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Feeling Stuck in a Cycle of Quitting and Starting: How Can I Break Free?

Anu

Anu Krishna  | Answer  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Nov 21, 2024

Anu Krishna is a mind coach and relationship expert.
The co-founder of Unfear Changemakers LLP, she has received her neuro linguistic programming training from National Federation of NeuroLinguistic Programming, USA, and her energy work specialisation from the Institute for Inner Studies, Manila.
She is an executive member of the Indian Association of Adolescent Health.... more
harsh Question by harsh on Nov 20, 2024Hindi
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Relationship

1.Well, maybe the truth of quit & start is, I don't want to leave that point of poorness, helplessness, imaginative king. Yes, I hate it & thats Y I try to change everything ...but knowing what should I do, knowing the ability to do, can make plans, can think & get ideas..but"not able" to put them into action & even if does breaks it!!(no consistency, discipline, no"reward"..as every worthwhile thing demands delayed gratification) proves that I don't want to leave the point. 2. When I try to change or become that"study guy", I avoid/delete every time wasting thing, And then it feels like every thing/people around me are better than me(knowing that everyone hv their own problems/insecurity..) Which works as distraction/loss-focus/ underestimating self.. which causes to break the mission & returns back to same point. Just like spiral loop where u start & feel u are growing but comes back to same point...& starts again. 3.By self questioning( of why&how ,solution) I found I hv writing skills(means I can write anything on any topic) but lack in speaking skills that's Y I'm not that good for social things( wether family or peoples) patterns are same like.. how/what should I start, will they like it, that should be funny, & should be able to make good impression...not able to take action & lack of thought to speech makes it worse. 4.I hv just told things which I know & my weak points but lack of being "self-accountable" is the main problem i guess :( 5. These are the result of 3 pages self-question & journal... So, give ur remarks & Help me!! Cuz I'm stuck don't know what to ask at this point :( maybe some ways or commands.

Ans: Dear Harsh,
You are yet again just explaining yourself and the more you do that, you will feel more helpless and stuck.
I have suggested to you: start one thing and finish it. Your brain will understand that as completion, mark it as a success point and you will have a tendency to repeat it with another activity.
Is there a command: oh yes! You can always tell yourself every night as you are about to fall asleep that you will finish every task from the next day.
Now, just don't depend on this BUT have a clear idea of your goals.
Goal setting and following it have many videos and you may watch them and get an idea.

Start somewhere, go slow...and make sure whatever activity you take on, you feel motivated else you will want to Quit again. Feeling inspired is a good way to keep yourself on track.

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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Kanchan

Kanchan Rai  | Answer  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Oct 06, 2024

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Relationship
Help me!!! 1.I'm starting new "work" on my own(challenging for me) but my mind says quit it, be quite & do nothing. I myself don't know that wether the result of work will be +ive or uncompleted like alws. 2. My mind has become like order seeker type, when someone orders me, I do those things with dedicated(but sad from inside) manner. But when myself will try something different(which i fear, but necessary) then. "I QUITS IT" & sometimes I don't even start. 3. I'm like stuck no clue what/whom I want to do in life, I'm in cllg(1 yr) doing (CSE) ,. 4. I want to do/try (sports,talking girls,study,stocks,coding..) many things, but myself, my thoughts(overthinker), R like just be in the place where u are[confused,po*n,think about past/future(being billio..re,olympics..), girl (that u liked & never talked), abusive/beating self,.. sometimes feels like end life, but don't hv courage for that also.. 5. I tried self help books, spirituality, god, self affirmation, writing... & thay affected me(sometimes) but for only some time, then again that devil me comes up &these things never get completed. As no one in my family knows about all these, so that's Y ,I hv to fight/loose/try again, the battles with myself. 6. Is there any way I can talk/chat 1 to 1 to U, so I can get more detailed & affective treatment/advice..
Ans: The key here isn't to focus on "doing everything" or even "doing it perfectly." It's about starting small, with manageable steps, and building trust with yourself that you can complete things. When we overthink, our mind creates these massive, overwhelming expectations that paralyze us. By breaking things down into smaller, more achievable actions, you give yourself the opportunity to build momentum, which in turn builds confidence.

Your mind may be craving structure and direction, which is why following orders from others feels easier. But when it comes to leading yourself, that fear creeps in because you’re stepping into uncertainty. It’s important to recognize that this fear is not a sign that you should quit — it’s actually a sign that you're stepping out of your comfort zone, which is where growth happens.

It's also okay to feel vulnerable or unsure about what you truly want from life, especially in your first year of college when everything is still unfolding. You're at a stage where exploring different interests and making mistakes is part of the process. It’s important to be kind to yourself in this phase, recognizing that it's okay to not have it all figured out yet.

I can sense the pain behind your words, especially with the thoughts you’re having about self-worth and even more distressing feelings. I want you to know that these thoughts, while deeply personal, are shared by many who feel overwhelmed or lost. You’re not alone in this, and there is always a way to break free from this cycle, but it requires a blend of compassion for yourself and small, committed action.

I’m here to support you as you navigate this. While I can’t do 1-on-1 real-time conversations, I'm always ready to guide you through these thoughts and help you find practical ways to move forward. You deserve to feel peace and purpose, and that starts with allowing yourself the grace to begin imperfectly.

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Anu

Anu Krishna  | Answer  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Nov 07, 2024

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Relationship
Help me!!! 1.I'm starting new "work" on my own(challenging for me) but my mind says quit it, be quite & do nothing. I myself don't know that wether the result of work will be +ive or uncompleted like alws. 2. My mind has become like order seeker type, when someone orders me, I do those things with dedicated(but sad from inside) manner. But when myself will try something different(which i fear, but necessary) then. "I QUITS IT" & sometimes I don't even start. 3. I'm like stuck no clue what/whom I want to do in life, I'm in cllg(1 yr) doing (CSE) ,. 4. I want to do/try (sports,talking girls,study,stocks,coding..) many things, but myself, my thoughts(overthinker), R like just be in the place where u are[confused,po*n,think about past/future(being billio..re,olympics..), girl (that u liked & never talked), abusive/beating self,.. sometimes feels like end life, but don't hv courage for that also.. 5. I tried self help books, spirituality, god, self affirmation, writing... & thay affected me(sometimes) but for only some time, then again that devil me comes up &these things never get completed. As no one in my family knows about all these, so that's Y ,I hv to fight/loose/try again, the battles with myself.
Ans: Dear Harsh,
If in the past you have had the urge to QUIT, how is this time going to be different? This is not to discourage you from taking up 'new work' but pointing out that there is some amount of work that you need to put to clear the mind out of blockages.
-What is limiting you?
- What is the reason for putting off things?
- What comes first to the mind when you start something new?
Also, focus on one thing at a time; study and go deep into it...what's this thing with work? I don't understand. When the mind is unsettled, take one thing/activity, pursue it and finish it. It could simply be studying for Year 1 of your college...just only do that...once your mind is trained in completing an activity, you can add another one the next year along with studying and then pursue both...it could be some sport and studying...then the next year, you could add a third activity. This is called 'training the mind in discipline'. Discipline will make sure that you start and finish things...So, go slow and do one thing at a time.

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  | Answer  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Jul 29, 2025

Relationship
I'm 21(M) B.tech(2year) and I have been stuck in fantaasies from all my years of childhood. I use to compare myself to many other people across in many areas(study, looks, their friendships, social network, bravery, fight, love..etc) cause those were the things which I also wanted but never got it! I was a very shy(insecure) , socially nervous, scared kid. I kept all inside of me & just tried to get good marks in exams... this made me inactive in other areas(cause I always wanted to be best, but never tried), bitter, sour in myself and still it's same but the fantaasies & Insecurity, doubt, inactivity, fear of failure and sometimes fear of success has caused me to a Miserable Life. Now I'm just like a lonely, sad, lazy, overthinker person but still I always try to make a better version of myself..(read positive book, self-help, meditation, gym, being social) but after 3-4 days the consistency breaks and due to lack of guide I get back to previous state of mine. I try to improve but being in my comfort zone, the fear of uncertainty in out of comfort zone make my thought/self-talk Terribly scared, nervous and full of disbelief in myself & I quit! Unless there is some external pressure/urgency. And in all these the job, future, skill are all like Dark! Tell me something...
Ans: Dear mods,
Merely trying to improve isn't going to help you improve because the reasons for which you actually want to improve are not clear to you. You are simply comparing yourself to others and 'trying' to be like them or do what they do.
What makes you not focus on what you want to do? For this,
- identify what you are good at
- stop this self-pity party that keeps you tucked into your comfort zone
- challenge yourself with small things first
- ask a friend to be a 'buddy' who can act like your mirror and also motivate you
- celebrate small wins and also analyze your losses too

Unless you start somewhere, you are not going to change and along with changing self-talk, also ask yourself the most important question:
What change do I want in myself and what are the things that will make that happen?
Follow through with a plan BUT this is possible once you shake yourself out your self-pity and choose to move ahead.

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

Kanchan

Kanchan Rai  | Answer  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Jul 24, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 18, 2025Hindi
Relationship
I'm 21(M) B.tech(2year) and I have been stuck in fantaasies from all my years of childhood. I use to compare myself to many other people across in many areas(study, looks, their friendships, social network, bravery, fight, love..etc) cause those were the things which I also wanted but never got it! I was a very shy(insecure) , socially nervous, scared kid. I kept all inside of me & just tried to get good marks in exams... this made me inactive in other areas(cause I always wanted to be best, but never tried), bitter, sour in myself and still it's same but the fantaasies & Insecurity, doubt, inactivity, fear of failure and sometimes fear of success has caused me to a Miserable Life. Now I'm just like a lonely, sad, lazy, overthinker person but still I always try to make a better version of myself..(read positive book, self-help, meditation, gym, being social) but after 3-4 days the consistency breaks and due to lack of guide I get back to previous state of mine. I try to improve but being in my comfort zone, the fear of uncertainty in out of comfort zone make my thought/self-talk Terribly scared, nervous and full of disbelief in myself & I quit! Unless there is some external pressure/urgency. And in all these the job, future, skill are all like Dark! Tell me something...
Ans: The inconsistency you feel isn’t a reflection of weakness. It’s a result of being caught between two parts of yourself—one who wants to evolve, and one who is afraid to lose the comfort of old beliefs, even if they no longer serve you. That internal conflict is heavy, especially without a guiding voice to help you sort through it. You’re not alone in that—many young adults feel exactly this way, especially those with big dreams and high sensitivity to their environment.

Rather than trying to “fix” your personality or “force” your discipline, start by restoring trust in yourself. Trust doesn’t come from perfection; it comes from showing up consistently for yourself in small, simple ways without pressure to perform. Your fear of failure and even your fear of success are both rooted in the same place: the doubt that you are enough as you are.

It’s okay to slow down. It’s okay to not have all the answers. The goal isn’t to become a different person—it’s to become more at peace with the person you are becoming. Self-leadership starts here: by choosing compassion over criticism, patience over pressure, and honesty over performance. Even if your steps are small and scattered, they are steps forward.

You don’t need external urgency to change. You need internal safety to try. So let’s shift the story you’re telling yourself. You’re not behind. You’re not broken. You are learning, growing, and unlearning decades of conditioning—and that’s not only brave, it’s transformative.

Keep going. Gently, but steadily. And every time you fall back into old patterns, remind yourself: coming back is progress too. The journey to emotional strength is not about never falling—it’s about returning to yourself, again and again, with love.

..Read more

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Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |203 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 18, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 07, 2025Hindi
Money
am 53 , in between jobs as lost a high profile job about 8 months back. Have fulfilled all my responsibilities. no debt. own home. Me and wife are empty nesters. Monthly expenses maximum will be 60-65000 per month. Am planning to travel where the expenses could range between 10-12 lakhs per annum. What should be the ideal corpus that i should have at this point in time. i have currently close to 5.5-6.00 cr in corpus most in debt and some in ppf . Is this good enough to retire for good Am planning to go for a comprehensive medical insurance for me & my spouse. Am a very conservative & risk averse individual.
Ans: Dear Sir,

You are 53 years old with the following profile:

No dependents

Monthly expenses: ?60,000–65,000

Planned travel expenses: ?10–12 lakh/year

Current corpus: ?5.5–6 crore (majority in debt instruments and PPF)

Owns home (loan-free)

Risk profile: Very conservative, risk-averse

Planning to take comprehensive medical insurance for self & spouse

Observations

Current Corpus & Expenses

Annual lifestyle + travel expenses: ~?18–20 lakh/year

Using a safe withdrawal rate of 3.5–4% (suitable for conservative, long retirement), you would need a corpus of ~?5–6 crore to sustain current lifestyle indefinitely.

