I am 37 yrs old and dont have job.i have 8 lacs in mutual funds and 12 lacs in shares.my mother has invested 8 lacs in Jeevan Shanti and i get mly annuity.and she has invested 10 lacs in single policies and 15 lacs in regular policies. Could you please advice me further how to invest and in which schemes.i have 70 sovereign gold gifted by my mither.she has another 70 sovereign gold which will eventually come to me

Ans: You are 37 years old. You don’t have a job currently. You are dependent on annuity income received from your mother’s investment in Jeevan Shanti. You also hold mutual funds, shares, and gold. Your mother has more investments in insurance policies and gold.

Your current financial condition needs clear direction. You need protection, stability, and future growth. Your financial decisions today must support the next 40 years.

Let’s give a complete 360-degree financial strategy.

Understand Your Present Financial Condition
You are 37. You don’t have active income now.

You own Rs. 8 lakhs in mutual funds and Rs. 12 lakhs in shares.

You are getting monthly annuity from your mother’s Jeevan Shanti policy.

Your mother has 10 lakhs in single premium insurance and 15 lakhs in regular policies.

You also have 70 sovereigns of gold gifted.

You will receive another 70 sovereigns from your mother later.

Your risk level is moderate. You need income, growth, and safety.

You are managing your life without job income. That itself is appreciable.

It is the right time to rebuild your finances wisely.

Assess Immediate Monthly Needs
Know how much your monthly expense is.

Write rent, groceries, transport, medicines, electricity, mobile, etc.

Check how much your annuity covers from this amount.

Make sure basic needs are met from annuity and dividends.

Avoid selling mutual funds or shares for monthly expenses.

Use the gold only during family emergencies.

Create a simple monthly budget and stick to it.

Create Emergency Reserve for 1 Year
Set aside money for 1 year of living expenses.

Keep this in a savings account or a liquid fund.

Do not keep this in stocks or mutual funds.

You may use part of mutual fund amount to build this fund.

This reserve gives you peace and time to plan next steps.

Review All Insurance Policies
Jeevan Shanti gives fixed annuity. You are already getting income.

But other single and regular insurance policies are not needed.

Ask your mother to check surrender value of all policies.

Surrender the policies that give low maturity and poor returns.

Reinvest that money into mutual funds in your name.

Do not invest in ULIPs, endowment or investment-cum-insurance plans.

Insurance should be for protection, not investment.

Discontinue Future Investment in Annuity
Annuity plans like Jeevan Shanti give low returns.

They lock your money for life and give taxable income.

Do not invest more in such products in future.

They do not beat inflation.

Their returns are not adjustable for rising living cost.

Better to use mutual funds for monthly income and growth.

Check All Mutual Fund Holdings
Rs. 8 lakhs in mutual funds is a strong base.

But you must review the fund types.

If 100% is in equity, shift some to hybrid or balanced funds.

Allocate 60% to hybrid funds and 40% to equity.

If you hold direct plans, consider switching to regular funds.

Regular plans give access to expert advice by certified financial planner.

Direct plans do not offer this guidance.

Wrong choice in direct fund can reduce your wealth.

Switch step by step. Use professional help.

Don’t do full switch at once. Review annually.

Review Your Equity Share Portfolio
Rs. 12 lakhs in stocks is a big chunk.

Check if these are in good companies.

Exit loss-making or unknown companies slowly.

Do not sell all at once.

Move money from shares into equity mutual funds.

Equity mutual funds are managed by experts.

They are more stable and diversified.

Stocks need time, knowledge, and close tracking.

You can’t afford high risk without job income.

Start Monthly Withdrawal Plan from Mutual Funds
Use mutual fund SWP (Systematic Withdrawal Plan) for monthly income.

Take Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 monthly based on your budget.

Do not take big amounts every month.

It will keep money growing and give you regular income.

Withdraw from hybrid fund portion.

Keep equity portion for future growth.

Plan SWP with CFP to avoid tax loss.

Plan to Monetise Gold Gradually
You have 70 sovereigns of gold now.

You may get another 70 from your mother.

Total 140 sovereigns is a good reserve.

Don’t sell all at once.

Gold is not income generating. It doesn’t pay monthly returns.

But you can sell small part if urgent need comes.

You may also use gold to back a gold loan in emergencies.

Avoid gold loans unless it is urgent.

Focus on Skill-Building and Income Restart
At age 37, restarting career is still possible.

Look for skill courses in your interest area.

Use free or low-cost online resources.

Try part-time, freelance or remote work.

Even Rs. 10,000 per month extra income will help.

Income brings dignity and removes financial pressure.

Don’t Fall for Wrong Investment Advice
Don’t invest in index funds.

Index funds copy market. They don’t try to beat it.

Index funds also fall badly during crashes.

Actively managed funds can reduce downside.

Skilled fund managers manage risk and timing.

Index funds lack flexibility and human judgment.

Importance of Investing with Certified Financial Planner
Always consult a CFP with mutual fund license.

They check your risk, goals, income and needs.

They help in asset allocation and fund selection.

They guide switching and tax efficiency.

Investing alone without skill can harm your savings.

Tax Implications to Keep in Mind
Mutual fund capital gains above Rs. 1.25 lakhs are taxed at 12.5%.

If you redeem within 1 year, tax is 20%.

For debt mutual funds, tax depends on your slab.

Annuity income is fully taxable as per slab.

SWP is more tax-efficient than annuity.

Avoid These Financial Mistakes
Don’t invest again in insurance for returns.

Don’t buy more gold. You already have enough.

Don’t chase returns without understanding risk.

Don’t keep large money in savings account.

Don’t buy shares on tips or news.

Don’t invest lump sum in equity. Use monthly mode.

Plan for Long-Term Life Security
Your mutual fund portfolio can be your future pension.

Keep 30% in equity, 50% in hybrid, 20% in liquid funds.

Review this yearly with a certified professional.

Take Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 monthly from this plan.

You will not outlive your money if you withdraw wisely.

Finally
You are in a better position than many others.

You have no major debts. You have investments.

You are thoughtful about your future. That’s a good start.

Focus now on preserving wealth and generating monthly income.

Make small, smart changes.

Rebuild your life step by step.

Mutual funds can give you both growth and regular cash flow.

Avoid annuities, index funds, and investment-linked insurance.

Use gold only as a backup.

Build a long-term, peaceful financial life with a clear plan.

Take every decision with guidance from certified experts only.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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