Indian-Americans save most for children’s education

Indian-Americans, the highest earning segment among the multicultural groups in the US, save much of their higher household income for their children’s college education, a new study has found.

In the study, 33 per cent of Indian-American respondents indicated they have six months or more of their monthly living expenses set aside as savings, and their top two financial priorities for their savings are for their children’s college education and keeping the family financially shielded.

As a result, one quarter of Asian Indians struggle between saving to pay for their children’s college education and saving for their own retirement, researchers said.

According to a 2010 Pew Research Center survey Asian Indians make up the highest earning segment of American multicultural groups, researchers said.

Much of their higher household income goes toward saving for their children’s college education, the new study found.

The study from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) offers a broad snapshot of Americans’ financial views.

This heavy emphasis on higher education, however, leads to times when Asian Indians prioritise saving for their children over saving for themselves.

“Being an Asian Indian myself, I know and understand the importance that the community places on putting family first and the difficult financial decisions that often result,” said Nimesh Trivedi, director of multicultural market support, US Insurance Group at MassMutual.

“With the current cost of a college education, it can be challenging for parents to provide for several children’s education and still be left with a surplus for their own future,” said Trivedi.

Asian Indian’s savings rate is not coincidental; as a group they are hands-on, when it comes to their finances, researchers said.

An overwhelming 70 per cent of Asian Indian respondents want to be actively involved in all decisions regarding their finances, while just over half indicated that they tend to do their own research and make their own decisions about insurance and investments, they said.

The survey also found that sixty-seven per cent of Asian Indians think about what is best for the family when making financial decisions.

Three quarters of Asian Indians believe that it is important to educate their children about finances to ensure a strong