Meet Vijayaraghavan Ramesh, a 1% Club member and the owner of The Brand Max – a digital marketing agency. He developed a strong savings habit from a young age by opening a post office account during his school years. He used to diligently save the money gifted to him by relatives and parents during vacations and festivals like Diwali and Sankranthi. This early practice of saving not only taught him financial discipline but also planted the seeds for his later investment career.
Now, as a family man, who has two lovely kids and a supportive wife, who works as a Director in an IT company, Vijayraghavan’s main financial goal is to cover his child’s education and close his housing loan. Read further to learn some interesting facts about his financial journey and how joining 1% Club helped him. Edited Excerpts
What are the mistakes you made when you started your investment journey?
One of the initial mistakes I made in my investment journey was venturing into Futures and Options (F&O) without proper guidance. Following suggestions from a Telegram group, I ended up losing close to Rs 30,000 — a lesson that I consider a significant misstep in my financial journey.
Any interesting incidents during your investment journey?
One interesting yet disappointing aspect of my investment journey was my constant attempts to apply for nearly every IPO that came my way. Despite my efforts, I never got any shares allotted until one time when I finally did. Unfortunately, the stock went into the negative on the second day itself. I can’t even recall the name of that share now!
What’s your current asset allocation?
Indian Stocks: 25%
US Stocks: 10%
Mutual Funds: 30%
Gold: 15%
Debt: 20%
Out of all the assets, Vijaraghavan says Mutual Funds have given him the highest returns. He has also bought insurance policies for himself and his wife.
When did you join the Masterclass and 1% Club? Did you calculate your FIRE number?
I joined the club in October 2023. Also, I’ve calculated my FIRE number, but realistically, I think it will take a few more years for me to achieve it. 1% Club has given me hope to attain it with confidence.
What are the improvements you made in your finances after joining the club?
After joining the class, I gained several valuable insights and made some small yet impactful improvements in my finances like
- Tracking Expenses
- Building and Investing in my business
- Diversifying Investments
- Avoiding High-Risk Investments
- Learning from Past Mistakes
Also Read: How This Software Engineer in Bengaluru is Investing to Reach Rs 7 Crore FIRE number
Has your portfolio improved after joining the club?
Yes, I’ve seen an improvement of almost 10-12% in my portfolio after joining the club. The insights and strategies at the club have helped me make more informed investment decisions, positively impacting my overall financial growth.
Also Read: Just Six Months After IPO, IREDA is Planning Rs 24,200 crore FPO – Here’s Why
What value has this journey added to your life?
This journey, guided by Sharan Hegde, has added immense value to my life and also my business. It’s enhanced my financial literacy, and confidence, giving me a clearer understanding of wealth management and growth. With Sharan’s guidance, I’ve become more strategic in planning for the future, bringing me closer to achieving my financial goals. Also, he said one thing to me in our one to one conversation that investing in your business is also an investment which opened my eyes to many ideas.
Additionally, being part of the 1% club has connected me with like-minded individuals, helped me expand my network, and provided valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange and support.
Disclaimer: The above content is based on the information provided by Vijayaraghavan Ramesh. The 1% News doesn’t independently verify non-public data reported by interviewees.
