Seeing someone flaunt their FI journey on the internet can be inspiring—but don’t lose heart trying to copy them. Everyone’s starting line is different, and the privileges behind their success often go unspoken. Let’s talk about the real factors that shape the FI path, especially in India:
Achieving Financial Independence (FI) isn’t just about smart investing and frugality. A significant, often unacknowledged, factor is privilege. The “financial independence gurus” you see online often benefit from:
Generational Stability: Having parents in secure government jobs, for example, can mean a childhood free from financial worry and a built-in safety net.
Educational Advantage: In India, high-quality education is still a privilege. A strong family background often ensures access to top institutions, or to a life which allows kids to study in an environment that gets them access to those good colleges.
Zero-Debt Beginnings: Imagine starting your career without the burden of an education loan or the immediate pressure to financially support your family. This allows for immense savings from day one.
Parental Independence: When parents own their home, a business, or land, and are not financially dependent on their children, it frees up a massive portion of income for personal savings and investments at a young age for those kids. This creates a compounding effect that accelerates FI by leaps and bounds.
Most of these successful individuals on platforms like X / Instagram / Youtube possess many, if not all, of these advantages. But sharing them doesn’t make for a “cool” rags-to-riches narrative. It would reveal they started their “100-meter dash” from the 60-meter mark.
Don’t lose heart. Understand that your journey is unique, and recognizing the role of privilege helps you set realistic goals and appreciate your own progress, no matter where you started.
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