What are The Different Types of Financial Planning ?

By
Hemant Beniwal
81

What is Financial Planning?

Many times, you may have read the word What is Financial Planning? and you may have many complicated definitions as well. Hope you have watched “3 IDIOTS”. When Aamir was asked the definition of a machine, he said in simple language “Machine is anything that reduces human effort”. Similarly in simple language “Financial Planning is the process of meeting your life dreams/goals through the proper management of your finance.”

what is financial planning

Check- Rules For Financial Planning

Dream of buying a new car, a dream house, getting your children married in style, or simply retiring early to Live Life King Size.

There are two ways you can deal with finance in your life:

1 Without Financial Planning wherein at some point time in future, you will have money and then you will decide how to use that for your goals.

2 With Financial planning, you decide well in advance what are your goals and how you will achieve them.

Financial Planning Gives you more clarity in life, it provides direction and meaning to your financial decision. It helps you to provide the right balance between your present and future lifestyle.

Financial Planning will answer three Important questions:

  • What are your financial goals?
  • Where you are today in relation to your goals?
  • How will you get from where you are today to your goals?

Why Financial Planning required?

No one plans to fail but people who don’t plan are surely making plans to fail.

Today, time is with you. But will you be able to continue at the same throughout your life? Will your income be the same forever? Will you be able to live on your own terms even after you retire? Answer these questions –

Understanding the Different Types of Financial Planning

Types of Financial Planning

Read about- How to Setting SMART Financial Goals – Complete Guide

Investment Planning:

Investment planning is one of the m major types of financial planning. Investment should be done in objectives and not products. If you are looking for long-term investments, then you may take high exposure of Equity and if your target is nearby, you should go for Debt. Investments are done in products which carry a  name to itself like Smart Kid Plan, Jeevan Saathi Plan, Komal Jeevan, etc. are beneficial only for the agent or the manufacturer so that they can misguide you.

What is Financial Planning ? Click to Tweet

Retirement Planning:

Most people carry a myth that Retirement Planning is done if one has taken Pension Plan. Retirement Planning is a very vast subject and one has to evaluate factors like expected age, current lifestyle standard, Inflation, etc. It is the biggest component of Financial Planning as Your working period (Accumulation Phase) & Retirement period (Distribution Phase) are almost equal in the current context.

Child Future Planning:

It is done to secure your child’s future by arranging funds for his higher education and marriage. It should be started as soon as your child is born. The expenses for education and marriage are rising every day and you need to have a defined strategy to achieve these goals.

Tax Planning:

A fine is a tax for doing something wrong & a tax is a fine doing something right. Tax planning is integral part of financial planning and ignoring this can have a huge negative impact on your returns. With a Direct tax code in the picture, investors would need to plan not only at the time of making an investment but also at the time of maturity as well.

What is Financial Planning Understand The types of Financial Planning

Must Check – Importance of Financial Planning in Your Life

Risk Management:

High Return comes with high risk. Most of the investors concentrate on returns whereas actually, we need to concentrate on Risk. Once you know how to manage risk, you automatically can increase the return with minimum risk.

Estate Planning:

Proper estate planning can help save unnecessary taxes and probate costs, providing peace of mind for you and your family.

Budget & Cash Flow Planning:

An analysis of your cash flow may help you uncover funds suitable for investment or other needs. As the saying goes, just when you’re about to make ends meet, someone moves the ends.

Insurance Planning:

You’ve worked hard to build a solid financial footing for you and your family, so it needs to be protected. Accidents and disasters can and do happen and if you aren’t adequately insured it could leave you in financial ruin. You need insurance to protect your life, your ability to earn income, your family’s hospitalization expense and to keep a roof over your head in troubling financial times.

FINANCIAL PLANNER

In India, the term ” Financial Planner” has been in vogue for quite some time now. In the absence of any local regulation or guidelines, anyone can call himself a “Financial Planner” Without having the necessary training, education, or certificates that certify their own people as Financial Planners. There are so many individuals who decide to start putting the term “Financial Planner” in their business cards leaving the public more confused.

The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER marks are designed to readily identify CFP professionals to the public and to clearly distinguish between CFP professionals and other so-called Financial Planners. They are international marks owned outside the U.S. by Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. Financial Planning Standards Board India is the marks licensing authority for the CFP marks in India, through agreement with FPSB.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

81 COMMENTS

  1. hi,
    I m routine reader of your blog and inspired, My self Mitesh shah frm ahmedabad, gujrat working as LIC Agent and recently pass the NISM Series VA Mutual fund advisor.

    Now i m keen to clear CFP. So can u guide for Same …

    frm where i get study material and all things..

    pl thanks in advance for your guidance.

    regards
    mitesh shah

  4. Hi Hemant
    I am doing job in private company my salary 20000 p/m i want invest 4000 p/m, please tell me something.

    • Sunil you have shared very limited data so I am assuming that you would like to invest for next 15 years. As you have written that you are in private job you should seriously think about creating retirement corpus as even accumulated EPF will not be enough. As I have assumed a long term my suggestion will be go for Diversified Mutual Fund SIPs – you can choose HDFC Top 200, DSP BR Equity & Reliance Regular Savings Equity Fund. If we expect a return of 12% on investments your portfolio will be Rs 20 Lakh after 15 years.

  5. I have retired as Manager (F&A) from A Govt of India Undertaking mine was not pensionable Job, please advise me to invest my retirement benefits( Provident Fund, Gratuity etc.) to earn regular income and enlarging the funds.

    V K Aggarwal

  7. Hi,
    Please advise How Sundaram Balanced Fund have declared dividend of Rs 6/- per unit when its NAV is 16.51……is it possible ? is it as per SEBI regulation.

    • Hi Alert,

      Yes they can.

      But this amount will come out of your investment only. So you investment value & NAV will come down in dividend proportion.

  8. I wrote my problems to here requesting Hemant to guide, but Cant find the answer, I wrote in the section of SIP, where are the latest responses given . how to find them . I am sorry for asking irrelevant thing but pls help .

  9. I am working in MNC as software engineer. For gaining functional knowledge can I take CFP course.. I feel After moving to manager level this functional knowledge will helpful to manage/quote/interact with customer — Please share your comments

    • Hi Ganpathy,

      If your idea is just to gain some knowledge – i will not suggest you to go for CFP. You can learn few basic things from course material.

  11. Hi,
    My package is 8 lacs. can you please help me with some good investment scheme which will be act as a Tax Saver as well as good returns too.
    Well I hv planned to invest 50k in HDFC Crest and 25 k each to ICICI Pru & HDFC Long Term Investment.
    Kindly suggest.
    Thanks.

    • Hi Ms.Singh
      It appears to me that you need the services of a certified financial planner.

  12. Hi Hemant
    It is a pity that in a country of our size there are less than 1000 certified financial planners.

  13. Dear Anil,
    Hi.
    U r absolutely correct. But the reason of this is lack of awareness. U may have noticed people frm various banks visiting u foras wealth managers but if u ask them some questions on inflation adjusted returns / income tax / how to know the amount of life cover needed—they are speechless. I along with my couple of CFP friends have started mentoring such young working people frm insurance /banking /Mf industry so that they can become CFP and are in a better position to service their clients. I would be glad if u could give reference of such personnel in your contact.
    Regards
    Anil Punjabi

  14. HI,

    I am 26 yrs old and working in ITES company. I am at a start of my career and my package is 6 lacs.I would like to seek your guidance on my investment. Presently, I dont have any policies but would like to have ASAP. My financial goals are House in Mumbai, Monthly returns/income(at times of job loss or recession) and insurred life.
    I am new to all of this and I have gone through many articles which has confused me.
    Kindly guide.

    Best Regards,
    Avinash

  15. Hi Avinash
    With the scanty information furnished it is not possible to suggest any thing. It is important to have well defined goals,time horizon for meeting goals, knowledge about risk appetite, number of dependents, current savings etc.

    • Thank you Anil for your kind reply.
      But still, can you guide me on how should I go ahead. As its my start and I want to take right step ahead.
      I am really impressed by this forum where queries are addressed so quickly !!

      • Hi Avinash
        Your first aim should be to save as much as you can.
        Next you should have a minimum of three months salary as your emergency fund in your bank.
        If you have dependents then you must have term insurance of an amount which should be minimum of your three years salary.
        Have health insurance to cover yourself and your dependents.
        To meet your short term requirements invest in debt such as bank fixed deposits.
        To meet your long term goals have a portfolio of diversified equity mutual funds. Invest through SIP route.

          • Hi Anil,

            Would like to thanks a ton for guiding me in Year 2011 for investment, I experience the benefits of early investment. After 3 years, SIP proves to be very beneficial for me. I would like to seek your advice on my following SIP portfolios which I started on Nov 2011.(monthly Rs.2500/- in each)

            1.DSP BlackRock Top 100 Equity Fund – Regular Plan (G)
            2.L&T Tax Advantage Fund (G)
            3.SBI Emerging Businesses Fund (G)

            How to check and compare their performance?
            Shall I continue with this folis OR and add few more / shall I change to different folios?
            This year,I plan to use this investment for my long terms goal i.e. buying property.

            TFLguide.com and your valuable replies help young investors like me to gain knowledge on investment tools and educate us about managing our hard-earned money.
            Best Regards,
            Avinash

  16. Sir,
    I want to take term plan of 50 Lacs for 25 years .My annual income is approx 7.5 lac. Please tell which term plan will be best for me.

    thanks

    Suraj Singh

    • Hi suraj,

      I will suggest you to go with Online Term Plans from ICICI- I care & Kotak Preferred E-Term Plan, distribute your SA equally among the same. Don’t hide any details if you do so it will create problem in settlement of claims.
      I will like to suggest one more thing i.e. you should have term plan of 10 -15 times of annual income.So, you should have 75 lakh of term plan.

  17. Hi,
    I am planning to take Term insurance plan from LIC for sum insured of 50 lakhs and term period of 25 yrs.I am 26 yrs old and recently got married.
    Due to family reason, we have not disclosed the marriage news. Can I mention in LIC forms/docs as Marital Status : SINGLE to maintain the secracy. Can I hide this fact . Will it create any problem at time of claim settlement.
    I am ready disclose rest all details. Understanding the gravity of situation kinldy guide.

    • Hi Sonu Singh,

      Firstly congratulations for your marriage.
      Secondly,I will like to say that its good that you are looking for a term plan.I will tell you to have the term plan with ICICI-I Care & Kotak Preferred E-Term Plan and you should distribute SA equally, it will help in settling your claims because if one company has settled the claim other company can’t deny it .You should buy online because they are available at cheaper rates.
      Thirdly,I will like to say that you should not hide anything form the company because it will create problem at the time of claim.

  18. Hello Hemantji,since i subscribed to tfl i learnt a lot bout financial planning and now applying in life. To invest for long term as a retirement planning i am looking to invest 4k per month.

    On this i want to have ur views whether to invest 2k in 2 mutual funds each or 1k in 4 different mutual funds. Should it be diversified one or equity fund or similar any which one u find good. Please guide in this regard.
    Kindly reply and keep on sharing gr8 knowledge to literate us.
    Thank you,
    regards,
    jayant dhabekar.

  20. Hi Hemant,

    I am routine reader of your blog and inspired, My self VaibhaV Arde, working as LIC Agent. I am inspired by your blogs and I am keen to clear CFP. So will you please guide for Same …

    from where I will get study material and all things..

    Thanks in advance for your guidance.

    Regards,
    VaibhaV

  21. Hi all,
    I am 35 yr old working in an ITES company. I am at half way thru of my career and my package is a little over 6 lacs take home would be 44-45k pm.I would like to seek your guidance on my investment.
    Commitments: An aged mother, have taken a mediclaim policy from Star health [as rest of the Cos were not offering policies to 65 and above].
    Need to renovate family house in another 2 years (roughly 2013-14) that may cost 5-6 lacs.
    Apart from these I am not in any debits.
    (A)
    I have taken 3 ULIP policies in Kotak 2 policies -smart advantage for Rs 10800 each need to pay one more year and 1 policy -Money back for Rs 1513 per month need to pay 2 more years. [above all 3 years locking]
    (B)
    Apart from these I have invested in 3 ELSS and 1 in HDFC – Liquid fund (Rs 30k) early 2010 and then never re-newed or invested in new schemes [Sundaram- Tax saver; HDFC -Tax Saver;Reliance – Tax saver all Rs 10k each]
    (C)
    Without knowing in Dec 2009 I have taken LIC Jeevan anand money back policy for whooping Rs 53k pa premium [15 year scheme] but I never re-newed this.
    (D)
    Confused over these many investment options I have opened an RD for Rs 5000 pm thru my home bank.

    I request you to advise me on these queries.
    1)Do I have to re-new my LIC Policy, is it worth?
    2)I realized that my Kotak ULIP investment is not an intelligent one so kindly suggest me on tax saving (80C Rs 1 lac….to be precise it is around 85k for me) investments.
    3)Please suggest me on monthly saving / investments.

    Local jewellery showrooms and even Tanishq have come up Gold harvest kind of schemes are these worth than ETF or physical?

    Thanks in advance for your guidance.
    Regards,

    • Hi Das,
      It looks that you have already accepted that Jeevan Anand was a poor decision & you have not paid last year’s premium. And hope you also know that if you will not pay further premiums – you are not going to receive a penny back. If I talk emotionally it is going to be very tough decision but if I talk financially, keeping in mind time value of money – it’s a good decision to forgo your first premium rather than throwing good money to save bad money. For section 80 c you can use ELSS, PPF, EPF & children school fees. For further savings you must start Mutual Fund SIP as soon as possible.

  22. dear Mr.Hemant,
    one more nice article as usuals with some quality follow ups.
    i am looking for doing cfp . is it possible to complete cfp without joining any institute.
    can i get materials for preparing on my own online.
    pls guide me.
    regards
    rajesh

  23. Hi,
    i am working in accenture and looking for long term investment plan like twenty yr endowment plan in lic for sum assured 1 crore.but am not sure whether i will become taxable when i got this amount 1 crore through life insurance and if yes wat % tax i have to pay and most importantly how can i save tax(even no tax) on 1 cr amount.please guide me and show me the better investment plan for 40 k per month approx monthly for 5 yr and for 20th yr vl able to get 1 cr with no tax..

    regards
    abhishek

  24. thanx Mr. Hemant. pls mail me the details of the person to whom i should connect for teh CFP . I am from Mumbai.
    regards
    Rajesh

  25. Hello Hemantji,
    I purchesed one property in June 2011 but i am not getting possesion this financial year. can i claim Interest & Principal in this year. Or can forward my Stamp duty & registration of next financial year under 80C.
    pls. suggest..

  26. Hi Hemant,

    I am 32 and planning to invest Rs. 6000.00 p.m. for next 10 years. Gradually, I can increase the amount but for now, Rs. 6,000.00 is my budget. I have selected below funds. Can you please suggest whether the selection is correct or not-:

    HDFC Top 200: Rs. 2000.00(Equity Large and Midcap Mutual Funds)
    IDFC Premier Equity-: Rs. 2000.00(Equity Mid and Small Cap Mutual Funds)
    HDFC Equity/ Reliance Equity Opportunities-: Rs. 2000.00(Equity Multi Cap Mutual Funds)

    Regards
    Nitin Srivastava

  27. Hi Hemant,
    Dis is gitanjali, i m working as a geologist in Private Sector. I want a pension plan for my future. I can Invest for this plan monthly Rs 3000. So pls i want ur help which plan is good for pension pls reply me as soon as possible….

    • Hi Gitanjali,
      If you rae hinting towards pension plan from insurance cos – I will say no. better option will be a combination of PPF, NPS & mutual funds.

  28. In the absence of proper financial planning, no individuals would save money to invest. If there is no investments, then we would face a liquidity problem.As compared to past few years, as the trend is observed, savings have already reduced which is a serious concern for the economy. Hence, Financial planning is a Must!

  29. I am 29 years old and my yearly income is 6 lakhs.I have taken a term plan for acover of 15 lakhs for 15 years term from LIC.Now I feel that the duration and amount is less.I am the eldest and my family is dependent on me.Should I cancel the present plan and go for a new one for 30 years for a cover of 25 lakhs in LIC?I am also thinking of opening a term plan with ICICI for an amount of Rs 25lakhs for a term of 30 years.
    During the claim will it not give rise to complications if I go for two plans as the original certificates have to be deposited with either of the party.Please suggest.Thanking you in anticipation.

  30. hi hemant……
    last 2 years i tried aware people & practicing about financial planing now i want to join & complete CFP in my view a cirtification is not enough to AWARE all its practice & devlop to every people be AWARE
    please guide
    thanks & regards
    rajib

  31. Hi Hemant Ji,

    My name is Sourajyoti. My Age is 31. Presently staying in Mumbai.
    Before describing my goals I want to give you some facts which may give you a better picture of my present circumstances. I am presently working in RBI as a manager. I have taken the pension option for my retirement. As per RBI is concern pension is very good. After every 5 years they revise the pension as a part of pay scale revision. They give complete medical facility (almost zero cost for medical). We also have a group insurance policy of 8 lakhs & premium is paid by Bank. Last 6 years of my service life I have not done savings/investment properly. I only have
    1. PF (on an average 2500-3000 PM for last 5 & half yrs.) (Tax planning)
    2. LIC Jeevan Anand policy of 6 lakhs for 34 years (started on 2006)
    3. ICICI Pru Pinnacle Super – LP for (5 yrs pay option started in 2011) with yearly premium of 16 K for 18 yrs cover. (Tax planning)
    4. BSLI Vision Plan (5 yrs pay option started in Jan 2012) with yearly premium of 60K (Tax planning)
    5. Term Insurance: BSLI Protector Plan – Term 30 Pay 30 for 5 lakhs+50% increase every year with annual premium 3.2 K (Tax planning)
    6. Five mutual funds with 10K each (IDFC Sterling Equity Fund – Plan A (G), Franklin Build India Fund (G), ICICI Prudential FMCG Fund (G), Franklin India Bluechip Fund (G) & ICICI Prudential Focused Bluechip Equity Fund (G) (All I have done in Dec 2011 when Nifty wasround 4600 level))
    7. One MF with SIP of 1K (SBI Magnum Emerging Businesses Fund (G) (Start Date Dec 2011))
    8. Fixed deposit of 1 lakhs
    9. Rescently made an investment in Gold (10g only) (excluding other jewelleries)

    Last one year I have tried for Stock trading but unsuccessful (made losses). However As a investor in Stock Market is quiet successful as I have invested when nifty was @4600 in Dec 2011.

    Now coming to the point.
    My goals are as follows:
    1. Early Retirement at the age of 46 (having 40 lakhs in my hand as per present value)
    2. Daughter’s marriage at the age of 55 (15 lakhs (as per Present value))
    3. Purchase a Flat in Mumbai with worth 40 lakhs (present value)
    Investment condition:
    I can invest 8k/month (will increase minimum 2k/month every year)
    + 30 K quarterly (will increase minimum 2k/month every year)
    Now, would you please guide me & prepare a financial planning for me? I am ready to pay for the same if you don’t have any issue.

    With regards
    Sourajyoti

  32. what will be the premium per month for 5lakh (lic jeevan ankur ) what are the benefits of this plan, what are the return rates and give any further information related to this plan

  33. Hi Readers,

    I have this Understanding: If our investment makes 20% profit, our fund managers or whoever is taking control of our investments take 10% profit out of our 20% profit. In other words 50% of our profit made in investments goes to fees, fines, charges. Am i right?

    And one more thing is, now that Recurring deposits give us 9% to 14%, I think RD is better choice for those who want to invest for 3 years. Do you think RD is better option for investing those who want to invest for 3 years?

    Thanks

  34. Dear Sir,
    Truly, i am very happy to see your blog, i use to be a financial adviser selling mutual funds for a company, i always thought INSURANCE as a need but not an investment. Now it is clear viewing your ideas.
    Can you please advise me :
    1. I am 35 year old working in a private sector where i have no guarantee of regular income, or any other long term benefits, like PF, etc.,
    2. I have 2 little children to whom i have to secure their financial future.
    3. I need to invest in a Term Insurance Policy where i should get a large amount of sum Assurance, i dont need any return from my investment.
    4. I prefer single term policy if any as i said my income is not guaranteed.

    Awaiting your kind reply.

    Subhani

  35. Hello Sir,
    I have taken 3 different Mutual funds( SIP mode) from a distributer, Every month, I get the CAMS, folio statements by email. I can see my distributer company name in that, how can I know,how much amount is deducted as his charge from every installment . while taking SIPs he told me that I will not be paying any charge to him, but if I take directly from fund houses , then I need to pay some amount every month from installments I dont understand his funda .Please help.
    regard.

  37. Hi Hemant,

    I am IT professional working with an IT company, my Annual Package is about 25L. I am looking for Investment options. I have never invested any money in Stock Market or Mutual funds but not thinking of starting it.

    My Current investments and saving are :

    LIC Jeevan Anand : 25L, yearly premium 99K, Already paid 3 years.
    LIC Term Plan : 50 L (205 + 25). 24K PA premium
    ICICI Pru ULIP : 18K PA. Already paid 7 years.

    Bank FD’s 10L

    I am looking to buy a Flat in near future.

    Regards

    • You need to set your goals and their time duration first. Based on that you may look for different investment options.

      Let us know your goals once you have decided.

  38. hi,

    this is Amit, I am from kolkata.Right now working as a s/w engineer.
    Can you guide me how to become cpf.

  39. Hi hemant,
    I am qualified as CA-Inter & MBA (Finance). I am working as a Research Analyst since 18 months. I want to give CFP level 5 exam directly. can i do so. Please guide

  40. Hi Hemanth,

    Its been great to read your blogs… I need details about CFP… Could you please send me the details like, eligibility, institutes offering this course and further details….

    I appreciate your blogs and Anil’s. Keep rocking….!!!

    Thank you,
    Gayathiri.

  42. Hi ! Dear Hemant ! I am always impressed by your articles. They are very informative and eye opener for us. Iam a govt. servant with rs.40k salary p.m.
    I have a daughter of 4years. I want ur suggestion for her education and marriage planning. At present I have a term insurance of rs. 50 lakhs in hdfc click 2 protect
    and 2 policies in PLI worth rs.20 lakhs with 7000 p.m. premium. Iam paying 11000rs. as car loan premium with 5 yrs.remaining. Now I want to know what more should I do to meet my goal? Please do suggest which plan or investment should I make ?

  43. I’m in 27 l don’t have any my monthly income is 30000k financial plan . please guide me where to invite to achieve my goals and for a safe retairment please guide me

    • Hi Sangram,
      You are young – if you want you can take some exposure in Mutual Funds through SIP. But will suggest you to get in touch with advisor.

Comments are closed.