From ₹5000/month to Financial Freedom: The Journey, Investment Breakup, Passive Income

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What does it really take to achieve financial freedom?
In this episode, we sit down with Manoj Arora, a former IBM project executive who left the corporate grind to become a full-time author, investor, and financial freedom coach, from ₹5,100/month at L&T in 1994 to ₹3.5–4 lakhs/month before quitting his job.

Hosted by Devanshu Verma, an IIT-BHU & IIM-Calcutta alumnus, this episode dives deep into Manoj’s journey of leaving a secure IT career to build multiple passive income streams and a life of true independence.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How he built his financial freedom corpus through Fixed Deposits, PPF, Mutual Funds, and Direct Stocks (no real estate!)

2. The 3 steps to start your own financial freedom journey in your 30s

3. Common mistakes people make while chasing financial freedom (and how to avoid them)

4. How he grew his passive income to 10+ lakhs/month after quitting corporate life

5. Why frugality, discipline, and boredom are the hidden prices of freedom

6. Practical advice for both young professionals and retirees

Manoj also shares how content creation, book writing, and even Twitter became income streams post-freedom, proving that passion can turn into profit when aligned with discipline.

Whether you’re 30 and just starting, or 50 and planning retirement, this conversation is packed with actionable insights, real numbers, and life-changing perspectives.

Timestamps:

0:00 - 0:42 = Trailer
0:43 - 1:30 = Introducing Manoj Arora
1:31 - 4:16 = Pros and Cons of the Corporate life
4:17 - 5:47 = Salary Progression
5:48 - 6:43 = How did the financial freedom journey start?
6:44 - 10:01 = Investment Break-up
10:02 - 12:00 = Journey with Passive Income projects
12:01 - 12:55 = Growth in Passive Income
12:56 - 17:03 = Common Mistakes People Make
17:04 - 17:44 = Passion Project - Kalpavriksha
17:45 - 18:51 = Learnings and Final Words