The Long Game

Mihir Shah
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Conversations about financial independence, investing, and the journey to financial freedom. The Long Game is a podcast about financial independence, investing, and the real stories behind building long-term wealth. In each episode, I speak with people who are on the path to financial freedom—or have already achieved it—to understand the decisions, strategies, and lessons that shaped their journey. We explore how they approached investing, the mindset shifts that helped them think long term, and the mistakes that taught them the most. Instead of chasing quick wins or get-rich-quick ideas, The Long Game focuses on thoughtful conversations about building wealth, making smarter financial decisions, and designing a life where money gives you more freedom and optionality. If you're interested in financial independence, investing, and learning from people who have thoughtfully built wealth over time, this podcast is for you. New conversations released regularly.

  1. 6d ago

    ₹2,500 Salary to ₹10 Crore: The Mistakes That Built His Wealth

    Most people hear “₹10 crore corpus” and assume the person must have had a high-paying job, inheritance, or one lucky investment. But Prasad sir’s journey started with a salary of just ₹2,500 per month. In this episode of The Long Game, we talk about how he went from struggling in Bengaluru, working two jobs, sleeping in office, and cycling long distances for work — to building a ₹10 crore+ corpus through discipline, investing, patience, and hard-earned money lessons. We discuss: What life was like on a ₹2,500/month salaryWhy he had to work a second job at nightHow he started saving before he understood investingWhy starting early matters so muchWhat he learned from the 2008 market crashThe real estate scam that changed how he looks at moneyRed flags to check before buying land or propertyWhy he says not to rush into buying a home too earlyWhy physical gold may not be the investment people think it isReal estate vs equitiesWhy liquidity matters in an emergencyWhy he still wants to work even after building a strong corpusWhat financial freedom means beyond retirementThis is not a story about overnight wealth. It is a story about discipline, mistakes, patience, and learning how money actually works. If you'd like to share your story with us, please fill out the form: https://forms.gle/Ha9nEbXyJWm3ow4x7 If you would like to connect with us and share your feedback, please drop an email at financewithmihir@gmail.com

    ₹2,500 Salary to ₹10 Crore: The Mistakes That Built His Wealth

  2. Jul 18

    He Built ₹15 Crore as a Salaried Employee — Then Work Became Optional

    He Built ₹15 Crore as a Salaried Employee — Then Work Became Optional YouTube Description: Most salaried Indians think financial freedom needs a business, inheritance, or one lucky investment. But Amrendra Shukla built a ₹15 crore net worth while being a salaried professional. In this episode of The Long Game, we talk about how he thinks about financial independence, passive income, real estate, debt, income growth, and why he believes work becomes optional only when your monthly cash flow is sorted. We discuss: How he knew he was financially freeWhy he did not chase a fixed FIRE numberWhy passive income mattered more than net worthHow ₹2–2.5 lakh/month can create comfort in India if your house and debt are sortedHow he built predictable monthly cash flowWhy he avoided large EMIs and home loansWhy he bought smaller, more liquid investment propertiesWhy he rented his own home instead of buying too earlyReal estate vs equity for passive incomeWhy he believes young professionals should focus on income growth firstWhy 18–24 months of emergency money can help you take bold career betsWhy discipline matters more than extreme frugalityWhat salaried couples should avoid if they want to copy his real estate pathThis conversation is not about becoming rich overnight. It is about converting salary into assets, assets into cash flow, and cash flow into freedom. If you'd like to share your story with us, please fill out the form: https://forms.gle/Ha9nEbXyJWm3ow4x7 If you would like to connect with us and share your feedback, please drop an email at financewithmihir@gmail.com

    He Built ₹15 Crore as a Salaried Employee — Then Work Became Optional

  3. Jul 10

    This NRI 401k Mistake Cost ₹30 Lakh

    If you are planning to move from the US to India, your 401k, IRA, RSUs, US stocks, brokerage account, and foreign asset reporting can all become complicated very quickly. In this episode of The Long Game, I speak with Megha about the tax mistakes NRIs and returning Indians should avoid after moving back to India. We discuss: Where 401k withdrawals are taxed after moving to IndiaPeriodic withdrawals vs lump sum withdrawalsWhy the 10% early withdrawal penalty can still apply even if you live in IndiaHow to think about 401k and IRA withdrawals during RNOR statusWhy missing the RNOR window can cost lakhsWhether you can keep your US brokerage account after moving to IndiaHow US stocks are taxed after becoming an Indian residentWhy gains may be calculated in INR, not USDHow RSUs are taxed when they vest after moving to IndiaWhat happens if you sell a US house before or after becoming an Indian residentForeign asset reporting in IndiaWhy non-disclosure can create serious penaltiesWhy you may need both a US CPA and an Indian CAThis episode is for education and general awareness only. Please do not treat this as personal tax advice. If you are planning to move from the US to India, speak to a qualified CPA and Indian CA who understand both countries.

