Note: This article is exclusively for Entrepreneurs. Others can read this for academic purpose only.

Last weekend in Bangalore as part of being a NITK Alumni, I spent a few hours with a small group of alumni from NIT Surathkal and NIT Trichy. Most of the participants were entrepreneurs, startup founders, or professionals preparing to take the plunge.

What struck me was not their valuation, their funding, or their business cards. It was their hunger. Their obsession. Their willingness to bet their lives on their ideas.

And it forced me to reflect on something very important: Your best investment is not in the market. It is in yourself.

My summary for these entrepreneurs was as follows:

When you invest in your own business or profession, you are not just investing money. You are investing your time, your youth, your energy, your sleep, your weekends, your peace of mind. And for that, you deserve extraordinary returns.

Never ask a financial advisor whether they can beat your business returns. Your business is not a mutual fund.

When you invest in your own venture, you are compensated for both your capital and your quality time.

When you invest in passive structures like stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, you are compensated only for your capital. Your active quality time is not involved.

If you are spending serious time actively trading stocks, derivatives, or chasing market tips, then be honest: this is a business, not an investment. And, it should produce business-level returns. Otherwise, it is just an expensive distraction.

If you’re trading or market activity is consistently outperforming your core business, then have the courage to admit it. You are in the wrong business. Switch.

Then what is the real role of a Financial Planner?

A Financial Planner is not here to replace your ambition.

He is here to protect your life’s work.

To ensure you are not gambling your entire future on one single engine — your business.

To protect you from medical shocks, accidents, death, disability, and critical illness — because life does not give notice.

To make sure that if something happens to you, your wealth reaches the people you love — smoothly, respectfully, and without chaos.

A true Financial Planner is not a return-chaser. He is a risk manager.

A brutal question every businessman should ask someone (banker/broker/wealth manager/financial adviser) who promises you “very high returns”

“Why don’t you invest in my business instead?” You will get your answer.

Build businesses.

Build skills.

Build value.

And let your financial plan protect what you build.

Happy Financial Planning!

Naveen Julian Rego – CFP®

MD & Principal Officer

Naveen Rego Capital

SEBI Registered Investment Adviser

Reg No: INA000019211

BSE Membership Id: 2178

Financial Planning | Investment Advisory | Wealth Management

www.naveenrego.com

Date: 27-01-2026

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1. Investment in the securities market is subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing.

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