How to secure my future financially after retirement?

Achieving financial security for your family is an ongoing effort that requires careful planning and continuous attention. Ensuring that your family can weather financial storms caused by health issues, loss of life, or disability is crucial. However, financial security extends beyond emergencies to encompass all aspects of life. While a life insurance plan is essential for long-term security, maintaining financial stability during the normal course of life is equally important and can consume a significant portion of your time and effort.

To make this complex task more manageable, follow these five steps to simplify your journey toward a secure financial future for your family:

1. Budget Your Expenses
The foundation of financial security is effective budgeting. Budgeting helps you allocate your resources more productively, allowing you to save more and spend wisely. However, it’s crucial to understand that budgeting is not about eliminating expenses but postponing non-urgent ones to increase your current savings.

Common Methods of Budgeting:
Urgent-Important Matrix: This method helps you distinguish between urgent and non-urgent expenses, allowing you to prioritize effectively.
Kitchen & Lifestyle Classification: This method limits the frequency of lifestyle expenses, grouping kitchen expenses into a single monthly shopping list.
Budget Everything: Ideal for singles or double-income couples without children, this method involves setting aside savings first and then distributing the remaining income among other expenses.
Successful budgeters spend about five to ten minutes daily tracking their expenditures. This habit helps them stay on top of their finances and adjust their budget as needed.

2. Schedule a Time to Revisit the Bills
Reviewing your expenses regularly, especially those on credit cards, is crucial to maintaining financial health. This is not just a one-time budgeting exercise but an ongoing process to ensure you're not paying for unused services.

Tips for Revisiting Bills:
Schedule a yearly review of your credit card statements and other bills.
Identify and cancel unused subscriptions, such as OTT services, news and media subscriptions, and TV channels.
Avoid opting for automatic renewals unless necessary.
Regularly revisiting your bills can help you eliminate unnecessary expenses, reducing financial drag and freeing up funds for more important uses.

3. Buy Adequate Health & Term Insurance
Once you have a handle on your budgeting, the next step is to secure health and term insurance policies for your family. Insurance provides a safety net for unforeseen events, ensuring that your family is protected financially.

Essential Insurance Covers:
Mediclaim Cover: A family floater cover is ideal if you are married.
Health Cover for Critical Illnesses: Protects against the financial burden of serious health conditions.
Accidental Death & Disability Cover: Provides financial support in case of accidents.
Term Life Insurance: Should be at least 10 to 15 times your annual income.
Some term insurance plans, like those from Canara HSBC Life, offer additional benefits such as increasing cover options. This can be particularly useful if you want your coverage to grow with your income or significant life events like marriage and childbirth.

4. Build an Emergency Fund
With insurance in place, the next priority is to create an emergency fund. This fund acts as a financial buffer for situations like job loss or unexpected expenses that insurance may not cover.

Building Your Emergency Fund:
Aim to save three to six months’ worth of salary.
Given the economic uncertainties highlighted by events like the COVID-19 pandemic, consider saving more if possible.
Keep in mind that while an emergency fund provides security, it typically earns a low rate of interest, so it should not be your primary wealth-building tool.
5. Plan & Start Investing in Long-Term Goals
After securing your emergency fund, focus on investing for your family’s long-term financial goals. These investments are crucial for achieving milestones such as retirement, your children’s education, and other significant expenses.

Order of Long-Term Goals:
Retirement: Prioritize retirement savings to ensure financial independence in your later years.
Children’s Education: Start saving early for your child’s higher education to manage future costs.
Children’s Marriage: Plan for wedding expenses.
Wealth Building: Invest in opportunities that grow your wealth over time.
Short-Term Goals: Save for nearer-term needs like a new vehicle, a second house, or pre-paying a home loan.
Investment Strategies for Long-Term Goals
Consider diversified investment plans that offer both growth potential and tax benefits. For example, Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs) can be an effective tool for achieving various financial goals:

Advantages of ULIPs:
Tax Benefits: Investments up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs are deductible under section 80C.
Flexible Contributions: After the initial premium, you can invest variable amounts.
Partial Withdrawals: After five years, partial withdrawals are tax-free.
Equity Investment: A portion of your investment can go into equity for higher returns.
ULIPs are particularly beneficial for goals like children’s education due to their goal-protection features. Plans like the Invest 4G from Canara HSBC Life offer options where, in the event of the policyholder's untimely death, the insurer continues to invest the due premiums until maturity, ensuring that the goal is met.

Revisiting and Adjusting Your Financial Plan
Financial planning is not a one-time activity. It requires regular review and adjustment to ensure that it remains aligned with your changing life circumstances and goals.

Tips for Ongoing Financial Management:
Review Your Budget Regularly: Adjust your budget as your income, expenses, and financial goals change.
Monitor Insurance Needs: Reassess your insurance coverage periodically to ensure it meets your current needs.
Track Investments: Regularly review your investment portfolio to ensure it remains diversified and aligned with your risk tolerance and financial goals.
Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with changes in tax laws, investment opportunities, and financial planning strategies.

Conclusion
Securing your family’s financial future involves a comprehensive approach that includes budgeting, revisiting expenses, purchasing adequate insurance, building an emergency fund, and investing for long-term goals. By following these steps, you can create a robust financial plan that not only provides security in emergencies but also supports your family’s needs and aspirations throughout life. Regularly reviewing and adjusting your financial plan ensures that it stays relevant and effective, helping you achieve a secure and prosperous future for your family.

Incorporate these strategies and stay disciplined in your approach. Remember, the path to financial security is a marathon, not a sprint. Each step you take today builds a stronger foundation for your family's financial well-being tomorrow.