am 36 years old, consist 0.85 lakh salary per month 11 lakhs in mutual fund , 2 lacs loss in option trading, 20 lacs cash in bank . I am not able to take step enter to take house or to invest equity becoz huze loss Please suggest how to plan future. My goals to have home atleast 200sw yards in Hyderabad. And to start good small scale business for future, I have 1 boy 2 6 yr old. Please suggest

Ans: At 36, you still have time to turn things around.

You are earning Rs 85,000 monthly. You have Rs 11 lakh in mutual funds and Rs 20 lakh in bank.

You lost Rs 2 lakh in options trading. That has created hesitation and fear.

Let us now plan your financial journey with care and confidence. We will build clarity step-by-step.

You Are Financially Strong at the Core

Your age is 36. That gives you 24 working years ahead.

You earn a good salary. Rs 85,000/month is above average in India.

Rs 11 lakh is already invested in mutual funds.

Rs 20 lakh is available in cash. That gives liquidity and flexibility.

You have no home loan or EMIs now.

You have a child of age 6. You still have time for education goals.

Losses in options can hurt emotionally. But you must separate emotion from planning.

What matters is discipline from here, not past mistakes.

Loss in Option Trading – Learn and Move Forward

You lost Rs 2 lakh in options. Don’t feel ashamed.

Many retail investors lose in derivatives. That’s common.

Options are high-risk. Most small investors don’t succeed there.

You should stop option trading completely. Don’t try to recover money through it.

Avoid all forms of trading. Stay away from tips, futures, leverage, intraday, and margin.

These destroy wealth and peace.

You need a safe and steady plan now. Not aggressive gambling.

Do Not Invest in Index Funds or Direct Funds

If you were using index funds before, avoid them now.

Index funds copy the market blindly. No downside protection.

They include poor-performing sectors too. You get dragged returns.

In bear markets, they fall as much as the market.

You deserve better care. Your goals are important.

Use actively managed funds. These are driven by experienced fund managers.

They adjust portfolios based on market condition.

Also, if you are using direct plans, please stop.

Direct plans give no help. No advice. No review.

Most people underperform due to emotional decisions.

You need regular plans through a Certified Financial Planner and MFD.

You get alerts, review, goal tracking, and portfolio adjustment.

This gives better performance and confidence.

Cash in Bank – Needs Better Allocation

Your Rs 20 lakh in the bank is idle.

It is losing value every year due to inflation.

You must plan this cash in three parts:

1. Emergency Fund (Rs 3–5 lakh)

Keep this amount in a liquid fund or ultra-short fund.

This will take care of job loss, health emergency, or family needs.

2. Goal Planning Fund (Rs 10–12 lakh)

Use mutual funds to invest this amount.

This can fund your long-term goals like house, child education, business.

3. Near-Term Fund (Rs 3–5 lakh)

This can be kept in a short-term FD or debt mutual fund.

Use this only for expenses expected within 1–2 years.

Don’t keep full Rs 20 lakh in the bank. You lose growth.

Start a goal-based investment system.

Home Purchase – Evaluate Before Acting

You mentioned a goal to buy a 200 sq yard house in Hyderabad.

Please avoid buying just due to peer pressure.

Property buying requires big capital.

You may lock yourself into a loan for 15–20 years.

Property also comes with maintenance, taxes, and legal stress.

Avoid home purchase now unless it is urgent or necessary.

If you truly need one, plan like this:

Save for down payment over 3 years.

Then buy with minimum loan and maximum comfort.

Do not spend all your Rs 20 lakh on buying home now.

Prioritise financial security over emotional decisions.

Let a Certified Financial Planner help you assess this better.

Start Your SIP Again – Slowly and With Confidence

You already have Rs 11 lakh in mutual funds.

If the past investments are good funds, don’t redeem them.

If they are poor funds or not reviewed in 2 years, exit slowly.

Use regular mutual fund SIP through a CFP.

Start with Rs 10,000 per month. Increase slowly every year.

Your goal is to reach Rs 25,000 SIP within 2–3 years.

This is your wealth builder for retirement and family goals.

Business Idea – Prepare Before Starting

You wish to start a small business.

That’s a good thought. But please go slow and prepared.

Here is how to plan it:

Don’t use more than Rs 4–5 lakh in initial business trial.

Keep the rest of your capital invested in mutual funds.

Don’t stop your SIPs to fund your business.

Avoid taking loans for starting your venture.

Choose a business with low fixed cost and quick cash flow.

Learn from local mentors or incubation centres.

Your salary is your engine. Don’t quit job without solid business backup.

Grow the business in weekends or part-time mode first.

Child’s Education – Begin a Goal Plan Now

Your son is 6 years old. You have 12 years before college.

That’s enough time to build a strong fund.

Start a dedicated mutual fund SIP of Rs 5,000–10,000 monthly.

Use flexi-cap and mid-cap fund combination for long-term growth.

Review every 2 years with a CFP.

This will build the college corpus safely.

Don’t mix this with other goals.

LIC, ULIP, and Insurance Policies – Review Now

You didn’t mention LIC or ULIP, but if you hold any:

Surrender if returns are poor

Reinvest maturity in mutual funds

Use only pure term insurance for protection

Keep health insurance separate

If you don’t have term cover, buy it now.

Minimum Rs 50 lakh cover is suggested for you.

Don’t mix insurance with investment.

Build Retirement Plan Parallelly

You are 36. Retirement goal is 24 years away.

You must build a large retirement corpus in these years.

After business and house, don’t forget retirement.

Start SIP of Rs 10,000–15,000 for this alone.

This will grow into a second corpus apart from PF or job benefits.

Retirement corpus needs 20+ years of compounding.

Don’t postpone this due to present worries.

Annual Review and Fund Rebalancing Is Must

Once you start mutual fund investments, review every year.

Check fund performance

Check goal alignment

Exit non-performing funds

Rebalance asset mix

A Certified Financial Planner will help you with this.

Don’t do DIY investment based on YouTube or friends.

Every investor’s situation is different.

Avoid These Mistakes Going Forward

No more option trading

No direct funds or index funds

No lump sum property investment

No emotional decisions on buying

No loans for business or home

No insurance-linked investments

These traps can delay your goals badly.

Take slow and steady steps. But take them now.

Finally

You have good cash, stable income, and time.

Your past trading loss is small compared to your potential.

Build your SIP again. Plan your house with care.

Grow your business slowly with limited capital.

Prioritise your child’s future and your own retirement.

Don’t let fear block your action. Take help from a CFP. Review yearly.

You can still build wealth and peace.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment