'₹80K in FD, ₹40K in F&O': Ankur Warikoo shares story of 26-year-old 'caught between two generations' definitions of financial independence'

Entrepreneur Ankur Warikoo has triggered a debate on financial literacy and investing after sharing the story of a 26-year-old caught between traditional saving advice and high-risk trading trends.

In a post on social media, Warikoo said he spoke to a young professional who had Rs 80,000 parked in a fixed deposit (FD) earning 5.5% interest and another Rs 40,000 invested in futures and options (F&O) despite not fully understanding how the segment works.

Recalling the conversation, Warikoo wrote: "I was talking to a 26yr old this morning about his financial situation.

He has 80K in an FD earning 5.5%. And 40k in F&O positions he did not fully understand. I asked him why.
He said: The FD is what my father told me to do. F&O is what my friends are doing. He is not confused about money.
He is caught between two generations' definitions of financial independence. That is a harder problem than financial literacy."

Warikoo's post quickly gained traction, with several users cautioning against investing in the derivatives market without understanding the associated risks.

One user argued that the Rs 40,000 invested in F&O was "at heavy risk" if the investor had simply bought options without a proper strategy. The user suggested that the money could have been invested in a debt ETF and used as collateral for more structured trading strategies instead of buying call (CE) or put (PE) options outright.


Another commenter said many retail investors enter the F&O segment because their peers are doing so, often without understanding the risks involved. The user added that equity investing remains one of the best long-term wealth creation tools and stressed that building wealth requires patience, discipline and time rather than chasing quick gains through derivatives.

A Chartered Financial Analyst also weighed in, saying that many people lack a clear investment strategy and instead rely on "borrowed opinions." According to the user, genuine confidence in managing money comes from understanding one's own financial decisions rather than copying others.

Another social media user highlighted the contrast between the two investments, noting that while the fixed deposit was intended to provide safety, its returns were being eroded by inflation. At the same time, the F&O investment represented a high-risk bet in a market the investor did not fully understand, creating what the user described as a "double whammy" of lost purchasing power and excessive risk.