The Two Fathers of Panaji

My dear friend, come, sit. Let me tell you a story about two fathers from our very own Panaji. Both loved their children deeply. Both dreamed of the same thing—a bright future for their sons and daughters. But their journeys to secure that future could not have been more different.

The Safe Harbour of Mr. Joshi

Mr. Joshi was a careful man. For him, money was like a precious vase—it must be kept in the safest place. The moment his daughter, Anjali, was born, he opened a Fixed Deposit in her name. Every year, without fail, he added to it.

He would tell me, "Dr. Celso, I sleep peacefully. I know my money is safe. The bank guarantees it." And he was right. His money was safe. But was his daughter's future?

I see the interest rates, Dr. Celso. They are like the tide—they go out, and sometimes, they don't come all the way back in.

Years passed. The cost of a good engineering college soared like a kite in the monsoon wind. Mr. Joshi's FD, while growing steadily, was now chasing a dream that was running much, much faster.

The Journey of Mr. Fernandes

Now, let's talk about Mr. Fernandes. He was also a man of principle, but he saw money differently. He saw it as a seed. He knew a seed kept in a locked box remains just a seed. But a seed planted in good soil, given time, can become a mighty tree.

He started a simple SIP in a balanced mutual fund for his son, Rohan's, education. Every month, a small amount was automatically invested.

There were times the market value went down. Mr. Fernandes would feel a knot in his stomach. But he remembered the lesson of the seed. You don't dig it up every day to see if it has grown. You trust the process. You have patience.

The market has its seasons, Dr. Celso. We must have the courage to stay through the winter to enjoy the harvest.

And what a harvest it was. After 15 years, the growth from Mr. Fernandes's disciplined investing had not just kept pace with education costs—it had surpassed them.

The Lesson for Your Family

So, what is the wisdom for us? It is not about one being right and the other wrong. It is about understanding the tools we have.

• Safety has a hidden cost. A Fixed Deposit protects your money from going down, but it also protects it from growing enough to beat inflation over the long term.
• Start a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP). You don't need a large amount. Start with the price of a pizza each month. The magic is not in the amount, but in the consistency.
• Time is your greatest friend. The market's short-term noise is irrelevant when you have a 10 or 15-year goal. Let the power of compounding do the heavy lifting for you.
• Your goal is the captain, not your fear. Make decisions based on where you want your child to be in 15 years, not on the fear of what might happen next month.
• Get educated. Talk to a good financial advisor. Understand the difference between saving and investing. Knowledge is the compass for your financial journey.

A safe deposit today may not secure the future you dream of tomorrow.