”

Finally, Srini closed the conversation:

Srini: “Review your finances regularly. When life changes your plan should change too. And whenever you feel stuck, ask for guidance instead of making random choices. Starting early gives you a powerful advantage others only realize later.”

Arjun stood up with a confident smile.

Arjun: “Thank you sir… feels like I’m getting a head-start in life.”

Rahul grinned, glad he brought him.

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When CA Srini Asked One Question, Everything Made Sense

 

Defining Your Game: The Key to Success and Fulfillment

The late-afternoon sun filtered through the glass door of S & Co as Rahul, a 35-year-old self-employed professional, took a seat across the table from CA Srini. After a few minutes of small talk, he leaned forward.

“Srini sir, I’ve been doing reasonably well… but I still feel stuck. I earn, I invest here and there, I buy what people say I should buy, but somehow I’m not getting where I want to go. I don’t even know if I’m doing the right things anymore.”

Srini smiled gently. “I hear this more often than you might think, Rahul. And to be honest, this isn’t only about investments or savings, it starts much deeper. Let me ask you something… whose game are you playing?”

Rahul looked confused. “Game? What game?”

“The game of life and money,” Srini replied. “Everyone has a game. But most people unknowingly play someone else’s. They take decisions based on noise, what friends say, what social media glorifies, what peers are buying, what influencers promise. In the process, they lose sight of what they truly want.”

Rahul nodded slowly.

“Defining your game,” Srini continued, “means getting clear about what money means to you. For some, it’s security. For others, freedom from a 9-to-5. For others, legacy for children. Until you know your purpose, your finances will feel directionless.”

“Okay… so suppose my purpose is freedom,” Rahul said. “Then?”

“Then you define the milestones that support that freedom. Early retirement? Time for travel? A buffer fund so you can say no to stressful work? Once these goals are clear, you establish your rules, your investing comfort zone, the debt you won’t take, the distractions you will ignore.”

He paused and added, “When your game is defined, you stop reacting. You evaluate everything - opportunities, risks, purchases - through the lens of your purpose. Even setbacks don’t shake you easily because you know why you’re on this path.”

Rahul took a deep breath. “And if I’ve been following what others are doing instead of what I want…”

“That’s where frustration comes from,” Srini said softly. “People buy what others buy, invest where others invest, and chase lifestyles that don’t even match their values. That’s how burnout, stress, and dissatisfaction creep in, not because they’re not working hard, but because they’re working toward someone else’s finish line.”

There was silence for a few seconds before Rahul spoke. “So what should I do now?”

“Start defining your game,” Srini replied. “It will evolve as you evolve, and that’s okay. What matters is that you stop living by borrowed goals and start designing a life that is yours.”

Rahul leaned back in his chair, thoughtful, a little shaken, and perhaps relieved.

Srini didn’t rush to fill the silence. He simply smiled and asked, “Think about it calmly… up to this point in your journey, have you really been playing your game or just participating in someone else’s?”

The question lingered in the room, and Rahul knew only he could answer it.

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Is Test Cricket Becoming the Stock Market of Fast Returns?

 

Test Cricket in 2025

A Five-Day Format in a World Chasing Quick Results

Test cricket has always been regarded as the ultimate measure of a cricketer - not just of skill, but temperament, patience and endurance. Yet in 2025, the longest format has quietly entered a phase where matches rarely stretch to their full five-day design. Many now finish by the third or fourth day, and a fifth-day battle feels increasingly uncommon. Interestingly, this shift mirrors a trend in the world of investing: the preference for quick returns rather than long-term compounding.

For decades, the true investor believed in holding quality stocks, allowing them to grow steadily over time. Today, however, many market participants lean towards short-term trading - frequent buying and selling, rapid profits, instant excitement. Modern cricket reflects a similar shift. Today’s players are faster, stronger and highly conditioned to deliver impact in short bursts. Their training and mindset are aligned with formats where one explosive moment can change the result. The art of grinding through difficult phases, much like holding onto a stock through market volatility, is slowly disappearing.

Tactical discipline has evolved as well. Earlier, batters prided themselves on batting for hours, almost session by session, like investors sitting tight on long-term bets through market cycles. Bowlers worked patiently to wear out opponents, believing that pressure built over time creates breakthroughs. Now the philosophy is tilted towards aggression, high scoring rates, quick declarations, and attacking strategies from the first session. The result is undeniably entertaining, but it shortens the contest drastically.

Just as stock market participants increasingly gravitate toward fast-moving trades for quick returns, players and boards find the shorter formats far more lucrative. The pull of franchise cricket makes slow-burn Test matches less attractive, even if not openly acknowledged.

There was a time when Test cricket included a rest day, a pause to recover before resuming the five-day grind. That concept has faded away quietly, not because administrators removed it, but because Tests no longer demand the full stretch they once did.

Both worlds, cricket and investing, now celebrate instant gratification. But whether this shift will strengthen or hollow the foundations remains to be seen.

Only time will tell.

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