Finance Toolkit

---
name: finance-toolkit
description: >
  Personal finance skill suite for a mid-20s dual-income couple in Ho Chi Minh City. Covers budgeting, emergency fund building, investments, insurance, tax optimization, goal planning, and couple dynamics — all calibrated to Vietnam's financial ecosystem. Use when the user asks about budgeting, saving, investing, insurance, taxes, or financial goal planning — trigger phrases include "review our budget", "how should we invest", "do we have enough insurance", and "plan for a home purchase". Use even if the user only mentions one financial topic without asking for a full review.
user-invokable: false
---

# Finance Toolkit

Personal finance guidance for a mid-20s dual-income couple in Ho Chi Minh City. All steps are calibrated to Vietnam's financial ecosystem, tax code, and cultural context.

---

## Step 1: Analyze Budget

Review income and expenses against the 50/30/20 framework adapted for HCMC conditions.

**Framework:** 50/30/20 adapted for HCMC

| Category | % | HCMC Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Needs (50%) | Housing, utilities, transport, groceries, BHYT | Rent 8–20M; Grab/bike 2–4M; food 3–6M |
| Wants (30%) | Cafes, dining out, entertainment, travel | HCMC cafe culture is high-spend risk |
| Savings/Debt (20%) | Emergency fund, investments, loan repayment | Minimum; scale up when possible |

**Expense Audit Process:**
1. Pull last 3 months of bank statements
2. Categorize every transaction into Needs/Wants/Savings
3. Flag categories exceeding target %
4. Identify "hidden" costs: wedding invitations, Tết gifts, parents' allowances
5. Set monthly alert thresholds on Money Lover or similar app

**Tracking tool:** Money Lover (VND-native), or bank apps (Techcombank, VPBank have built-in tracking)

### Output

50/30/20 actual vs. target breakdown, flagged overspend categories, and 3 prioritized cuts to close the gap.

---

## Step 2: Build Emergency Fund

Set a target and recommend the right savings vehicles to reach it while staying liquid.

**Target:** 3–6 months combined expenses in liquid savings

**HCMC Benchmark:**
- Monthly expenses 20M VND → target 60M–120M VND
- Monthly expenses 30M VND → target 90M–180M VND

**Allocation:**
- 20% → standard savings account (instant ATM access)
- 80% → 1–3 month term deposits (Techcombank/VPBank flexible savings "Tiết kiệm linh hoạt")

**Products available:**
- Flexible savings (Tiết kiệm linh hoạt): higher rates than Big 4, accessible
- Short-term deposits (1–3 months): capture yield while staying accessible
- Certificates of Deposit (CDs): slightly better yield for stable portion
- Fintech apps: Tikop, Finhay (high-liquidity accumulative accounts)

> Load `01-vietnam-finance-context.md` for current benchmark interest rates and bank comparisons.

### Output

Monthly contribution plan to reach target in 6–12 months, with recommended savings vehicles and timeline.

---

## Step 3: Recommend Investments

Profile the couple's risk tolerance and map it to an appropriate Vietnam-market portfolio.

**Risk Profiling → Allocation:**

| Risk | Stocks | Bonds/Savings | Gold | High-Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 30% | 50% | 15% | 5% |
| Moderate (default age 25) | 50% | 25% | 15% | 10% |
| Aggressive | 70% | 10% | 10% | 10% |

**Vietnam investment ladder (start here, in order):**
1. Emergency fund first (non-negotiable)
2. VN30 ETF via TCBS/VPS/MBS
3. Corporate bonds or high-interest deposits
4. SJC/PNJ gold (5–15% allocation for cultural hedge)
5. International ETFs (via licensed platforms)
6. Crypto (10% max, treat as speculative)

> Load `02-investment-strategies.md` for platform comparison, account opening steps, and portfolio templates.

### Output

Risk profile assessment, recommended portfolio allocation, and next-action steps to open accounts and make the first investment.

---

## Step 4: Audit Insurance

Check coverage against the minimum viable checklist and identify gaps or over-insurance.

**Minimum Viable Coverage Checklist:**
- [ ] BHYT (mandatory social health) — must be active
- [ ] Private inpatient health (for international/private hospitals like Vinmec)
- [ ] Term life insurance (if dependents or shared mortgage)
- [ ] Critical illness rider
- [ ] Motorbike insurance (Bảo hiểm bắt buộc — legally required)

**Red flags:** Investment-linked insurance (VUL) before emergency fund is built; whole life before term life considered; BHYT-only coverage.

> Load `03-protection-and-tax.md` for insurer comparisons, premium estimates, and coverage gap scenarios.

### Output

Coverage gap report (what's missing, what's redundant), prioritized actions, and estimated premium costs.

---

## Step 5: Optimize Taxes

Identify legal deductions and filing strategies to reduce Personal Income Tax liability.

**PIT Quick Reference (dual-income couple):**
- Personal deduction: 11M VND/month each (22M total)
- Dependent deduction: 4.4M VND/month per dependent (one spouse claims each)
- BHXH/BHYT/BHTN: ~10.5% of gross salary — fully tax-deductible
- Progressive rates: 5% (up to 5M taxable) → 35% (above 80M taxable)

**Filing:** Single employer → employer does year-end finalization. Multiple income streams → file personally by March 31.

**Legal optimization checklist:**
- [ ] All dependents (parents, children) properly registered with tax authority
- [ ] Non-taxable allowances maximized (meal: up to 730k/month; phone: up to 1M/month)
- [ ] Ensure BHXH contributions are on actual salary

> Load `03-protection-and-tax.md` for PIT bracket table and step-by-step filing guide.

### Output

Estimated tax liability before/after optimization, list of deductions to claim, and filing deadline reminders.

---

## Step 6: Plan Goals

Map financial goals to timelines and investment vehicles appropriate to each horizon.

**Standard milestones for HCMC mid-20s couple:**

| Goal | Timeline | Target (VND) | Primary Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency fund | 6–12 months | 90M–180M | Term deposits |
| Wedding fund | 12–24 months | 150M–400M | High-yield savings |
| Home down payment | 3–7 years | 600M–2B+ | VN30 ETF + savings |
| Retirement top-up | 30+ years | Maximize BHXH + pension fund | Dragon Capital voluntary pension |

> Load `04-long-term-planning.md` for HCMC property price map, mortgage calculator inputs, and BHXH optimization strategies.

### Output

Prioritized goal list with monthly savings targets, recommended vehicles, and projected timelines.

---

## Step 7: Coach Couple Dynamics

Advise on account structure, contribution ratios, and communication practices to align the couple's finances.

**Default framework: Hybrid Account Model**
- Joint account: rent, groceries, utilities, shared goals, parents' allowances
- Separate accounts: personal spending, individual savings, personal filial piety
- Contribution ratio: proportional to income (not 50/50 unless salaries are equal)

**Monthly Money Date agenda:**
1. Review last month's 50/30/20 actuals vs. targets
2. Flag upcoming large expenses (weddings, Tết, travel)
3. Update progress on shared goals
4. Air any financial concerns before they become conflicts

> Load `05-couple-dynamics.md` for conflict frameworks, Vietnamese family finance norms, and life event planning templates.

### Output

Recommended account structure, contribution split, and a monthly money date template tailored to the couple's situation.

---

## Reference Index

| File | Topics | Load When |
|---|---|---|
| `01-vietnam-finance-context.md` | HCMC cost of living, budgeting, emergency fund, debt/credit, CIC | Budgeting review, emergency fund setup, debt questions |
| `02-investment-strategies.md` | VN stock market, gold, RE, ETFs, crypto, portfolio templates | Investment advice, portfolio construction |
| `03-protection-and-tax.md` | BHYT, private health, life insurance, PIT brackets, deductions | Insurance audit, tax questions |
| `04-long-term-planning.md` | BHXH retirement, voluntary pension, HCMC property prices, mortgage | Retirement planning, home buying |
| `05-couple-dynamics.md` | Joint accounts, goal alignment, Vietnamese family obligations, life events | Couple money dynamics, major life event planning |