I'm self-employed with a modest income. I have managed to save 18 lakh in mutual funds and 4 lakh in PPF. I have a home loan of 8 lakh. I am 41 now, managing a grocery and pharmacy retail store. I want to help my daughter complete her education and marriage, if she is interested. I want to save at least 25 lakhs in the next 8 to 10 years. Is it possible?
Ans: You are already taking strong steps. You have good intent for your daughter and future. Let us now build a 360-degree plan for your goal.
We will break this down into key parts: income, expenses, loan, investments, and goal planning.
Here’s a structured approach to guide you.
Understanding Your Present Situation
You are 41 years old.
You are self-employed and manage a retail store.
You have saved Rs.18 lakh in mutual funds.
You have Rs.4 lakh in PPF.
You have an outstanding home loan of Rs.8 lakh.
Your goal is to save Rs.25 lakh in the next 8 to 10 years.
You want to support your daughter’s higher education and marriage.
Clarifying Your Financial Goals
Rs.25 lakh goal is realistic in 8 to 10 years.
Your intent is to balance child education and marriage support.
This goal can be split into medium-term (education) and long-term (marriage).
This distinction will help you choose the right investment options.
Let’s Address Your Home Loan
You are repaying a home loan of Rs.8 lakh.
Keep paying EMIs regularly.
Don’t rush to close the loan if EMI is affordable.
Interest on home loans has tax benefit under Section 24.
Instead of prepaying loan, it’s better to invest for higher returns.
Use investment for future wealth building, not early loan closure.
Evaluating Your Existing Assets
Rs.18 lakh in mutual funds is appreciable.
Rs.4 lakh in PPF adds stability to your portfolio.
PPF gives tax-free and fixed returns but is less liquid.
Mutual funds give higher growth but fluctuate in short term.
We will refine mutual fund strategy next.
Reviewing Mutual Fund Strategy
You should prefer regular mutual funds over direct funds.
Direct funds may look cheaper, but guidance is missing.
Regular plans through Certified Financial Planner offer direction.
Professional help aligns portfolio with your life goals.
Many self-investors in direct plans miss rebalancing and goal linking.
Stick with diversified mutual funds. Avoid ULIPs or insurance-linked plans.
Avoid investing in index funds.
Index funds only copy the market. They don’t protect in downturn.
Actively managed funds by expert fund managers bring better insights.
Over time, actively managed funds help reduce risk.
Combine multi-cap, large-mid cap, and flexi-cap funds.
SIP mode is best for long-term investing.
How to Reach Rs.25 Lakh in 8 to 10 Years
Let us assume you invest Rs.15,000 monthly in mutual funds.
In 10 years, with moderate return, you may reach around Rs.25 lakh.
Increase SIP every year as your income grows.
Even 5% yearly increase can make a big impact.
Avoid lump sum in one go unless you have idle funds.
Continue disciplined monthly investing.
If SIP is not started yet, begin now through a Certified Financial Planner.
Use STP if you have idle funds in savings or FD.
Split investment into medium-term and long-term goals.
For education (if near), choose low volatility hybrid funds.
For marriage (if more than 7 years away), go for equity mutual funds.
Tax Planning and Cash Flow Management
Ensure income from store is documented well.
File taxes with discipline. Keep business books updated.
Show proper profits to get future bank loans if needed.
PPF is useful for safe tax-free savings.
Invest yearly in PPF till limit of Rs.1.5 lakh.
Use mutual funds for high return part of portfolio.
Diversify across fund houses and categories.
Avoid over-concentration in one fund type.
Education and Marriage Planning
Your daughter’s education may happen earlier than marriage.
So, break Rs.25 lakh into smaller parts.
Allocate 10 to 12 lakh for education.
Allocate rest for marriage or other personal needs.
If daughter gets scholarships or opts out of marriage, you can repurpose funds.
Flexibility in investments helps in such life changes.
Keep nominee updated in all investments.
What to Avoid Going Forward
Avoid mixing insurance and investment.
Do not buy ULIP, endowment or money-back policies.
They have low return and long lock-in.
If you already hold such plans, surrender or make paid-up.
Reinvest surrender amount in mutual funds after careful planning.
Avoid real estate investments.
They are illiquid and come with high transaction costs.
Avoid F&O, intraday, or stock trading.
These destroy capital and distract from long-term goals.
Emergency Fund and Risk Management
Maintain 6 to 9 months of business and home expenses as emergency fund.
Keep it in liquid mutual funds or sweep-in FD.
Buy a term life insurance covering at least 10 times annual income.
It protects your daughter in case of your absence.
Don’t buy any insurance with investment component.
Get health insurance for yourself and family.
If existing cover is small, take top-up policy.
Business Continuity Planning
You run a retail store.
Ensure there is backup plan in case of health issues.
Delegate key tasks to family member or trusted employee.
Create business SOPs for continuity.
Keep personal finances separate from business account.
Track monthly surplus clearly and invest with plan.
Final Insights
You are already on the right track by saving and planning.
Rs.25 lakh goal in 10 years is achievable with discipline.
Use mutual funds with guidance from Certified Financial Planner.
Avoid risky products and distractions.
Focus on step-by-step investing and goal tracking.
Increase SIP yearly to match income growth.
Keep business and personal financial life well-balanced.
Protect your family with right insurance.
Plan for daughter’s education as priority. Marriage can come later.
Be consistent, patient and stay focused on the long term.
Let your investments grow quietly in the background.
Meet your Certified Financial Planner yearly for review.
Let every rupee you earn and save work towards your future vision.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment