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Retirement Planning: 48-Year-Old with Rs.2.5 Lakh Monthly Target

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6903 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 14, 2024

Ramalingam Kalirajan has over 23 years of experience in mutual funds and financial planning.
He has an MBA in finance from the University of Madras and is a certified financial planner.
He is the director and chief financial planner at Holistic Investment, a Chennai-based firm that offers financial planning and wealth management advice.... more
John Question by John on Aug 01, 2024Hindi
Money

Hello , My age is 48 years, monthly income is approx. 1.5 lakh, I have no loan and any liability. I have 3 lakh in Shares , approx 30 lakh in PPF, 35 lakh in FDR , approx 3 lakh in saving., 60 lakh in NPS and Rs 48000/- per month NPS contribution, 5 lakh in SGB, what will my financial plan for retirement income of 2.5 lakh- per month

Ans: At the age of 48, your financial portfolio is quite diversified. Your monthly income of Rs 1.5 lakh is a strong base, and you’ve been diligent in saving across various instruments. Let’s break down your assets to understand your current financial standing:

Shares: Rs 3 lakh

PPF: Rs 30 lakh

FDR: Rs 35 lakh

Savings: Rs 3 lakh

NPS: Rs 60 lakh with a monthly contribution of Rs 48,000

SGB: Rs 5 lakh

With no liabilities or loans, you’re in a favourable position to plan for your retirement. Your goal of achieving a retirement income of Rs 2.5 lakh per month is ambitious, yet achievable with careful planning and strategic investments.

Assessing Your Retirement Goals
Retiring with a monthly income of Rs 2.5 lakh requires substantial planning. Here’s what you need to consider:

Inflation: Over the next few years, inflation will erode the purchasing power of your money. A monthly income of Rs 2.5 lakh today might need to be much higher by the time you retire.

Life Expectancy: Considering an average life expectancy of 80 years, your retirement plan should be robust enough to last for at least 30-35 years.

Healthcare Costs: With age, healthcare expenses will increase. It’s essential to allocate funds specifically for medical emergencies.

Lifestyle: If you plan to maintain or even enhance your current lifestyle, your retirement corpus should be sizeable enough to support this.

Evaluating Your Current Investments
Your investments are spread across different instruments, each with its benefits and limitations. Let’s evaluate them:

Public Provident Fund (PPF)
Advantages: PPF is a safe investment with a decent interest rate, and it’s tax-free.

Limitations: The lock-in period and the maximum contribution limit restrict how much you can invest.

Recommendation: Continue contributing to PPF, but don’t rely on it solely for retirement. PPF will provide stability, but it won’t be enough to meet your Rs 2.5 lakh per month target.

Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDR)
Advantages: FDs offer guaranteed returns and are a safe investment option.

Limitations: The interest rates on FDs are often lower than inflation, leading to a decrease in real returns over time.

Recommendation: While FDs are good for short-term goals and emergencies, they shouldn’t be your primary retirement investment. Consider reallocating a portion of this into higher-return investments.

National Pension Scheme (NPS)
Advantages: NPS is a robust retirement savings tool, offering market-linked returns and tax benefits.

Limitations: NPS has restrictions on withdrawals and requires annuitisation at maturity, which might reduce liquidity.

Recommendation: Continue your contributions to NPS, but plan for how you’ll manage the annuity phase. The lump-sum withdrawal option should be carefully managed.

Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB)
Advantages: SGBs offer a safe way to invest in gold with an interest component.

Limitations: Gold is typically seen as a hedge rather than a primary investment for income generation.

Recommendation: Keep SGBs as part of your diversified portfolio but avoid over-investing in gold. It’s more of a safety net than a growth tool.

Shares
Advantages: Equities can provide high returns and help in wealth accumulation.

Limitations: Shares are volatile and require careful management to avoid losses.

Recommendation: Your equity investment is relatively low. Consider gradually increasing your exposure to equities through mutual funds or systematic investment plans (SIPs) for long-term growth.

Strategic Rebalancing of Your Portfolio
To meet your retirement goal of Rs 2.5 lakh per month, you’ll need to rebalance your portfolio strategically. Here’s how you can do it:

Increase Equity Exposure
Reason: Equities have the potential to outpace inflation and generate significant returns over the long term.

Action: Consider investing in diversified equity mutual funds or SIPs. Over the next 10-12 years, this will help build a robust corpus.

Maximise NPS Benefits
Reason: NPS is tax-efficient and offers good returns, especially with equity exposure.

Action: Continue your Rs 48,000 monthly contribution. At retirement, plan to manage the withdrawal carefully, considering both the annuity and lump-sum options.

Reduce Fixed Deposit Allocation
Reason: FDs offer lower returns compared to other investment options.

Action: Gradually shift a portion of your FD savings into equity or balanced mutual funds. This will help grow your corpus faster.

Maintain a Balanced Portfolio
Reason: Diversification reduces risk and ensures stability.

Action: Keep a mix of equities, debt, gold, and NPS. This balanced approach will protect you against market volatility while ensuring growth.

Planning for Healthcare and Contingencies
Healthcare is a significant concern during retirement. Here’s how you can prepare:

Emergency Fund: Maintain at least 6-12 months’ worth of expenses in liquid savings for emergencies.

Health Insurance: Ensure you have comprehensive health insurance coverage. Consider a top-up plan if needed.

Medical Corpus: Set aside a dedicated corpus for healthcare. This could be in the form of a health savings account or a specific investment geared towards medical expenses.

Ensuring a Steady Retirement Income
To achieve a retirement income of Rs 2.5 lakh per month, consider the following strategies:

Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP)
Advantages: SWP from mutual funds allows you to withdraw a fixed amount regularly while the rest of your investment continues to grow.

Action: Set up SWPs from your equity and debt mutual funds. This will provide you with a steady income while ensuring your corpus continues to work for you.

Annuities and Pensions
Advantages: Annuities provide a guaranteed income for life.

Limitations: Annuities can have lower returns compared to other investments and may not keep pace with inflation.

Action: Use a portion of your NPS maturity amount to purchase an annuity for guaranteed income. However, balance this with other investments to ensure inflation-adjusted growth.

Realigning Investments Closer to Retirement
Reason: As you approach retirement, reducing exposure to high-risk investments is crucial.

Action: Gradually shift from equity to more stable debt instruments or balanced funds as you near retirement. This will protect your corpus from market volatility.

Final Insights
Your financial foundation is strong, with diversified investments and no liabilities. However, to achieve your goal of a Rs 2.5 lakh monthly income during retirement, you’ll need to make strategic adjustments to your portfolio.

Here are the key takeaways:

Increase Equity Exposure: Focus on long-term growth through diversified equity mutual funds or SIPs. This will help build the corpus you need.

Maximise NPS: Continue your contributions and plan for strategic withdrawals at retirement.

Reduce Fixed Deposits: Shift from low-return FDs to higher-yield investments like mutual funds or equities.

Maintain a Balanced Portfolio: Ensure diversification to reduce risk while maintaining growth.

Plan for Healthcare: Set aside a dedicated medical corpus and ensure you have adequate health insurance.

Use Systematic Withdrawal Plans (SWPs): This will provide a steady retirement income while keeping your investments growing.

Consider Annuities: Use part of your NPS maturity to purchase an annuity for guaranteed income, but don’t rely solely on it.

Realign Investments Closer to Retirement: Gradually reduce risk as you approach retirement to protect your corpus.

By carefully planning and making these adjustments, you can achieve your retirement goal and enjoy a comfortable, worry-free retirement.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.
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Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 25, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 24, 2024Hindi
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Hello I am Avneesh, My age is 48 years, I am single and my monthly income is approx. 1.5 lakh, I have no loan and any liability. I have 31 lakh in Shares , approx 30 lakh in PPF, 10 lakh in mutual fund , approx 29 lakh in saving. I want to retire in next 2 years . what will my financial plan for retirement income of 60,0000 to 70,000 per month
Ans: You are 48 years old and plan to retire in 2 years.

You are single with no loans or liabilities.

Your monthly income is approximately Rs 1.5 lakh.

You have Rs 31 lakh in shares, approximately Rs 30 lakh in PPF, Rs 10 lakh in mutual funds, and approximately Rs 29 lakh in savings.

Your goal is to have a monthly retirement income of Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000.

Current Financial Assets

Shares: Rs 31 lakh

PPF: Rs 30 lakh

Mutual Funds: Rs 10 lakh

Savings: Rs 29 lakh

Total: Rs 100 lakh (Rs 1 crore)

Retirement Income Strategy

Fixed Income Investments

Allocate a portion of your savings to fixed income investments.

Consider options like fixed deposits, senior citizen savings schemes, and government bonds.

These provide stable and predictable income.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) in Mutual Funds

Use mutual funds to set up a SWP.

This allows you to withdraw a fixed amount monthly.

Invest in a mix of equity and debt funds for balanced growth.

Annuities

Consider purchasing an annuity for guaranteed income.

Annuities provide regular payments for life.

Choose the annuity that best fits your needs.

Dividend-Paying Stocks

Invest in high-quality dividend-paying stocks.

Dividends provide a regular income stream.

Focus on stable companies with a history of consistent dividends.

Asset Allocation and Diversification

Equity and Debt Balance

Maintain a balanced portfolio of equity and debt.

Equity provides growth, while debt offers stability.

A 40:60 equity to debt ratio can be considered.

Diversification

Diversify investments across different asset classes.

This reduces risk and ensures steady returns.

Review and adjust your portfolio regularly.

Building the Retirement Corpus

Additional Investments

Continue contributing to your PPF and mutual funds for the next 2 years.

Increase SIP contributions if possible.

Aim to grow your retirement corpus further.

Emergency Fund

Maintain an emergency fund equal to 6-12 months of expenses.

Keep this fund in a liquid savings account or short-term FD.

This fund provides financial security for unforeseen events.

Health Insurance

Ensure you have adequate health insurance coverage.

Review and update your health insurance policy.

Consider additional coverage for critical illnesses.

Estate Planning

Plan for the distribution of your assets.

Consider writing a will and setting up a trust.

Ensure your assets are passed on according to your wishes.

Regular Review and Adjustment

Review your financial plan every six months.

Adjust based on market conditions and personal circumstances.

Consult a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) for professional advice.

Final Insights

With careful planning, you can achieve a comfortable retirement.

Allocate your assets wisely between equity, debt, and fixed income investments.

Consider setting up a SWP and investing in dividend-paying stocks.

Maintain an emergency fund and ensure adequate health insurance.

Review and adjust your financial plan regularly.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6903 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 14, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Aug 09, 2024Hindi
Listen
Money
Hello , My age is 48 years, monthly income is approx. 1.5 lakh, I have no loan and any liability. I have 3 lakh in Shares , approx 30 lakh in PPF, 35 lakh in FDR , approx 3 lakh in saving., 60 lakh in NPS and Rs 48000/- per month NPS contribution, 5 lakh in SGB, what will my financial plan for retirement income of 2.5 lakh- per month
Ans: You are in a strong financial position. Your monthly income is Rs. 1.5 lakh, and you have no liabilities. You have diversified your investments across various instruments. This includes Rs. 3 lakh in shares, Rs. 30 lakh in PPF, Rs. 35 lakh in FDR, Rs. 3 lakh in savings, Rs. 60 lakh in NPS with Rs. 48,000 monthly contributions, and Rs. 5 lakh in SGB.

These investments provide you with a solid foundation for your retirement planning.

Retirement Income Goal
Your goal is to have a retirement income of Rs. 2.5 lakh per month. This is a substantial amount and requires careful planning. Given your current financial status and your target, let’s assess how to achieve this goal.

Assessing Your Investment Portfolio
Public Provident Fund (PPF)

PPF is a safe investment with tax benefits.
However, the returns are relatively low compared to other options.
You can continue investing in PPF but look for more growth-oriented investments.
Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDR)

FDs provide stability and assured returns.
The interest is taxable, which reduces the effective returns.
It is wise to keep a portion in FDRs for emergency liquidity but not for long-term growth.
Shares

You have Rs. 3 lakh in shares, which can provide good returns but carry market risks.
Consider increasing your exposure to equity for long-term growth.
National Pension System (NPS)

NPS is a good option for retirement planning.
Your current corpus of Rs. 60 lakh and monthly contributions will help build a sizable retirement fund.
NPS has a mix of equity and debt, balancing risk and return.
Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB)

SGBs provide a hedge against inflation and are relatively safer.
Gold usually performs well in uncertain times, but it should not be the primary investment.
Calculating Retirement Corpus
To achieve a retirement income of Rs. 2.5 lakh per month, you need a substantial corpus. Considering inflation and life expectancy, you would require a corpus of approximately Rs. 5-7 crore.

Investment Strategy to Achieve Retirement Goal
Increase Equity Exposure

Equity has the potential to deliver higher returns in the long term.
Consider investing in diversified mutual funds.
Actively managed funds offer better opportunities compared to index funds.
Equity exposure can be gradually increased, considering your risk appetite.
Systematic Investment Plan (SIP)

SIPs are a disciplined way to invest regularly.
Consider starting SIPs in diversified equity mutual funds.
Gradually increase SIP contributions (Step-Up SIP) to match your income growth.
Balanced Fund Portfolio

A balanced portfolio of equity and debt can reduce risk while ensuring growth.
Consider funds that offer a mix of equity and debt to balance your portfolio.
Maximize NPS Contributions

NPS is tax-efficient and offers a good mix of equity and debt.
Continue with your current contributions.
Consider increasing your contribution as your income grows.
Review and Rebalance Portfolio Regularly

Regular reviews ensure your investments are aligned with your goals.
Rebalancing helps in maintaining the desired asset allocation.
Consult with a Certified Financial Planner for periodic reviews.
Managing Inflation and Longevity Risk
Inflation Protection

Ensure your portfolio grows faster than inflation.
Equity investments can provide the necessary growth to combat inflation.
Longevity Planning

Plan for a longer retirement period.
Ensure your retirement corpus lasts your lifetime.
Tax Efficiency in Retirement Planning
Tax Planning

Consider tax-efficient investments to reduce tax outgo.
Use tax-free bonds, NPS, and ELSS for tax-saving purposes.
Tax on Withdrawal

Plan withdrawals from your retirement corpus in a tax-efficient manner.
Spread withdrawals to minimize tax impact.
Emergency Fund
Maintain an emergency fund equivalent to 6-12 months of expenses.
This can be kept in liquid funds or a savings account.
Final Insights
Your financial foundation is strong, and with the right strategy, you can achieve your retirement income goal.

Focus on increasing equity exposure, regularly review your investments, and ensure tax efficiency. This will provide the growth needed to reach a retirement corpus that supports Rs. 2.5 lakh per month.

It is advisable to work with a Certified Financial Planner for a personalized plan.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

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Hii, my husband and I have a love marriage after 9 years of dating, now it has been 6 years and two children after that, little one is 8months old. He had a brief affair extending to chatting mostly as far as I know to someone who works in the same company but different department to him when my little one was 1 month old, we were in rough patch that time due to child birth difficulties and family drama. Then as I got to know about the same, by casually checking his phone and confronted him he accepted his mistake and said sorry. And said he won't be doing that again but I caught him again somehow chatting and same repeat he said he is wrong and now as per him he have reduced talking to that girl. But as I think he talks to her thoda bhot, as she is his junior position and asks for help once a while. I love my husband a lot, but this thing hurt my self respect and I am in a lot of torture mentally. I know my husband won't leave me, but I don't want to stay in such a relationship which feels a burden to my partner. I want my husband to be happy too. I am very confused what to do. I have talked to him on several times, every time he listen and helps me calm down, some times we fought also. But I am not at peace. Ps that girl is also married to her love just 2 years back. I don't want to harm my husband's reputation in any way. But I am very much hurt also. I have been reading your column for 3-4 now. I am also financially independent. I don't need anything form him, just his love. Sorry for the length, please help me.?
Ans: In your heart, it’s clear that you love him deeply and that, ideally, you want to preserve your family and relationship. However, it’s important not to dismiss your own needs for validation, love, and respect. Sometimes, the process of forgiveness includes setting strong, clear boundaries. Your husband needs to understand that while you’re willing to work on the relationship, trust is fragile and requires commitment to restore. This might mean a commitment on his part to keep all communication with this colleague strictly professional and transparent, or even a decision to minimize interactions with her entirely if necessary. Expressing these boundaries clearly may help him see the gravity of what’s at stake.

It’s also valuable to remember that healing from betrayal is not a quick process. Even with reassurances and boundaries in place, your feelings of hurt, betrayal, and anger may surface unexpectedly. Be gentle with yourself in this process and consider turning inward to strengthen your own resilience. Financial independence is an incredible strength, and leaning into the aspects of your life that bring you personal fulfillment can be grounding. Investing in your own well-being will help you feel more centered, no matter where this journey takes you.

If, at any point, you feel that his actions aren’t aligning with his words and that trust cannot be rebuilt, remember that choosing a path that prioritizes your mental peace is not a failure. Some couples also find that a temporary separation helps provide clarity; this doesn’t have to mean ending the relationship but could be a chance to reset, reflect, and decide if you both are truly aligned in your vision for the future.

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Anu

Anu Krishna  |1263 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Nov 03, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Nov 01, 2024
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Respected Madam, I am a 44 years old unmarried man. I didn't get any girl due to my low income & because I have only bachelor degree, but my younger brother married before 7 years. I have good & emotional bonding with my younger brother's wife (37 years old) in these 7 years. I always tell her all my feelings about depression & loneliness. I tried yoga & meditation. I tried reading books. I tried travelling on tours, but nothing worked. I told my brother's wife nothing is working. To my surprise, she offered me physical relation with her for some days. I immediately told her I love my brother & can't cheat him. She said she also loves my brother & she is not watching it as cheating. According to her, it's a medical cure from her side to get me out from depression. She said she will always love my brother, but as of now, she just wants to see me happy. She said if physical satisfaction will result in my happiness, then she is ready for this. She said medicines will not work in my situation. I have asked her to give me sometime to think about it. I know her from 7 years. She is a good genuine woman. She & my brother has a child. We do flirting with each other sometimes, but never made any such move. Now, you tell what should I do ??
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
Either she is very smart to suggest this OR very silly...you will know it!
Please stay away from it; it will lead to serious complications within the family and also may result in breaking relationships. They have a family; respect it and first thing, stop communicating with her. She seems to have some agenda in mind or is also attracted to you and trying to mask it as HELP to you.
At least you be the smarter one and think! Stay off of this please...

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

...Read more

Anu

Anu Krishna  |1263 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Nov 03, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 05, 2024Hindi
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Hi, we had a love cum arrange marriage and we are married for 8 years now. My husband works under his rich friend and tells me that it is a partnership in digital advertising but even he knows he has not invested a single rupee and he his job responsibilities also include mere jobs like doing googlepay to watchman to buy groceries or vegetables. I dont feel he has a respectable job nor the stagnant financial income since years. We have one seven year old child and due to societal pressure and also coz of the long gap started to plan for a second child but failing to conceive. I still think if i should stop planning for a second child as I see him struggling with basic necessities of 1 child itself. I dont feel heard, I know he can do well in corporate but he wants to stick to this stagnant growth for his friend. He has zero savings while his friend has crores worth of property. He is just an employee to his friend and he doesnt understand that and gets bought by the fake positions given.
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
What exactly is your question for me? Since you haven't asked me one, I am just going to give you my observations and suggestions.

Your husband is possibly a lazy person OR scared of taking on anything due to fear of failure and is okay being stagnant due to these fears.
Please re-think your decision of having a second child until the time your husband assumes certain responsibilities that bring in steady income. Till your financial position is secure, there's no point in adding any sort of new responsibilities to your lives, right?
As far as what makes your husband do what he is doing, and sticking by his friend; there is not much information that I have...maybe you know this better...ask an elder male member from his family to speak with him and hope things fall in place.

