मैं आशुतोष हूँ, 48 वर्षीय भूतपूर्व सैनिक बैंकर हूँ। वर्तमान में मेरी मासिक आय 1.30 लाख है। 12 वर्षों के पश्चात सेवानिवृत्ति योजना के लिए मैं म्यूचुअल फंड में निवेश कर रहा हूँ, जैसे कि सिप ऑल ग्रोथ डायरेक्ट। एसबीआई स्मॉल कैप 2000 एसबीआई मिड लार्ज कैप 2000 एसबीआई फोकस 2000 एसबीआई कॉन्ट्रा 2000 एसबीआई टेक्नोलॉजी अवसर 2000 एसबीआई निफ्टी इंडेक्स 3000 एक्सिस ब्लू चिप 2000 एक्सिस ईएलएसएस टैक्स सेवर.2000 एक्सिस ग्रोथ अवसर 2000 निप्पॉन इंडिया मिड कैप 150 इंडेक्स 3000 निप्पॉन इंडिया स्मॉल कैप 250 इंडेक्स 3000 पराग पारिख फ्लेक्सी कैप 4000 मेरा निवेश कैसा है। मैं आक्रामक निवेशक हूँ।

Ans: Your current monthly income is Rs 40,000, which you have thoughtfully allocated among various financial obligations. This disciplined approach is commendable and lays a strong foundation for your financial planning. Here’s an evaluation of your current outflows:

Personal Loan EMI: Rs 14,702 (3 years left).
Fridge EMI: Rs 1,700 (2 months left).
Marriage Savings: Rs 10,000.
Investment in Mutual Funds (MF): Rs 5,500 (Started 5 months ago).
Personal Expenses: Rs 4,000.
Family Support: Rs 5,000.
Once your fridge EMI ends in two months, you will have Rs 1,700 freed up, which can be redirected towards your marriage savings or investments.

Marriage Savings Goal
You aim to save Rs 2,00,000 for your marriage in January 2026. Here's how you can achieve this goal:

Existing Savings: You are already setting aside Rs 10,000/month for marriage. By January 2026 (24 months), you will accumulate Rs 2,40,000.

Optimisation: After your fridge EMI ends, increase the marriage savings to Rs 11,700. This adjustment will provide an additional Rs 40,800 over 24 months.

Liquid Funds for Safety: Park the marriage savings in a liquid mutual fund or recurring deposit. These options offer better returns than a savings account and ensure liquidity for your goal.

Post-Marriage Financial Adjustments
After your marriage, you plan to live in a rented house for Rs 7,000. The Rs 10,000 saved for marriage can be split as follows:

Rent Payment: Rs 7,000/month.
Personal Expense Increase: Rs 3,000/month.
This adjustment is manageable within your existing cash flow.

Home Construction Plan
You plan to build a house two years after your marriage. Here’s a roadmap to align this goal with your finances:

Mutual Fund Investment: Assuming Rs 5,500/month continues, you could accumulate around Rs 2.5 lakhs by then. This can act as a partial down payment.

Home Loan: For the remaining funds, a home loan is a viable option. Ensure the EMI does not exceed 40% of your monthly income.

Construction Budget: Set a realistic budget for your home construction. Avoid exceeding the affordability limit, considering your other obligations.

Savings Cushion: Maintain a contingency fund to cover unexpected expenses during the construction phase.

Evaluating Your Mutual Fund Investment
Your investment in mutual funds is a positive step. However, here are some pointers to optimise it further:

Avoid Direct Funds: Direct funds require expertise and constant monitoring. Instead, invest through a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). A CFP can provide guidance and monitor the performance of your portfolio.

Stick to Actively Managed Funds: These funds can deliver better returns with professional management, unlike index funds.

Tax Efficiency: Note that equity mutual funds are taxed at 12.5% LTCG above Rs 1.25 lakh and 20% for STCG. Debt funds are taxed as per your income tax slab. Factor these into your financial planning.

Managing Debt and Cash Flow
Debt repayment consumes a significant portion of your income. While it is unavoidable, here’s how to manage it better:

Personal Loan: This EMI will continue for 3 more years. Avoid taking any additional personal loans during this period.

Avoid New EMI Commitments: Once your fridge EMI ends, avoid replacing it with a new EMI. Instead, redirect the funds to savings or investments.

Emergency Fund
An emergency fund is crucial for financial stability. Currently, it is unclear if you have one. If not, here’s how you can build it:

Target Amount: Save at least 6 months’ worth of expenses (Rs 24,000 x 6 = Rs 1,44,000).

Allocation: Use the freed-up EMI amount of Rs 1,700 to start building this fund.

Instrument: Keep the funds in a liquid or ultra-short-term mutual fund for accessibility.

Long-Term Planning
Your long-term goals, including building a home, require strategic planning:

Retirement Planning: Although not mentioned, ensure you allocate funds for retirement. Starting early provides the benefit of compounding.

Children’s Education: If you plan to have children, start a separate fund for their education early.

Key Recommendations
Marriage Goal: Increase savings by Rs 1,700 after the fridge EMI ends. Use liquid funds for better returns and liquidity.

Post-Marriage Adjustments: Split the Rs 10,000 into rent and increased expenses without affecting other allocations.

House Construction: Use your MF investment as partial down payment. Take a home loan with affordable EMIs.

Mutual Fund Strategy: Stick to regular plans with a CFP. Avoid direct funds and index funds.

Emergency Fund: Build a fund of Rs 1,44,000 using the freed-up EMI amount.

Avoid New Loans: Focus on clearing the personal loan before taking additional debt.

Invest for Retirement: Start investing early for your retirement. Use equity mutual funds for long-term goals.

Final Insights
Your financial discipline is impressive. With careful adjustments, you can achieve your goals. Prioritise your marriage savings, home construction, and emergency fund. Seek guidance from a CFP to optimise your mutual fund portfolio and long-term planning.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment