He Graduated Into a Pandemic, Discovered Finance, Gave a TEDx Talk, and Built a 57,600-Strong Community
50-Word Summary
Raj Abhisar Agarwal, CFA, a stock market investor, finance content creator, and TEDx speaker, discovered his passion for finance immediately after graduating from college during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is an alumnus of Boston University where he pursued a Master's in Economic Policy, and has built a 57,600-plus Instagram community at @financebyrajj dedicated to spreading financial literacy and simplifying investing and stock markets for everyday people.
A Pandemic, a First Investment, and a TEDx Talk That Changed Everything
Raj Abhisar Agarwal had freshly graduated from college when COVID-19 hit the world. With free time suddenly on his hands and the traditional career path disrupted, he turned to something that had intrigued him for years but that the school system had never properly addressed: finance.
He began diving into the stock market. He made his first investment. He studied how markets worked, why companies were valued the way they were, and how ordinary people could build wealth through disciplined, informed investing. What he discovered was not just knowledge—it was passion.
In November 2021, he delivered a TEDx talk at TEDxRVCE titled "Passion found in the midst of the pandemic: A financial expedition". Published on the TED platform in April 2022, the talk described his journey from fresh graduate to stock market investor, addressing the financial responsibility of students and his personal expedition into the world of markets. The talk captured precisely what made his story so powerful: not expertise inherited from a wealthy family or an elite finance background, but passion discovered in the most unlikely of circumstances.
"He talks about the financial responsibility of students and his journey in the stock market. He begins by talking about his first investment and the reasons he chose to be an investor," the TED platform describes. "It is a topic that is seldom discussed in-depth but also one which is of the utmost importance."
CFA Charter, Boston University, Morgan Stanley, and a Content Platform Built for Real People
The boldest decision Raj made was to pursue the full depth of finance simultaneously on two parallel tracks: institutional credibility through the CFA charter and academic excellence through a Master’s in Economics at Boston University, one of the world’s most respected universities for finance education, while building a content platform for everyday investors who deserved the same quality of financial education.
The CFA charter, earned through three rigorous levels of examination covering economics, portfolio management, ethics, fixed income, equities, derivatives, and alternative investments, is the most globally recognised credential in the investment management profession. Earning it while building a content platform and pursuing a graduate degree reflects a level of discipline and commitment that sets Raj apart from most finance creators.
He also serves as an Associate at Morgan Stanley, one of the world’s most prestigious financial institutions, bringing institutional investment experience to every piece of content he creates.
His Instagram platform @financebyrajj, with 57,600 followers across 300 posts, is built around a precise and consistent mission: simplifying investing and stock markets and helping people get financially smarter.
1.Pandemic Discovery & First Investment:Graduated during the COVID-19 pandemic and self-taught stock market investing fundamentals.
2.TEDx Talk Presentation (Nov 2021):Delivered “Passion found in the midst of the pandemic: A financial expedition” at TEDxRVCE (published on TED in April 2022).
3.Academic & Professional Qualifications:Earned the CFA charter, pursued a Master's in Economics (Economic Policy) at Boston University, and joined Morgan Stanley as an Associate.
4.Community Building & Financial Literacy:Scaled @financebyrajj on Instagram to 57,600+ followers to simplify personal finance and stock markets for young professionals.
Scale and Real-World Impact
| Parameter | Profile Details |
| Creator & Practitioner | Raj Abhisar Agarwal, CFA |
| Academic Qualifications | Master’s in Economics / Economic Policy (Boston University) |
| Institutional Role | Associate at Morgan Stanley |
| TEDx Feature | TEDxRVCE (November 2021, Published April 2022) |
| TEDx Talk Details | "Passion found in the midst of the pandemic: A financial expedition" (Duration: 15 mins 49 secs) |
| Social Platform | Instagram: @financebyrajj (57,600+ Followers, ~298–300 Posts) |
| Core Mission | Spreading financial literacy, simplifying stock markets, and educating students/young professionals |
The Most Trusted Finance Voices Are the Ones Who Earned Their Knowledge the Hard Way and Share It the Human Way
The sharpest lesson from Raj Abhisar Agarwal’s journey is this: the most credible finance creators are the ones who combine genuine institutional expertise with the authentic memory of what it felt like to know nothing.
Raj graduated into a pandemic. He taught himself finance out of curiosity. He earned a CFA charter through discipline. He pursued a Master’s at Boston University through ambition. He joined Morgan Stanley through merit. And then he turned every single one of those experiences into content designed to make the next person’s journey easier.
That combination—earned expertise delivered with the humility of someone who remembers their first investment—is what builds 57,600 followers, a TEDx talk, and a career at Morgan Stanley simultaneously.
"Spreading financial literacy and simplifying personal finance," his Instagram bio says.
He found his passion in a pandemic. He built his credentials through hard work. And he chose to share everything he learned with everyone who wanted to understand.
That is what genuine financial education looks like.
Sources
TED Official Platform
LinkedIn
Instagram @financebyrajj