When Radhika joined the workforce after her MBA at 23, she had a very specific goal in mind – to undertake financial planning in a manner that would enable her to achieve optimal financial independence and retire early. Following her early retirement, she was keen on starting an NGO for street animals.
Understanding financial planning
Financial planning plays a pivotal role in achieving early retirement goals by providing a roadmap to financial independence. Through meticulous budgeting, saving, and investment strategies, individuals like Radhika can accumulate wealth and secure their future retirement by starting early and leveraging the power of compounding which can help even modest contributions grow substantially over time, facilitating an earlier exit from the workforce. Additionally, strategic asset allocation and risk management ensure a balanced portfolio tailored to individual risk tolerance and retirement timeline. Comprehensive financial planning considers factors such as inflation, healthcare costs, and lifestyle aspirations, allowing individuals to set realistic retirement targets and adjust their plans accordingly. Moreover, regular reviews and adjustments to the financial plan help navigate life’s uncertainties and ensure continued progress towards the desired retirement date. Indeed, by proactively managing finances and adhering to a well-crafted financial plan, individuals can align with the F.I.R.E. or Financial Independence Retire Early movement, and enjoy the freedom to pursue their passions and live life on their own terms.
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Decoding the F.I.R.E. movement
The F.I.R.E. movement is now a burgeoning trend that challenges traditional retirement paradigms by advocating for early retirement through strategic financial planning. F.I.R.E. emphasises the importance of robust saving and investing to achieve financial independence, allowing individuals the freedom to choose how they spend their time. Central to the F.I.R.E. philosophy is the concept of attaining financial independence well before the conventional retirement age and followers of this movement aim to accumulate a sufficient nest egg to sustain their desired lifestyle through modest withdrawals from their investment portfolios. This shift in mindset towards financial independence prompts individuals to re-evaluate their relationship with money, focusing on long-term goals rather than immediate gratification.
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How to practice F.I.R.E
Crucial to the F.I.R.E. strategy is the calculation of one’s F.I.R.E. number, which represents the amount of savings required to support one’s lifestyle without the need for traditional employment. This calculation involves determining annual expenses and applying a safe withdrawal rate, typically around 4%, to ensure that the portfolio sustains over the long term. To achieve F.I.R.E. goals, one can employ various tactics, including aggressive saving, reducing expenses, increasing income through side hustles or entrepreneurship, and investing in assets that generate passive income. Additionally, regular monitoring of progress towards the F.I.R.E. goal is essential, as it enables individuals to make necessary adjustments to their savings and investment strategies. By staying disciplined and focused on their long-term objectives, followers of the F.I.R.E. movement aim to retire early and live life on their own terms, free from financial constraints and beholden only to their own aspirations.
Investment Strategies
Helping Radhika in this journey is her prudent asset allocation, under the watchful eye of a financial planner. Given that retirement and several of her goals are long term in nature, equity as an asset class has an important role to play towards achieving her financial goals. For short term goals, debt funds will suffice while for medium term goals a mix of hybrid and equity funds will help.
To veiw: www.cedruswealth.com
Disclaimer
The views are personal and are not part of the Outlook Money editorial Feature.