The 4 Seasons of Wealth – Where Are You Now?

Byadmin

I often tell my clients that wealth is like nature, it doesn’t grow in a straight line. It moves in cycles, just like the four seasons.

If you understand which season you’re in, choose better, skip costly errors, prepare for the future.

Let’s walk through each one and see where you stand today.

1. Spring

This is when a farmer sows seeds. The soil is fertile, the possibilities are endless but nothing grows overnight.

In wealth terms, Spring is your early working years.

You’re earning, maybe not much at first, but you have time on your side.

Every rupee you invest is a seed. Through compounding, these seeds grow into trees that bear fruit later.

If you invest ₹50,000 monthly from age 25 at a 12% yearly interest rate, you’ll reach almost ₹4.95 crore by age 45. You won’t need to do anything special. But start 10 years later, and you’ll have only about ₹76 lakh in the same period. That’s the difference between sowing seeds in the right season and waiting too long.

Key focus in Spring:
  • Build habits.
  • Invest consistently.
  • Learn the basics.
  • Avoid the temptation to “pull out” your seeds before they sprout.

2. Summer

The farmer’s seeds have sprouted, but now come the weeds, pests, and storms. The crop needs care, watering, and protection.

In wealth terms, Summer is your growth and mid-career stage.

Your income is higher. But your responsibilities are too. You have home loans, kids’ education, and lifestyle upgrades to manage.

Market volatility, bad financial products, or poor decisions can damage your “crop.”

Many people in their 30s and 40s get caught in the “lifestyle trap.” They often upgrade cars, buy bigger houses too quickly, or take on too much debt. If your expenses grow as quickly as your income, you might have no savings. This can happen even if you earn crores over the years.

Key focus this summer:

  • Protect your wealth with insurance.

  • Diversify your investments.

  • Avoid impulsive spending.

Just like a farmer uses pesticides to protect crops, build a firewall. Keep bad advice and risky bets away from your portfolio.

3. Autumn

The farmer now reaps the benefits of patience. Years of careful tending pay off but harvesting too early or too late can hurt the yield.

In wealth terms, Autumn is your pre-retirement stage (50s to early 60s).

You’re at your peak earning years.

This is when you consolidate, pay off debts, and shift from aggressive growth to stability.

Example: If you have ₹60 crores by age 55 and plan to retire at 60, shift some money to safer assets. This helps balance growth and security. Too much equity can lead to sleepless nights. Too little can let inflation erode your wealth.

Key focus in Autumn:
  • Rebalance.
  • Reduce unnecessary risks.
  • Ensure your assets are aligned to your upcoming cash flow needs.

4. Winter

In winter, the farmer stores the harvest, keeps it safe, and uses it wisely to last until the next planting season.

In wealth terms, Winter is your retirement stage.

The focus is no longer on growing aggressively, it’s on preserving and distributing.

You live off your investments, pensions, or rental income.

Example: If your retirement fund is ₹25 crore and you take out 5% each year (₹1.25 crore), you need a smart plan. This plan should make sure your money lasts over 25 years, even with inflation.

Key focus in Winter:

  • Cash flow management

  • Estate planning

  • Smooth wealth transfer to the next generation

Why Knowing Your Season Matters?

Just as a farmer doesn’t plant wheat in winter, you shouldn’t make financial moves that don’t fit your life stage.

I’ve seen people in their 20s play it too safe and miss chances to grow. I’ve also seen retirees take big risks for higher returns. Both can lead to regret.

Ask yourself today:

Am I planting, nurturing, harvesting, and preserving my money?

Am I making decisions suited to my current season or am I out of step with nature’s rhythm?

Because wealth, like nature, rewards those who respect its seasons.