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

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Anu

Anu Krishna  |1263 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Nov 03, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 01, 2024Hindi
Relationship
hi I am a 38 year old guy happily married & have a 7yr old girl. My marriage had been pinch perfect in every sense. My wife is very loving, caring, always with me during crisis be it financial/ medical or emotional & my kid added the remaining stars to my happy life. I had a love marriage with my wife in 2013, we were in same office in 2010 where we met. It wasn't love at first sight, for 6 months we just had normal interaction like normal colleague, it was when she came in my team, we spent more time & fell for each other. Before taking any relationship any further, she enquired a 100 time if I didn't had any girlfriend before ( I didn't) & also confirmed from her that she didn't had any relationship in past. Infact, we started our relationship once we were completely sure that we are going to marry in future which we did. Before starting our relationship, she did told me that she wasn't a virgin as she broke her hymen by herself some time back (self enjoying). I completely trusted her as she had told me almost everything about her life & she didn't had any relationships & I found it a bit natural. We are quiet open with each other & dont hide any whatsapp/ mails etc with each other, they are always logged in in our laptops. 3 months back we had a fight due to some issue, I was working on my laptop where her gmail was signed in ( I use that a lot for my business as well). I looked at the chats link & found some chats of her with myself & a lot of friends. I enjoyed reading it, specially the part where we started dating. I didn't consider it as privacy interreference as we both were like open book. Suddenly I found a chat with one of her family friend in which there were lot of conversations like, tum meri jaan ho, I love you, Kiss you, aaj mil nahi paaye accha nahi laga, dono akele movie chalte hai etc etc from my wife side & that guy side. The guy was there family friend & was married, she used to roam a lot with him due to work ( atleast what I believed so before) & was very open with him. I didn't mind as I always expected them working together before they had fight due to some financial transactions. Now, I look back she was always with a guy whom she loved, not virgin & all my world just crashed down. It seems that I have been cheated from very starting from the very 1st hug to 1st kiss & 1st everything that I always considered was 1st for both of us & now feeling a lot of betrayal from the person I trusted the most in my entire life. I confronted her, she changed her statements everytime. 1st she said, her brother told her to talk to that person with love as there some money on hold ( not sure what else he would have told her to do), than she said thank god you found out, else I would have died in pain, saying she had a crush on him ( I found luv u & kiss u chats from both sides), then she said that he even try to ruin his married life due to her which his mother stopped & her mother stopped to take it further & several other reasons. But she has the stand that nothing happen physically, not even a touch. It's very hard for me to believe as I have always considered her to be completely truthful, honest & was sure I know everything. This incident felt me being betrayed & I am unable to trust her anymore. I still love her & we have our ever loving daughter but our marriage is no longer as it was before & slowly slowly its drifting apart as my behaviour has changed, I am getting anxieties remembering these again & again, I am unable to watch romantic movies ( which I liked before as I always used to imagine us) now I imagine her with someone that married guy, be it romantic movies, songs, even the dreams are terrifying. I cry a lot going to washroom or going to balcony at night but still am not able to maintain the same balance that we had before. Even she is trying to bring happiness like before but my thinking is completely changed. It's somehow effecting the kid as well as we don't speak with each other like we used to before & the kid understands there is an issue. We know we will save our marriage, but we don't want that. We want our life the same as it was 3 months back, not sure how to do that. Please advise.
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
How can your lives be the same like before?
Your trust has been broken and for things to work, you must rebuild that trust. Now the question is: Are you going to be able to believe your wife again? What must she say or do for you to gain that trust back in her?
And this is something that the two of you need to work on; though you also need to be sure is she is also interested in wanting things to work.
Work with an expert who can help the two of you on this...mere talking amongst yourselves and empty promises will not work. The trust lost, the communication lost...these need a guiding force to bring them back to where they belong in a marriage. So, seek professional help NOW...honestly make this attempt!

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

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