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<item> <title>A Late Starter’s Journey: Regrets, Mistakes and a Fresh Plan at 39</title> <link>https://freefincal.com/a-late-starters-journey-regrets-mistakes-and-a-fresh-plan-at-39/</link> <pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:30:44 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator><![CDATA[M. Pattabiraman]]></dc:creator> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://freefincal.com/?p=329477</guid> <description><![CDATA[In this edition of the reader story, we meet someone who is starting over at...]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure><img src="https://freefincal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/A-Late-Starters-Journey-Regrets-Mistakes-and-a-Fresh-Plan-at-39.webp" class="type:primaryImage" /></figure><p>In this edition of the reader story, we meet someone who is starting over at 39. This is in response to my recent request on social media to share their investment journeys. We urge you to share your journey too (anonymously, like this piece, if you prefer). You can find details at the top of the <a href="https://freefincal.com/category/reader-story/"><strong>reader story archive</strong></a>.</p> <div><strong>About this series: </strong>I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives, which benefits us all. Some of the previous editions are linked at the bottom of this article. You can also access the full <a href="https://freefincal.com/category/reader-story/">reader story archive.</a></div> <div> <div> <p>Opinions expressed in reader stories do not necessarily represent the views of freefincal or its editors. We must appreciate multiple solutions to the money management puzzle and empathise with diverse views. Articles are typically not checked for grammar unless it is necessary to convey the right meaning and preserve the tone and emotions of the writers.</p> <div> <div> <div> <div> <p>If you would like to contribute to the DIY community in this manner, send your audits to freefincal AT Gmail dot com. You can publish them <strong>anonymously</strong> if you wish.</p> </div> </div> <div> <div> <p><strong>Please note:</strong> We welcome such articles from young earners who have just started investing. See, for example, this piece by a 29-year-old: <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-i-track-financial-goals-without-worrying-about-returns/">How I track financial goals without worrying about returns</a>. We also have a “mutual fund success stories” series. See, for example, <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-mutual-funds-helped-me-reach-financial-independence/">how mutual funds helped me achieve financial independence</a>. Now, over to the reader.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>I think Pattu sir is reading my mind. I was thinking about writing my investment journey so far to freefincal, but I was afraid it might be rejected.</p> <p>A bit of background info about me: 39-year-old male, married with one child, planning for a second child.</p> <p>Every other day, I feel I’ve wasted at least 5 years without investing. I sincerely request that you start investing in your early 20s. Have a plan for the future and work towards it.</p> <p>My first investment, like most of us, is in a LIC policy, Jeevan Umang. The agent convinced me that i can use this as a pension plan and my descendants will get few crores when I turn 100. I was excited and paid ₹200000 per annum for this from 2018.</p> <p>Next year, I got married, and my wife, who is wiser than I, kept pestering me to plan investments. I couldn’t understand investing apart from LIC policies.<br /> She decided to take the matter into her hands and started investing in 2 funds. Four years later, I saw the returns and realised what had to be done. Meanwhile, my daughter was born. I approached an MFD, who advised me to invest in 2 funds for my daughter’s education.</p> <p>With deep regret for missing years, I started investing in more funds. To start with, I had a SIP in UTI Nifty 50 index fund. Last year I redeemed the amount for a personal expense which I could have avoided. Now the fund has literally doubled its money in 2025. The NAV was 90, and now it is close to 180—another bad decision.</p> <p>Next, every article I came across mentioned that Quant funds are the best over the last 3, 5, and 10 years. FOMO kicked me, and I started a SIP into the Quant midcap fund. Hardly 2 months after, the quant funds were accused of front-running by SEBI. I stopped this SIP, too—another poor decision.</p> <p>In 2025, I came across freefincal and Asan Ideas for Wealth.</p> <p>After reading as many posts as possible, I became increasingly stressed about whether I would be able to meet my financial goals.<br /> Now I have decided to consult a <a href="https://freefincal.com/list-of-fee-only-financial-planners-in-india/">fee-only planner</a> and am waiting for his suggestions on how to improve my portfolio to meet my goals.</p> <p>In the meantime, I was reading the articles in freefincal and found that Pattu sir is against SIP investing in midcap and small cap funds. I was wondering why he is against these asset classes, and a few days later, one of my funds (midcap) had -11% returns. This is going to test my discipline and true risk appetite. But I decided to wait another year or so before discontinuing this SIP.</p> <p>Definitely next December, I will update my journey and will try to do so every year. Thanks Pattu sir and other mentors in Aasan ideas for wealth.</p> <h2>Reader stories published earlier:</h2> <p>As regular readers may know, we publish a personal financial audit each December – this is the 2024 edition: <a href="https://freefincal.com/portfolio-audit-2024-the-annual-review-of-my-goal-based-investments/">Portfolio Audit 2024: The Annual Review of My Goal-Based Investments</a>. We asked regular readers to share how they review their investments and track financial goals.</p> <ul> <li><strong>First audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-suhas-tracks-his-mf-investments-and-reviews-financial-goals/">How Suhas tracks his MF investments and reviews financial goals</a>. <ul> <li><strong>Update 1</strong>: <a href="https://freefincal.com/why-i-hiked-my-retirement-corpus-target-though-my-networth-doubled-since-dec-2019/">Why I hiked my retirement corpus target, though my networth doubled since Dec 2019</a>.</li> <li><strong>Update 2:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/after-ten-years-of-mf-investing-suhas-is-on-track-to-achieve-his-financial-goals/">After ten years of MF investing, Suhas is on track to achieve his financial goals</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Second audit: </strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-avadhoot-joshi-evaluates-his-investment-portfolio/">How Avadhoot Joshi evaluates his investment portfolio</a>. <ul> <li><strong>Update</strong>: <a href="https://freefincal.com/why-i-redeemed-from-epf-to-invest-in-equity-mfs/">Why I redeemed from EPF to invest in Equity MFs</a>.</li> <li><strong>Update:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/avadhoot-joshis-personal-finance-audit-2025/">Avadhoot Joshi’s Personal Finance Audit 2025</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Third audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/how-a-single-mom-is-on-track-to-financial-freedom/">How a single mom is on track to financial freedom</a></li> <li><strong>Fourth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-gowtham-started-goal-based-investing-took-control-of-his-money/">How Gowtham started goal-based investing & took control of his money</a></li> <li><strong>Fifth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/why-my-financial-independence-early-retirement-plans-were-postponed-by-4-years/">Why my financial independence & early retirement plans were postponed by four years</a></li> <li><strong>Sixth audit: </strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-abhisek-funded-his-marriage-is-on-track-to-financial-freedom/">How Abhisek funded his marriage & is on track to financial freedom</a>.</li> <li><strong>Seventh audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/how-rohits-early-struggles-defined-his-investment-journey/">How Rohit’s early struggles defined his investment journey</a> <ul> <li><strong>Update: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/after-5-years-of-equity-mf-investing-i-feel-confident-about-my-retirement-planning/">I feel confident about my retirement planning after five years of MF investing</a>.</li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Eighth audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/why-my-investments-are-still-on-track-in-spite-of-job-loss-and-lower-income/">Why my investments are still on track despite job loss and lower income</a>.</li> <li><strong>Ninth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-a-retirement-planning-calculation-scared-me-to-take-action/">How a retirement planning calculation scared me to take action</a></li> <li><strong>Tenth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/i-made-several-investment-mistakes-but-have-turned-my-life-around/">I made several investment mistakes but have turned my life around.</a></li> <li><strong>Eleventh audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/my-net-worth-doubled-in-the-last-financial-year-thanks-to-patient-investing/">My net worth doubled in the last financial year, thanks to patient investing!</a> <ul> <li>Update: <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-i-achieved-investing-nirvana/">How I achieved investing nirvana</a>.</li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Twelfth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/my-financial-journey-from-novice-to-goal-based-investor/">My financial journey: from novice to goal-based investor</a>.</li> <li><strong>Thirteenth audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/my-journey-from-negative-net-worth-to-goal-based-investing/">My journey: from a negative net worth to goal-based investing</a>.</li> <li><strong>Fourteenth audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/from-fixed-deposits-to-goal-based-investing-in-mfs-my-financial-journey/">From Fixed Deposits to Goal-based investing in MFs</a>.</li> <li><strong>Fifteenth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/my-10-year-financial-journey-mistakes-made-and-lessons-learnt/">My 10-year financial journey – mistakes made and lessons learnt</a>.</li> <li><strong>Sixteenth audit (part 1): </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/how-i-achieved-financial-independence-without-mutual-funds-or-stocks/">How I achieved financial independence without mutual funds or stocks</a>.</li> <li><strong>Sixteenth audit (part 2): </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/lessons-from-my-financial-independence-journey-and-future-investment-plans/">Lessons from my financial independence journey and future investment plans</a>.</li> <li><strong>Seventeenth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-i-plan-to-achieve-financial-independence-and-move-to-my-native-place/">How I plan to achieve financial independence and move to my native place</a></li> <li><strong>Eighteenth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/i-used-the-current-bull-run-to-reduce-my-mutual-funds-from-14-to-4/">I used the current bull run to reduce my mutual funds from 14 to 4!</a></li> <li><strong>Nineteenth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-a-conservative-investor-created-his-own-financial-plan/">How a conservative investor created his financial plan</a></li> <li><strong>Twentieth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/i-plan-to-achieve-financial-independence-by-46-this-is-my-master-plan/">I plan to achieve financial independence by 46; this is my master plan</a></li> <li><strong>Twenty-first audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/i-have-made-a-lot-of-investment-mistakes-but-am-on-course-to-financial-independence-by-45/">I have made many investment mistakes but am on course to financial independence by 45</a>.</li> <li><strong>Twenty-second audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/i-felt-worthless-6-years-ago-but-have-achieved-financial-stability-today/">I felt worthless six years ago but have achieved financial stability today</a></li> <li><strong>Twenty-third audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/my-financial-journey-was-directionless-until-age-40-this-is-how-i-made-up-for-lost-time/">My financial journey was directionless until age 40: this is how I made up for lost time</a></li> <li><strong>Twenty-fourth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/why-i-increased-equity-mf-investments-by-275-and-reduced-ppf-contributions/">Why I increased equity MF investments by 275% and reduced PPF contributions</a>.</li> <li><strong>Twenty-fifth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-i-track-financial-goals-without-worrying-about-returns/">How I track financial goals without worrying about returns</a></li> <li><strong>Twenty-sixth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/i-am-24-and-started-investing-1y-ago-but-what-am-i-investing-for/">I am 24 and started investing 1Y ago, but what am I investing for?</a></li> <li><strong>Twenty-seventh audit:</strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/how-we-plan-to-achieve-a-retirement-corpus-50-times-our-annual-expenses/"> How we plan to achieve a retirement corpus 50 times our annual expenses</a>.</li> <li><strong>Twenty-eighth audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/i-thought-equity-investing-was-a-gamble-but-now-aim-to-hold-60-equity-for-retirement/">I thought equity investing was a gamble, but now I aim to hold 60% equity for retirement</a></li> <li><strong>Twenty-ninth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/my-journey-from-5-lakhs-in-debt-to-building-a-corpus-worth-6-years-in-retirement/">My journey: From 5 lakhs in debt to building a corpus worth six years in retirement</a></li> <li><strong>Thirtieth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/my-investment-journey-from-random-purchases-to-a-goal-based-portfolio/">My investment journey: From random purchases to a goal-based portfolio</a></li> <li><strong>Thirty-first audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/my-investment-journey-from-product-driven-to-process-driven/">My investment journey: from product-driven to process-driven</a></li> <li><strong>Thirty-second audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-a-young-couple-is-trying-to-balance-travelling-and-investing/">How a young couple is trying to balance travelling and investing</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://freefincal.com/how-to-achieve-your-travel-goals-without-breaking-the-bank/">How to achieve your travel goals without breaking the bank!</a></li> <li><a href="https://freefincal.com/how-a-young-couple-tries-to-balance-their-personal-and-financial-aspirations/">How a young couple tries to balance their personal and financial aspirations</a></li> <li><a href="https://freefincal.com/how-a-couple-reached-their-desired-asset-allocation-after-starting-late/">How a couple reached their desired asset allocation after starting late</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Thirty-third audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/my-journey-from-rs-30-bank-balance-to-financial-independence/">My journey: From Rs. 30 bank balance to financial independence</a></li> <li><strong>Thirty-fourth audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/our-journey-from-scratch-to-a-net-worth-of-18-times-annual-expenses/">Our journey: From scratch to a net worth of 18 times annual expenses</a>.</li> <li><strong>Thirty-fifth audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/from-a-net-worth-of-rs-6000-to-auto-pilot-goal-based-investing/">From a net worth of Rs. 6000 to auto-pilot goal-based investing</a> <ul> <li>Follow-up: <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-i-manage-my-goal-based-investments-in-auto-pilot/">How I manage my goal-based investments in auto-pilot</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Thirty-sixth audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/how-i-retired-from-corporate-bondage-at-46-two-years-ago/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How I retired from corporate bondage at 46, two years ago!</a></li> <li><strong>Thirty-seventh audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-i-learnt-to-keep-it-simple-and-build-a-net-worth-19-times-my-annual-expenses/">How I learnt to keep it simple and build a net worth 19 times my annual expenses</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://freefincal.com/how-i-built-a-net-worth-35-times-my-annual-expenses/">How I built a net worth 35 times my annual expenses</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Thirty-eighth audit: </strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-abhineeth-plans-to-achieve-financial-independence-and-build-a-house/">How Abhineeth plans to achieve financial independence and build a house</a>.</li> <li><strong>Thirty-ninth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-sahil-plans-to-achieve-financial-independence-by-efficient-tracking/">How Sahil plans to achieve financial independence by efficient tracking</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://freefincal.com/how-sahil-aims-to-achieve-a-30-40x-corpus-in-the-next-10-years/">How Sahil aims to achieve a 30-40X corpus in the next 10 years</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Fortieth audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/my-journey-to-a-ten-crore-portfolio/">My Journey to a Ten Crore Portfolio</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://freefincal.com/analyzing-the-growth-of-my-15-crores-portfolio/">Analyzing the growth of my 15 Crores portfolio</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Forty-first audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/burdened-with-debt-for-several-years-i-am-now-aggressively-investing-in-equity/">Burdened with debt for several years, I am now aggressively investing in equity</a></li> <li><strong>Forty-second audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/from-engineer-to-librarian-after-financial-independence-and-early-retirement-fire/">From Engineer to Librarian after Financial Independence and Early Retirement (FIRE)</a></li> <li><strong>Forty-third audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/i-lost-six-months-income-in-fo-and-ditched-it-for-systematic-investing/">I lost six months’ income in F&O and ditched it for systematic investing</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://freefincal.com/how-i-learnt-that-investing-is-about-finding-the-balance-and-not-chasing-returns/">How I learnt that investing is about finding the balance and not chasing returns</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><strong>Forty-fourth audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/my-retirement-plan-to-handle-the-harsh-realities-of-the-it-industry/">My retirement plan to handle the harsh realities of the IT industry</a></li> <li><strong>Forty-fifth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/my-investment-journey-mistakes-10-years-of-mf-investing-and-recovery/">My investment journey: mistakes, 10 years of MF investing and recovery</a></li> <li><strong>Forty-sixth audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/my-mf-portfolio-is-worth-six-crores-in-spite-of-multiple-mistakes/">My MF portfolio is worth six crores despite multiple mistakes</a></li> <li><strong>Forty-seventh audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/saving-investing-and-running-marathons-my-25-year-journey-to-financial-independence/">Saving, Investing, and Running Marathons: My 25-year Journey to Financial Independence</a></li> <li><strong>Forty-eighth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/never-too-late-to-start-how-i-became-financially-savvy-at-40/">Never Too Late to Start: How I Became Financially Savvy at 40</a></li> <li><strong>Forty-ninth audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/my-investment-journey-to-a-net-worth-29-times-my-annual-expenses/">My Investment Journey to a net worth 29 times my annual expenses</a></li> <li><strong>Fiftieth audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/how-i-audit-my-portfolio-without-tracking-returns/">How I audit my portfolio without tracking returns</a></li> <li><strong>Fifty-first audit</strong>: <a href="https://freefincal.com/financial-lessons-learned-during-and-after-a-phd/">Financial Lessons Learned During and After a PhD</a></li> <li><strong>Fifty-second audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/investment-financial-journey-of-a-23-year-old/">Investment & Financial journey of a 23 year old</a></li> <li><strong>Fifty-third audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/the-system-i-use-to-draw-income-and-spend-after-retirement-securely/">The system I use to draw income and spend after retirement securely</a></li> <li><strong>Fifty-fourth audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/from-start-up-employee-to-millionaire-a-success-story-of-resilience-and-smart-investing/">From Start-Up Employee to Millionaire: A Success Story of Resilience and Smart Investing</a></li> <li><strong>Fifty-fifth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/25-year-old-software-engineers-investment-journey-from-stocks-to-mutual-funds-and-beyond/">25-Year-Old Software Engineer’s Investment Journey: From Stocks to Mutual Funds and Beyond</a></li> <li><strong>Fifty-sixth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/crossing-the-million-mark-our-journey-to-the-first-crore/">Crossing the Million Mark: Our Journey to the First Crore</a></li> <li><strong>Fifty-seventh</strong> <strong>audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/navigating-market-volatility-how-an-it-professional-transformed-his-investment-approach-for-retirement/">Navigating Market Volatility: How an IT Professional Transformed His Investment Approach for Retirement</a></li> <li><strong>Fifty-eighth audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/how-sahil-achieved-a-10x-retirement-corpus-by-efficient-portfolio-tracking/">How Sahil achieved a 10X retirement corpus by efficient portfolio tracking</a></li> <li><strong>Fifty-ninth</strong> <strong>audit</strong>: <a href="https://freefincal.com/how-i-achieved-financial-freedom-by-45-without-onsite-assignments-or-esops/">How I achieved financial freedom by 45 without onsite assignments or ESOPs</a></li> <li><strong>Sixtieth audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/building-wealth-on-a-government-salary-lessons-learned/">Building Wealth on a Government Salary: Lessons Learned</a></li> <li><strong>Sixty-first audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/minimalism-index-funds-and-staying-calm-my-investing-journey-at-28/">Minimalism, Index Funds, and Staying Calm: My Investing Journey at 28</a></li> <li><strong>Sixty-second audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/building-wealth-and-breaking-barriers-how-swati-took-control-of-her-financial-future/">Building Wealth and Breaking Barriers: How Swati Took Control of Her Financial Future</a></li> <li><strong>Sixty-third audit: </strong><a href="https://freefincal.com/my-financial-journey-how-i-missed-the-compounding-bus/">My financial journey: How I missed the Compounding Bus!</a></li> <li><strong>Sixty-fourth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/my-mf-investment-journey-from-thematic-funds-to-a-3-fund-portfolio/">My MF investment journey: From thematic funds to a 3-fund portfolio</a></li> <li><strong>Sixty-fifth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/from-debt-to-%e2%82%b91-crore-liquid-net-worth-my-journey-of-financial-awareness/">From Debt to ₹1 Crore Liquid Net Worth: My Journey of Financial Awareness</a>.</li> <li><strong>Sixty-sixth audit:</strong> <a href="https://freefincal.com/my-path-from-early-investing-struggles-to-financial-freedom-and-wisdom/">My Path from Early Investing Struggles to Financial Freedom and Wisdom</a>.</li> </ul> <p>These published audits have had a compounding effect on readers. If you would like to contribute to the DIY community in this manner, send your audits to freefincal AT Gmail. You can also publish them anonymously.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://freefincal.com/a-late-starters-journey-regrets-mistakes-and-a-fresh-plan-at-39/">A Late Starter’s Journey: Regrets, Mistakes and a Fresh Plan at 39</a> appeared first on <a href="https://freefincal.com">freefincal</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">329477</post-id> </item>
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