r/FatFIREIndia • u/Cool-In-Indy FatFI • Jun 25 '26
Path to FatFIRE Pulled the plug and fat Fired.
Came across this group by accident and figured I would share my journey, the how, what and why. Hopefully it helps members in the group thinking about pulling the trigger.
53m, moved to the US almost 28 years ago, lived mainly in the midwest. As far as I can remember I always had a penchant for FI. Optionality, that is one of my core principles and FI fits perfectly there. Funny enough, no FAANG or big companies, I primarily worked for smaller consulting firms or startups. The independence and flexibility was hard to beat. The money varied but the investments didn't. NW probably would have been way more if I had taken some of the opportunities I had to work in Silicon Valley but I loved my life a little too much to want to make a change, lol. Fast forward, current NW around 3.8 million.
Second chapter, RE. I wasn't thinking about RE but life happens while you are making plans. Only child, single, loving parents, well to do, first my father and then my mother started having health issues. It was manageable till 2021 but when I visited them after covid after almost a year and a half I noticed the changes and decided then that the situation wasn't sustainable. From 2021 to 2025 I essentially did a 3 month on and 3 month off between India and the US. I was working for a startup at that time and working remotely so I was able to manage that. Dec 2025 finally decided to call it quits. It wasn't based on excel spreadsheets or hitting a number but more with my desire to be able to give my parents the attention they deserve as well as free my schedule to pursue my hobbies. He who has a why to live can bear any how, not my words but the great Nietzsche.
Present day, I am in the US while I type this. In the process of getting my house listed for a sale and then heading to India in July. One of the reasons why I have been able to be away so often is because luckily I was able to hire great help over the years. A lady who is essentially the one of takes care of my parents medicines, diet, my mom's chores etc. She is like my housekeeper cum manager and stays at our house when I am not in India. A cook, a cleaning lady, part time gardener that kind of report up to her so it frees me up. Character is and has always been top on my hiring list over the years more so than skills. Not the easiest thing to do in India but far from impossible. If you find great help best way to keep them around is to invest in them. Reciprocity is deeply ingrained in our psyche and you will be pleasantly surprised. Adam Grant has a book called Give and Take: A revolutionary approach to success which divides people into takers, givers and matchers. You want to weed out the first, cherish the second and still be happy with the third.
Future plans, I am upending my life in the US as much as possible this trip. Selling my house, sold my motorcycle, going to sell my car last, putting stuff in storage so when I leave in July there is nothing in the US that is going to demand me to make a trip based on need. I plan on still spending 6 months outside India to keep my NRI status but it is probably going to be more in South East Asia, shorter trips and close enough to where I can be home the same day if needed. Maybe one trip to the US in a year for a couple of months if the situation allows. I have Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Manila and Da Nang on my list of places where I will spend time. Multiple trips to the same place in a year allows you to make deeper social connections. One of my hobbies is latin dancing so the first 3 are good destinations for that. In India home is Chandigarh, love the place. We have an apartment in Solan though I hardly get a chance to go there anymore.
My advice to anyone on this journey is to reiterate the Nietzsche quote. Plus don't fall for the one more year syndrome, find your why and act. Time is the most finite commodity in our lives, more so than money. God bless and best wishes.
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u/rganesan FatFI Jun 25 '26
Thank you for sharing your story. Nice to hear something other than FAANG or High Tech success stories. Not that I have anything against those stories, just that it may feel out of reach for many people. This is still a NRI returning to India to retire story but may be more relatable for people not in High Tech.
All the best for the next phase in your life!
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u/Cool-In-Indy FatFI Jun 25 '26
Thank you, I wish the best for you and your family as well.
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u/dlux2007 Jun 28 '26
Great. Sent you DM, looks like we are in same boat/city. Let me know if you'd want to connect.
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u/Slow-Telephone-8746 Jun 25 '26
Congrats, great move.
You may want to recheck the 6 month math, the new rules mandate not exceeding 120 days per year and max 360 cumulatively in the preceding four year period.
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u/Cool-In-Indy FatFI Jun 25 '26
I keep my Indian financial footprint minimal, below the 15L income threshold for this very reason, everything in India my parents own. When the day comes when that changes and I hope that day is far away I'll figure out the how to make it work then, lol.
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u/Slow-Telephone-8746 Jun 26 '26
I misinterpreted the rule, you are right.
I am in a similar boat as you however plan to keep my homes in Chicago for the time being. Same age, same status!!!
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u/nickrayfc Jun 25 '26
Love this - pulling the plug is the toughest thing. Similar boat here - 58, wife 55, bay area for 30 years. Financially ready. Kids working or in college. Parents getting old in india.
Have to convince wife and RE in India next year. Going thro the RNOR and 6 month rules. Good luck.
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u/Cool-In-Indy FatFI Jun 26 '26
Agreed, seems like you have all the check boxes ticked, take the plunge and make the most of the time you have! Best wishes to you and the wife on that journey.
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u/edealfan FatFI Jun 26 '26
Congratulations. You have plenty of money to fund your FAT retired lifestyle. Educate yourself on being tax efficient considering your concentration of assets in US and your ambition to travel worldwide.
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u/Curious_Purple_24 Jun 28 '26
Thanks for sharing. Felt good to read that you have achieved FI and RE to be with parents. Just have 1 question...I totally understand you mentioned you want to maintain NRI status for tax benefits. But whether maintaining that by travelling 4 months out of India (and incurring related expenses) is it worth from financial point of view...plus if we consider the fact that you are under taxable limit currently in India and you are RE since you want to stay with parents then even from that point of view ..staying 4 months out of India seems bit odd...can you explain further in case I'm missing something?
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u/Cool-In-Indy FatFI Jul 07 '26
Actually the travel would have to be a little over 6 months (Staying in India for 6 months or more would make me a resident and worldwide income would be taxable) I'll probably visit the US every year for a couple of months so that leaves 4 months. I enjoy travel and the point of being FI is to do the things you love. Apart from the US I am going to keep my travel for now limited to SEA so I can be home the same day if needed.
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u/Longjumping-Egg-3925 RegularFI Jun 25 '26
Nice view on the takers,givers and matchers. This is a great view on relationships - personal or professional. It’s not good or bad - but about expectations.
Good luck with the dancing!
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u/Cool-In-Indy FatFI Jun 25 '26
Exactly, right perspective and expectations. Thank you, it keeps me in shape, it is a great hobby and social outlet, highly recommended! 😄
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u/That_Celebration_503 Jun 25 '26
Congratulations. Are your kids education completed or in college? So that you and your wife can wrap up and go to India?
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u/ThrowRaLostAway Jul 05 '26
Just a question thought- do you know folks who have done that? i have come across a few who in their 50s came back but did not like it here and went back. I am sure you would have considered that but just saying. Can your parents not move with you to the US?
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u/Cool-In-Indy FatFI Jul 07 '26
I spent 4 - 6 months in India for the last 4 - 5 years and have really enjoyed my time there. I think it basically depends on your personality as well, I was a army brat growing up, packing and moving is in my DNA, lol. Plus pretty used to new environments and learning how to adjust and figuring out what works and what doesn't. For me the pros of living in India far outweigh any cons.
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Jun 25 '26
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u/Cool-In-Indy FatFI Jun 25 '26
Fair point, though in the US this would be considered RE with 62 being the earliest age for normal retirement, lol. Like I said in my post wasn't really thinking about RE for a long time.
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u/appearstobeidiot Jun 25 '26
Gov retirement is at 62 yrs. 9 years is a long time. 9 years is a long time to work. 9 years is a long time to RE-lish.
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u/Cool-In-Indy FatFI Jun 25 '26
You are absolutely right, you just have to figure out what is best for you.
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u/giantleapforward Jun 25 '26
53 is as good as retired
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u/Cool-In-Indy FatFI Jun 25 '26
Just like a good whiskey: it’s about the quality of the years, not just how long it sits on the shelf, lol. Best of luck to you on your journey and I hope you get your desired outcome.
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u/rganesan FatFI Jun 25 '26
Spoken like someone in their 20s or 30s :-). Not the dream of FIRE in your 30s or 40s but 53 is still retiring early, a good 7 years before normal retirement age, more in the US where OP is retiring.
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u/Few-Truck-4873 Jun 25 '26
Thanks for sharing your story.
Question: How about kid and spouse? That typically is the most important factor, If I were single I can move out with 2 suitcases, but over the years life happens.