Investment Composition

Since most of your corpus is in debt and PPF, it is stable but may lag inflation slightly over long term.

With low-risk instruments, annual real returns may be ~5–6%, which is adequate if spending is controlled.

Recommendations

1. Portfolio Allocation

Maintain 70–75% in debt/PPF/FDRs for safety.

Keep 15–20% in conservative equity/balanced funds for inflation hedge.

Allocate 5–10% in gold/SGB for long-term protection.

2. Liquidity & Emergency Planning

Maintain cash or liquid funds for 12–18 months’ expenses to cover unexpected needs or medical emergencies.

3. Insurance & Health Coverage

Opt for a comprehensive family floater medical insurance covering hospitalization, critical illness, and post-hospitalization expenses.

Keep term insurance only if required for estate or inheritance planning.

4. Travel Planning

Fund travel expenses from short-term debt or liquid mutual funds to avoid liquidating PPF or long-term debt.

Set aside an annual corpus of ?10–12 lakh specifically for travel.

5. Inflation & Corpus Monitoring

Even conservative retirees should review corpus annually to account for inflation, unexpected medical costs, and lifestyle changes.

Consider modest equity allocation to maintain purchasing power over decades.

Conclusion

With ?5.5–6 crore mostly in safe instruments, your current corpus is sufficient for retirement with your conservative lifestyle and travel plans. Key actions:

Opt for comprehensive health insurance

Maintain liquidity for 12–18 months

Small equity allocation for inflation protection

Review corpus annually

Your retirement can be comfortable, low-risk, and sustainable, given disciplined spending and conservative investment approach.

Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
https://members.networkfp.com/member/naveenkumarreddy-vadula-chennai

...Read more

Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |203 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 18, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 06, 2025Hindi
Money
I'm 26, unmarried, my current in-hand salary is 1.8L per month, In my savings i have 11.4Lakhs invested in mutual funds focusing investing in Small cap and mid cap large cap and index funds. And 10 lakhs invested in equities My PF Balance is 3.5lakhs and in Nps it's 1.5lakhs. and In my savings account i have around 2.5lakhs. I have recently received salary hike and now I'm planning to invest 1lakh in SIPs every month. I want to retire at the age of 45. My current expenses are around 70k per month.How shall I plan my investments to achieve this goal so that I draw atleast 1.5lakhs(today's value) post retirement.
Ans: Dear Sir/Madam,

You are 26 years old, unmarried, with a monthly in-hand salary of ?1.8 lakh. Current financials:

Investments & Savings:

Mutual funds: ?11.4 lakh (Small-cap, Mid-cap, Large-cap, Index funds)

Equities: ?10 lakh

PF: ?3.5 lakh

NPS: ?1.5 lakh

Savings account: ?2.5 lakh

Planned SIP: ?1 lakh per month

Current Expenses: ?70,000/month

Goal: Retire at 45, maintain lifestyle, draw ?1.5 lakh/month (today’s value)

Observations & Recommendations:

Retirement Corpus Requirement: Considering 19 years to retirement and 5% inflation, you may need a corpus of approx. ?7–8 crore to generate ?1.5 lakh/month in today’s value (adjusted for inflation) at 4% safe withdrawal rate.

SIP Allocation:

Maintain 60–70% in diversified equity funds (flexi-cap / large & mid-cap) for growth.

Keep 10–15% in debt funds or NPS for stability and tax efficiency.

Maintain emergency fund of 6–12 months’ expenses in liquid funds or savings account.

Portfolio Diversification: Avoid concentration in a few stocks; focus on mutual fund diversification across styles and market caps.

Annual Review: Increase SIP contribution with salary hikes; rebalance portfolio annually to maintain risk allocation.

Insurance: Ensure adequate health and term insurance to cover unforeseen events before retirement.

Next Steps:

Consult a QPFP / MFD planner for a detailed cash flow, goal tracking, and early retirement plan.

