How I Lost $30K While Protecting Billions

(And Why Your Financial Knowledge Alone Won't Save You)

The irony wasn't lost on me. I was protecting billions in assets of Goldman Sachs' high-net worth-clients, while my own portfolio bled money like a punctured tire.

My entire career, I worked in Goldmans' glass towers - London, Singapore, the whole expat dream. I managed relationships worth billions. I knew the theory behind products and processes inside out. I could explain complex financial instruments to hedge fund managers without breaking a sweat.

But here's what I couldn't do:

The Success Paradox

From the outside, my life looked like a LinkedIn dream. The kind of career that made my Indian immigrant parents proud.

But behind the titles, I felt disconnected.

I lived modestly by expat standards. I wasn’t reckless with spending. And yet, my wealth wasn’t growing. I couldn’t figure out why.

Do you know what made it worse?

Death by a Thousand Cuts

You know people who claim they lost loads overnight? I wish my lesson was that straightforward. Mine felt like death by a thousand cuts.

(Just like yours probably does, too).

Panic selling every time I heard "recession incoming" (which, if you work in capital markets, is approximately every Tuesday).

Paying 1.5-3% in advisory fees and hidden costs for the privilege of watching my money shrink.

Moving funds around like I was playing financial Jenga.

Each time the market wobbled, that fear sat deeper. I'd secretly make changes, thinking I was being smart.

$30K was just what I could track. The real damage? Lost time, lost compound growth, lost peace of mind.

The thrill of my job made financial self-destruction feel... normal.

The Turning Point

After 8 incredible years at Goldman Sachs, I hit a breaking point.

The more senior I became, the more I questioned the kind of personal sacrifices I'd need to make to keep climbing...and whether I'd enjoy this ride far from family.

At the same time, I'd learned more in startup generator that I could actually implement in my life, than in years of Banking.

So I took a long hard look at my finances, and I quit.

The Lightbulb Moment

I moved back home to Tenerife.

Swapped 16-hour days for slower mornings, family dinners, and space to breathe. And in that silence, I finally decided to take control of my finances.

In classic over-achiever fashion: I took courses, met with successful investors, read most books.

Turns out, I already knew a lot of it.

So why wasn’t I investing with confidence?

Because I was paralyzed by:

• Tax complications.
• Fear of getting it wrong.
• Uncertainty around where I’d live next.

The same mind that could navigate billion-dollar custody arrangements was completely frozen when it came to a $10k decision.

That's when I met two advisors who changed everything. No fancy presentations. Just straight talk:

"Invest in two to three index funds. Here's how. Questions?"

They didn't give me space to overthink. Suddenly, I realized the truth that would later become my entire business:

The cognitive dissonance was staggering.

My Transformation

Over the next 6 months, I built a system that changed everything:

• Built a six-figure portfolio with +10% in returns tracking global markets.
• Cut investment fees by 85%, saving thousands per year.
• Reduced time spent managing my money by 95%.
• Went from guilt, shame, and paralysis to clarity, control, and peace.
• Built a system that lets me live fully without financial stress controlling me.

And now? I teach that system to clients across industries through 1:1 financial coaching.

Why This Matters to You

If you're reading this and silently nodding, feeling that knot in your stomach about money just sitting in cash, you're not alone.

78% of professionals live paycheck to paycheck. Even high earners.
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It's not because you don’t earn enough. In fact, you overthink yourself into financial paralysis.

Whether it's finally investing that emergency fund, getting clear on where your money actually goes each month, or building a system that grows your wealth automatically...

You wait for the perfect moment, the perfect strategy, the perfect amount of knowledge.
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Smart people often make the worst investors. Not because you lack intellect. But because you can't get out of your own heads long enough to keep it simple.

Meanwhile, compound interest is working against you every day you delay.

Your Next Step:

That's exactly why I created the 72-Hour Investing Blueprint. Not another dense financial guide, but a simple 4-step system to help you stop overthinking and start building a global investment portfolio in 3 days.

The same approach that finally got me unstuck.

​Get the 72-Hour Investing Blueprint here - it's free​

Endorsed by globally-renowned Certified Financial Planners, like Michael:

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"As a Financial Planner, I'm always skeptical of free investing guides. Until I read Sanam's. It's the most practical, helpful, and jargon-free one to start growing wealth. If you're new to investing, save yourself hours of social media rabbit holes and start here. Thank her later." Michael Yuille, Certified Financial Planner

Reviews are coming in hot:

The Monday Reality Check

If you’ve downloaded the Blueprint but haven’t taken action yet, you’re exactly who I made Monday’s session for:

Ready to stop overthinking and start growing your wealth?

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The biggest wealth barrier isn’t lack of money. It’s the inner voice that says:

"I’ll start next month."

That voice cost me my twenties. Don’t let it cost you your retirement.

Come as you are. Let’s fix this together.
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​👋🏽 Hit reply and say hi - I read every message and often share bonus resources that don't make it into the main articles!

Have great weekend,

Sanam

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P.S. Unable to make Monday's session? DM me, and I'll hold another one based on demand.