Weekly command brief: the Rao household
This week at a glance
5decisions, ranked
3missing items
3advisor questions
1. Decision queue
Ranked by timing and consequence. The brief lays out options; the household decides.
| # | Decision | Why now | Options on the table | Owner | Decide by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | How to send Arjun’s parents their monthly support | Current bank wire costs about $45 per transfer before the exchange-rate markup; next transfer is due on the 1st | Keep the wire, or compare total cost across two or three providers using the fee breakdown | Arjun | Thu |
| 2 | Which roofing contractor to hire | Two of three quotes are in; the lower one expires in 10 days | Wait for the third quote, or decide between the two in hand | Priya | Sat |
| 3 | Renew or re-shop car insurance | Renewal notice shows an 18% premium increase; policy renews on the 15th | Renew as is, or get two comparison quotes this week | Priya | Wed next week |
| 4 | Whether to keep the monthly college-savings contribution during the roof repair | Roof cost lands in the same month as the next contribution | Keep it, reduce it for one month, or skip once; discuss with your financial planner if unsure | Both | End of month |
| 5 | What to do about the Pune rental flat’s lease renewal | Tenant asked about renewal; current lease ends in 8 weeks | Renew on current terms, renegotiate, or decide not to renew; confirm tax questions with your CA first (see section 3) | Arjun | In 3 weeks |
2. Missing items and friction
| Item | Blocking | Next step | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property tax receipt for the Pune flat (last financial year) | Chartered accountant’s review | Ask cousin in Pune to photograph and send it | Arjun |
| Signed nominee update form for father’s bank account in India | Bank’s records are out of date | Form was printed last month and never signed; schedule a call with parents to complete it | Arjun |
| Third roofing quote | Decision 2 | Follow up with contractor by email today | Priya |
3. Advisor handoff note
Questions the household asked us to organize for their professionals. We do not answer these; the advisors do.
| To | Question | Context attached | Asked by |
|---|---|---|---|
| US CPA | Our combined balances in India accounts were above $10,000 at some point this year. What do we need to file in the US because of that, and by when? | List of India accounts and the highest balance month (no account numbers) | Priya |
| US CPA | How should interest from the fixed deposit in India be reported on our US return? | Interest statement summary | Priya |
| Chartered accountant (India) | Rent from the Pune flat goes into an NRO account. What tax has been deducted, and do we need to file an Indian return for the last financial year? | Property tax receipt (once received) and rent schedule | Arjun |
4. Next week’s checklist
- Compare three providers for the parents’ transfer and choose one — Arjun, by Thu
- Send the advisor note above to the CPA and CA — Priya, by Mon
- Get the Pune property tax receipt — Arjun, by Fri
- Collect two car insurance quotes — Priya, by Tue
- Call parents to sign the nominee form — Arjun, Sunday call
Prepared from information the household chose to share. The pilot never asks for account numbers, statements, or login credentials, and does not access, hold, transfer, or trade funds. Not investment, tax, or legal advice.