1. How do I safeguard my child's education?
2. How do I save for our family vacation?
3. How do I prepare for unplanned job loss?
4. How do I secure a financially comfortable retirement?

QUESTIONS such as the above are being asked across the world, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

FINANCIAL LITERACY is recognized as a critical skill that is widely lacking among students and young earners. In India, 66% of household assets are kept as bank fixed deposits and cash (Reserve Bank of India, June 2020).

BACKGROUND: This book is the outcome of the author's conversations with his child during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic which increased awareness of the criticality of financial planning. The book details the steps to develop financial literacy and achieve financial success to meet life’s goals.

APPROACH: The book describes the prerequisites needed to embark on a journey towards financial planning and success by means of understanding personal and family goals.

LIFE PHASES AND LIFE GOALS: Emphasis is placed on the importance of planning, execution and monitoring. It is recommended that individuals and families define a series of priorities stretching over the life span of family members, covering education, home, wedding, to retirement.

OUTCOME: Concepts and effective implementation of portfolio management, to equip the reader to plan for and to achieve ongoing life goals, and also to build a corpus capable of providing support for decades after retirement.