Financial Planning Guide for Beginners (2026) | SIP, Mutual Funds & Money Mistakes

Most people in India are winging it with their money, no plan, no system, just SIPs on autopilot and hope. This is the finance guide you wish someone gave you at 22. You'll leave knowing exactly how to think about investing, saving, and building wealth from a CA who does this for a living. In this episode, Sonia Kotak sits down with CA Mahima Vachhrajani (Chartered Accountant, News Anchor at NDTV Profit) to break down the power of compounding, the Age Minus 10 rule for portfolio allocation, the 50-20-30 rule for spending vs saving, how to research mutual funds and stocks properly, SIP vs STP for long-term goals, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana vs mutual funds, retirement planning, and the biggest money mistakes people in their 20s and 30s make. Whether you're just starting out, feeling behind, or trying to fix your financial habits, start here. CAGR calculator links: https://groww.in/calculators/cagr-cal... https://www.icicidirect.com/calculato... https://cleartax.in/s/cagr-calculator 🕐 TIMESTAMPS 0:00 How to research before investing in stocks or mutual funds 2:03 Mahima's own relationship with money growing up 5:21 How Mahima chose finance as a career (and would she do it again) 7:52 Teaching an 8-year-old to invest through pocket money 10:36 How to research mutual funds and stocks properly 15:45 The real cost of raising a child in urban India 17:54 Power of compounding explained simply 19:32 Education inflation and rising school fees 23:49 Insurance and emergency fund before pregnancy 26:13 Hidden postpartum and recovery costs no one talks about 30:09 The 50-20-30 rule for saving and spending 31:45 Biggest money mistakes people in their 20s and 30s make 37:00 How couples in their 30s should start investing if they haven't yet 39:15 SIP calculations for education and marriage goals 42:11 Retirement planning alongside child planning 47:37 Common mistakes parents make when talking to kids about money 50:14 Three money habits every parent should teach their child 50:59 Best apps for mutual funds, stocks, and international investing 🎙️ GUEST CA Mahima Vachhrajani — Chartered Accountant & News Anchor, NDTV Profit Instagram: @ca.mahima.vachhrajani   / ca.mahima.vachhrajani   📲 FOLLOW SONIA Host: Sonia Kotak Instagram: @mom.unnmuted   / moms.unnmuted   Instagram: @mommyadventures_with_raahat   / mommyadventures_with_raahat   Subscribe to Sonia Kotak for real conversations on parenting, money, and everything in between. Like, comment, and share if this helped you. #FinancialPlanningIndia #InvestingIndia #MomsUnmuted #SIPIndia #MoneyRulesIndia