Latest news with #WisdomHatch
India Today
3 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Middle class has eroded: Startup founder flags growing financial stress in India
Akshat Shrivastava, a startup founder and financial educator, has sparked a significant conversation regarding the financial decline of India's middle class. Through a detailed post on LinkedIn, Shrivastava reflected on the financial stability experienced by families in the 1990s compared to the financial anxieties faced by today's working professionals. "When I was growing up, my parents in their mid-30s were able to buy a patch of land, build their own house. All on modest income," he described a past era where families, despite modest earnings, enjoyed a sense of financial security. "We never ate at a 5-star restaurant or imagined studying abroad," he recalled, adding that conversations at home focused on everyday topics rather than financial worries. "Dinner conversations were never about money, finance, debt or spending. They were about food, politics, school life, and general chit-chat."In contrast, Shrivastava argues that the current financial landscape is vastly different for many middle-class families. "People are deeply stressed about finances," he stated, highlighting a mere 0.4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in salaries over the past decade for those earning between 5 lakh to 1 crore annually. This stagnation, coupled with increasing living costs, has left many disillusioned. Shrivastava, founder of Wisdom Hatch, pointed out that the pressures of stagnant wages and high costs are pushing people towards riskier financial behaviours. "There's a reason why people are aggressively turning towards FnO, Dream11 and astrology. Not because they want quick money, but because they're stressed—and they gotta take chances," he financial strain, according to Shrivastava, has profound implications on the perceived security of the middle class, which traditionally prioritised home ownership. "If after working 30 years in an okay job, you can't own an okay home, you know that things are NOT okay," he observed, emphasising the disconnect between long-held aspirations and current post has resonated widely, reflecting the sentiments of many urban professionals who feel that despite adhering to societal norms and working diligently, the promise of middle-class security is slipping away. This sentiment is underscored by the fall in household savings, which have dropped significantly, reflecting the financial stress at a macro erosion of financial stability, as Shrivastava highlighted, indicates a shift in the middle class's ability to maintain its traditional lifestyle without resorting to financial risks or compromises. This shift calls for a re-evaluation of financial strategies to ensure long-term security and stability.
India Today
09-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Your Rs 1 crore flat is now Rs 90 lakh: Investor explains why value is shrinking
What if your 1 crore flat quietly dropped to 90 lakh in value—and you didn't even notice? Akshat Shrivastava, founder of Wisdom Hatch, says this is already happening, not just to homes but to your savings a post on X, he warns that money is losing its real worth because of something called currency devaluation. "Imagine that your 2BHK flat is worth 1 crore. The next year, its value falls to 90 lakh. How would you feel?"advertisementHe added, "What if I tell you: this is actually happening; without you even taking a note of this. One key way this happens is called the devaluation of your currency."WHAT IS CURRENCY DEVALUATION? In simple words, it means your money is losing value. Earlier, currencies used to weaken compared to each other. But today, they're also losing value against things like gold, Bitcoin (BTC), and other limited-supply does this happen? Because governments can print unlimited money and they are doing exactly that. "Governments right now can print as much money as they wish. And, guess what? They are doing it," he practice has been notably observed with the US Federal Reserve's actions post-COVID, where 20% of the country's money supply was printed within a year. "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," Shrivastava explained. advertisement With many individuals distracted by daily life, Shrivastava argues that most remain oblivious to these economic shifts. "People don't protest. Because most of them don't bother with economics. Cricket and politics keep them busy."To combat this erosion of wealth, he advocated for investments in assets that resist inflation. "Stocks, (good quality) real estate, gold, and Bitcoin are all hedges," he wrote, though he cautioned that even these are not foolproof if mistimed. Citing Bitcoin, he noted, "If you would have bought BTC on its 2021 high, you would have made 0% returns for 3 years. This is despite the fact that BTC is an asset that the CAGR on BTC over the last 10 years has been 88%."The real challenge, according to Shrivastava, lies not only in selecting the right assets but also in knowing how and when to act. He observed, "Problem is 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 on the sidelines and how to book profits and rotate capital."Ignoring inflation risks while defending a favourite asset class could lead to significant losses. He warned, "People are too busy proving that their 'asset class' is the best! As a result, every year, their wealth keeps going down (in real terms)."
