As we move deeper into the 2020s, the financial world is becoming almost entirely digital. In this landscape, not having a demat account is more than just a minor inconvenience—it’s a strategic setback with tangible costs. Think of it as choosing to keep your savings under a mattress when a secure, interest-bearing bank account is available. The price you pay isn't a fee you see deducted; it's the wealth, security, and opportunities that quietly pass you by.
But it’s not just about missed returns. It’s about the mental gymnastics you do every time you think about investing. Without a demat account, you’re stuck in 1995 while everyone else is living in 2026. You can’t apply for that hot IPO your colleagues are excited about. You can’t buy shares of the company whose products fill your home. When a company declares a dividend, you’re not getting it automatically—it’s a whole process. And tracking what you own? Good luck with spreadsheets and paper statements that get lost in the drawer.
The modern market moves at the speed of your smartphone. Trades settle in one day. Corporate actions happen automatically. Everything is tracked in one clean dashboard. By skipping demat account opening, you’re choosing to make your financial life harder than it needs to be. It’s like refusing to use Google Maps and insisting on printed directions—you’ll get there, but why make it painful?
Here’s what keeps me up at night: we’re raising a generation of kids who are brilliant at coding and creating content, but clueless about building wealth. My 12-year-old can explain Bitcoin to me, but doesn’t know what a stock is. That’s on us.
When you don’t have a demat account, you lose the best teaching tool imaginable. Opening a minor demat account for your child isn’t just about securing their future—it’s about showing them how money works in the real world. Imagine your 10-year-old picking a company they love (maybe the one that makes their favorite chips) and watching their investment grow. Suddenly, “compounding” isn’t a boring math concept—it’s their money making more money. The cost of not doing this? Raising kids who are financially anxious, who think the stock market is a casino, who repeat our mistakes of waiting too long to start.
Here’s the beautiful part: every single cost I’ve mentioned is 100% avoidable. The demat account opening process has been stripped down to the basics. A CA friend or a degree in business are not requirements. A rejected check, your PAN card, your Aadhaar, and roughly twenty minutes are needed. That's all. While the kids complete their schoolwork, you can complete the entire task while sitting on your couch in your jammies.
The right partner can make all the difference if you're thinking, "But I don't know what to invest in." This isn’t about picking random stocks and hoping for the best. It’s about having someone in your corner who gets it.
Look, I’m not here to sell you something. I’m here to tell you what works. When I finally got serious about investing, I needed someone who wouldn’t make me feel stupid for asking basic questions. That’s exactly what I found with Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers. They’ve been doing this for over 30 years, which means they’ve guided people through every market crash, every boom, every “I don’t know what I’m doing” moment.
Their platform is designed for humans, not Wall Street wolves. They have relationship managers who speak plain English (or Hindi, or whatever language you’re comfortable with). They send research reports that don’t require a dictionary to understand. And for parents wanting to open a minor demat account, they hold your hand through every step—explaining the guardian rules, helping with the documentation, and even suggesting starter investments that make sense for kids.
The fact that they treat you more like a partner than a client is what I love most. They are aware that you will stay if you are successful. So they actually teach you how to fish instead of just selling you fish.
The real cost of not having a demat account in 2026 is a tax you pay without knowing—a tax on your future, your convenience, and your family’s financial confidence. It’s money you could have had, lessons you could have taught, peace of mind you could have owned.
But here’s the thing: that tax is voluntary. You can stop paying it today. The market isn’t a closed club. Your offer is waiting for you in this open spot. Accepting it is all that is needed.
So pick up your PAN card, set aside 20 minutes of quiet time, and start. When you look back, both your future self and your children will be glad that you had the guts to begin.
Supriyo Khan
Supriyo Khan
Supriyo Khan
Supriyo Khan
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