Monitor portfolio performance annually and adjust SIPs to ensure the target corpus is achievable.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing.

Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
https://members.networkfp.com/member/naveenkumarreddy-vadula-chennai

...Read more

Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |203 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 18, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 06, 2025Hindi
Money
Hello sir I am 41 years old. My monthly income is 1.1 lakhs . My current financials follows: My monthly expense - 60000 EMI vehicle - 9700 Insurance premium - Term insurance: 2300/month Health insurance: 2000/month LIC: 1500/month APY Contribution: 1000/month Insurance cover: Term insurance 1cr. Plus 17 lakhs critical illness cover Health insurance - 30 lakhs family floater LIC - 4 lakhs Emergency fund - 7 lakhs Investment: Mutual fund SIP 1. Goal - House construction - Rs.65 lakhs - timeline - 15 years Parag pareikh flexicap fund - 8k / month 2. Goal - Land purchase - 40 lakhs - Time line - 10 years Axis large and midcap fund - 8k/month 3. Goal - Kids education - 16 lakhs - 11 years ICICI Prudential Large and Midcap fund - 2.5k/month 4. Goal - Retirement - 3.5 cr - 19 years HDFC Flexicap fund - 9.5k/month 5. Goal - Gold - 100gms - 15 years SBI Gold ETF - 6k/month 6. SSY - 3500/month Kindly suggest if I need to make any corrections in my investment. Thank you
Ans: Dear Sir/Madam,

You are 41 years old with a monthly income of ?1.1 lakh and the following financials:

Monthly Expenses & EMI:

Household expenses: ?60,000

Vehicle EMI: ?9,700

Insurance Premiums & Coverage:

Term insurance: ?2,300/month (Coverage ?1 crore)

Health insurance: ?2,000/month (Family floater ?30L)

LIC: ?1,500/month (Coverage ?4L)

Critical illness cover: ?17L

APY contribution: ?1,000/month

Emergency Fund: ?7 lakhs

Investments (SIPs):

Goal: House construction – ?65L – 15 years → Parag Parikh Flexi Cap ?8k/month

Goal: Land purchase – ?40L – 10 years → Axis Large & Mid Cap ?8k/month

Goal: Kids’ education – ?16L – 11 years → ICICI Large & Mid Cap ?2.5k/month

Goal: Retirement – ?3.5 crore – 19 years → HDFC Flexi Cap ?9.5k/month

Goal: Gold – 100g – 15 years → SBI Gold ETF ?6k/month

SSY – ?3,500/month

Observations & Recommendations:

Equity Allocation: Your goal-based equity SIPs are modest and diversified. You may slightly increase SIPs for long-term goals (House & Retirement) to account for inflation.

Debt Exposure: Ensure your emergency fund remains intact (7–8 months of expenses). Consider keeping some short-term debt instruments for medium-term goals like Land purchase.

SIP Consolidation: For simpler tracking, you may consolidate multiple mid-cap/flexi-cap SIPs with 2–3 strong diversified funds rather than many small SIPs.

Insurance: Term and health insurance are adequate. Review critical illness coverage as you age.

Gold Allocation: 6k/month is reasonable. Monitor market volatility and consider staggering purchases.

Regular Review: Rebalance your portfolio every year to ensure asset allocation aligns with risk and timelines.

Next Steps:

Consult a QPFP financial planner for a detailed cash flow, investment alignment, and goal-tracking strategy.

Monitor inflation impact on your goals (House, Land, Education, Retirement) and adjust SIPs periodically.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing.

Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
https://members.networkfp.com/member/naveenkumarreddy-vadula-chennai

...Read more

Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |203 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 18, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Aug 28, 2025Hindi
Money
I am 43 y/o with a monthly salary Rs.2,15,000 after tax with dependent wife and two boys aged 14 and 10. Monthly expenses around 1.25L-1.5L which includes home and car loan EMI and school fees etc. monthly SIP to index fund and a small cap fund is around 30K. Current MF value is 20Lakhs (started investing late). I have No FDs as I broke them to have very less debt for my new home built last year. Direct equity exposure in India is 40Lakhs and some exposure in US markets with 12Lakhs in equities and US ETFs. I have 25Lakhs in my Provident fund. My wife has gold worth 60Lakhs. My current house and the plot is worth 2.8Cr as of today. I also have some ancestral land worth 1Cr. Have rental income from two apartments summing up to 30K. My rented out apartments combined value is around 80Lakhs. I also have 25Lakh worth of health insurance for family and 3Cr worth term insurance in my name. What could be an ideal retirement strategy for me from my day job. I have tried my hand as a swing trader for a year with a decent return of 22% in a year but went back to my job fearing financial instability. I still have that option open as I like trading as well. Thanks in advance!
Ans: Dear Sir,

You are 43 years old with the following profile:

Monthly Salary: ?2,15,000 (post-tax)

Dependents: Wife + 2 boys (14 & 10 years)

Monthly Expenses: ?1.25–1.5 lakh (including home & car EMI, school fees)

Mutual Funds: ?20 lakh (SIP ?30,000/month in index + small cap)

Direct Equity India: ?40 lakh

US Equities + ETFs: ?12 lakh

PF: ?25 lakh

Wife’s Gold: ?60 lakh

House + Plot: ?2.8 crore (self-occupied)

Ancestral Land: ?1 crore

Rental Income: ?30,000/month from 2 apartments (value ~?80 lakh)

Health Insurance: ?25 lakh (family)

Term Insurance: ?3 crore

Observations

Current Net Worth – Excluding lifestyle/home, your investible corpus is ~?1.57–1.6 crore (MF + Indian & US equities + PF + rental property).

Cash Flow – Your salary plus rental income comfortably covers expenses. SIPs continue to build long-term corpus.

Risk Exposure – High concentration in Indian equities (~?40 lakh) and some direct equity risk in US markets. Gold and PF provide stability.

Retirement Horizon – Assuming retirement at 55, you have 12 years to build corpus.

Action Plan

1. Portfolio Diversification & Growth

Maintain 60–65% in equities (MF + direct equity, India + US) for long-term growth.

Rebalance periodically to reduce concentration risk.

Debt/PPF/FDs: 25–30% for stability and predictable cash flows.

Gold/SGB: 5–10% as an inflation hedge.

2. Children’s Education

Allocate a separate goal-based corpus for children:

14-year-old: ~?20–25 lakh for higher education in 4–5 years.

10-year-old: ~?30–35 lakh in 8–10 years.

Use short-duration debt and balanced funds for near-term needs, equity funds for long-term needs.

3. Retirement Corpus & Income

Target corpus: ?6–7 crore (inflation-adjusted, assuming 4% SWP) to sustain post-retirement lifestyle.

Expected post-retirement income sources:

Rental Income: ?30–35k/month (increase with inflation)

PF/NPS: ~?40–50k/month

Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) from MF/Equity corpus: ~?1–1.2 lakh/month

With disciplined SIPs and equity growth (~10–12% CAGR), target corpus achievable by 55.

4. Protection & Risk Management

Term Insurance: Adequate (already 3Cr).

Health Insurance: Ensure family floater covers future medical inflation.

Keep emergency fund equivalent to 12 months’ expenses in liquid instruments.

5. Optional Trading Exposure

You may continue swing trading in a small portion (

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Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |203 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 18, 2025

Money
I am 41 years old. I have 2 kids below 3 years age. My monthly income is 1.50 Lacs and rental income of 60000. I have no plans except one Housing loan of 35 Lacs. I am doing 50000 Sip and have a portfolio of 20 Lacs in Mutual funds and 20 Lacs in shares and 15 Lacs shares. My monthly expenses are now Approx 60000 excluding children education. Children education estimated expenses are 3-4 lacs per annum. I am planning to retire after 5 years. At the time of retirement I will be having the following : 1. Monthly Rental income 70000 2. Monthly NPS Pension 37000 3. Fixed deposit 40-50 Lacs ( interest income 30000) 4. Mutual fund and equity portfolio of 1 crore Is it fisible to retire after 5 years ??
Ans: Dear Sir,

You are 41 years old with the following profile:

Monthly Salary: ?1.5 lakh

Rental Income: ?60,000/month

Kids: 2, both under 3 years

Housing Loan: ?35 lakh outstanding

Mutual Funds: ?20 lakh (SIP ?50,000/month)

Equity Portfolio: ?20 lakh

Fixed Deposits: ?15 lakh

Monthly Expenses: ?60,000 (excluding children’s education)

Children’s Education: Estimated ?3–4 lakh/year

Observations

Current Savings & Investments – Your investible corpus is ~?55 lakh (MF + Equity + FD). SIP of ?50k/month adds ~?30 lakh over 5 years (excluding returns).

Projected Retirement Corpus (5 years) – Assuming 10% CAGR on MF/Equity, your corpus may grow to ~?1 crore. FD interest (~?15k/month at 6–7%) adds stability.

Income at Retirement – Post-retirement, expected inflows:

Rental Income: ?70,000/month

NPS Pension: ?37,000/month

FD Interest: ?30,000/month

MF + Equity Corpus: SWP possible (~?50,000–60,000/month depending on withdrawal plan)

Total Monthly Post-Retirement Income – Approx ?2.1–2.2 lakh/month.

Expense Coverage – Your current expenses (~?60k) plus children education (~?25–30k/month average) are well within projected income.

Action Plan

1. Debt Management

Plan to repay housing loan within next 2–3 years to reduce liability and free cash flow.

2. Portfolio Allocation

Maintain 60–65% in equity (MF + stocks) for growth.

Keep 25–30% in debt (FD/NPS) for stability.

Allocate ~5–10% to gold/SGBs as inflation hedge.

Emergency fund: Maintain 12 months’ expenses in liquid funds.

3. Retirement Withdrawal Strategy

Consider Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) from MF/Equity corpus to supplement rental and pension.

Use goal-based approach for children’s education to avoid disrupting retirement corpus.

Conclusion

Based on current corpus, SIPs, rental, and NPS pension, retiring in 5 years is feasible. Key points:

Focus on clearing housing loan before retirement.

Continue disciplined SIPs for growth.

Keep children’s education funds separate.

Please consult a QPFP / MFD for detailed cash flow planning, SWP structuring, and risk assessment.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme related documents carefully before investing.

Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
https://members.networkfp.com/member/naveenkumarreddy-vadula-chennai

...Read more

Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |203 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 18, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 12, 2025Hindi
Money
I am 37 years male staying with wife and kid and parents, our household monthly expenses are around ₹65k and my income is around 2lakhs per month I have saved around 13lakhs in Ppf and epf has around 21lakhs and nps around 8lakhs. Have mutual fund investments of about 30lakhs, and fd of around 12 lakhs. I have running investments in sip of around ₹55k in equities and equal amount I m putting aside in debt instruments like fd and ppf each month as I do not want too much risk. Please guide me for planning retirement in next 10 years
Ans: Dear Sir/Madam,

You are 37 years old, living with your spouse, child, and parents. Current financials:

Monthly household expenses: ?65,000

Monthly income: ?2 lakh

PPF + EPF: ?34 lakhs (PPF: ?13L, EPF: ?21L)

NPS: ?8 lakhs

Mutual Funds: ?30 lakhs

Fixed Deposits: ?12 lakhs

Monthly SIP: ?55,000 in equities, ?55,000 in debt instruments (FD/PPF)

Goal: Retire in 10 years (age 47) maintaining current lifestyle.

Estimated Retirement Corpus:

Assuming 5% inflation, monthly expenses at retirement will be approx. ?1.0–1.1 lakh.

Using a 4% safe withdrawal rate, a retirement corpus of around ?3–3.5 crore would be needed.

Action Plan:

Continue your disciplined SIPs in equities and debt. You may consider slightly increasing equity exposure over time to boost long-term growth, especially in the first 5–7 years.

Maintain a mix of 60% equities and 40% debt currently. Gradually shift 20–30% of equity into debt instruments 3–5 years before retirement for stability.

Keep 12 months’ household expenses in liquid instruments for emergencies.

Review portfolio annually to ensure asset allocation matches risk tolerance and inflation expectations.

Consider topping up NPS and PPF to maximize tax-efficient retirement corpus.

Next Steps:

Consult a QPFP financial planner for detailed cash flow, retirement projection, and goal-based investment planning.

Ensure adequate term and health insurance coverage to protect family obligations.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing.

Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
https://members.networkfp.com/member/naveenkumarreddy-vadula-chennai

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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