News18
06-06-2025
- Business
- News18
Financial Expert Cites Data On India Creating ‘More Billionaires'. Here's Why Netizens Are Worried
Last Updated: Reacting to the post, a user noted that India appears to be skipping the middle-class wealth-building phase, unlike most developed economies. India is rapidly evolving, especially in the world of business. With a surge in entrepreneurship, more people are starting their own ventures and building wealth. Recently, Akshat Shrivastava, YouTuber and founder of Wisdom Hatch, shared some compelling insights on India's growing economic landscape. According to him, while India still has fewer billionaires and millionaires compared to global giants like the US and China, the pace at which new billionaires are emerging paints a promising picture. It reflects the expanding business opportunities and the dynamic nature of India's startup and investment ecosystem. 'India has roughly 250 billionaires, just half that of China (which has roughly 520 billionaires). But, the data is very interesting for millionaires (in USD): The US has 22 million millionaires (25X that of India), China has 6 million millionaires (7X that of India), India has 850K millionaires," Akshat wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He pointed out that billionaires are being created faster than millionaires in India. 'One could become a millionaire from a job. But, it is unlikely that one would become a billionaire from a job. India is a land of business opportunities, not necessarily job opportunities," he wrote. Take a look at his post here: Akshat's post quickly gained traction online, sparking a flurry of reactions from social media users. A user commented, 'India is a land of big opportunities. People are mostly focused on jobs that too low-paying. Start-ups and many a businesses get started to take Govt subsidies and cheap loans that seldom get repaid. For others, long-term vision, no handwork, no research and ultimately they fail." Another said, 'Fair, but India is still early in its wealth cycle. A decade ago, we had around 200K millionaires, today it's 850K. Much of the new wealth is tied up in unlisted startups, family businesses, and real estate, which global data often misses. Also, it doesn't make sense to compare India with the US or China, very different timelines, markets, and maturity levels." 'It probably has a lot to do with the growing startup culture, with companies becoming unicorns quickly — and also failing just as fast," a person shared. An individual said, 'India doesn't lack ambition. It lacks systems that scale ambition. Until startups > Sarkari (government) jobs in mindset and money, this gap will stay." Another comment read, 'That's a telling stat, India's billionaire boom is outpacing its millionaire growth, and that says a lot about the nature of wealth creation here. Jobs might get you comfort, but businesses are what bend the curve." The World Wealth Report 2025 by Capgemini Research Institute noted that India added over 33,000 new millionaires in just one year. The number of High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) in India grew by 5.6 per cent, reaching 378,810, which is up from around 345,000 in 2023. First Published: June 06, 2025, 15:12 IST
News18
06-06-2025
- Business
- News18
Financial Expert Calls India A Land Of Business Opportunities
Last Updated: Akshat Shrivastava shared some interesting facts about how wealth is growing in India compared to other countries. India is rapidly evolving, especially in the world of business. With a surge in entrepreneurship, more people are starting their own ventures and building wealth. Recently, Akshat Shrivastava, YouTuber and founder of Wisdom Hatch, shared some compelling insights on India's growing economic landscape. According to him, while India still has fewer billionaires and millionaires compared to global giants like the US and China, the pace at which new billionaires are emerging paints a promising picture. It reflects the expanding business opportunities and the dynamic nature of India's startup and investment ecosystem. 'India has roughly 250 billionaires, just half that of China (which has roughly 520 billionaires). But, the data is very interesting for millionaires (in USD): The US has 22 million millionaires (25X that of India), China has 6 million millionaires (7X that of India), India has 850K millionaires," Akshat wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He pointed out that billionaires are being created faster than millionaires in India. 'One could become a millionaire from a job. But, it is unlikely that one would become a billionaire from a job. India is a land of business opportunities, not necessarily job opportunities," he wrote. Take a look at his post here: A user commented, 'India is a land of big opportunities. People are mostly focused on jobs that too low-paying. Start-ups and many a businesses get started to take Govt subsidies and cheap loans that seldom get repaid. For others, long-term vision, no handwork, no research and ultimately they fail." Another said, 'Fair, but India is still early in its wealth cycle. A decade ago, we had around 200K millionaires, today it's 850K. Much of the new wealth is tied up in unlisted startups, family businesses, and real estate, which global data often misses. Also, it doesn't make sense to compare India with the US or China, very different timelines, markets, and maturity levels." 'It probably has a lot to do with the growing startup culture, with companies becoming unicorns quickly — and also failing just as fast," a person shared. An individual said, 'India doesn't lack ambition. It lacks systems that scale ambition. Until startups > Sarkari (government) jobs in mindset and money, this gap will stay." Another comment read, 'That's a telling stat, India's billionaire boom is outpacing its millionaire growth, and that says a lot about the nature of wealth creation here. Jobs might get you comfort, but businesses are what bend the curve." The World Wealth Report 2025 by Capgemini Research Institute noted that India added over 33,000 new millionaires in just one year. The number of High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWIs) in India grew by 5.6 per cent, reaching 378,810, which is up from around 345,000 in 2023. First Published:
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Billionaire boom: This financial adviser says India is minting billionaires much faster than millionaires across the world
India's wealth creation is speeding up—but it's not what most people think. The real shift isn't just more millionaires. It's the speed at which billionaires are being created. Financial expert and Wisdom Hatch founder Akshat Shrivastava put it plainly: 'India has roughly 250 billionaires, just half that of China (which has roughly 520 billionaires),' he posted on X (formerly Twitter). 'But, the data is very interesting for millionaires (in USD): The US has 22 million millionaires (25X that of India), China has 6 million millionaires (7X that of India), India has 850K millionaires.' Then came the clincher: 'One could become a millionaire from a job. But, it is unlikely that one would become a billionaire from a job. India is a land of business opportunities, not necessarily job opportunities.' Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo — Akshat_World (@Akshat_World) The message is clear: India is building a new class of wealth not from employment, but from enterprise. Live Events India's wealth class is expanding, and fast The World Wealth Report 2025, released by the Capgemini Research Institute , backs Shrivastava's view with data. India's population of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) grew by 5.6% in 2024. Their total investable wealth? It rose 8.8%. By the end of 2024, India had 378,810 millionaires, with a combined asset base of $1.5 trillion. While this number still trails Japan's 3.99 million millionaires ($9.9 trillion) and China's 1.5 million ($7.9 trillion), India posted one of the highest regional growth rates in both wealth and millionaire count. The 'millionaire next door' segment—Indians with assets between $1 million and $5 million—now includes 333,340 people, together holding nearly $629 billion. At the top end, India counted 4,290 ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), each with over $30 million in assets. In contrast, China has 22,780 and Japan has 13,620 UHNWIs. A tectonic generational shift But what's driving this shift? Inheritance plays a big part. According to the report, 50 percent of Indian HNWIs will receive inherited wealth by 2030. By 2040, that figure is expected to reach 93 percent. This transfer of wealth is changing how India's young rich manage money. Offshore investment is now a key focus. Nearly all—98 percent—of next-gen HNWIs plan to grow their offshore assets by more than 10 percent by 2030. Why move wealth abroad? Forty-nine percent cited more favourable tax or political conditions. Others pointed to better investment choices (55 percent), higher quality services (65 percent), and stronger market access (54 percent). For younger HNWIs, the decision to relocate isn't just financial—it's strategic. Fifty-nine percent of Gen Z Indian HNWIs have already changed their tax residency for inheritance planning, well above the global average of 39 percent. Digital demands and the future of wealth management The next generation of Indian wealth is digital-first. Among young HNWIs, 85 percent say they will switch their wealth managers within one to two years—higher than the global average of 81 percent. The top complaints? Lack of digital service channels (51 percent) and substandard digital transaction tools (41 percent). Yet personal connection still matters: 67 percent said they would follow their existing relationship manager to a new firm. Demands vary across age groups. Seventy-six percent of Indian millennial HNWIs expect top-tier digital services. Among Gen Z, the figure is 52 percent. Millennials are also the most likely to want personalised service—70 percent say it's important. That drops slightly for Gen Z (60 percent) and Gen X (49 percent). What the wealthy are buying HNWI portfolios globally are shifting, and India's wealthy are paying close attention. As of January 2025, 25–28 percent of holdings were in cash. Fixed income took up 19 percent. Real estate held 16–19 percent, and equities made up 20–25 percent. Alternative investments—venture capital, private equity, hedge funds—are also gaining ground. They now account for 14–17 percent of portfolios, especially among younger investors. Millennials in particular are showing a stronger appetite for these higher-risk, higher-reward options. India's new wealthy aren't following the old playbook. They're rewriting it. Driven by enterprise, boosted by inheritance, and demanding global options with digital ease, they are changing what it means to be wealthy in modern India. They're not just chasing growth. They're shaping it. And that, perhaps, is the most powerful shift of all.
