35 Year Old Earning 3 Lacs Aiming for 10 Crore Corpus in 10 Years: Can It Be Done?

Ans: You have made commendable progress in your financial journey. Achieving a corpus of Rs 10 crore in 10 years is ambitious yet achievable with a disciplined approach.

Let’s break down your goals and create a detailed plan.

Assessment of Your Current Financial Situation
You have been investing diligently for the past 7 years and have already built a significant corpus of Rs 1 crore in mutual funds.

Your monthly income of Rs 3 lakh with a monthly expense of Rs 1 lakh indicates that you have a healthy surplus for investments.

Currently, you have a substantial SIP of Rs 2 lakh per month. This shows a strong commitment to growing your wealth.

You have recently purchased a house worth Rs 1.3 crore, paying 30% upfront. The EMI for the remaining amount will start in 3 years.

This background will guide our strategy to reach your target.

Strategic Investment Plan for Rs 10 Crore Goal
1. Leverage Your Current SIP Investments
Increasing your monthly SIP to Rs 2 lakh is a great step. Continue to channel this amount into a mix of actively managed equity mutual funds.

Actively managed funds tend to outperform index funds over the long term due to the expertise of fund managers. This can help generate higher returns compared to passively managed funds.

Avoid investing in index funds. They might seem low-cost, but they miss out on potential alpha generation. Actively managed funds provide better returns, especially during market downturns when fund managers can adjust strategies.

Invest in regular plans through a certified mutual fund distributor (MFD). This will give you access to expert guidance and ongoing support, which is critical for optimizing your portfolio.

You should diversify across different categories, such as large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap funds. This strategy reduces risk and provides a balanced growth opportunity.

2. Consider Equity-Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS)
If you have not fully utilized your tax-saving options under Section 80C, consider investing in ELSS.

These funds have a lock-in period of 3 years, offering both tax benefits and potential long-term growth.

However, avoid investing in direct funds. Regular plans through MFDs will help you navigate market volatility better and keep you aligned with your financial goals.

Optimizing Your Real Estate Loan Strategy
Now, let's address your query regarding your new home purchase:

You paid 30% upfront, which is a good strategy. The remaining 70% will be funded through a loan with EMIs starting in 3 years.

It is usually beneficial to take a home loan, especially with the tax deductions on principal repayment (Section 80C) and interest payments (Section 24).

However, with your current savings and surplus, you can consider partially prepaying the loan. This will reduce the overall interest burden without affecting your liquidity significantly.

Avoid using a significant portion of your mutual fund corpus for prepayment. This corpus is vital for your retirement goal. Instead, prepay the loan gradually using your surplus income.

Tax Implications of Mutual Fund Investments
Understanding the new tax rules is crucial:

For equity mutual funds, long-term capital gains (LTCG) above Rs 1.25 lakh are now taxed at 12.5%.

Short-term capital gains (STCG) are taxed at 20%.

For debt mutual funds, both LTCG and STCG will be taxed according to your income tax slab rate. This is higher than the previous LTCG rate of 20% with indexation benefits.

To maximize your returns, consider holding your equity mutual funds for the long term to benefit from lower LTCG taxes.

If you need to rebalance your portfolio, plan your redemptions carefully to minimize tax liabilities.

Prioritizing Your Financial Goals
You aim to retire at 45 with a passive income of Rs 1 lakh per month. Let's map out how you can align your investments to achieve this.

1. Focus on Equity for Wealth Accumulation
Equity mutual funds should continue to be your primary investment vehicle. Given your 10-year horizon, equity has the potential to provide higher returns compared to debt instruments.

To reach your Rs 10 crore goal, you may need to increase your SIP amount gradually as your income grows.

2. Emergency Fund and Liquidity
Ensure that you have an emergency fund equivalent to 12-18 months of expenses in a safe, liquid instrument like a bank fixed deposit or a liquid mutual fund. This will protect your investments from being disrupted in case of any unexpected expenses.

Avoid using your emergency fund for loan prepayment or large investments. It should remain accessible at all times.

Insurance Coverage and Risk Management
Since you have a home loan, it is crucial to ensure you have adequate life insurance coverage. This will protect your family from financial liabilities if something were to happen to you.

Consider increasing your term insurance to cover the outstanding home loan amount and provide for your family’s future needs.

Review your health insurance coverage as well. Given the rising healthcare costs, ensure that your family is adequately covered.

Debt vs. Equity Balance for Your Retirement Plan
As you approach your retirement age of 45, it is essential to gradually reduce exposure to equity and shift towards safer debt instruments.

At the age of 45, consider reallocating a portion of your portfolio into debt mutual funds, which offer stability. This will help generate a steady monthly income while preserving your capital.

However, do not fully exit equity. A small portion should remain invested to combat inflation and sustain your wealth over a longer retirement period.

Achieving Financial Independence by Age 45
By following the plan outlined above, you can achieve your goal of building a corpus of Rs 10 crore and retire comfortably at 45.

Continue your disciplined SIP investments, optimize tax benefits, and manage your loan efficiently.

Make periodic assessments of your portfolio to ensure it aligns with your risk tolerance and financial goals.

It’s advisable to consult a certified financial planner annually. This ensures that your investment strategy remains on track, and any necessary adjustments can be made.

Final Insights
You have made significant strides toward financial independence. Keep up the disciplined approach.

A well-diversified portfolio, optimized tax strategy, and careful debt management will help you reach your target corpus of Rs 10 crore.

Retirement at 45 with a stable passive income is a realistic goal if you stick to the plan outlined here.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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