I am 27 years old man. My salary is around 32k per month. I have started SIP of 6K in 2022 jan. I have also taken team insurance and health insurance for which i have to give 25k per year for 15 years. I have no loan or anything. I want to retire at the age of 50. Please suggest me how much amount is sufficient.

Ans: Hello Bhavaniprasad and thanks for writing to me. I only discuss mutual funds in this column and would restrict myself to the same in this answer.

After adjusting for inflation at 6% per annum, you will need a corpus of around 5 Crore in 21 years.

To create this corpus, you need to invest Rs.45,000 every month. You can consider beginning SIP's in:
1-DSP Quant Fund: Rs.9,000
2-Edelweiss NIFTY 100 Quality 30 Index Fund: Rs.9,000
3-SBI Focused Equity Fund: Rs.9,000
4-Axis Bluechip Fund-Rs.9,000
5-UTI Focused Equity Fund-Rs.9,000

Frequent rebalancing is essential to ensure that you are on the right track. I recommend you to consult a financial advisor who can help you plan and rebalance your portfolio and recommend an asset mix for you keeping in mind your specific needs.

Ans: You have already decided on the target corpus in today's value at Rs 1.5 Crore. So now if the same figure provided by you is inflation-adjusted at 6% (assumed avg. inflation) for the next 21 years, the figure comes to Rs 5.1 Cr in future value. To reach this corpus, one needs to invest about Rs 51-52,000 per month (Rs 6.1+ lakh per year) at an average return of 9% per annum. This monthly/annual investment amount needs to increase ny at least 5% every year in line with the increase in your salary.

Currently, you are investing Rs 1 lakh in LIC traditional plans which can give returns of 5-6%. The equity funds can give 10-11% average returns in the long run. So to reach the target corpus, you need to increase the investments in lien with what the requirements have been suggested.

Note (Disclaimer) - As a SEBI RIA, I cannot comment on specific schemes/funds that are provided or asked for in the questions in the platform. And the views expressed above should not be considered professional investment advice or advertisement or otherwise. No specific product/service recommendations have been made and the answers here are for general educational purposes only. The readers are requested to take into consideration all the risk factors including their financial condition, suitability to risk-return profile and the like and take professional investment advice before investing.

Ans: You have already decided on the target corpus in today's value at Rs 1.5 Crore. So now if the same figure provided by you is inflation-adjusted at 6% (assumed avg. inflation) for the next 21 years, the figure comes to Rs 5.1 Cr in future value. To reach this corpus, one needs to invest about Rs 51-52,000 per month (Rs 6.1+ lakh per year) at an average return of 9% per annum. This monthly/annual investment amount needs to increase ny at least 5% every year in line with the increase in your salary.

Currently, you are investing Rs 1 lakh in LIC traditional plans which can give returns of 5-6%. The equity funds can give 10-11% average returns in the long run. So to reach the target corpus, you need to increase the investments in line with what the requirements have been suggested.

Note (Disclaimer) - As a SEBI RIA, I cannot comment on specific schemes/funds that are provided or asked for in the questions in the platform. And the views expressed above should not be considered professional investment advice or advertisement or otherwise. No specific product/service recommendations have been made and the answers here are for general educational purposes only. The readers are requested to take into consideration all the risk factors including their financial condition, suitability to risk-return profile and the like and take professional investment advice before investing.

Ans: About 2 crores

Ans: Assessing Your Financial Position
You have made a good start with your investments. Let’s evaluate your current financial status:

Monthly Salary: Rs. 1,12,000
SIP Investment: Rs. 20,000/month
Mutual Funds Corpus: Rs. 5.2 lakhs
NPS: Rs. 30 lakhs
LIC Policy: Rs. 45 lakhs maturity at retirement
Savings: Rs. 2.5 lakhs
Determining Retirement Corpus
To determine the amount you need for retirement, let’s consider a few factors:

Retirement Age: Assuming you want to retire at 60.
Life Expectancy: Assuming you live till 85.
Current Monthly Expenses: Let’s assume Rs. 50,000.
Inflation Rate: Assuming an average of 6% per annum.
Post-Retirement Return on Investments: Assuming 7% per annum.
Calculating Future Monthly Expenses
Your current monthly expenses of Rs. 50,000 will increase due to inflation.

Let's calculate your estimated monthly expenses at retirement:

Monthly Expense at Retirement: Rs. 50,000 * (1 + 0.06)^(60-35) = Rs. 2,14,377 approximately
Calculating Retirement Corpus
To sustain these expenses for 25 years post-retirement, you need to build a corpus that can generate this amount monthly.

Using the annuity formula to calculate the retirement corpus:

Required Corpus: Rs. 2,14,377 * [(1 - (1 + 0.07)^-25) / 0.07] = Rs. 4.1 crores approximately
Investment Strategy
Increase SIP Contributions
Increase SIPs: Try to increase your SIP investments gradually as your income grows.

Diversify: Invest in a mix of equity, debt, and hybrid funds to balance risk and returns.

Maximise NPS Contributions
NPS: Continue contributing to NPS as it provides good returns and tax benefits.

Equity Allocation: Maintain a higher equity allocation in NPS for better growth.

Evaluate LIC Policy
LIC Policy: Ensure the LIC policy provides good returns. If not, consider other investment options.
Build an Emergency Fund
Emergency Fund: Keep a fund equivalent to 6-12 months of expenses.
Regular Reviews and Adjustments
Annual Review: Reassess your portfolio annually with a certified financial planner.

Market Conditions: Adjust investments based on changing market conditions and life goals.

Final Insights
To achieve a comfortable retirement, you need to aim for a corpus of approximately Rs. 4.1 crores. Increase your investments, diversify your portfolio, and regularly review your financial plan.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

Ans: Current Financial Situation

Your current financial position is strong. You have a good salary and a solid investment portfolio. Owning a loan-free house adds security. Your EPF, NPS, and SIP investments are well-planned. The life and health insurance coverage is also comprehensive. However, retiring at 50 requires careful planning, especially considering your children’s future needs.

Assessing Your Retirement Needs

To determine your required retirement corpus, several factors must be considered:

Monthly Expenses Post-Retirement: Currently, your expenses are Rs. 60k-70k monthly. This will likely increase with inflation. At an estimated 6% inflation rate, your monthly expenses might double in 12 years.

Retirement Age: You plan to retire in two years at 50. This is an early retirement, so your corpus needs to last longer, possibly 35-40 years.

Children’s Education: Your children are 16 and 14. Higher education costs can be significant in the next few years. Allocating funds for their education is crucial.

Lifestyle Post-Retirement: Consider how your lifestyle might change. Will you travel more? Will healthcare needs increase? These factors affect your corpus requirement.

Estimating the Retirement Corpus

Based on your current expenses and future needs, your retirement corpus should be substantial. Here’s a simplified approach to calculating it:

Inflation-Adjusted Expenses: Your current expenses of Rs. 60k-70k monthly could rise to around Rs. 1.2 lakh monthly by the time you retire. Over a 35-40 year retirement period, this requires a significant corpus.

Healthcare Costs: As you age, healthcare costs will likely increase. While your insurance covers a significant amount, out-of-pocket expenses can still be high.

Children’s Future: Your children’s higher education and potential marriage costs must be factored in. This could be an additional Rs. 50-60 lakhs or more.

Lifestyle and Emergencies: Maintaining your current lifestyle and being prepared for emergencies is essential. This could add another Rs. 50 lakhs to your corpus requirement.

Considering these factors, a retirement corpus of approximately Rs. 10-12 crores might be necessary. This should be enough to cover your monthly expenses, healthcare, and any unforeseen costs. This estimate ensures a comfortable and secure retirement, even if you live longer than expected.

Optimizing Your Investments

To reach this corpus in two years, maximizing your investments is critical:

Increase SIP Contributions: Currently, you invest Rs. 50k monthly in SIPs. Increasing this amount, if possible, will help grow your corpus faster.

Focus on Growth-Oriented Funds: With a two-year horizon, investing in funds with higher growth potential can be beneficial. While these are riskier, they offer better returns.

Review Your Portfolio: Regularly review your mutual fund portfolio. Ensure it’s aligned with your retirement goals and risk tolerance.

Debt Reduction: Paying off the remaining Rs. 8 lakh loan should be a priority. Reducing debt will lower your financial burden in retirement.

NPS and EPF Utilization: Your EPF and NPS together amount to Rs. 80 lakhs. These are crucial components of your retirement corpus. However, they may not be enough alone, so continue to build on them.

Healthcare and Insurance Planning

Adequate Coverage: Your current health coverage of Rs. 30 lakhs is good. But, it might not be enough in later years due to rising medical costs. Consider enhancing your coverage or adding a super top-up plan.

Life Insurance: Your Rs. 1.5 crore life cover is substantial. Ensure it’s sufficient to cover your family’s needs if something happens to you before or after retirement.

Retirement Lifestyle and Goals

Post-Retirement Activities: Think about how you want to spend your retirement. If you plan to pursue hobbies or travel, these will need additional funds.

Part-Time Work: If full retirement seems challenging, consider part-time work or consulting. This can supplement your income and keep you engaged.

Final Insights

Retiring at 50 is ambitious, but achievable with careful planning. You should aim for a retirement corpus of Rs. 10-12 crores to cover all your future needs. Maximizing your investments, reducing debt, and planning for healthcare are key steps. Regular reviews with a Certified Financial Planner will help ensure your financial plan stays on track.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in