Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →There is no single retirement corpus that fits everyone—and waiting until you can name one can become another reason to put financial planning off. In a Moneycontrol interview published October 7, 2026, Ramesh Vishwanathan, CEO of FPSB India, said people often delay because planning has no obvious deadline and may seem expensive or unnecessary until a need feels urgent. His practical starting point: map where you are, what you want, and the next steps to get there.
Why people delay financial planning even when they know it matters
Vishwanathan’s explanation is not that people never recognize the value of planning. Rather, it can be easy to defer when there is no visible deadline: unlike a bill or a loan payment, planning may not demand attention until a life change or financial pressure makes it feel urgent. He also identified two perceptions that can discourage people from seeking professional help: that it costs too much, or that their circumstances do not yet justify it.
In the interview, Vishwanathan reported FPSB consumer research findings that 30% of consumers who had not sought professional financial planning felt it was too expensive, while 22% felt their circumstances did not justify it. These are figures as reported in the interview, not independently verified here against the underlying India survey tables. They describe reported reasons among surveyed consumers, not every Indian household.
The interview also reported that more than eight in ten consumers who had used professional advice said its value exceeded its cost, and that 82% said they were financially better off. Those reported outcomes are not a promise that advice will produce the same result for every person. The underlying FPSB India survey, conducted in February 2023, had 1,011 respondents over age 25 who either earned more than INR 45 lakh annually or held more than INR 25 lakh in investable assets; it should not be read as representative of all Indian adults or households. FPSB India’s 2023 key insights report describes the sample criteria.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
Why a “magic retirement number” can mislead
A retirement target is useful only when it reflects the life it is meant to fund. Desired lifestyle, expenses, inflation, longevity and family responsibilities can all change the amount someone may need. A single figure detached from those assumptions can create false confidence—or make the goal seem so large that a person delays starting.
Vishwanathan’s point is not to predict the future perfectly. “Financial planning is ultimately not about predicting the future perfectly; it is about being better prepared for it,” he told Moneycontrol. A plan can be revisited as earnings, responsibilities and goals change; the interview does not prescribe one corpus, return assumption, saving rate or investment product for everyone.
Rank #2
What a financial plan should cover
Planning is broader than choosing investments. The interview describes it as bringing structure to a person’s financial life, including cash flow, debt, insurance, retirement and other life goals. These areas interact: a retirement ambition, for example, is harder to assess without understanding spending, existing obligations and protections.
Vishwanathan put the starting point simply: “A financial plan does not have to be complicated. It should provide clarity on where you are today, what you want to achieve and what you need to do to get there.” That means making the current position and priorities explicit before deciding what actions make sense.
Rank #3
How to start without waiting for a perfect plan
- Write down where you are now. Gather a clear picture of income and spending, debt, insurance and existing savings or investments. The purpose is to understand the starting point, not to make an immediate product choice.
- Name the goals that matter. Include retirement alongside nearer-term needs and responsibilities. A goal becomes more useful when it is connected to a desired lifestyle and time horizon rather than an unexplained round number.
- Identify the next steps. Decide what information is missing and which actions follow from the priorities. Keep the plan understandable enough to revisit when circumstances change.
- Review when life changes. New responsibilities, different income or shifting goals can alter the assumptions behind a plan. A plan is a framework for adapting, not a prediction that must remain fixed.
The interview’s advice is a planning principle, not individualized financial advice. It does not establish a recommended savings rate or investment allocation; readers considering investments should assess their circumstances and consult a certified expert before making investment decisions.
Self-directed planning or professional advice?
The interview does not establish that one route is best for everyone or give a standard fee for professional planning. A person can begin by organizing their finances and goals independently, then decide whether expert help is worthwhile. When evaluating a professional, consider the fee and what it covers, whether the guidance fits your goals and circumstances, and whether the information is relevant and reliable.
FPSB’s 2023 global consumer research provides broader context, but it is not an India-only result. The study covered 15,332 consumers across 15 territories; participants were at least 25 and met income or investable-asset thresholds. Its official summary says 30% of unadvised consumers perceived planning as too expensive, while 88% of CFP-professional clients said the value outweighed the cost and 86% felt tangibly better off. These global figures should not be substituted for the India-framed percentages reported in the interview, and survey results do not guarantee an individual outcome. FPSB’s global research release and its 2023 global report provide the study context.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to handle financial content online
Online content makes financial information easier to encounter, but more material is not automatically better guidance. Vishwanathan cautioned: “The challenge is knowing what is relevant and reliable.” Check whether advice applies to your goals, time horizon and financial circumstances, and distinguish general education from a recommendation suited to you. A tip that works for someone with different responsibilities or resources may not fit your plan.
At the time of the October 7, 2026 interview, Vishwanathan said India had 3,534 CFP professionals and that FPSB India was targeting double-digit percentage growth in their number. The count and target are figures stated in that interview, rather than independently verified current roster data.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
