‘They know calculus, not compounding’: Bengaluru CA on teaching students about power of early investing

In a world where academic scores often dominate conversations around success, many young people graduate from school without learning the basics of managing money. As appraisal season sparks discussions about salaries, savings, and financial growth, the gap between education and real-world financial knowledge is becoming increasingly visible. A Bengaluru-based chartered accountant recently highlighted this disconnect, pointing out that while students are trained to excel in exams, they are rarely taught how money works, why early investing matters, or how inflation quietly shapes their financial future.

Meenal Goel, a chartered accountant based in Bengaluru, took to social media to reflect on what she sees as a fundamental flaw in the way students are prepared for adulthood. According to her, teenagers today are capable of solving advanced mathematical problems like calculus, yet many reach adulthood without understanding how inflation affects savings or how investments grow over time.

She pointed out that while schools devote years to teaching trigonometry and physics, essential financial topics such as taxation, personal finance, and the power of compounding are largely absent from the curriculum. The result, she argued, is a generation that may excel academically but struggles to make informed decisions about money once they start earning.



To illustrate her point, Goel shared a simple example highlighting the importance of starting early. Investing just Rs 2,000 every month from the age of 18 at an annual return of around 12 per cent could potentially grow into a corpus of roughly Rs 2 crore by the time a person turns 60. However, delaying that same investment by ten years dramatically changes the equation. Starting at 28 would require almost double the monthly investment to achieve the same financial outcome.

For Goel, the issue is not a lack of intelligence but a lack of financial awareness. Many young professionals enter the workforce equipped with degrees and technical knowledge but little understanding of how to manage, invest, or grow the money they begin earning. This knowledge gap can have long-term consequences, particularly in an economy where inflation steadily erodes purchasing power.


She emphasised that financial literacy should no longer be viewed as a skill reserved for the wealthy or financially savvy. Instead, it has become a necessary life skill for everyone. Understanding how money compounds, how taxes work, and how inflation influences savings can significantly shape a person’s financial stability over decades.

Goel also highlighted the contrast between academic achievement and financial independence. Good grades and strong exam results may help someone secure their first job, but long-term financial security depends on how effectively they manage and grow their income after that point. Knowledge about money, she suggested, ultimately determines how much of what people earn they are able to keep and build upon over time.

Internet reacts

The post resonated with many users online, who stressed that financial literacy should be treated as a basic life skill, much like mathematics. Several pointed out that learning about saving, investing, and managing debt early can influence life outcomes far more than many theoretical subjects taught in school. Others highlighted that the biggest advantage in investing is time, as compounding rewards those who start early rather than those who simply invest larger amounts later. Some also noted that education should focus not only on financial formulas but also on practical money habits such as budgeting, investing, and avoiding unnecessary debt.