    This NRI 401k Mistake Cost ₹30 Lakh

  4. Jun 13

    He Had 125 Mutual Funds… But No Real Financial Plan

    A lot of people think they need more income to feel financially secure. But sometimes the real problem is not income. It is the lack of a real financial plan. In this episode of The Long Game, I speak with Vivek about why financial planning is much more than just investing or retirement planning. Many people earn well, save a little, invest every month, and still feel financially behind. Why? Because they may not have clarity around cash flow, emergency fund, insurance, loans, tax planning, goals, and whether their investments actually match their life. In this conversation, we talk about: Why financial planning is not only for wealthy peopleWhy financial planning is not just investment planningWhat people in their 20s and 30s should fix before chasing FIREWhy employer health insurance may not be enoughWhy fixed deposits may not protect your purchasing power after inflation and taxesWhy buying a house too early can reduce career flexibilityWhy aggressive home loan repayment is not always the best moveWhy too many mutual funds can create more confusion, not more diversificationWhy FIRE can become an escape plan if you don’t know what you want after retirementHow childhood money experiences shape financial behaviorA simple 7-day plan to start organizing your financesThis episode is for anyone who earns decently but still feels financially disorganized. Before you chase FIRE, early retirement, or the next investment trend, fix the foundation first. If you'd like to share your story with us, please fill out the form: https://forms.gle/Ha9nEbXyJWm3ow4x7 If you would like to connect with us and share your feedback, please drop an email at financewithmihir@gmail.com

    He Had 125 Mutual Funds… But No Real Financial Plan

  5. Jun 6

    ₹1 Lakh Salary, No Savings — The EMI Trap Indians Ignore

    A high income does not automatically mean financial strength. Many Indians are earning well, but still feel financially stressed because most of their salary is already committed to EMIs, rent, lifestyle upgrades, loans, and family responsibilities. In this episode of The Long Game, I speak with Megha Bang about the real money problems Indian households face — especially when people look financially successful from the outside but have very little savings, emergency fund, insurance, or investing discipline. We talk about: Why high income does not always reduce money stressHow people get trapped in phone EMIs, car EMIs, home loans, and personal loansWhy total EMIs should ideally stay around 40–45% of incomeWhy home loan EMI should ideally stay around 30–35% of monthly in-hand incomeWhat to check before buying a houseWhy dual income does not automatically mean you should take a bigger home loanWhy upgrading lifestyle after promotion can become a trapThe basics every household should fix: budgeting, emergency fund, insurance, and investingWhat money conversations couples should have before marriageWhy Indian families avoid talking about money with parentsNRI money mistakes around bank accounts, property, taxation, and complianceWhy ULIPs often fail as both insurance and investmentThe warning signs that your lifestyle is controlling youThis conversation is not about looking rich. It is about becoming financially strong. If you'd like to share your story with us, please fill out the form: https://forms.gle/Ha9nEbXyJWm3ow4x7 If you would like to connect with us and share your feedback, please drop an email at financewithmihir@gmail.com

    ₹1 Lakh Salary, No Savings — The EMI Trap Indians Ignore

  6. May 30

    A Finance Professor’s Wife Built 2X His Portfolio — Here’s Why

    A finance professor. A disciplined investor. And one surprising result: his wife’s portfolio became more than 2x his. In this episode of The Long Game, I speak with Dr. Vidhu Shekhar, who has seen finance from academia, banking, private equity, fintech, and behavioral finance. But the most powerful lesson from this conversation is surprisingly simple: Personal finance is not stock picking. A lot of smart salaried people think investing means finding the next hot stock, chasing IPOs, timing trends, or following what everyone is talking about online. But Dr. Shekhar explains why that approach often hurts people more than it helps. In this conversation, we discuss: Why personal finance is different from active investingWhy stock picking is a full-time professionHow his wife built more than 2x his portfolio through disciplined investingWhy boring investments often create better long-term wealthWhy FOMO and loss aversion destroy investor returnsWhy SIP discipline matters more than knowing everythingWhat young earners should do first: health insurance, SIP, and simple allocationWhy Instagram finance advice can be oversimplified or misleadingHow AI may change finance careersThe one principle he would use to build long-term wealthThis episode is not about getting rich quickly. It is about building wealth the boring, disciplined, practical way — and avoiding the mistakes that smart people keep making. If you'd like to share your story with us, please fill out the form: https://forms.gle/Ha9nEbXyJWm3ow4x7 If you would like to connect with us and share your feedback, please drop an email at financewithmihir@gmail.com

    A Finance Professor’s Wife Built 2X His Portfolio — Here’s Why

  7. May 23

    ₹1.7 Cr Is Enough to Retire? The FIRE Math Most Indians Miss

    Financial freedom sounds simple online: save, invest, hit your FIRE number, retire. But what if the number itself is the wrong starting point? In this episode of The Long Game, I sit down with Husslefreewealth / Pankaj Sir to talk about the real math behind financial independence in India — and why random targets like ₹1 Cr, ₹5 Cr, or ₹10 Cr can be misleading if you don’t understand your expenses, real return, asset allocation, inflation, and health costs. We also discuss his own journey from buying a house under family pressure, paying a huge EMI, making mistakes like ULIPs and home loan prepayment, questioning SIPs, and eventually achieving financial independence at 39. In this conversation, we cover: Why your FIRE number depends on expenses, not social media formulasWhether ₹1.7 Cr can actually be enough to retire in IndiaWhy real return matters more than headline market returnsWhy SIP may not be ideal for every investorActive funds vs index fundsWhy health insurance alone may not protect your retirementHow lifestyle comparison quietly destroys wealthThe simple question he asks before spending moneyWhat financial freedom actually changes after you reach itThis is not generic retirement advice. It is a practical conversation about how real people should think about money, freedom, spending, risk, and enough. If you’re serious about financial independence in India, this episode will make you rethink your number. If you'd like to share your story with us, please fill out the form: https://forms.gle/Ha9nEbXyJWm3ow4x7 If you would like to connect with us and share your feedback, please drop an email at financewithmihir@gmail.com

    ₹1.7 Cr Is Enough to Retire? The FIRE Math Most Indians Miss

  8. May 15

    Money & Her: Why Women Must Own Their Financial Choices | Lisa Pallavi Barbora

    What does it really mean for a woman to be financially independent? In this episode, I sit down with Lisa Pallavi Barbora, personal finance expert and author of Money & Her, to explore how money shapes a woman’s confidence, choices, marriage, motherhood, career breaks, and ability to start over during difficult phases of life. We discuss why many educated and earning women still hesitate to take charge of financial decisions, the risk of saying “my husband handles the money,” what every woman should know before marriage, how couples can talk about money without conflict, and what financial planning should happen before motherhood or a career break. Lisa also shares powerful stories from her book, including women rebuilding after crisis, a father who stepped away from a high-responsibility career to raise his child, and the money mistakes women entrepreneurs often make. This is a conversation about financial agency, dignity, safety, and the freedom to make your own choices. If you'd like to share your story with us, please fill out the form: https://forms.gle/Ha9nEbXyJWm3ow4x7 If you would like to connect with us and share your feedback, please drop an email at financewithmihir@gmail.com

    Money & Her: Why Women Must Own Their Financial Choices | Lisa Pallavi Barbora
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About

Conversations about financial independence, investing, and the journey to financial freedom. The Long Game is a podcast about financial independence, investing, and the real stories behind building long-term wealth. In each episode, I speak with people who are on the path to financial freedom—or have already achieved it—to understand the decisions, strategies, and lessons that shaped their journey. We explore how they approached investing, the mindset shifts that helped them think long term, and the mistakes that taught them the most. Instead of chasing quick wins or get-rich-quick ideas, The Long Game focuses on thoughtful conversations about building wealth, making smarter financial decisions, and designing a life where money gives you more freedom and optionality. If you're interested in financial independence, investing, and learning from people who have thoughtfully built wealth over time, this podcast is for you. New conversations released regularly.

Information

  • Creator
    Mihir Shah
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mihir Shah
  • Show Website
    The Long Game