One of the most common questions every NRI has is regarding how to manage their finances and invest in India. A social media post by a 27-year-old Non-Resident Indian (NRI) woman based in Canada has now gone viral, sparking a flurry of financial advice and debate on whether NRIs should invest their savings in India or abroad—especially when aspiring for an early retirement.
The woman, who plans to pursue FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) and eventually retire in India, shared that she currently holds liquid savings of around Rs 30 lakh in India. However, she expressed reluctance to invest the funds locally, citing concerns over “Indian bureaucracy, running around banks, ever-changing rules,” and the lack of someone to manage a property in her absence.
“Do you suggest I invest that amount in India, given that my current plan is to retire in India? However, I don’t want to deal with Indian bureaucracy…,” she wrote. The post ended with a plea for investment advice: “Should I move that money to Canada instead and invest here?”
“If it is your own money, then move it via an NRO account”
The post struck chord with the NRI community, drawing hundreds of responses from financial enthusiasts and fellow expats—many sharing their own FIRE journeys, investment strategies, and lessons learned.
A user recommended a straightforward SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) route through Indian brokers like Zerodha, writing, “You are just 27 and there is a loooong runway. Don’t complicate by taking the money to Canada and back and forth.”
Another user pointed out the complexities of repatriating money from India. “If it is your own money, then move it via an NRO account and not as a gift from your parents… there will be 20% TCS [Tax Collected at Source] on foreign remittance by them,” they said, adding that mutual fund onboarding in India is restricted for US/Canada-based NRIs due to regulatory hurdles.
Some suggested a middle path—keep the INR funds in India, but use Canadian earnings to invest in North American markets. “Canada doesn’t have citizenship-based taxation like the US,” one user noted. “You can build your portfolio in Canada and later move your money to India when you retire.”
Others took a macroeconomic view, weighing in on currency depreciation, inflation, and ease of liquidity. “What kind of profit will your investment make in India? Will those returns beat rupee depreciation and inflation?” one commenter asked.
“I believe in India’s growth story,” said another, encouraging the user to invest at least a part of her savings in Indian markets while leveraging age as her greatest asset. However, caution also came from some quarters: “Leave the money there for four years. Wait till global economic volatility settles before making any big decision.”