I am 63 years old. I have an Autistic son who is 29 years and a daughter who is 25 years. What can I do to secure the future of my son so that he is well looked after when we ( his parents) are not more. I have around 1 .5 crore in assets My daughter is employed.
Ans: You have shown deep care for your son’s future. Building security for a special child requires both financial and emotional planning. You already have a good base of Rs 1.5 crore assets, plus a supportive daughter. I will share a complete approach to protect your son’s future even when you are not around.
» Current Family Situation
– You are 63, entering retirement stage.
– Your son, age 29, is autistic and dependent.
– Your daughter, age 25, is employed and independent.
– You have Rs 1.5 crore in assets.
– Main goal is lifelong care for your son.
» Importance of Structured Planning
– A special child needs stable income, care, and legal protection.
– Money alone is not enough.
– Proper structures avoid misuse or mismanagement later.
– The daughter’s role needs clarity to avoid stress.
– Legal and financial safeguards are crucial.
» Asset Allocation for Long-Term Care
– Assets must generate steady income for your son.
– Direct cash to him is risky due to vulnerability.
– Assets should be in safe and monitored structures.
– Balanced allocation in deposits, debt funds, and equity funds is wise.
– Growth component ensures money lasts lifelong.
» Income Stream Creation
– Plan for a monthly income stream covering his living needs.
– This income should adjust for inflation.
– Safer instruments can be used for regular payouts.
– Growth assets should back long-term sustainability.
– Avoid locking everything in fixed return products.
» Role of Insurance Policies
– If you have any LIC or old investment-cum-insurance, surrender and reinvest.
– Such policies give poor returns and low flexibility.
– Reinvest into mutual funds through Certified Financial Planner.
– This builds better wealth for your son’s needs.
» Trust Structure for Protection
– A private trust can secure your son’s future.
– You and your wife can be initial trustees.
– Your daughter or a reliable relative can continue as trustee.
– Assets move into the trust for son’s benefit.
– This ensures control, monitoring, and proper use of funds.
» Will and Estate Planning
– Write a clear Will naming trustees and guardians.
– Will should define how wealth will flow for son.
– Daughter’s share should also be specified.
– This avoids confusion and disputes later.
– Register the Will to give legal strength.
» Role of Daughter
– She should be trustee or guardian after you.
– Discuss with her openly about responsibilities.
– Provide her with clarity about how assets will support her brother.
– Avoid giving her full control without structure.
– Balance love and responsibility with legal safeguards.
» Long-Term Care Costs
– Estimate son’s monthly care cost today.
– Add future cost inflation for 30-40 years.
– Ensure investments cover this comfortably.
– Keep a healthcare buffer for medical expenses.
– Do not rely only on daughter’s support.
» Health and Contingency
– Secure health cover for yourself and wife.
– This prevents depletion of son’s fund.
– Build an emergency reserve separately.
– Never keep all money locked in long-term assets.
– Liquidity ensures flexibility during crisis.
» Tax Planning for Efficiency
– Avoid over-dependence on fixed deposits due to high tax.
– Use debt funds and balanced mutual funds for efficiency.
– Remember tax rules: equity LTCG taxed 12.5% above Rs 1.25 lakh.
– Debt fund gains taxed as per slab.
– A Certified Financial Planner can guide on best mix.
» Emotional and Social Planning
– Register son in government disability schemes.
– Explore lifetime care programs for differently-abled.
– Build a support network of relatives or NGOs.
– Document his medical, social, and care details.
– This helps anyone managing after you.
» Step-by-Step Immediate Actions
– Make a Will immediately.
– Start creating a private trust.
– Review all old LIC or low-return products.
– Reallocate into mutual funds with balanced risk.
– Discuss responsibilities with daughter.
– Keep emergency funds ready.
» Finally
– You already have a strong asset base.
– With right structures, your son’s future can be safe.
– Trust, Will, and proper investments will protect him.
– Your daughter can play supportive but not burdened role.
– Professional guidance from a Certified Financial Planner ensures correct execution.
– You can live peacefully knowing your son will always be looked after.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment