From Ethiopia to Konkan: A Beautiful Journey of NRI Financial Planning & Homecoming

I was absolutely energized — and why not? I was invited as a special guest to Konkan, a place I dearly love. Hosting me were a wonderful couple, Ramesh and Suchitra, originally from Konkan but now settled — or rather unsettled — between two continents.

They discovered our Financial Life Planning Movement through an online webinar focused on NRI Financial Planning. Within 48 hours of my response, they had booked an Exploration Session.

Suchitra, a proud homemaker, and Ramesh, an agriculturist-turned-NRI, had moved to Ethiopia around 12 years ago seeking better financial opportunities. Ramesh’s career overseas flourished — he was doing exceptionally well as an agricultural consultant. However, they soon realized the emotional cost of this move. For the sake of their children’s upbringing and family life, Suchitra returned to India with the kids, while Ramesh continued working abroad as the sole breadwinner.

He was the perfect provider, no doubt — on the financial front, he scored a solid 10/10. But on the personal, emotional, and social fronts, the score was heart-breaking. Despite the miles, they remained a tight-knit family at heart — just not in proximity.

Ramesh’s deep-rooted love for the Indian soil, especially Konkan, never faded. While the job in Ethiopia brought wealth, it took away something far more precious — the joy of being with family and watching his kids grow up.

Over the years, the emotional distance grew. Suchitra grew increasingly concerned — not just about the children missing their father, but also about the long-term implications of this cross-border lifestyle. Questions loomed over their minds:

• Should Ramesh return to India now?
• Can we maintain the same financial security here?
• Is continuing abroad the only way to stay secure?

They were stuck in a classic NRI dilemma.

During our Exploration Session, they opened up about their true desires — living together as a family, building a rooted life in Konkan, and using their hard-earned savings meaningfully. But Ramesh couldn’t answer one key question: “How much is enough to come back for good?”

That’s where Financial Life Planning for NRIs steps in.

We analysed their entire NRI portfolio — spread across overseas savings, mutual funds, life insurance, and a vacant apartment in India. As it turned out, their investments were scattered, unmanaged, and lacked a structured vision.

I assured them that repatriation was not only possible — it could be executed confidently within 12 months if backed by a well-crafted strategy. Ramesh was in disbelief. His dream of returning to India wasn’t a vague wish anymore — it had a plan now.

Using our TORCH Process (Tools for Realising Clarity & Harmony), we began:

• Consolidating & simplifying their NRI investments
• Creating a “Settlement Fund” — a buffer to support future cash flows in India
• Reviewing and optimizing insurance and long-term assets
• Renovating their vacant Indian apartment and putting it on rent for passive income
• Strategizing their India return transition — both financially and emotionally

Their transformation was incredible. What once felt like a risk now looked like a well-charted roadmap. They were finally aligned — not just as a couple, but as partners in shaping their future.

And the most magical part?

I met Ramesh and Suchitra only 8 months ago.

Today, Ramesh is back in Konkan — back to the land he loves, working on the soil he respects, surrounded by the people he missed the most. Their financial life is structured, their family life is healed, and their future — brighter than ever.

This is more than a story of an NRI returning home.

This is the essence of NRI Financial Life Planning — making money meaningful, and aligning wealth with what truly matters: a life well lived.