Sir i am 23 years old
I have a lumpsum of 8 lakhs in equity
And monthly add on of 25000 each month
I want to retire after 1 cr how should i plan
I am corporate employee
I have health insurance of 5 lac for me n family
Ans: You are 23, a corporate employee with good savings habits.
You already have Rs.?8 lakh in equity and contribute Rs.?25,000 monthly.
You seek to grow this to Rs.?1 crore and retire.
Your current health cover of Rs.?5 lakh is good to start.
Let us build a full 360-degree plan as a Certified Financial Planner.
1. Career and Income Path
You are early in corporate life.
Your income can grow significantly in 5–10 years.
Seek skill upgrades and promotions proactively.
Each salary increase is a chance to increase savings.
Plan SIP step-ups yearly with salary hikes.
2. Emergency Fund Buffer
Even with equity investments, you must have liquidity.
Set aside at least six months of living expenses.
If your monthly cost is Rs.?30,000, keep Rs.?1.8 lakh.
Keep this in a liquid mutual fund or savings account.
This prevents you from withdrawing equity during market dips.
3. Insurance and Risk Protection
You have a health cover of Rs.?5 lakh, which is good.
As you grow older, you must increase health cover.
Aim for Rs.?10–15 lakh when you have family responsibilities.
Also take term insurance cover at least 10–15 times your income.
Pure term plans are simple and low cost.
These will protect your goals and dependents.
4. Equity Investments Strategy
You have an equity lumpsum of Rs.?8 lakh and are investing Rs.?25,000 monthly.
This is a strong core for wealth creation.
Equity compounding over 20–25 years can create Rs.?1 crore easily.
But you must structure it well.
4.1 Equity Allocation Mix
Spread your investment across:
Large?cap fund – for stability and blue?chip exposure
Flexi?cap or mid?cap fund – for growth potential
Small?cap or thematic fund – small allocation for higher returns
ELSS fund – for tax saving under Section 80C
For example, start with:
Rs.?10,000 in large cap
Rs.?8,000 in flexi/mid cap
Rs.?4,000 in small cap
Rs.?3,000 in ELSS
Total = Rs.?25,000 monthly
4.2 Active vs Passive Funds
You might consider index funds, but avoid them:
They replicate the index fully with no human oversight
They cannot shift from weak sectors
They offer no chance to outperform
4.3 Regular vs Direct Plans
Direct plans seem cheaper but lack support:
No professional review or rebalancing
Investors may stick with poor funds unknowingly
Regular plans via a Certified Financial Planner provide:
Ongoing guidance and performance tracking
Tax and withdrawal strategy advice
Disciplined investing support
5. Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) Approach
5.1 Lumpsum Allocation
Invest the existing Rs.?8 lakh across the same four categories.
This gives a strong equity base immediately.
5.2 Monthly SIP Deployment
Continue Rs.?25,000 monthly split as suggested.
Yearly, increase each SIP by 10–15% as your salary rises.
This method builds corpus faster over time.
6. Timeline to Rs.?1 Crore Corpus
6.1 Growth Phase (0–10 Years)
Your SIP routine and lumpsum create growth power.
Equity funds expected to give inflation-beating returns.
Discipline and compounding will build significant corpus.
6.2 Mid-life (10–20 Years)
By age 33–43, reallocate gradually toward stability.
Shift some allocation to hybrid and debt funds.
This protects the corpus from high volatility.
6.3 Pre-Retirement (20–25 Years)
Between 43–48, reduce equity exposure further.
Build cushion with conservative funds.
Avoid equity market risks close to retirement age.
7. Diversifying Asset Classes
While equity is core, diversify smartly:
Use hybrid funds after 10 years to add cushion
Add debt funds gradually to balance risk
Continue holding emergency fund outside investments
Avoid real estate or gold as wealth-building tools
Equity + hybrid + debt gives good growth + stability mix.
8. Tax-Efficient Planning
Plan your mutual fund withdrawals purposefully:
Equity: Keep for over one year to save tax
• LTCG above Rs.?1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%
• STCG under one year taxed at 20%
ELSS: Has 3-year lock-in and tax benefits
Debt funds: Taxed as per your income slab
A Certified Financial Planner guides you to reduce tax impact.
9. Tracking Goals and Adjustments
Build a simple goal tracker:
Define the year-by-year corpus needed
Track actual portfolio value annually
If growth is below target, increase SIPs or adjust allocation
Goal-oriented tracking keeps investments purposeful.
10. Behavioural Discipline
Do not stop SIP during market drops
Don’t chase last year’s best-performing fund
Avoid emotional decisions or financial herd behavior
A CFP advisor helps you stay on track
11. Periodic Portfolio Review
Every 6–12 months, evaluate:
Fund performance vs peers
Asset allocation mix
SIP amount and step-up readiness
Rebalance if any asset class drifts more than 5–10%
Regular review ensures your plan stays aligned with your goals.
12. Building a Passive Income Plan
After accumulating Rs.?1 crore corpus, plan how to use it:
Move part of corpus to stable income funds
Use Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) for monthly income
Ensure SWP equals sustainable 4–5% withdrawal rate annually
This maintains principal and can support lifestyle
13. Insurance and Legacy Planning
After raising corpus, update term insurance cover
Add adequate health cover for you and family
Prepare a simple will or nomination for assets
This secures your future and family’s peace
14. Continuous Personal Growth
Keep upgrading skills at work for salary growth
Learn about financial products slowly
Use quality guidance from a Certified Financial Planner
Attend workshops or webinars occasionally
Stay financially curious and proactive
15. Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Do not switch funds every quarter
Do not use insurance plans for investment
Don’t depend on index or direct funds alone
Avoid skipping SIPs due to small expenses
Not saving enough during income spikes
16. Action Steps Summary
Allocate your Rs.?8 lakh lumpsum now across equity funds
Set up monthly SIP:
• Rs.?10,000 large-cap fund
• Rs.?8,000 flexi/mid-cap
• Rs.?4,000 small-cap
• Rs.?3,000 ELSS
Build Rs.?1.2 lakh emergency fund soon
Buy term and additional health insurance
Increase SIPs annually
Review every 6 months with a CFP
Diversify into hybrid and debt after 10 years
Plan SWP when approaching 1 crore corpus
17. Long-Term Vision
By age 50, with discipline and strategy:
You will exceed the Rs.?1 crore mark
Have stable income streams via SWP
Be protected from unexpected risks
Your retirement will be financially secure
Your young age and consistency are powerful advantage.
Start today, stick to the plan, and your goal is achievable.
Final Insights
Your current savings are a strong start
Strategic equity allocation and SIP discipline drive growth
Insurance and buffer protect your progress
Compound interest works best with long duration
Regular planning and review ensure success
Wealth is not built in a day, but through steady steps
A Certified Financial Planner can guide your journey
With focus, you can meet your Rs.?1 crore retirement goal
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
Asked on - Jul 08, 2025 | Answered on Jul 09, 2025
Thanks for your Reply
I will follow your suggestion
Ans: You're welcome! If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask. Best wishes on your financial journey!
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment