"Combining well-designed mutual funds with insurance, pensions, and structured loans is far more effective than chasing performance alone"

Being financially happy is easy. Wanting to be financially happier is difficult

- By: Ajit Menon, Senior Advisor, PGIM India AMC

My recent announcement of early retirement at 55 caught some attention. Here was a Mutual Fund CEO who had outsourced his portfolio management to a financial advisor and was sticking to a plan. Many saw it as validation of an advisor-led, plan-driven approach. Rightly so. Having a competent, trusted advisor build a financial plan allowed my family to work toward our goals, while I focused on building the PGIM India brand with my colleagues.

One aspect that is important and perhaps seldom mentioned or acknowledged when you read about financial success stories is the role of luck and timing. Not just the privilege of where one was born or having a roof over one's head and a good education. In my case, starting my career post-1991 reforms created opportunities. Joining a private mutual fund early helped early progression. A dual-income household gave me flexibility in career as well as in increasing savings. Having a vantage point that exposed me to the benefits of a structured financial planning process early in my career.

Since joining in 2017—when it was DHFL Pramerica, largely a fixed income franchise—I began as Chief Business Officer. I became CEO during the 2018 debt market crisis, India’s own “mini Lehman” moment. We lost 80% of our AUM. Then came a brand reboot in 2019 as PGIM, only to face the Covid lockdowns soon after. Through those tough years, we made hard choices and followed a transparent, value-driven strategy. We rebuilt trust with partners and clients.