
I am a working Professional (age - 46 years), a working professional. My wife (age - 43 years) is also working. I have a son (age - 15 years) studying in Class 11th.
I own three flats, one of which is on rent. I presently stay in Govt. accommodation.
I need to save for my son's education, marriage and my retirement.
My Portfolio Details are given below :
(1) Stocks (Self) - Rs 82 lacs
(2) Socks (wife) - Rs 68 lacs
(3) PPF (self) - Rs 8 lacs (Investing 1.5 lacs yearly)
(4) PPF (Wife - Rs 12 lacs (Investing 1.5 lacs yearly)
(5) PPF (Son) - Rs 15 lacs (Investing 1.5 lacs yearly)
(6) NPS fund (Self) - Rs 70 lacs
(7) Mutual Fund Investments (Self)
- Axis Mid Cap - Rs 12.70 lacs (Monthly SIP - Rs 40000)
- Axis Small Cap - Rs 8.95 lacs (Monthly SIP - Rs 25000)
- Axis Bluechip Fund - Rs 5.91 lacs (Monthly SIP - Rs 10000)
(8) Bank FD - Rs 8 lacs
(9) House Rent Income - Rs 10,500 monthly
(10) Salary (Self) - Rs 1.5 lacs monthly
(11) Salary (Wife) - Rs 80000 monthly
(12) Term plan (Self) - Rs 2.1 crores
(13) Term Plan (Wife) - Rs 1.0 crores
(14) Medical Policy - Entire family is covered under CGHS (Govt). No separate medical policy is available.
My Goals are as follows :
(1) SUV/ Car buy - in 1 year time (Present Cost - Rs 25 lacs)
(2) Son's Education - in 2 years time (Present Cost - Rs 50 lacs)
(3) Son's Marriage - in 10 years time (Present Cost - Rs 60 lacs)
(4) Retirement - in 14 years time (Present Cost - Rs 12 lacs, Rs 1,00,000 monthly)
I request to kindly suggest if I am investing enough to meet the goals ? Please suggest any changes needed in my investing.
Also, can I retire early at the age of 55 years, without disturbing any of my goals.
Please feel free to contact me for any further details or queries.
Ans: Current Financial Portfolio Assessment
You and your wife together have large equity exposure via stocks and mutual funds.
Your combined stock portfolio stands at Rs 150 lacs (Rs 82 lacs self + Rs 68 lacs wife).
Your PPF holdings are healthy: Rs 35 lacs combined, with disciplined yearly investments of Rs 1.5 lakh each.
NPS fund of Rs 70 lacs adds a solid retirement savings pillar.
Mutual fund SIPs total Rs 75,000 monthly in aggressive equity funds.
Bank FD of Rs 8 lacs provides some liquidity buffer.
Rental income of Rs 10,500 monthly adds passive income, though small relative to expenses.
Your monthly combined salary income is Rs 2.3 lacs, a solid cash flow.
Term insurance coverage is strong: Rs 3.1 crores combined, ensuring financial security.
Family medical cover is through CGHS. You must ensure continuous availability and consider top-ups if possible.
Your Financial Goals – Timeline & Amounts
SUV purchase in 1 year for Rs 25 lacs.
Son’s education expenses in 2 years, estimated at Rs 50 lacs.
Son’s marriage in 10 years, estimated at Rs 60 lacs.
Retirement in 14 years, targeting Rs 12 lacs annual expenses or Rs 1 lakh monthly inflation-adjusted income.
Goal-Wise Financial Gap and Feasibility Analysis
SUV Purchase (1 Year)
Rs 25 lacs is a sizeable sum for one year.
Your current liquid investments (FD Rs 8 lacs + monthly savings) might fall short for this.
Consider earmarking some portion of your stocks or mutual funds for this goal.
Avoid emergency fund depletion for car purchase. Maintain 6 months expenses separately.
A combination of partial equity withdrawal and liquid funds can meet this goal.
Son’s Education (2 Years)
Rs 50 lacs is large and near-term.
Your PPF (Son’s Rs 15 lacs + yearly Rs 1.5 lacs) is good but low growth compared to inflation.
Your stocks and mutual funds should be partly liquidated cautiously here.
Gradually reduce equity exposure as goal nears to protect principal.
Consider low-risk debt funds or fixed deposits for parking the amount needed in 1-2 years.
Avoid last-minute equity withdrawal; market volatility may hurt.
