About Me
Thankyou Note -
First of all, thank you for stopping by. I truly appreciate you taking a few minutes to get to know me better. All the stories and experiences I’ve shared below come straight from the heart, with no filters. I hope you can relate to them.
By the way, whatever you’re pursuing, I wish you legendary success in life!
Now, I’ll let you get back to what you came here for.
Who I am?
I’m Akshay Iyer.
Trading & Finance | Movie Buff | Birds | Nature | Life
I’m a trader dedicated to the craft of navigating financial markets with discipline, focus, and a commitment to ongoing growth. I believe in a sustainable approach to trading, one that embraces learning from each experience and building a business that operates with the rigor and strategy of a prop desk. My vision is to create a successful trading career that’s free from the conventional offerings and focused on just providing tools that has helped me in my trading or life journey.
I have over 13+ years of experience in the field of accounts and finance, having worked across various roles and sectors throughout my career. This extensive experience has given me a solid understanding of financial management, accounting principles, and strategic planning. Over the years, I’ve honed my skills in budgeting, financial analysis, reporting, and forecasting, while staying updated on the latest trends and regulations in the industry. My journey has not only helped me build a strong technical foundation but has also given me the opportunity to work with diverse teams and tackle a wide range of financial challenges.
In addition to my full-time roles, I’ve also ventured into freelancing, providing financial consulting and accounting services to clients across different industries. This freelancing experience has helped me develop a flexible approach to problem-solving and improved my ability to manage projects independently, all while maintaining a high standard of service.
Beyond the markets, I’m a passionate reader and movie lover, always on the lookout for stories and ideas that challenge my thinking. Books and films are more than hobbies; they’re windows into worlds of knowledge, creativity, and insight that continually inspire me. At the core, I value freedom—freedom of time, thought, and lifestyle—which fuels my dedication to trading and my broader goals. Balancing my love for the markets with my appreciation for literature, cinema, and independence, I’m on a journey to build not just a career, but a fulfilling and dynamic life.
Synopsis -
- My Journey Online (And Offline)
- Going Flashback (Workwise)
- Realizing my CORE Value
- My 9 Websites
- Going a bit on my Personal Transformation Journey
- "A Decade of me" on Instagram Stories
- Get in touch
My journey Online (And Offline) -
I’ve always been an average guy. Born and raised in a middle-class South Indian family, the focus was always on getting a good degree and landing a high-paying job. I believed in this as well and worked hard to achieve academic success, but deep down, I always envisioned doing something different from the path my friends and family followed.
It was in my final year of professional education that I began exploring new opportunities alongside my studies. I became fascinated with the online world and the growth of the Internet of Things. That’s when I started my first blog, *The Brown Almond*, in early 2017.
Since then, I’ve continued adding websites to my list of online projects. As of October 2020, I have nine passion-driven websites. (I’ll share more about them soon.)
While I have a strong desire to explore new places and travel, I also have a deep passion for journaling, note-taking, and keeping secret e-diaries to document all my experiences. If we ever meet, I’d love to show you how I take notes and reflect on them. This process has been incredibly helpful for me. It was through my journaling and my deep desire to find a purpose in life that I ended up creating so many websites.
I used a purpose finder, wrote down my values, and spent months—many hours every day—reflecting on what I might want to pursue for the rest of my life.
In October 2020, I discovered that my core value is “FREEDOM.” It encompasses the freedom of work, the freedom of choice, and the freedom of thought. While I’m always open to suggestions and guidance, I believe the final decision should always be my personal choice. This singular value, “freedom,” has been the driving force behind many of the decisions I’ve made early in life.
Now, Let's go flashback (Work-wise) -
As I mentioned, my first website was born out of my love for blogging. However, due to the time I dedicated to my education, I eventually stopped updating the blog.
Back then, I was really into gifting solutions. I loved the idea that there are so many creative ways to surprise someone, yet we often resort to the same old-fashioned gifts. That’s when I started *Squirinch*—my gifting website. I loved the concept of blogging and building websites, and I quickly realized the huge potential in this space over the long run.
As I continued journaling, new interests kept emerging, and I realized that websites were a great way to bring these interests to life, on my terms. Soon enough, I launched my food blog, *LoveFoodStory*, driven by my love for food. This blog quickly grew on Instagram, reaching 10k followers.
Over the span of 1.5 years, I added a few more websites to the list:
– *Triviagic* (for my interest in quotes, thoughts, and entertainment)
– *Discover That Place* (my love for travel and exploring new places)
– *The Filmy Life* (my passion for films)
Juggling between these websites, my 9-to-5 job, and professional education made things really busy. But I knew these were the websites I had been thinking about for a long time, and I was determined to make them work. Although things have slowed down due to managing multiple tasks, I remain optimistic and believe they’ll gain momentum in the future.
In 2019, I launched two more websites:
– *Snowlush* (a finance blog, as I’ve been passionate about finance since childhood)
– *Phoenix Book World* (a site for my interest in reading books—primarily non-fiction, though I do enjoy fiction too. I prefer watching fiction as movies to enjoy the visuals and effects.)
Having created something for each of my interests and passions, I realized that while it’s great to have all these projects, it can be time-consuming to manage them all. Outsourcing and delegating work became crucial to alleviate the pressure.
Fast-forward to 2020, I created my personal website, *Akshayiyer.net*, to bring all my interests together in one place. I also wanted to maintain a personal touch and feel. On this site, I’ll share the books I’ve read, the movies I’ve enjoyed, the places I’ve visited, and the tools I’ve used to create and manage my websites over the years.
Realizing my CORE Value -
In 2020, when the world was in complete lockdown due to the pandemic, I did a lot of self-analysis and research.
While soul-searching to determine what I truly wanted in life and what I’d want to pursue for the rest of my life (along with watching tons of videos on purpose finding, talking to friends and family, and journaling), I discovered that I have no shortage of interest in work. I can work 12-14 hours a day and still not complain. The only catch is that whatever I do shouldn’t be pushed upon me. I need both authority and responsibility, at the very least. I’m happy to put in long hours and burn the midnight oil on the things I love.
To rewind a bit, I started trading and investing on my own in 2018. Yes, I had mutual funds, long-term investments, savings, and some FDs, but share trading wasn’t something I was into back then (which is a bit surprising considering I’ve been in the accounting and finance field for so long).
It’s been 8 years of trading now, and the journey has truly been a roller coaster. There have been highs and lows, moments of triumph and setbacks, but each step has contributed to immense learning and personal growth. The markets have taught me valuable lessons in patience, resilience, and adaptability, and while the road hasn’t always been smooth, I wouldn’t trade these experiences for anything. Every challenge has helped me refine my skills, and I’ve gained a deeper understanding of both the technical and psychological aspects of trading. It’s been a journey of constant evolution, and I’m grateful for the knowledge and wisdom I’ve gained along the way.
On my website, *Akshayiyer.net*, I find the freedom to work because I can share the things that have helped me grow—tools I’ve used, books I’ve read, and other evergreen content.
I hope you find these resources useful, and I’d be more than happy to hear from you if I’ve helped you in any way.
MY WEBSITES -
Going a bit on my personal side - (Journey as an Ectomorph body type (or) what you call the skinny types) -
My journey of transformation has truly been a story of “Before – After – And After.”
I was super skinny, an ectomorph (one of the three body types where you can eat whatever you want and still stay thin). Note: This was a plus point when compared to an endomorph’s perspective.
Take a look at my photos from 2012, 2017, and 2020 (no bragging, just sharing my journey).
**BEFORE (2012):**
Small height and skinnier body, reason for being made fun of, in school & early college days.
**AFTER (2017):**
When it comes to exercise, I was never drawn to the gym. I’ve always preferred home workouts (except for one month when I joined a gym, but I couldn’t keep up with the schedule. Waking up at 5 a.m. felt like a nightmare to me. I’m more of a night owl, usually staying awake until around 2:30 or 3 a.m., so early morning routines weren’t my thing).
The only equipment I’ve ever used consistently are four dumbbells, bodyweight exercises, and ab crunches—nothing else, seriously.
Alongside my workouts, I took a weight gain supplement powder (which turned out to be my biggest mistake, and I’ll explain why in a moment). The supplement worked wonders initially, and I was gaining weight quickly with my workout routines and the drink.
However, within the next year, I developed a gastrointestinal problem due to the supplement, which took a toll on my body. I couldn’t work out, suffered from lower back pain, and that phase was tough. It took nearly a year of medication to return to normal. By the time I recovered, I had dropped all the muscle I had gained due to lack of exercise.
**AND AFTER (2020):**
After recovering from the side effects and body issues, I’ve started my home workouts again—but this time, without any supplements. I focus on hard workouts, good music, and eating healthy food.
I’ve gained some weight back, but I haven’t yet reached my ideal weight. Nevertheless, that’s a journey I continue to work on.
**AND AFTER (Today, 2024):** (Updated)
Now, in my early 30s, I’ve made a conscious decision to prioritize my health. I go to the gym regularly, focusing on building strength and improving my overall fitness. Alongside my workouts, I maintain a healthy and balanced diet, choosing whole foods that nourish my body and support my energy levels. I’ve learned to listen to my body and take health seriously, understanding that taking care of my physical and mental well-being is key to living a long, fulfilling life. Health is no longer just a goal—it’s a lifestyle that I’m committed to every day.
I hope my story helps and inspires you. Let’s all strive for healthier, smarter, and happier lives.
#HealthyLiving