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Overspending on Big Purchases You Think You Can Afford? Don't let one major purchase quietly mess up your journey to financial freedom. Sanjib Saha 20 May 2025 Even if we’re pretty smart about money, almost everyone overspends now and then — only to realize later that what we got wasn’t really worth it. For some, it's a $500 designer bag. For others, it's a fancy meal at a top restaurant, or maybe a slick new car. If you can afford it, no big deal — as long as it’s not happening all the time and you're still keeping your long-term…

Boring Beats Flashy in Investing Sanjib Saha 17 May 2025 Trying to get rich quickly by jumping into the latest “hot” stocks or risky trends might seem exciting — but it’s rarely a winning strategy. In fact, research shows it usually backfires. The tried-and-true path to building wealth is much less glamorous: spend less than you earn, and invest steadily in a low-cost, diversified portfolio. It’s not flashy, but it works — because time and compounding are on your side. Still, it’s easy to get impatient. You hear about someone doubling their money in a biotech stock or tech sector,…

Has your portfolio become too risky without you realizing it? Sanjib Saha 15 May 2025 Most people start their financial journey without much formal education in investing or risk management. They set out with good intentions, but little strategic understanding. As they earn and build wealth, they often pay little attention to hidden risks quietly creeping into their portfolios. This isn’t usually a problem for those who follow basic investment guidelines from the start — but many don’t, and over time, the hidden risks can become costly. One common risk is the unintentional concentration of investments — when too much…

Risk avoidance quietly sabotages long-term wealth building Sanjib Saha 7 May 2025 It’s ironic how essential investment knowledge is to long-term financial success, and yet most of us never learn even the basics in school or afterwards. The result? When it’s time to make important investment decisions, many act based on misconceptions. One of the most misunderstood — and costly — mistakes is avoiding stock market investments out of fear of risk. Instead, many people lean entirely on “safe” options like savings accounts, CDs, or bonds, unknowingly sacrificing future financial growth. Why Avoiding Stock Investments May Hurt Your Finances Being…

... and thereby missing out on the power of compounding Sanjib Saha 27 April 2025 Many of us work hard, live within our means, and make a conscious effort to save money. That’s an admirable habit—and an essential first step toward financial security. Sadly, there’s a common mistake that even the most disciplined savers often make: they stop at saving and never make the leap to investing. Wealth building is a three-legged stool – Earn, Save and Invest. Without the third leg these diligent savers fail to benefit from the tremendous power of compounding growth. At first glance, this doesn’t…

Going on a Road Trip in a New Country Without a Map? Sanjib Saha 18 April 2025 Many of us go through life without a clear vision of what a fulfilling life looks like. I'm not referring to a detailed 50-page document outlining our future, but rather, having a broad perspective on life that helps guide us. As we step into adulthood and get busy with careers and day-to-day activities, having a “50,000-foot view” of where we’re headed can be incredibly helpful. Start with envisioning big life milestones. For a young worker starting out afresh, the milestones might include living…

What Can Derail Your Journey to Financial Security? Sanjib Saha 1 April 2025 I have a kitchen towel that reads: "It’s almost impossible to get rich overnight, but it’s surprisingly easy to build wealth over time." I couldn’t agree more. The formula for long-term wealth is simple—just three fundamental steps: 1. Earn a Reliable Income. Your future earning potential—also known as Human Capital—is your greatest asset when starting out. It doesn’t have to be a massive paycheck, but it should be dependable. Needless to mention, staying employable by keeping up with your field is crucial. 2. Live Below Your Means.…

Five easy steps to figure out your Annual Household Expenses in five minutes Sanjib Saha 20 March 2025 How many of us know our annual household expenses with 90% accuracy? Chances are, we either have a vague number in mind that’s far from the actuals, or no clue at all. Tracking every expense sounds daunting, but if your bank allows transaction downloads, figuring your annual spending is surprisingly simple. Here’s how: Step 1: Download Transactions Most households use a single checking account for payments. Log in and download all transactions from any recent 12-month period (e.g., March 1, 2024 –…

Tariffs, Inflation, Recession, Market Drop – Should We Be Worried? Sanjib Saha 13 March 2025 Everywhere we turn, headlines scream about tariffs, inflation, and a looming recession. It's enough to make any investor nervous. Should we sell? Should we invest in something else? What do we do? Short answer for long-term investors who follow certain basic rules of investing: Tune out the noise and stay calm. Stock market investment is for the long-term – money that you don't need to cash out in several years. Market goes up over the long run, but it can be volatile and uncertain in…

10 Timeless Tips for Achieving Long Term Investment Success — Slowly but Surely Souvik Dey, Sid Roy & Sanjib Saha 25 February 2025 At Dollar Mentor, each of us has a few favorite investment lessons. Some may seem counterintuitive or even insignificant at first, yet they have a profound impact on long-term investment results. Here’s a compilation of our most cherished nuggets of wisdom that guide our personal investment approach. Parking money in a bank account may not be as safe as it seems Unless the bank’s interest rate consistently exceeds the inflation rate—which is rarely the case—your money loses…