A prospective client once told me, “I had a financial plan made three years ago. It showed my net worth growing, my SIPs hitting my goals, and a clear path to retirement. But today, the numbers are completely different. My portfolio is lower, expenses are higher, and my asset allocation is a mess. What’s the point of paying for a plan if reality never matches the projection?”
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It’s a fair question. To answer it, we have to look at what a financial plan actually is—and what it isn’t.
Assumptions are Not Predictions
When a planner shows you projections (e.g., 10% equity returns, 7% inflation, or 8% goal growth), those are not prophecies. They are assumptions based on long-term historical data and your current situation.
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Life happens in the short term. For example, if you assume rent grows at 6% per year, but sudden redevelopment in your neighbourhood causes rents to spike by 20%, that 6% looks like a joke. This happens for two reasons:
- Incomplete Data: A plan is only as good as the inputs. If a client doesn’t disclose upcoming life changes, the output suffers.
- Micro-Environment Shifts: Unexpected economic shifts warrant an update, not a total abandonment of the strategy. Remember: 6% is a long-term average; the path to get there is rarely a straight line.
The Goal is Awareness, Not Accuracy
If reality rarely matches the projection, is planning futile? Consider this: every large corporation creates a financial plan.
They hire expensive consultants and in-house experts to build these models. Does reality match their plans? Never. So why do they do it? Because the process of planning forces them to understand the environment, the resources required, and the effort needed to succeed.
When results deviate, companies don’t just sulk; they pivot. Instead of complaining about the initial draft, they focus on:
- Monitoring the plan against real-world data.
- Comparing actual results with the original trajectory.
- Re-assessing targets and goals based on new information.
- Identifying gaps and tweaking the strategy.
What a Good Financial Plan Actually Does
A plan is a compass, not a GPS. It provides several “eye-opening” benefits:
- Understanding Your True Financial Health
It quantifies your net worth, savings ratio, and risk tolerance. Many clients think they save 30% of their income, only to realize—once everything is penned down—that the real number is closer to 10%.
- Quantifying Vague Dreams
A “new car” or “child’s education” is just a dream until it’s a number. A plan turns a vague idea into a ₹20 lakh car every 7 years or a ₹25 lakh education fund. It prepares you for large, inevitable expenditures.
- Clarifying Financial Direction
You finally understand why you are investing, not just where. It provides a roadmap of priorities—emergency funds, retirement, and family goals—so you aren’t just “chasing returns.”
- Auditing Your Lifestyle
A plan reveals if your lifestyle supports your goals. Interestingly, some clients realize they are actually underspending. They discover they can afford that extra vacation, a hobby, or a car upgrade without jeopardizing their future.
The Role of Review, Not Replacement
A financial plan is a living document. You don’t make it once and set it on a shelf; you review and course-correct, either yourself or with the help of a planner. Every 2–3 years, you should:
- Update income, expenses, and inflation expectations.
- Rebalance your portfolio to restore your original asset allocation.
- Reset timelines if your life priorities have shifted.
The updated plan isn’t a sign that the first one failed; it is the continuation of your journey.
Final Thoughts
A financial plan will go “wrong” on paper many times. Markets will surprise you, and life will interrupt you with unexpected costs. But if your decision-making system stays intact, your goals remain achievable—even if the route looks different from what you first imagined.
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Dr M. Pattabiraman (PhD) is the founder, managing editor and primary author of freefincal. He is an associate professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. He has over 13 years of experience publishing news analysis, research and financial product development. Connect with him via Twitter(X), LinkedIn, or YouTube. Pattabiraman has co-authored three print books: (1) You can be rich too with goal-based investing (CNBC TV18) for DIY investors. (2) Gamechanger for young earners. (3) Chinchu Gets a Superpower! for kids. He has also written seven other free e-books on various money management topics. He is a patron and co-founder of “Fee-only India,” an organisation promoting unbiased, commission-free, AUM-independent investment advice.Our flagship course! Learn to manage your portfolio like a pro to achieve your goals regardless of market conditions! ⇐ More than 3,500 investors and advisors are part of our exclusive community! Get clarity on how to plan for your goals and achieve the necessary corpus no matter the market condition!! Watch the first lecture for free! One-time payment! No recurring fees! Life-long access to videos! Reduce fear, uncertainty and doubt while investing! Learn how to plan for your goals before and after retirement with confidence.
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