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29 years old with 12 lakh invested - Can I retire by 50?

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8077 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 23, 2024

Ramalingam Kalirajan has over 23 years of experience in mutual funds and financial planning.
He has an MBA in finance from the University of Madras and is a certified financial planner.
He is the director and chief financial planner at Holistic Investment, a Chennai-based firm that offers financial planning and wealth management advice.... more
Vinothkumar Question by Vinothkumar on Dec 11, 2024Hindi
Money

Hi , I'm 29 years old and wanna retire by 50 and I'm investing in the below funds. I have 12 lakh invested in this portfolio . PPFAS FLEXI CAP -20000 EDELWEISS MIDCAP 150 MOMENTUM 30 INDEX -20000 MOTILAL SMALL CAP FUND - 20000 QUANT SMALL CAP FUND - 12000 MOTILAL MICROCAP FUND - 8000 IM GONNA GRADUALLY SHIFT TO DEBT FUND and balance fund from age 38 to 50. And I will be sitting on an allocation of 60% debt and 40%equity when I'm 50. Please advise if I need any changes.?

Ans: It’s impressive that you are planning early for retirement at 29. This discipline and foresight will help you achieve financial independence. Let’s evaluate your current portfolio and retirement plan, considering your goals and strategy.

Strengths in Your Investment Approach
Starting early gives your investments time to compound effectively.

Your portfolio is well-diversified across equity categories, covering large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap funds.

A planned shift to debt funds starting at 38 ensures reduced risk as you approach retirement.

Allocating 60% to debt and 40% to equity by retirement is a sound risk-reward strategy.

Portfolio Assessment
PPFAS Flexi Cap Fund
This fund offers diversification across domestic and global equities.

It balances risk with a stable performance history.

Edelweiss Midcap 150 Momentum 30 Index Fund
Index funds like this rely on pre-set indices.

Actively managed mid-cap funds may offer better long-term returns.

Consider switching to actively managed mid-cap funds for expert management and stock selection.

Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund and Quant Small Cap Fund
Small-cap funds are high-risk, high-return investments.

Allocating 40% of your equity exposure to small-cap funds is slightly aggressive.

Consider reducing exposure to small caps to about 25%-30%.

Motilal Oswal Microcap Fund
Microcap funds carry higher risks due to their focus on smaller, less-established companies.

Gradually reduce exposure to this fund and redistribute to large-cap or balanced funds.

Debt Fund Transition Plan
Your strategy to shift gradually to debt funds is well thought out.

Start with short-term debt funds and dynamic bond funds at age 38.

As you approach 50, include ultra-short-term debt funds for better liquidity.

Suggestions for Equity-Debt Allocation
By age 50, aim for 60% debt and 40% equity as planned.

Maintain some allocation in equity to outpace inflation.

Use balanced or hybrid funds to simplify allocation management.

General Recommendations
Emergency Fund: Keep 6-12 months of expenses in a liquid fund or fixed deposit.

Health and Life Insurance: Ensure sufficient coverage for unforeseen circumstances.

Tax Planning: Utilize Section 80C through ELSS, PPF, and insurance premiums.

Mutual Fund Reviews: Periodically review fund performance and align it with your goals.

Final Insights
Your early retirement goal is achievable with disciplined investing and periodic reviews. Ensure you reduce risks as you approach retirement by balancing equity and debt. Seek guidance from a Certified Financial Planner for regular portfolio adjustments.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP

Chief Financial Planner

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.
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Hi , I'm 29 years old and wanna retire by 50 and I'm investing in the below funds. I have 12 lakh invested in this portfolio . PPFAS FLEXI CAP -20000 EDELWEISS MIDCAP 150 MOMENTUM 30 INDEX -20000 MOTILAL SMALL CAP FUND - 20000 QUANT SMALL CAP FUND - 12000 MOTILAL MICROCAP FUND - 8000 IM GONNA GRADUALLY SHIFT TO DEBT FUND and balance fund from age 38 to 50. And I will be sitting on an allocation of 60% debt and 40%equity when I'm 50. Please advise if I need any changes
Ans: Your investment journey is well-structured, and your goal is clear. Let’s examine your portfolio and strategy to ensure your financial goals are met effectively.

Strengths of Your Current Portfolio
Diversification: Your portfolio includes flexi-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap funds. This covers a wide spectrum of growth opportunities.

Disciplined Contributions: Investing Rs. 80,000 monthly reflects strong commitment and financial discipline.

Strategic Shift to Safety: Transitioning to a 60% debt and 40% equity allocation by age 50 is prudent for stability.

Observations and Recommendations
Equity Fund Choices
High Exposure to Small-Cap Funds: Currently, your portfolio leans heavily toward small-cap funds. While they offer higher growth potential, they also carry higher volatility.

Recommendation: Balance the allocation by adding more exposure to flexi-cap or large-cap funds for stability.

Index Fund Limitation: Momentum-based index funds can be restrictive and lack active fund management advantages. Consider switching to actively managed mid-cap funds for better returns in fluctuating markets.

Transition Strategy
Gradual Shift to Debt: Your plan to move towards debt allocation starting at age 38 is logical.

Recommendation: Ensure a mix of long-term debt funds and balanced hybrid funds. This will help manage inflation and provide moderate growth.

Tax Implications: Keep in mind the tax rules for debt and equity funds. Plan redemptions to minimise tax liability.

Additional Financial Strategies
Emergency Corpus
Build a corpus of 6–12 months of expenses before increasing investments further. This ensures liquidity during unforeseen situations.
Retirement Corpus Estimation
Calculate the required retirement corpus based on expected expenses, inflation, and life expectancy. This will confirm whether the current savings rate suffices.
Health Insurance Coverage
Secure adequate health insurance for you and your family. Medical emergencies can disrupt investment plans.
Monitoring and Review
Review your portfolio performance annually. Adjust allocations based on market conditions and financial goals.
Insights on Active vs Index Funds
Disadvantages of Index Funds
Index funds lack the flexibility to adapt during market downturns.
Actively managed funds can outperform benchmarks in volatile markets.
Benefits of Regular Funds
Investing through a Certified Financial Planner and MFD ensures professional guidance. This helps in fund selection and portfolio optimisation.
Final Insights
Your financial plan is on the right track, but adjustments can optimise your results. A balanced equity and debt portfolio, along with periodic reviews, will ensure financial independence by age 50. Stay disciplined, and success is within reach.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP

Chief Financial Planner

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

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Hi Mam, Hope you are doing well. I am very worried about my son who is now 12.5 years old and studying in 7th standard in a very reputed school. Since childhood, he has no interest in studies, unless we doesn't seat in front of him, he doesn't study. Every teacher from his kindergarten days upto now has the same complaint that he is doesn't pay attention in class and the result is he doesn't get good marks in the exam. When we scold him for studies, he does it for that particular time only and then get back to his non-interest mode again and start to run from studies. He will play video games, goes to play around with his friends, he will find some or the other reason for not doing studies or homework. The irony is that he is not interested in any sports or any other kind of activities. In every summer holidays, we make him to join some sports or music classes, but there also he doesn't show interest and do things just for the sake of showing. From last year, we have started sending him to tuitions also, but no change in attitude. This year we have found a teacher of his reputed school who is retired and taking tuitions, we are sending him to her and she is charging a big amount for tuitions. please guide how can we change his attitude and make him more serious in any activity he does as he doesn't have interest in anything (we have observed doing everything we can).
Ans: Hello Sunil!!

I am doing great, thank you for asking, God bless you!

I can totally understand when you say you are worried.

Your son is 12.5, he will soon be a teenager. There will be different challenges, I want you to read up on parenting a teenager and be ready to handle him well.

The problem as I see it is that everyone of you, his teachers included have made studies like a burden for him.... and subjected the young child to a lot of anxiety, he just wants to run away form it....
"Every teacher from his kindergarten days upto now has the same complaint that he is doesn't pay attention in class".... this statement of yours... it is the teacher's duty to ensure the child listens to him/her, how can she start labeling a child like this. From a young age your son has been conditioned to believe that he is not not good in studies, he doesn't focus and he doesn't sit in one place. All my sympathies are with your son...every child comes with immense potential and it's our duty as parents and teachers to nurture the child.

The following is what I propose so that we bring him back to loving to learn ( not score marks, that should never be the barometer)-
1. Love your child the way he is now
2. Give him lot of positive strokes
3. Have one on one sessions for any activity you plan for him... let him choose the activity, empower him
4. choose a teacher, who can get along with him and help him develop a positive attitude towards studies and life in general
5. look for a school where they nurture him... not just a reputed one...less number of students and a teacher who is invested in her/ his students,

If you can connect with me, I can help him. Have had many a students in this kind situation.
This is my website..
https://transformme.co.in/

Loads of best wishes to the whole family..

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