R2I outline feedback

[keenness8]

I want to get opinion on my "plan" for r2i, i do not have a date in mind yet on when to return but will be making a decision in the next few months after talking through with financial advisors, parents in India etc. I have lived in US for a little over a decade now, wife is dependent and we have 2 kids. One in kinder and another only a few months old, we do not want our older kid to be too told when we have to return due to emergency and then have him adjust to a new style of education.

• Plan to return early in the year while I'm still considered a resident for tax purposes in US but haven't received wages for the whole year. My thought process here is if i liquidate my Roth account then taxable income will be less

• I'm planning to keep my 401k here for now to avoid early withdrawal penalty

• Sell RSU

• Sell house

• Get a term life insurance to safeguard against the non resident estate tax in case of my death

I do not know yet how easy or difficult all the financial transfers, transactions will be but these are the outlines for now.

Liquidating everything but the 401k will give us a lump sum of around 4CR to take back which I plan to invest back in India during the RNOR period, our monthly cost in India should not exceed 1L, we will live with parents at least temporarily. My hope is that kids complete their schooling in India and return to US to pursue their education.

We will be returning to a small town in MP as that's where both of our parents are and they're close to 80, we don't have much family around or help in general to take care of them hence the growing need to have someone around them for worst of times, and after a 15 year career in IT I feel like taking a break to be with them and catch up of all the lost time as well as give them time with grand kids.

From the outside I don't think I'll like the work culture or rat race of Indian IT so I may not enter it but only time will tell. We have good CBSE schools around to enroll the kids but that's what keeps me up at night, are we taking away opportunities from kids which they will have here but not in a small town in India. .

I'm not sure if someone on this forum has done anything close to this or this is just an unworkable plan so looking for some feedback. Any feedback is welcome!

[nodegree]

I think you have a solid plan overall. I would suggest eventually to start working or do something to have a cash flow so that you don't have to dip into your savings too early in your life.

MP is one of the cleanest states in India and you'll have a lovely time. Yes that part about kids is the trickiest bit. US does have more opportunities and stuff for kids to do but being in India does give them a chance to be closer with family/grand parents etc. But if you do move to India - don't worry too much about kids being raised in a relatively smaller town and not in a metro city (just make sure you have them enrolled in a decent school and have access to some sporting facilities).

Good luck!

[SAPPORO]

Your age and visa status matter here since it determines the reentry strategy into work. If you have to reenter, you might be considered too old for Indian IT and not get US work visa although it's comparatively easy to find work there after a long gap.

Don't decide your and your kids' future based on just the current situation of wanting to be close to your ageing parents, think ahead 10 years from now. Indian parents and sometimes their adult children always second-guess on if the parents did everything possible for their kids. If push comes to shove, blame it on Trump

All the best with your move!

[keenness8]

Your age and visa status matter here since it determines the reentry strategy into work. If you have to reenter, you might be considered too old for Indian IT and not get US work visa although it's comparatively easy to find work there after a long gap.

Don't decide your and your kids' future based on just the current situation of wanting to be close to your ageing parents, think ahead 10 years from now. Indian parents and sometimes their adult children always second-guess on if the parents did everything possible for their kids. If push comes to shove, blame it on Trump

All the best with your move!

Yeah age has to be factored in, we are 38 years old and if we move back we are not planning to re enter. I like the Trump angel

[loyalindian]

I am 2 decades older than you with my adult children around 20 -22 years older than your children. I had a similar dilemna ~20 years ago with my parents living in MP and the desire to take care of them in their old age. We did not have visa uncertainty since we were all USC by then and green cards were easier to get 25-30 years ago. We decided not to move back to MP since a) my parents were OK in health and b) my wife was on the fence in her feelings to move back to India.
BTW, congratulations on being diligent and accumulating reasonable wealth at this young age.

A couple of factors to consider for you :

1) I understand that you may be feeling a level of burnout in Tech, however you are only 38 years old. You have at least 25 productive working years left and any town in MP (except Indore) is not going to have suitable employment opportunity for you unless you want to start a business

2) Your kids who I assume are USC will likely return to the US for undergrad and live in the US after that (unless there are major geopolitical changes in the next 20 years). Except for a few towns (Bhopal, Indore, Bhilai, Gwalior) in MP, school options for children are not as good as other large Indian metro cities


My advice is that unless there is a immediate need for you to go back (parental healthcare, job loss in the US, spouse not happy in the US) ; continue working and accumulating wealth for the next 3-4 years in the US and then take a call on returning to India/MP. Your kids will still be relatively young and will adjust in India if you decide to return then.