Internet responds with investment advice: Young woman’s FIRE ambition sparks debate on best investment path for NRIs with savings in India
A 27-year-old Indian-origin woman living in Canada has stirred a financial storm online after revealing her plan to retire early in India through the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) strategy—despite holding ₹30 lakh in liquid savings in India and hesitating to invest it locally, reported financialexpress.com.
Her dilemma—whether to invest in India or move the money to Canada—has ignited hundreds of responses from the NRI community, offering a range of practical investment insights.
The woman cited concerns about dealing with India’s banking bureaucracy, constantly changing rules, and the absence of a property manager if she were to invest in real estate. “Do you suggest I invest that amount in India, given that my current plan is to retire in India?” she asked. “However, I don’t want to deal with Indian bureaucracy…”
She ended her post with a pointed question: “Should I move that money to Canada instead and invest here?”
The post quickly went viral, opening up a wider conversation about cross-border wealth management, taxation, and early retirement strategies for NRIs.
Several users advised the woman to stay invested in India using simple methods like SIPs through platforms such as Zerodha. “You are just 27 and there is a loooong runway. Don’t complicate by taking the money to Canada and back and forth,” one user advised.
Others warned about the complications of transferring funds abroad. “Move it via an NRO account if it’s your own money,” said one commenter, cautioning against routing it as a parental gift, which attracts a 20% Tax Collected at Source (TCS).
Some advised her to invest in North American markets while maintaining the Indian corpus, pointing out that Canadian taxation is not citizenship-based, unlike in the US. “You can build your portfolio in Canada and later move your money to India when you retire,” one suggested.
A few users urged her to factor in rupee depreciation, Indian inflation, and liquidity challenges before deciding. “Will your returns in India beat rupee depreciation?” asked a skeptical commenter.
There were also words of encouragement. “I believe in India’s growth story,” one user wrote. “You’re 27—time is on your side. Start small in India while keeping your Canadian investments going.”
The post highlighted how NRIs, especially younger ones planning long-term financial goals like FIRE, grapple with the complexity of investing across borders while balancing emotional and economic ties to India.