Son’s Marriage (10 Years)
Rs 60 lacs in 10 years is achievable with planned investments.
You have significant equity investments that can compound well over 10 years.
Continue your existing mutual fund SIPs to build this corpus.
Gradually increase debt exposure 3 years before marriage to reduce risk.
Diversify funds across large-cap, mid-cap, and hybrid funds to balance growth and stability.
Retirement (14 Years)
Rs 12 lacs annual expenses (Rs 1 lakh monthly) at retirement age is your current target.
Inflation will increase this amount by 14 years, possibly to Rs 25-30 lacs annual.
Your NPS, PPF, stocks, and mutual funds together form a good base.
Ensure systematic investment and rebalancing to meet increasing retirement needs.
Consider building a corpus of Rs 4-5 crore for comfortable retirement income.
Investment and Portfolio Recommendations
Your equity exposure is high in direct stocks. This is good but risky without professional guidance.
Stocks can give high returns but need active monitoring, which is time-consuming.
You and your wife must consider diversifying from direct stocks into professionally managed mutual funds.
Avoid shifting all investments to direct funds without expert help.
Regular mutual funds through MFDs with CFP guidance offer balanced, active management and periodic review.
This reduces risks from individual stock concentration.
Your current mutual fund SIPs are commendable. Continue and increase gradually to meet long-term goals.
Avoid locking more money into fixed deposits or low-return instruments for long-term goals.
PPF investments are tax-efficient and safe but limited by annual contribution limits and slower growth.
NPS is good but ensure asset allocation changes with age to reduce risk.
Early Retirement Possibility at Age 55
Early retirement at 55 means building your corpus faster.
You have only 9 years left (from 46 to 55) instead of 14 years.
Your current investments will need to grow more aggressively to meet goals and retirement corpus.
You may need to increase SIP amounts substantially.
Expenses post-retirement at 55 will be for 25 years instead of 14 years.
This means a larger corpus than retiring at 60.
Your current savings and income may fall short for comfortable early retirement without disturbing other goals.
You may need to compromise on car purchase or son's marriage expenses.
Alternatively, explore part-time work or consultancy post-retirement for cash flow.
A staggered retirement plan could be more realistic: reduce work hours at 55 and fully retire at 60.
Tax Efficiency and Asset Allocation
Use tax-efficient investment vehicles to maximise post-tax returns.
Equity mutual funds offer better post-tax growth than stocks if held long term.
LTCG tax at 12.5% applies only above Rs 1.25 lakh per year, plan redemptions accordingly.
Debt funds attract tax as per income slab; avoid frequent debt fund redemptions.
Consider switching from direct equity to mutual funds gradually to reduce tax on transactions.
Invest in hybrid funds to reduce volatility while maintaining growth.
Allocate around 60-70% in equity, 30-40% in debt and PPF/NPS for balanced risk.
Risk Management and Insurance
Your term insurance coverage is excellent for family protection.
Medical insurance is covered under CGHS; ensure all family members’ coverage continues uninterrupted.
Consider health top-ups or critical illness covers for unexpected expenses not covered by CGHS.
Emergency fund of at least 6 months household expenses must be maintained in liquid instruments.
Avoid using emergency funds for planned goals like car or education.
Cash Flow and Expense Management
Your household income is strong but review expenses regularly.
Maintain monthly budgeting to track spending and save extra for goals.
Try to increase savings rate beyond current levels to meet early retirement goals.
Avoid taking new loans or high EMIs before achieving financial goals.
Monitoring and Review
Conduct yearly financial reviews with your Certified Financial Planner.
Review asset allocation and performance of stocks and mutual funds annually.
Adjust SIP amounts and investment plans as per market and life changes.
Rebalance portfolio between equity and debt yearly to reduce risks.
Monitor tax efficiency and capital gains to optimize withdrawals.
Final Insights
You have a strong investment base but need more planning for short-term goals.
Allocate liquid funds for car purchase and son’s education carefully.
Gradually increase mutual fund SIPs for son’s marriage and retirement corpus.
Diversify from direct stocks to professionally managed mutual funds through MFD and CFP support.
Early retirement at 55 is ambitious and requires higher savings and possible compromise.
Maintain risk management and insurance protections continuously.
Keep emergency funds intact.
Regular reviews and disciplined investing will keep you on track.
Focus on tax-efficient, actively managed funds rather than direct or index funds.
Your family’s financial future is secure with timely action and commitment.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment