A special session designed for Sisters, Mothers & Daughters to understand the power of financial independence.
Under the programme Industry Youth Connect – 2026 – A session on Women Empowerment through Financial Knowledge & Wisdom was conducted on March 18, 2026, by guest speakers Mr. Mahesh Kalekar and Ms. Sonal Padwal from SBI Life, focusing on the theme of transitioning from a “saving” mindset to an “investing” mindset. A total of 73 students attended the session, making it an engaging and interactive event.
The session began by emphasizing that an individual’s most valuable asset is their income-earning capacity, which directly determines their standard of living and long-term financial stability. The speakers highlighted the challenges faced by the “sandwich generation” who often struggle to balance responsibilities of supporting their children, caring for elderly parents, and managing household expenses. They raised a thought-provoking concern about how individuals tend to plan for everyone else but often neglect planning for their own financial future.
A clear distinction was drawn between saving and investing, where savings were described as a tool for security and liquidity, while investments were emphasized as a means for wealth creation. The traditional belief that gold is the safest investment was questioned, with the speakers explaining that equity investments have historically delivered better long-term returns and are more effective in building wealth.
To support this, the session presented a comparative analysis of various asset classes over several decades, demonstrating that the stock market has consistently outperformed options like fixed deposits, PPF, gold, and real estate, particularly in generating returns above inflation. The speakers also introduced the concept of India currently being in a “Vishnu Phase,” representing a period of growth and stability driven by factors such as a young population, rapid digitalization, and increasing global economic significance.
The session concluded with practical investment strategies, including the power of Systematic Investment Plans (SIP), where consistent monthly investments can grow into substantial wealth over time, and a long-term “dream corpus” plan demonstrating how disciplined investing and compounding can create significant financial outcomes.
Overall, the session served as an insightful and motivating experience, encouraging participants to shift their mindset, start investing early, and adopt disciplined financial planning to achieve long-term wealth creation and financial independence.
