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Ramalingam Kalirajan |10893 Answers |Ask -Follow

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 12, 2025

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

Question by Farmanulla on Jul 11, 2025Hindi

Hi I am 32 . I am earning 1.10 L Per month. I have personal loan of 3.5 L out of which 2 L is paid as of now(12k per month). Have 4.5 k per month for term insurance, have 25k as lumpsum in less, have 2.5k per month for index fund. No kids as of now and planning for it. How to plan my investment for the future to have better retirement and have good returns from the age of 45.

Ans: You're 32 and earning Rs. 1.10 lakh monthly. You’ve paid off a good part of your personal loan. You have term insurance in place. You also invest in an index fund monthly. You plan for retirement and early financial freedom from age 45. This is a good time to strengthen your financial life.

? Review and Close Debt First
– You still owe Rs. 1.5 lakh on your personal loan.
– Continue paying Rs. 12,000 monthly to clear it soon.
– Try prepaying extra if surplus is available.
– Ending loans gives peace and cash flow.
– Avoid taking any new personal loans.
– Credit card loans and EMIs also need to be avoided.

? Emergency Fund is Non-Negotiable
– First build an emergency fund of 6 months’ expenses.
– That includes rent, bills, EMIs, and lifestyle spends.
– Keep this in liquid mutual funds, not savings account.
– It gives safety during job loss or family emergency.
– Don’t mix emergency fund with other goals.
– Withdraw only during real emergencies.

? Reconsider Your Index Fund SIP
– Index funds copy stock market performance.
– In India, they don’t offer protection during falls.
– They lack human guidance and smart decision-making.
– In falling markets, index fund will fall equally.
– You also miss chances to beat the market.
– Actively managed funds have a real fund manager.
– These funds aim to deliver better than the index.
– They change the portfolio based on research and timing.
– That helps manage risk and improve returns.
– Shift your Rs. 2,500 SIP to active mutual funds.
– Do it via regular plan through a Certified Financial Planner.

? Avoid Direct Plans, Use Regular Plans
– Direct funds may look cheaper but are risky.
– You don’t get fund advice or personalised guidance.
– A wrong fund can lead to poor results.
– Regular plans are managed with advisor support.
– You get reviews, risk assessment, and behaviour support.
– Especially during volatile times, guidance matters more than returns.
– It saves you from emotional mistakes.

? Revisit Insurance Decisions
– You pay Rs. 4,500 monthly for term insurance.
– That seems high unless coverage is very large.
– Reassess if policy premium suits your income.
– Term insurance is must. But amount should be right.
– It should cover 10-15 times your annual income.
– Don't mix insurance with investment.
– Don’t buy endowment, ULIP or money-back policies.
– If you already hold any of them, check surrender value.
– Reinvest that amount into mutual funds.

? Plan Monthly Budget With Clear Allocations
– Your income is Rs. 1.10 lakh per month.
– Allocate expenses first – rent, food, EMIs, lifestyle.
– Then fix SIPs for investment.
– Avoid spending what is left after saving.
– Instead, spend what is left after investing.
– Ideal allocation can be 30% investing, 60% living, 10% for goals.
– Over time, increase SIP amount as income grows.

? Fix Clear Goals Before Investing
– Goals make investments meaningful and focused.
– You want early retirement at 45.
– Also planning to start a family soon.
– List short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals.
– Match each goal to a suitable mutual fund.
– Don’t mix retirement investment with home or child expenses.
– Separate SIPs for each goal is a wise step.

? Focus on Retirement Planning Aggressively
– You want good returns from age 45.
– So you have 13 years to invest now.
– That’s a powerful time window.
– Start a dedicated SIP for retirement.
– Use diversified equity mutual funds for this.
– Choose large-cap, mid-cap, and flexi-cap types.
– Equity is ideal for 10+ year horizons.
– Stay invested fully without withdrawing midway.

? Use Step-Up SIP Feature
– Start with a basic SIP now.
– But increase amount every year as salary grows.
– This is called step-up SIP.
– It builds long-term wealth steadily.
– You won’t feel the pinch, but results will be big.

? Child Planning Means Goal Planning
– If you’re planning for kids, goal planning becomes more important.
– Child’s school and college will need big amounts.
– Start SIPs now to avoid burden later.
– Use hybrid or balanced funds for mid-term child goals.
– For education or marriage goals beyond 10 years, use equity funds.
– Keep each goal separate to track properly.

? Avoid Real Estate for Investment
– Real estate demands big capital and loans.
– It is illiquid and returns are slow.
– Property selling is complex and involves risk.
– It is not fit for young investors like you.
– Use mutual funds for wealth creation instead.

? Don’t Fall for Fancy Investments
– Avoid stock tips, crypto, F&O, and unknown apps.
– Many look exciting but are not safe.
– Focus on proven, long-term investment methods only.
– Discipline is more important than product.

? Diversify But Don’t Overdo It
– Have 3 to 4 well-chosen mutual funds only.
– Too many funds cause overlap and confusion.
– Choose funds from different categories.
– Large-cap, flexi-cap, mid-cap, and hybrid can be considered.
– Decide mix based on your risk level.

? Consider Tax Saving Wisely
– If you need to save under Section 80C, use ELSS funds.
– ELSS has a 3-year lock-in.
– But it also offers equity returns and tax benefit.
– Invest in ELSS only after covering retirement and emergency fund.
– Don’t invest just for tax saving.

? Use Liquid Funds for Short-Term Needs
– If any goal is within 2 years, use liquid funds.
– Don’t invest short-term money in equity.
– Use these funds for travel, gadgets or child birth costs.
– These funds give better returns than savings account.

? Know Taxation of Mutual Funds
– Equity mutual funds held over 1 year are long-term.
– Gains above Rs. 1.25 lakh get 12.5% tax.
– Gains under 1 year are short-term and taxed at 20%.
– Debt funds are taxed as per your income slab.
– Plan redemptions accordingly to reduce tax.

? Automate Investments, Reduce Manual Actions
– Setup SIPs as auto-debit from your account.
– This builds habit and avoids delays.
– Manual investing is harder to follow long-term.

? Don’t Time the Market
– Don’t wait for the “right time” to invest.
– Invest every month regularly.
– Market ups and downs will average out.
– Waiting wastes precious compounding time.

? Review Once a Year, Not Monthly
– Don't keep checking fund performance every week.
– Review once or twice a year with your CFP.
– Make changes only when goals or income change.
– Don’t chase best-performing funds always.

? Behaviour Is More Important Than Return
– Many investors get scared and stop investing.
– Staying calm during market falls is key.
– Your behaviour decides your success more than fund return.
– That’s why guidance from a CFP is vital.

? Track Goals, Not Just Portfolio
– Don’t just look at profits.
– Check if goals are on track.
– Track each SIP’s progress towards its target.
– Adjust SIPs when salary or expenses change.

? Finally
– You are already doing many things right.
– You earn well and are financially aware.
– But small improvements will make big difference.
– Avoid index funds. Shift to active mutual funds.
– Stop direct plans. Use regular funds with a CFP.
– Focus more on retirement and child-related goals.
– Plan debt-free and disciplined life.
– With 13 years of focus, your goal of early returns at 45 is possible.
– Take steps today and build future steadily.

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.