Meru Life Appoints Suraj Kaeley as Finance Subject Expert

Meru Life, India’s first-of-its-kind digital ecosystem focused on empowering Active Seniors, has partnered with Suraj Kaeley as a Finance Subject Matter Expert (SME). He will also be joining Meru Life’s advisory board, bringing his deep expertise to guide Meru Life’s strategic direction and reimagine financial planning for Active Seniors. Suraj will play a key role in shaping Meru Life’s financial learning journeys, resources, and offerings for Active Seniors (individuals aged 55-70).

Meru Life has identified personal finance as one of the most urgent and underserved needs among Active Seniors. Despite longer lifespans and rising costs, a glaring gap exists in tailored financial content, frameworks, and support for this demographic. Through this partnership, Meru Life aims to demystify money matters for Active Seniors, enabling them to make confident, independent decisions about everything from income planning to managing savings, with offerings that are realistic, jargon-free, and rooted in lived experiences.

With over 30 years of experience in India’s financial services sector, Suraj has held leadership roles at institutions such as Franklin Templeton (India) Asset Management, MetLife Insurance (India), FIL Fund Management (part of Fidelity Worldwide), and UTI Mutual Fund. His deep belief in simplifying investments has made a significant impact on the mutual fund landscape in India, particularly in promoting SIP investing as an accessible and practical tool for wealth creation. Suraj Kaeley’s addition to Meru Life comes at a strategic moment as the company deepens its commitment to empowering India’s Active Seniors with reliable, practical, and accessible financial tools and frameworks. 

“Second innings is a phase that demands just as much awareness, flexibility, and intent as any other financial milestone. In many ways, that’s when financial decisions become more personal, more nuanced, and more important,” said Suraj Kaeley. “Active Seniors today are living longer, staying active, and seeking clarity, and they deserve tools that reflect that. This partnership with Meru Life will allow me to contribute meaningfully to a segment that is underserved, yet full of potential.”

Commenting on the appointment, Mihir Karkare, Co-founder & CEO of Meru Life, said, “Suraj brings more than industry experience. He brings clarity, empathy, and a deep understanding of how money decisions evolve as we age. We are delighted to welcome Suraj to the Meru Life family. His unmatched expertise in finance, combined with a genuine passion for retirement planning, perfectly aligns with our mission to help Active Seniors live confidently and independently. His guidance will be invaluable as we continue to address the real-world needs of seniors who want to live independently and with confidence.”

This partnership builds on Suraj’s continued efforts to simplify retirement income planning and planning for the second innings through learning series and thought leadership. His arrival at Meru Life signals a strategic step toward financial empowerment as a pillar of aging well.