Dear sir,
I am 46 yrs old investing in SIP of 25000 monthly last 4.5 Yrs in different companies mutual fund.
I wants retire after 10 yrs and need a corpus of 5 crore.
I have 2 children studying @ 6&8 grade. Invested in money back policy of 5-8 Lakh.
1C land purchased 2 yrs back.
Comprehensive Health insurance is available for 5L yearly and Term insurance of 60L is available.
Kindly let me know what sort of planning required.
Ans: It shows you are thinking ahead for your family and future. That itself is a great start.
Let’s break this down step by step.
Retirement Planning – 10 Years Away
You want Rs.5 crore in 10 years.
You are already investing Rs.25,000 monthly through SIPs. This is a good habit.
But just investing isn’t enough. The amount, fund selection, and review also matter.
Rs.5 crore is a big target. It needs a solid, focused investment plan.
You need to check whether Rs.25,000 per month is enough for this goal.
Based on typical growth rates, it may fall short. We need to increase SIPs gradually.
A Certified Financial Planner can help assess the exact shortfall. Then a step-wise plan can be made.
Your retirement plan should not depend on land. Land is not liquid. Selling it can take time.
Continue SIPs and increase it by 10% every year. That helps stay ahead of inflation.
Actively managed mutual funds should be selected. They give a better edge with expert fund manager decisions.
Index funds lack flexibility. They copy the index. No chance to beat the market.
With actively managed funds, the fund manager reacts fast to changes. That is an advantage.
Asset allocation should be reviewed every year. Rebalancing keeps the risk in control.
Keep a separate portfolio for retirement. Do not mix children’s education goal with this.
Children’s Education Planning
Your children are now in 6th and 8th grades.
In 6–8 years, you’ll need funds for their higher education.
Education costs are rising sharply. This cannot be ignored.
Start separate SIPs for their education goal now.
Do not depend on money-back policies for education.
These give low returns. Hardly beat inflation. Not suitable for education needs.
Surrender these policies. Reinvest the proceeds into mutual funds.
A Certified Financial Planner can guide on which policies to surrender and how.
Use mutual funds for better returns and flexibility.
Choose a mix of equity and balanced funds. This gives better growth with some safety.
Review this portfolio every year. Make changes if fund performance drops.
Never use retirement funds for education or other goals.
Keep clear boundaries between each financial goal.
Insurance Assessment – Life and Health
You have Rs.60 lakh term insurance. It is a good starting point.
But is it enough? Likely not.
A person at age 46 with children and a Rs.5 crore retirement goal needs more cover.
Term cover must be at least 12–15 times your annual income.
It should also cover children’s education and liabilities.
Top up your term insurance with an additional Rs.40–50 lakh at least.
Premiums are still manageable at your age.
Avoid ULIPs or money-back plans for life cover. They mix insurance and investment.
You have Rs.5 lakh health insurance. That is a positive step.
However, with rising medical costs, it is not enough.
Add a super top-up policy of Rs.10–15 lakh. It is cost-effective and gives added protection.
Ensure the entire family is covered under the policy.
Also keep some emergency fund in liquid funds for minor health expenses.
Emergency Fund and Contingency Planning
An emergency fund gives peace of mind.
It should cover at least 6 months of expenses.
Keep this in a liquid mutual fund or savings account.
Never invest emergency funds in equity or land.
Refill the fund if you use it anytime.
Existing Land Investment
You mentioned buying land two years ago.
It can be a personal asset. But not an investment.
Land does not generate regular income.
Selling land can take time. Liquidity is low.
Do not depend on land for your retirement or education goals.
Do not count land value in your net worth for investment planning.
Keep it as a reserve or personal utility asset only.
Money-Back Policies – Action Plan
You have Rs.5–8 lakh in money-back policies.
These offer low returns. Do not help in long-term wealth creation.
It is best to surrender these now. Don’t wait.
Reinvest that money into mutual funds through a Certified Financial Planner.
Use regular plans through MFDs. They offer continuous support and monitoring.
Direct mutual funds offer no guidance. That leads to mistakes and poor returns.
Regular funds give access to a CFP’s review and hand-holding.
Small cost difference, but better long-term results.
SIP Management – Next Steps
You are already investing Rs.25,000 monthly. That is commendable.
Increase it every year. This is called SIP step-up.
If your income rises, increase SIPs by 10–15% yearly.
This one habit helps you reach goals faster.
Choose 4–5 diversified equity funds. Review them every 6 months.
Use funds with consistent track records and experienced managers.
Avoid index funds. They are passive. No fund manager input.
Actively managed funds offer better opportunities.
Tax Planning – For Today and Tomorrow
Make use of Section 80C for tax savings. SIP in ELSS can help here.
Avoid locking too much in PPF or NSC. They are not flexible.
For capital gains tax, keep new rules in mind.
If you sell equity funds, gains above Rs.1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%.
If sold before 1 year, gains are taxed at 20%.
For debt funds, all gains are taxed as per your income slab.
Always check tax implication before switching or redeeming funds.
Goal-Based Investment Planning
Link each SIP to a specific goal.
One SIP for retirement.
One SIP for child 1 education.
Another SIP for child 2 education.
Do not combine goals. That leads to confusion later.
Clear goal tagging helps track progress.
A Certified Financial Planner can prepare this map for you.
Use colour-coded tracking for each goal.
Will, Nomination, and Estate Planning
Make a basic Will. Even if your assets are small today.
Nominate properly in every investment and insurance.
Review nominations every 2 years.
Teach your spouse the basics of your financial plan.
Keep one folder with all details – policies, accounts, mutual funds.
Inform your family where the file is kept.
Three Yearly Review System
Review your financial plan every year.
Do it with the help of a Certified Financial Planner.
Track SIP growth. Are goals on track?
Rebalance asset allocation if equity grows too much.
Check insurance covers every 2 years.
Update Will, nominations, and goals if needed.
Final Insights
You have taken important first steps. That shows awareness.
But awareness needs a plan to be successful.
Surrender low-yielding policies. Reinvest wisely.
Keep land aside. Do not count on it for goals.
Increase SIPs steadily. Choose only actively managed funds.
Use regular mutual funds through a Certified Financial Planner.
Protect family with higher life and health insurance.
Separate SIPs for each goal. Link every investment to a purpose.
Review your plan once every year. Adjust when needed.
Your dream of Rs.5 crore and children’s education is possible.
But you need focused, guided steps to reach there.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment