I am 39ys old and working as software engg in Bangalore.I live with my wife and 2kids.. I am normally very minimalist.. my office working hybrid model and i stay in rental house... Still I not bought any flat..son studying 2nd younger one is pre school ,my wife is home maker ..I have confused.. regarding plan to move home town near city..which south part of tamilndau..leaving banglore or staying here .. due to I am always feeling job insecure . And kids will learn mother tongue but afraid about is it good decision any one suggest me pls.

Ans: Hi. You are thinking wrong. Your thoughts are not practical. Along with you, your family members will come under huge tension from a single wrong step. First, you talk to a family person, whom you trust more. If you do not, then talk with a psychiatrist or a counselor.

Radheshyam Zanwar, Aurangabad (MS)

Ans: Thank you for sharing the details of your financial situation. I understand your goals and concerns, and I appreciate the effort you’ve put into securing your family’s future. Let's analyze your financial position and provide a comprehensive plan for your children's education, their marriage, and your retirement.

Understanding Your Financial Situation
Current Income and Assets
Monthly NRI Salary: Rs 5 lakhs
Upcoming Indian Salary: Rs 2.3 lakhs per month
Plot in Bangalore: 30x40
Active Agricultural Land: 5 acres
EPF Balance: Rs 30 lakhs
Bank Balance: Rs 10 lakhs
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: Rs 10,000 per month (Rs 4 lakhs in account)
Gold Jewelry: 750 grams (500 gm yours, 250 gm wife’s)
Agricultural Land (Wife’s name): 1.5 acres
Recent Stock Investment: Rs 1 lakh (wife’s name)
Current Family Expenses: Rs 1 lakh per month
Term Insurance: Rs 1 crore
Plan to Construct Home: Rs 1 crore (rent: Rs 40,000 per month)
Plan to Buy Car: Rs 15 lakhs (in less than 2 years)
Own Home in Village
Current Car: Old Santro
Financial Goals
Children’s education
Children’s marriage
Retirement corpus
Construct home and generate rental income
Purchase a car
Evaluating Your Assets
EPF Balance
Your EPF balance of Rs 30 lakhs is substantial but hasn’t been performing well. It’s crucial to reassess this investment and consider moving a portion to other instruments that may offer better returns.

Agricultural Land and Plot
Agricultural land and the plot in Bangalore are valuable assets. The agricultural land in your wife’s name has real estate potential, which can be considered for future use or sale.

Gold
Gold is a secure investment and can be used as a safety net in times of need. It’s good to have a portion of your assets in gold.

Stock Market Investment
Investing in stocks can yield high returns, but it’s also risky. Ensure you’re diversifying adequately to manage risk.

Planning for Children’s Education and Marriage
Education
Estimate Future Costs: Education costs are rising. Estimate the future costs for both your children’s education. Consider inflation and choose investments accordingly.

Investment Vehicles: SIPs in mutual funds are an effective way to build an education corpus. Diversify between equity and debt funds for balanced growth and safety.

Marriage
Estimate Marriage Expenses: Determine a realistic amount for marriage expenses considering current trends and inflation.

Long-Term Investments: For long-term goals like marriage, consider investing in PPF, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (for your daughter), and balanced mutual funds.

Retirement Planning
Retirement Corpus
Calculate Corpus Needed: Estimate the amount you’ll need to maintain your lifestyle post-retirement. Consider inflation and life expectancy.

Diversified Portfolio: A mix of mutual funds, fixed deposits, and pension schemes can help create a robust retirement corpus.

Monthly Contributions
Systematic Investments: Allocate a portion of your salary towards SIPs in mutual funds. Diversify between equity, debt, and hybrid funds for balanced growth and safety.

EPF and PPF: Continue contributing to EPF and PPF. They offer tax benefits and relatively secure returns.

Construction of Home and Rental Income
Construction Plan
Budget Management: Ensure the construction cost of Rs 1 crore is within your budget. Consider taking a home loan if necessary but ensure it’s manageable within your salary.

Rental Income: The expected rental income of Rs 40,000 per month will help supplement your monthly income. This can be allocated towards your children’s education or marriage fund.

Tax Benefits
Home Loan Interest: Utilize tax benefits on home loan interest under Section 24(b) of the Income Tax Act.

Principal Repayment: Avail of tax deductions on the principal repayment under Section 80C.

Buying a Car
Budget Allocation
Down Payment and Loan: Decide on the down payment and the amount to be financed through a loan. Ensure the EMI is affordable within your post-return salary.

Savings Plan: Start a dedicated savings plan for the car purchase to avoid large financial strain at the time of purchase.

Maintaining Emergency Fund
Emergency Fund
Allocate Funds: Maintain an emergency fund equivalent to 6-12 months of your monthly expenses. This ensures financial stability in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Liquid Investments: Keep the emergency fund in liquid investments like savings accounts or liquid mutual funds for easy access.

Risk Management
Insurance
Health Insurance: Ensure adequate health insurance coverage for your entire family. Consider enhancing your current health insurance plan given the rising medical costs.

Term Insurance: Your Rs 1 crore term insurance is good. Reassess the coverage to ensure it meets your family’s needs.

Diversification
Diversified Portfolio: Diversify your investments across various asset classes to reduce risk and improve returns.

Regular Review: Regularly review your investment portfolio and rebalance it to align with your financial goals and risk tolerance.

Creating a Financial Plan
Setting Clear Goals
Specific Goals: Define specific financial goals for your children’s education, their marriage, and your retirement.

Timeframes: Set realistic timeframes for each goal to help in planning and tracking progress.

Monthly Budget
Income Allocation: Allocate your income towards various expenses, savings, and investments. Ensure you’re saving and investing a significant portion of your income.

Expense Tracking: Track your expenses to ensure you stay within your budget and can allocate more towards savings and investments.

Professional Guidance
Certified Financial Planner (CFP): Consult a CFP to help create a detailed financial plan tailored to your needs and goals.

Regular Monitoring: Regularly monitor and review your financial plan with your CFP to make necessary adjustments based on changing circumstances.

Final Insights
You have a solid foundation with various assets and a good income. By strategically planning your investments and expenses, you can comfortably achieve your financial goals. Focus on diversifying your investments, maintaining an emergency fund, and seeking professional advice. This will ensure your children’s education and marriage are well-funded, and you can enjoy a comfortable retirement.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
It's a lot of turmoil, I can agree...
Before making a decision, as a couple, here's a few brainstorming points:
- How are finances going to be impacted with two different establishments? (Mumbai and Bangalore are very expensive cities to live in)
- How is the baby going to be cared for while Mom is away working? (Start ups demand a lot of time and energy and the baby needs a lot of stimulation to have a steady growth; physically and emotionally)
- How will the older child cope with the shift, and live without having the Mom around? (Age 8 is too young to be able to fathom this separation and this can lead to anxiety related issues later in life)

Of course, you are being kind and being selfless wanting to support your wife's career, but separating the family at this juncture will have its side effects; not being cynical or judgemental BUT it's a fact that a family that stays together, prospers together.

The other option is: you shift to Bangalore OR she continues in Mumbai...Now, you will need to do the same exercise as above as couple factoring in how either decision will impact the other. But the huge gain is: The children will have their parents together at a tender age and focus on their childhood...

You win some, You lose some, right? Every decision will involve a fair amount of navigation to arrive at what's best!

All the best!
Anu Krishna
Mind Coach|NLP Trainer|Author
Drop in: www.unfear.io
Reach me: Facebook: anukrish07/ AND LinkedIn: anukrishna-joyofserving/

Ans: Dear Sir,
Few of the consideration you may look at-

Have an open and honest conversation laying down the facts. Ensure the conversation is calm and composed and not pointing out at each other. Express you concerns, fears and impact that it will have on the relationships and on your mental health.

Explore compromises at both the ends that would work for you. For example- can your wife manage the business remotely for part of the time or could you both agree on a trial period in bangalore? Discuss how can you support each other's goal while maintaining each other's stability.

Consider your career and well being- If relocating to Bangalore is not viable for you professionally, discuss alternative ways to support your wife’s business venture while staying in Gurgaon or finding a middle ground.

Seek professional guidance- You may wish to consider a counselor who can guide you both and help come with a midway

Focus on the bigger picture- Analyses a bit who to see how you both can help each other.

At any given point of time if you feel overwhelmed then dont hesitate to take the professional help. Emotional and metal health is of utmost important.

Thanks
Ashwini Dasgupta
www.ashwinidasguta.com
Author of Confidence Decoded. Is it a skill or attitude?