Hello mam, I cannot focus on my work....I keep overthinking about the future and even after being skilled i cannot execute my work.I get distracted and agitated easily these days.I have lost confidence in myself i keep thinking how i would tackle things in future,I dont know what to do.Can you please guide.

Ans: You have shown strong financial discipline at a relatively young age. Building assets across market-linked investments, retirement instruments, fixed deposits, and property, while supporting a single-income family, is not easy. This already puts you on a stable path and gives you choices, which is most important at this stage of life.

» Your current life and career situation
– Age 41, working in a software role with valid career risk concerns
– Single income family, spouse not working, one child aged 8
– Realistic work horizon of 2 to 5 more years
– High current income but uncertainty about continuity
– Desire to move into a small business after job exit

This mindset is practical and timely. Planning now is far better than reacting later.

» Snapshot of your current financial strength
– Market-linked investments (stocks and mutual funds) around Rs.1.5 crore
– Retirement-oriented assets (EPF, PPF, NPS, gratuity) around Rs.1.5 crore
– Fixed deposits around Rs.55 lakh
– Self-occupied house in Bengaluru, loan free
– One additional house giving Rs.17,000 monthly rent
– No mention of loans, which is a big positive

Overall, you are asset-rich and reasonably diversified.

» Understanding what “retirement” means in your case
– You are not planning to stop work fully and sit idle
– You want to exit a high-pressure job and move to a lower-risk phase
– Some income from rent and future business is expected
– Main fear is loss of salary, not lack of activity

So this is more of a “career reset” than a traditional retirement.

» Can you afford to retire from the job in 2–3 years
– Financially, you are closer to independence than you may feel
– Your core retirement money is already built to a large extent
– Child’s higher education is still a future responsibility
– Medical inflation and family protection must be kept in focus
– The biggest risk is stopping income too early without a plan

If expenses are controlled and withdrawals are disciplined, job exit in 2–3 years is possible, but only with structure.

» Key risk areas to address before exiting the job
– Large portion of wealth is locked in long-term retirement buckets
– Fixed deposits are safe but may not support long-term inflation
– Rental income is modest compared to living costs
– Business income is uncertain in the early years

This means you must not rely on just one source after job exit.

» How your portfolio needs to evolve now
– Clearly separate money into three buckets

Near-term living and safety money

Medium-term flexibility money

Long-term growth and retirement money
– Do not treat all assets as one combined pool
– Gradually reduce unnecessary concentration in any one area
– Ensure enough liquidity for 3 to 5 years of expenses

This structure gives confidence during job transition.

» Fixed deposits and cash management
– Keep only planned money in fixed deposits
– Avoid excess idle cash losing value silently
– Fixed deposits should act as shock absorbers, not growth engines
– Review tenure and purpose of each deposit

Purpose-based use of FDs is important now.

» Market-linked investments
– Continue equity exposure, even after leaving the job
– Avoid sudden exit from markets due to fear
– Gradual rebalancing is safer than sharp changes
– Long-term money should stay invested for growth

Your time horizon for a part of money is still very long.

» Real estate holdings
– Self-occupied house gives emotional and financial stability
– Rental property provides some income but low yield
– Do not depend on rent alone for regular expenses
– Keep property only if it fits your long-term comfort and liquidity needs

Real estate should remain supportive, not central to retirement income.

» Planning for the small business idea
– Do not invest retirement money into business directly
– Start with a small, capped capital allocation
– Expect low or zero income in the first few years
– Treat business as optional income, not compulsory

This protects your family lifestyle if the business takes time.

» What the next 2–5 years should focus on
– Save aggressively while salary continues
– Build a clear post-job cash flow plan
– Strengthen emergency and medical buffers
– Prepare mentally for variable income
– Avoid lifestyle inflation during high-income years

These years are your strongest defence against future uncertainty.

» Final Insights
– You are not late, and you are not underprepared
– Exiting a software job in 2–3 years is possible with discipline
– A 5-year horizon gives much more comfort and flexibility
– Portfolio clarity is more important than chasing returns
– Financial independence is closer than you think, but structure is key

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment