The ₹1 crore illusion: Why financial advisor Akshat Shrivastava says your money won't be worth what you think in the future

Time of India

a day ago

Imagine owning a 2BHK flat valued at ₹1 crore. Now imagine that, a year later, without any damage or market crash, its value drops to ₹90 lakh. That kind of loss would feel devastating to most people. But according to finance educator Akshat
Shrivastava
, this is exactly what's happening to your wealth every year—only it's not as visible.
In a post on X, Shrivastava wrote, 'Imagine that your 2BHK flat is worth ₹1 crore. The next year, its value falls to ₹90 lakh. How would you feel? I guess pretty bad, right? What if I tell you: this is actually happening—without you even taking a note of this.'
— Akshat_World (@Akshat_World)
His point is not about real estate prices falling. It's about the value of money itself quietly eroding over time.
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The real culprit: Currency devaluation
Shrivastava explains that the real threat to your wealth is
currency devaluation
. This isn't just about the rupee weakening against the dollar. It's about your money losing its ability to buy the same things it could a year ago. Over time, this loss in purchasing power adds up.
One of the main reasons for this, he says, is that governments can print money whenever they choose. And they often do. After the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, the United States printed nearly 20% of its total money supply in just one year. While this helped stimulate the economy in the short term, it also flooded the system with cash, pushing prices up and reducing the value of existing money.
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Inflation is quiet, but it's costing you
When more money is chasing the same amount of goods and services, prices naturally rise. This is inflation in action. And it's not just a theoretical concept—it affects your everyday life.
Shrivastava breaks it down clearly, 'If the rate of money printing is 10%, and your post-tax deposit rate is 6%, your money is losing 4% of its value each year.'
In simpler terms, if you're keeping your money in a savings account or fixed deposit, and inflation or money printing is rising faster than your interest earnings, you are effectively becoming poorer over time. Your money may appear to grow on paper, but in reality, it buys you less.
Why most people don't notice or care
Despite the seriousness of the issue, Shrivastava believes that most people remain unaware or indifferent. He attributes this to a lack of
financial education
and a general disinterest in economics.
'People don't protest. Because most of them don't bother with economics. Cricket and politics keep them busy,' he said.
This lack of awareness allows inflation to quietly erode wealth year after year, without most people even realising it.
How to defend your wealth
To protect against this slow but steady loss, Shrivastava recommends investing in assets that tend to hold or increase in value over time. These include stocks, high-quality real estate, gold, and Bitcoin.
'Stocks, (good quality) real estate, gold, and Bitcoin are all hedges,' he said.
However, he also cautions that these investments are not risk-free. Timing matters. Buying the right asset at the wrong time can still lead to poor returns.
To illustrate this, he offered a real-world example, 'If you would have bought BTC on its 2021 high, you would have made 0% returns for 3 years—even though its 10-year CAGR is 88%.'
This means that even assets with strong long-term performance can deliver flat or negative returns if purchased without proper analysis or timing.
The bigger problem: Knowing how to invest properly
Shrivastava believes that the real challenge is not just choosing the right assets, but knowing how to invest wisely. This includes understanding when to buy, how to evaluate value, how much to invest, how much cash to keep for emergencies, and when to take profits.
'Most people don't know how to execute these points: what assets to buy when, how to analyse value, how much to buy, how much cash to keep, and how to book profits,' he explained.
Without this knowledge, even the best investment options can fail to protect your wealth.
Practical advice for everyday investors
Shrivastava's advice is straightforward and practical. He encourages people to diversify their investments rather than keeping all their money in one place. He also stresses the importance of learning about economics and financial planning, even if it seems complex or dull at first.
He advises against chasing trends or hype, urging people to focus on value and long-term growth instead. Most importantly, he reminds us that building wealth takes time and discipline—but losing it can happen quickly if we're not careful.
Shrivastava's message is clear and urgent. Inflation is real. Currency devaluation is happening. And if you're not paying attention, your savings may already be worth less than you think.
'Every year, their wealth keeps going down—in real terms,' he warned.
The solution is not panic, but preparation. Stay informed. Invest wisely. And don't let your money sit idle while the world around it changes.