Become a student of wealth, study both success and failure: Rohit Sarin

The workshop Ways of Getting Rich was led by Rohit Sarin, author of Unlocking Wealth: Secrets to Getting Rich at Any Age. A banker-turned-entrepreneur with nearly three decades of experience in wealth management, Rohit spoke about the changing nature of wealth creation in India. The session was aimed at participants between the ages of 20 and 60, though the audience included people well beyond that range, with one participant aged 72.

Rohit began by noting that as India becomes more affluent, the need for professional wealth management has grown. Earlier, he said, wealth creation was largely confined to industrial families and physical assets rather than financial instruments. With economic expansion, wealth creators now include senior executives, sportspersons, consultants and first-generation entrepreneurs. “Anybody can be a wealth creator,” he said, emphasising that wealth is no longer restricted to those born into it.

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Several audience members raised questions about age and access. Ramshankar, 57, working in water conservation, asked whether wealth could be created later in life and whether it could equip him to help others in his circles. Rohit responded that the first step was to “become a student of wealth”, study both success and failure, and adapt over time. “If you chase Lakshmi, she will run away. If you chase Saraswati, knowledge, Lakshmi will follow,” he said.

A recurring theme throughout the session was compounding. Rohit underlined this as the most important factor in wealth creation. Staying invested for a minimum of 10 years is essential as this distinguishes investing from trading. He described trading as a zero-sum game in which platforms profit more than individuals. “Sachin Tendulkar played the game for 24 long years,” he said, adding that frequent exits weaken the compounding effect.

Using Warren Buffett and MS Dhoni as examples, Rohit spoke about focus and consistency. Wealth creation comes from solving problems at scale, earning trust and maintaining long-term commitment. Audience questions on market volatility during COVID-19 led to a discussion on asset allocation, liquidity needs and the importance of staying in the market.

In closing, Rohit outlined lifecycle investing — equity-led growth in 20s and 30s, accelerated accumulation in the 40s, and balancing growth and safety in later years. “Whatever your needs, secure that. Let the rest compound,” he said.