Dear Sir, I am a 37-year-old male earning approximately 2 lakh per month, the sole breadwinner in my family. I own a house in my hometown, located about 200 km from my current job location. I have three children and plan to relocate to my hometown, as my job offers a hybrid work-from-home arrangement. I intend to clear my home loan and personal loan within the next couple of months, which will allow me to start investing for my children's education, marriage, and my retirement. I own land in my hometown valued at around 60 lakh and a house worth 1.2 crore, both in my name. Please recommend a suitable financial plan to achieve my goals and retire by age 50.
Ans: At 37 years, with a stable income of Rs. 2 lakh and clear goals, you are already taking the right steps. Let’s create a detailed 360-degree financial plan that supports your early retirement at age 50 and secures your children's future.
Assessing Your Current Financial Life
You are 37 years old, with a monthly income of Rs. 2 lakh.
You are the sole earner in your family.
You have three children and plan to relocate to your hometown.
Your home loan and personal loan will be cleared soon.
You own a house worth Rs. 1.2 crore and land worth Rs. 60 lakhs.
Your job allows hybrid work-from-home.
You want to plan for kids’ education, marriage, and your retirement.
Financial Strengths and Positives
You have two real estate assets already. That’s a strong base.
You are debt-free shortly. This frees up cash flow for investing.
You have job flexibility to move home and reduce expenses.
Your income is sufficient to achieve your life goals.
You are starting at the right age. You still have 13 years to retire.
Step-by-Step Strategy After Becoming Debt-Free
Let’s assume you clear all loans within 2-3 months.
Here’s what to do next:
1. Budgeting and Monthly Allocation
Fix your monthly expenses after shifting to your hometown.
Estimate what you need to run your household comfortably.
Ideally, expenses should not cross Rs. 80,000 per month.
This gives Rs. 1.2 lakh monthly for investments and savings.
Out of this, keep Rs. 20,000 for emergencies and goals that change.
Use the balance Rs. 1 lakh for long-term planning.
2. Emergency Fund Comes First
Before investing, create an emergency fund.
It should be equal to 6 months’ expenses.
Keep Rs. 5 lakh in a liquid mutual fund or sweep-in FD.
This will help during job loss or family medical emergency.
Do not touch this unless it’s a real emergency.
3. Separate Goals for Each Child
With three children, you must separate goals clearly.
Each child has two financial needs: Education and marriage.
Group the needs based on age and time left.
Create three different SIPs for three education goals.
Start with Rs. 10,000 per child per month for education.
Education goals should be 100% equity-oriented initially.
Increase SIP by 10% every year.
For marriage, consider SIP of Rs. 5,000 per child.
Allocate this in balanced or hybrid mutual funds.
Do not mix marriage goal and education goal funds.
4. Planning for Your Retirement at 50
You have 13 years to build retirement corpus.
Post-retirement, income will stop.
Expenses will continue for another 30+ years.
Your goal must be to replace at least Rs. 1.2 lakh income.
Start with Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 40,000 SIP for retirement.
Use long-term diversified mutual funds with active management.
Avoid index funds. They copy the market blindly.
Index funds can’t avoid poor performing stocks.
Active mutual funds can change based on market condition.
Index funds have no human expertise. Active funds do.
You need performance, not just low cost.
5. Avoid Direct Funds – Choose Regular with MFD + CFP
Direct mutual funds may look low cost.
But there is no hand-holding or professional advice.
Direct funds don’t offer regular reviews or rebalancing.
When market falls, direct fund investors panic and stop SIPs.
Regular mutual funds, when done with MFD + CFP, give full support.
You get advice, behavioural coaching, and portfolio reviews.
Regular funds help you stay disciplined and on track.
6. Insurance Planning – Secure the Family First
As the only earning member, you must have proper insurance.
Take a pure term insurance cover.
Get minimum Rs. 1 crore term plan.
Avoid ULIPs, LIC money-back, or endowment policies.
These give poor returns and low cover.
Don’t mix insurance with investment.
For health insurance, take family floater of Rs. 10 lakhs.
Check if your employer gives medical cover.
If not, take separate personal health policy.
7. Estate Planning – Very Important with Three Children
Make a Will after all investments are set.
Distribute assets equally or as you feel fair.
Assign one nominee for each investment.
Avoid confusion later. Make your spouse aware.
Review nominations every year.
8. Real Estate Already Enough – Don’t Add More
You already own house and land.
These are sufficient for staying and support.
Do not invest more in real estate.
Real estate lacks liquidity. It’s hard to sell in urgency.
It needs maintenance, registration, and legal care.
Instead, use financial assets like mutual funds for goals.
9. Keep Goal Tracking and Discipline
Review SIPs every 6 months.
Don’t stop SIPs if market is down.
Market will go up and down. Your focus is long term.
Track corpus built for each goal.
Rebalance with help of Certified Financial Planner.
Increase SIPs as your income increases.
10. One-Time Investments and Bonuses
Whenever you get bonus or extra income, invest lump sum.
Allocate lump sum into debt or hybrid mutual funds.
Use it for near-term goals or prepay future SIPs.
Don’t use bonus for lifestyle splurges.
11. Taxation of Mutual Fund Gains – Plan Exits Carefully
Equity mutual fund gains above Rs. 1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%.
Gains below Rs. 1.25 lakh are tax-free.
Short-term gains taxed at 20%.
Debt fund gains are taxed as per your income slab.
Plan withdrawals with help of your CFP.
12. How Your Life Can Look at 50
All loans cleared. Living in own house.
Three children’s education fully funded.
Marriage savings in place.
Retirement corpus created for peaceful post-50 life.
Passive income starts from mutual fund withdrawals.
Life insurance and health insurance cover continues.
Family secure. Goals achieved with financial discipline.
Finally
You are starting at the right moment in life.
You already have strong assets and high income.
Once debt is cleared, redirect that money to investing.
Create separate plans for each goal.
Invest only in regular mutual funds with CFP support.
Avoid real estate, direct funds, index funds, and endowment policies.
Protect your family with term and health insurance.
Stay disciplined. Track and rebalance regularly.
You will surely retire peacefully at 50.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment