Home > Money > Question
Need Expert Advice?Our Gurus Can Help
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 03, 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
Asked by Anonymous - Jul 03, 2025Hindi
Money

Hi I am 39 years old, I want to retire by 45. Current wealth allotted 1. 50L in Rec bonds 2. 26L in stocks 3. 16L in MF 4. 40L in bank 5. 15L in PPF 6. Have one flat with a value of 40L and gets a monthly 10-12k as rent. 7. One parental flat in my home town where I intent stay after retirement. Earning : I earn net salary of around 2.3L a month and invest 1.3L in MF via monthly SIP and 1.5L in PPF annually. My monthly expensive is around 60k. What is the corpus required to retire.

Ans: Your Present Profile
You are 39 years old now.
You want to retire by age 45.
That gives you just 6 years to prepare.
You are already saving and investing well.
This is a good habit and must be continued.
Your total wealth today is distributed across different assets.

You have:

Rs 50 lakh in recurring bonds

Rs 26 lakh in direct stocks

Rs 16 lakh in mutual funds

Rs 40 lakh in bank savings

Rs 15 lakh in PPF

Rs 40 lakh flat giving Rs 10,000–12,000 monthly rent

A parental house to stay in after retirement

Your monthly income is Rs 2.3 lakh.
You spend Rs 60,000 each month.
You invest Rs 1.3 lakh monthly in mutual funds.
You also invest Rs 1.5 lakh every year in PPF.

Your goal is to stop working by 45.
You want financial freedom and stress-free life.
Let us assess your position and next steps.

Income Needed After Retirement
Your current spending is Rs 60,000 per month.
You also earn Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per month rent.
You plan to live in the parental house.
That reduces your housing cost to zero.

So future expenses may come down slightly.
Let us still plan for Rs 60,000 monthly expense.
That gives you safety and inflation cushion.
You need Rs 7.2 lakh per year to maintain lifestyle.

Out of that, rent gives Rs 1.2 to Rs 1.5 lakh annually.
Balance of around Rs 6 lakh must come from your savings.

To earn Rs 6 lakh yearly at 4% withdrawal rate,
You need at least Rs 1.5 crore as corpus.
This assumes conservative, inflation-beating growth.

But remember, retiring at 45 is early.
Your money has to last 40 to 45 years.
That’s a long time for any portfolio.
So you need growth along with safety.

Your Existing Assets: An Analysis
Let’s review your assets one by one.

1. Recurring Bonds (Rs 50 lakh)
These give safety, but returns are low.
They cannot beat inflation over long periods.
Over time, real value may fall.

2. Direct Stocks (Rs 26 lakh)
These are good for long-term growth.
But they can be volatile in short term.
Without review, they can also underperform.
Direct stock picking carries higher risk.
It is not recommended to fully depend on stocks.
Better to blend with professionally managed equity funds.

3. Mutual Funds (Rs 16 lakh existing + Rs 1.3 lakh SIP)
This is a good move.
Mutual funds are managed by professionals.
They balance risk and reward better.
Actively managed funds outperform index funds.
With CFP support, regular plans give better long-term discipline.
Avoid direct funds as they lack advisory help.

4. Bank Savings (Rs 40 lakh)
Very safe, but earns poor returns.
Too much lying idle in bank is inefficient.
This amount can be partly moved to better options.

5. PPF (Rs 15 lakh)
Good for safe and tax-free long-term growth.
But it is locked-in.
You cannot use it in early retirement.
It can help after age 60.

6. Flat Worth Rs 40 lakh Giving Rent
Gives Rs 10,000–12,000 rent.
That gives you regular passive income.
Make sure property is well-maintained and never vacant.

7. Parental Flat for Stay
This reduces your biggest cost after retirement.
Very helpful asset for peaceful living.

Where You Stand
Your total net worth is nearly Rs 190–200 lakh.
That includes liquid, semi-liquid, and illiquid assets.

You already have:

Liquidity for emergency

Regular monthly SIP for future

Rental income for stability

Zero EMI or loan burden

A house to live in post-retirement

You are in a strong position.
But now, you must convert these into a retirement-ready format.

Structuring Your Retirement Portfolio
A clear 3-layered structure is needed.
This allows safety, income, and growth—all in balance.

Layer 1 – Immediate Safety (0 to 2 years post-retirement)
Keep Rs 15–20 lakh in high-quality liquid funds

Or short-term fixed deposits for 6–24 months

This money will help for monthly needs

Should be easily accessible

No risk to capital

Use this for the first 2 years of your retirement.
You won’t worry about market ups and downs.

Layer 2 – Income Generation (2 to 10 years)
Allocate Rs 40–50 lakh to hybrid mutual funds

These mix equity and debt smartly

Can give monthly income via Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP)

Use regular plans with MFD + CFP support

They manage market cycles better

From these funds, withdraw Rs 60,000 monthly.
Rental income adds another Rs 10,000.
So you get Rs 70,000 monthly in total.
More than your current need.

Layer 3 – Long-Term Growth (Beyond 10 years)
Keep Rs 30–40 lakh in diversified equity mutual funds

Let these grow for next 10–15 years

You don’t touch this money now

This becomes your retirement pension later

Reinvest SIPs here to build large corpus

If your Rs 1.3 lakh SIP continues for 6 years,
You will build a good retirement fund.
This will support you after age 60.

Rebalancing Your Current Assets
You hold excess money in bank and bonds.
That is safe, but not enough for early retirement.
Returns are not beating inflation.
You can consider moving Rs 20–30 lakh slowly to hybrid or equity funds.

This must be done over 12 to 18 months.
Avoid investing lump sum.
Use STP (Systematic Transfer Plan).
This reduces risk of market volatility.
Build your growth fund carefully.

Monthly Income Plan
Once you retire, start monthly income through:

SWP from hybrid mutual funds

Rental income from your flat

Emergency fund for backup needs

Don’t sell equity holdings early.
They should be kept for later years.

Reinvest rental income during working years.
That builds a buffer for retirement.

Tax Planning During Retirement
Mutual fund withdrawals are tax-efficient.
Long-term capital gain from equity funds above Rs 1.25 lakh is taxed at 12.5%.
Short-term gains are taxed at 20%.

Debt mutual funds are taxed as per your tax slab.
So use equity-oriented hybrid funds for monthly withdrawal.
They offer better taxation and returns.

PPF maturity is tax-free.
Plan to use it in later retirement phase.

Insurance and Emergency Planning
Get a good health insurance policy for self and spouse

At least Rs 10 lakh cover is needed now

Don’t depend only on company-provided insurance

After retirement, you will need own health policy

Also keep Rs 10 lakh in liquid fund for emergencies

Don’t mix insurance with investment

No ULIP or endowment policies needed

If you have term insurance, keep it till age 60.
If not, take one now for Rs 1–2 crore.
It’s cheap and useful till you reach financial freedom.

Annual Review and Adjustments
Review portfolio every year with a Certified Financial Planner

Adjust SWP amount based on inflation

Rebalance asset allocation when equity goes too high or low

Don’t make sudden changes due to market news

Retirement needs stable, disciplined investing

Do not try to time the market.
Follow a fixed plan for 30–40 years.
That brings long-term peace of mind.

Avoid These Common Mistakes
Don’t hold too much in bank or FD

Don’t depend only on stocks or direct equity

Don’t go for index funds, they lack fund manager advantage

Avoid direct funds, they don’t offer expert advice

Regular plans via MFD and CFP give better behaviour management

Don’t withdraw more than 4% of corpus per year

Don’t invest in real estate for rental—already one is enough

Don’t fall for high-return, risky products

Finally
You are on the right path.
Your savings, habits, and discipline are strong.
With proper reallocation, you can retire by 45.
Structure your money into 3 buckets—safety, income, and growth.
Shift from idle assets to well-performing funds.
Use monthly SWP for income.
Continue SIPs for growth.
Maintain emergency funds and insurance.
Review every year and stay consistent.
You don’t need luck—you just need structure and patience.

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.
Money

You may like to see similar questions and answers below

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 30, 2024

Listen
Money
Sir, Myself Rajesh, salaried person, 37 years old. having MF SIP Rs. 36500 per month, current invested amount is about Rs. 14,00,000/- + in Equity stocks- Rs.3,00,000/- have about Rs. 5,00,000/- in hand to invest either in stocks or MF . Have family of 3 people and Monthly expenses are around Rs.25k. Planning to take retirement in another 10 years, looking at the current investment can you help me identify approx. corpus required to invest and take retirement. Thank you.
Ans: Hello Rajesh! It's great to see your commitment to investing for your future, especially with retirement on the horizon. Let's dive into planning for your retirement corpus.

Given your current investments in MF SIPs and equity stocks, you're already on a solid path. However, to estimate the corpus needed for retirement, we need to consider factors such as your desired post-retirement lifestyle, inflation, and expected expenses.

With your monthly expenses at Rs. 25,000 and a family of three, projecting your future expenses accounting for inflation is essential. Additionally, factoring in potential healthcare costs and other unforeseen expenses is prudent.

As a Certified Financial Planner, I recommend conducting a comprehensive financial review to determine your retirement goals and risk tolerance. This will help in estimating the corpus required to sustain your lifestyle post-retirement comfortably.

With your additional Rs. 5,00,000 in hand, you have an opportunity to further diversify your investments. Whether you choose to invest in stocks or MFs, consider your risk appetite and the need for diversification to mitigate risks.

I suggest consulting with a financial advisor who can create a personalized retirement plan tailored to your specific circumstances and goals. By taking proactive steps now, you're setting yourself up for a financially secure retirement in 10 years. Keep up the good work, and remember, investing is a journey, so stay focused on your long-term objectives.

..Read more

Milind

Milind Vadjikar  | Answer  |Ask -

Insurance, Stocks, MF, PF Expert - Answered on Oct 16, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Oct 15, 2024Hindi
Listen
Money
Hi, we are a family of 3 from Mumbai, me and my wife are 40 years old and 10 years old daughter. Our monthly take home salary is 4.25 lac put together. And also get yearly bonus of around 15 lac. Hopefully a 10 percent increase in next financial year. We have following investments, assets and expenses: 1. around 60 lac in MF in the form of SIP with total monthly investment of 90k in funds like PPFAS (2 SIPs 10k each in flexi cap fund,one in my name and other in my daughters name), Axis (5 SIPs of me and my wifes put together total 50k in Mid cap, small cap and focused fund), Kotak flexi cap - SIP of 15k and 5k in UTI nifty 50 index fund. 2. PPF and Sukanya- would be around 70lac. Total 4 accounts with investment of 6 lac per annum. 3. We have recently purcahsed house worth 3.5cr with an emi of 1.55 lac per month(home loan for around 23 years). Used our PF for our own contribution here. Balance PF amount left around 12 lac. 4. Expenses- rent of 70k, which will be saved now as we moved to our house. Education and other loan emi of 70 k is going on, which will be paid off in december. And our monthly expenses would be around 1 lac. So, need to understand how much is required if we want to retire at 50 max and how to achieve the same?
Ans: Hello;

Firstly if you are the guardian for the PPF account in the name of your minor child then the yearly contribution to your own PPF account and the minor account of your child for which you are the guardian cannot exceed 1.5 L in a financial year cumulatively (75 K each max).

Keep this in mind to avoid refund without interest by the bank later.

The current monthly expenses of around 1 L will be 1.8 L after 10 years considering 6% inflation.

After getting rid of 70 K rent+ 70 K education loan EMI, I would recommend you to enhance monthly sip to 1.25 K per month. The bonus amount of 15 L also should go into MF investments to achieve retirement target in 10 years.

Any increase in income should have commensurate increase in monthly sip to ensure target fulfillment in 10 years.

The 12.5x3=37.5 K monthly investments in PPF and SSY should continue for kids higher education, marriage financial goals.

After 10 years your monthly sips+ lumpsum may reach a corpus of around 6 Cr. Also your existing MF corpus of 60 L may grow into a sum of around 2 Cr. So total corpus for retirement is 8 Cr. (A modest return of 13% is assumed from pure equity mutual fund schemes)

You should use 2 Cr + pf balance to pre close outstanding home loan. The balance 6 Cr corpus you may use to buy an immediate annuity from a life insurance company and you may expect monthly payment of 2.1 L(post tax).[ 6% annuity rate considered)

Hope you both have adequate term life insurance cover(upt 60 age) with suitable riders and adequate personal healthcare cover apart from any group health policy from the company.

Happy Investing!!

You may follow us on X at @mars_invest for updates.

*Investments in mutual funds are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme related documents carefully before investing.

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Nov 26, 2024

Money
Hi my name is Somani, I have completed 39 years and planning to retire in my career, below are my current financial situation. Saving account: 5 Lac FD: 15 Lac, all maturing in 2026 Mutual fund: 28 Lac (current value: 36 Lac, Large cap: 50%, Mid cap: 26%, Small cap: 22%, Other: 2%) Gold Bonds: 3.5 Lac (current value: 6.85 Lac) Equity share: 26 Lac (current value: 47 Lac) NPS: current value: 6 Lac EPFO: 12.25 Lac PPF: 7.67 Lac Term Plan: 1 Cr Pension Plan after 60: 30k approx monthly Health insurance: 13 Lac whole family My wife is working and gets around 70k in hand Having one daughter, age is 8 year and studying in 2nd class My father is retired and below are his financial situation Pension: 45k approx per month FD: 1 cr Equity Share/Mutual fund/ Gold bonds: 1 cr approx Property: 80 Lac approx current valuation Own House: 1.75 cr - 2 cr current valuation Rental income: 18k approx per month Please guide me on above data, how much corpus I should have to have a peaceful retirement considering my current monthly expense around 1.25 Lac per month.
Ans: You have a strong and diverse financial foundation. Let us analyse it comprehensively.

Liquid Assets
Savings account balance of Rs 5 lakh offers immediate liquidity.

Fixed deposits worth Rs 15 lakh maturing in 2026 ensure mid-term stability.

Investments
Mutual fund portfolio of Rs 36 lakh is well-diversified across large, mid, and small caps.

Gold bonds with a current value of Rs 6.85 lakh add stability and hedge against inflation.

Equity shares valued at Rs 47 lakh showcase significant growth.

National Pension System (NPS) holding of Rs 6 lakh offers retirement-oriented savings.

Retirement Savings
EPFO corpus of Rs 12.25 lakh and PPF balance of Rs 7.67 lakh ensure steady long-term growth.

Term plan coverage of Rs 1 crore secures your family's future.

Family Support
Your wife’s monthly income of Rs 70,000 provides stability.

Your father’s solid financial base and Rs 45,000 pension ensure reduced dependency.

Estimating Retirement Corpus
Retirement planning requires addressing future expenses, inflation, and longevity.

Monthly Expense Analysis
Your current expenses of Rs 1.25 lakh per month are significant.

Adjust for post-retirement expenses like reduced work-related costs but increased healthcare spending.

Corpus Needed
For a peaceful retirement, aim for a corpus that generates Rs 1.25 lakh monthly for at least 30 years.

Factor in inflation at 6-7% annually to maintain purchasing power.

A corpus of Rs 12-15 crore is recommended for financial independence.

Strategic Recommendations
Step 1: Optimising Current Assets
Avoid excessive reliance on savings accounts and fixed deposits due to lower returns.

Reinvest FD maturity proceeds into higher-yielding instruments like mutual funds.

Step 2: Enhancing Mutual Fund Investments
Increase mutual fund allocation to Rs 50 lakh in a staggered manner.

Focus on actively managed funds for better performance over passive options like index funds.

Diversify further across asset classes and maintain a balance between equity and debt.

Step 3: Consolidating Gold and Equity
Gold bonds and equity shares have grown well.

Retain gold bonds for stability but monitor equity shares for market risks.

Systematically transfer gains from volatile equity to stable debt funds or hybrid funds.

Step 4: Strengthening Retirement-Specific Savings
Increase contributions to NPS for additional tax benefits and retirement growth.

Continue regular contributions to PPF, which is risk-free and tax-efficient.

Maintain EPFO balance, and avoid withdrawing unless necessary.

Step 5: Creating a Balanced Corpus for Child’s Education
Your daughter is 8 years old, and higher education expenses will occur in 10-12 years.

Allocate Rs 25 lakh into child education-focused mutual funds or debt-oriented funds.

Start an SIP to build this fund systematically.

Step 6: Managing Health and Insurance
Your health insurance coverage of Rs 13 lakh is good. Ensure it includes critical illness coverage.

Consider top-up plans to cover any significant medical expenses in the future.

Review your term plan periodically to ensure adequate coverage.

Optimising Your Father’s Financial Portfolio
Active and Passive Income
Your father’s Rs 45,000 monthly pension is stable.

Rental income of Rs 18,000 adds a small but regular inflow.

Investment Portfolio Management
Consolidate his Rs 1 crore equity/mutual fund portfolio to reduce risks post-retirement.

Diversify between equity, debt, and fixed-income instruments for balance.

Monitor FD renewals to ensure competitive interest rates.

Property Considerations
His property portfolio offers a mix of rental and non-income-generating assets.

Avoid liquidating assets unless it becomes necessary to meet financial needs.

Tax-Efficient Strategies
Use ELSS mutual funds to save taxes under Section 80C while building wealth.

NPS contributions provide tax benefits under Section 80CCD(1B).

Plan mutual fund redemptions carefully to minimise long-term and short-term capital gains taxes.

Finally
A peaceful retirement requires balancing current and future needs.

Build a robust corpus through diversified investments.

Review your portfolio annually and make adjustments with the guidance of a certified financial planner.

Stay disciplined and prioritise long-term financial security over short-term gains.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 06, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 06, 2025Hindi
Money
Dear Sir/Ma'am, I need some guidance and advice for continuing my mutual fund investments. I am a 36 year old male, married, no kids yet and no debts/liabilities as such. I have couple of savings in PPF, NPS, Emergency funds and long term investing in direct stocks. I recently started below mentioned SIPs for long term to grow wealth. Request you to review the same and let me know if I should continue with the SIPs or need to rationalize. Kindly also advice on how to invest a lumpsum amount of around 6lacs. invesco small cap 2000 motilal oswal midcap 2700 parag parikh flexicap 3000 HDFC flexicap 3100 ICICI prudential largecap 3100 HDFC large and midcap 3100 HDFC gold etf FOF 2000 ICICI Pru equity and debt fund 3000 HDFC balanced advantage fund 3000 nippon india silver etf FOF 2000
Ans: You already built a solid foundation. Many investors delay planning. But you started early at 36. That gives you a strong advantage. You have no liabilities. You have long term thinking. You also have diversified savings like PPF, NPS, Emergency funds and direct stocks. That shows clarity and discipline. This approach builds wealth with less stress over time.

You also started systematic investments in equity funds. That is a positive step. Your selection covers multiple categories like large cap, mid cap, small cap, flexi cap, hybrid and precious metals. So the intent is right. You are trying to create a broad portfolio. That gives balance.

» Your Portfolio Composition Understanding
Your current SIP list includes:

Small cap

Mid cap

Flexi cap

Large cap

Large and mid cap

Hybrid category

Gold and Silver FoF

Equity and Debt allocation fund

Dynamic hybrid fund

This shows you are trying to cover many segments. But too many categories can create overlap. When there is overlap, you get confusion during review. It also makes portfolio discipline difficult. You may think you are diversified. But the holdings inside may repeat. That reduces efficiency.

Your portfolio now looks like:

Equity dominant

Hybrid for stability

Metals for hedge

So the broad direction is fine. But simplifying helps in long-term habit building.

» Fund Category Duplication
You hold:

Two flexi cap funds

One large and mid cap fund

One pure large cap fund

One mid cap fund

One small cap fund

Flexi cap funds already invest across large, mid, small. Then large and mid also overlaps. So the large cap exposure gets repeated. That may not add extra benefit. But it increases monitoring complexity.

So I suggest rationalising. Keep one fund per category in core. Keep satellite space for only high conviction.

» Core and Satellite Strategy
A structured portfolio follows core and satellite method.

Core portfolio should be:

Simple

Long term

Stable

Satellite portfolio can be:

High growth

Concentrated

Based on your thinking level, you can structure like this:

Core funds:

One large cap

One flexi cap

One hybrid equity and debt fund

One balanced advantage type fund

Satellite funds:

One mid cap

One small cap

One metal allocation if needed

This division gives clarity. You can continue SIPs with review every year. No need to stop and restart often. That reduces behavioural mistakes.

» Your Current SIP List Review with Suggested Streamlining

You can consider continuing:

One flexi cap

One large cap

One mid cap

One small cap

One balanced advantage

One equity and debt hybrid

You may reconsider keeping both flexi caps and both gold silver funds. One of each category is enough. Because too many funds do not increase returns. It complicates tracking.

Precious metal funds should not be more than 5 to 7 percent in your portfolio. This is because metals are hedge assets. They do not create compounding like equity. They act as protection during cycles. So keep them small.

» How to Use the Rs 6 Lakh Lump Sum
You asked about lump sum investing. This is important. Lump sum should not go fully into equity at one time. Markets move in cycles. So use a staggered method. You can invest the lump sum through STP (Systematic Transfer Plan). You can keep the amount in a liquid fund and set STP toward your chosen growth funds over 6 to 12 months.

This reduces timing risk. It also creates discipline. So your Rs 6 lakh can be deployed gradually. You may use 50% towards core equity funds and 30% toward satellite growth category. The remaining 20% can go into hybrid category. This gives balance and comfort.

» Regular Funds Over Direct Funds
One important point many investors miss. Direct funds look cheaper. But they demand deep knowledge, discipline, and behaviour control. Most investors lose more through emotional selling and wrong timing than they save on expense ratio.

With regular funds through a Mutual Fund Distributor with Certified Financial Planner qualification, you get guidance, structure and correction. The advisory discipline protects you during market extremes. That is more valuable than a small saving in expense ratio.

A personalised planner also tracks portfolio drift, rebalancing need and category shifts. So regular fund investing gives long-term benefit and behaviour coaching.

» Actively Managed Funds over Index or ETF
Some investors choose index funds or ETF thinking they are simple and cheap. But they ignore drawbacks.

Index funds or ETF will not avoid weak companies in the index. They will invest whether the company grows or struggles. There is no fund manager decision making. So when markets are at peak, index funds continue aggressive exposure. In downturns also they fall fully. There is no cushion.

Actively managed funds work with research teams. They can avoid bad sectors. They can shift allocation based on market and economy. Over long term, this gives better alpha and stability. So continuing with actively managed funds creates better wealth compounding.

» SIP Continuation Strategy
Once the rationalisation is done, continue SIPs every month without interruption. Pause and restart behaviour damages compounding power. SIP works best when you go through all market cycles. You benefit more during corrections because cost averaging works.

So continue SIP amount. You can also review SIP increase every year based on income. Increasing SIP by 10 to 15 percent every year helps you reach large corpus faster.

» Asset Allocation Based Approach
One key point in wealth creation is having the right asset mix. Equity gives growth. Hybrid gives balance. Metals give hedge. Debt gives safety. Your asset allocation should stay aligned to your risk profile and time horizon.

Since you are young and have long term horizon, higher equity allocation is fine. But as time moves, rebalancing is important. Rebalancing protects gains and restores allocation.

So review your asset allocation every year or during major life events like child birth, home buying or retirement planning.

» Behaviour Management
Many portfolios fail not due to bad funds. They fail due to bad decisions. Selling during correction. Stopping SIP when market falls. Chasing past return performance. These mistakes reduce wealth.

Your discipline so far is good. Continue to stay patient during volatility. Equity rewards patience and time.

» Financial Goals Clarity
Since you have no children now, you can decide your long-term goals. Typical goals may include:

Retirement

Future child education

Dream lifestyle purchase

Health care reserves

When goals are clear, investment purpose becomes stronger. So you can map each fund category to goal horizon. Short-term goals should not use equity. Long-term goals should use equity with hybrid support.

» Role of Review and Monitoring
Review once in a year is enough. Frequent review can create anxiety. Annual review helps check:

Fund performance

Expense drift

Category relevance

Allocation balance

Then adjust only if needed. This progress helps you stay confident and aligned.

» Taxation Awareness
Equity mutual funds taxation rules are:

Short term (below one year holding) taxable at 20 percent

Long term (above one year holding) gains above Rs 1.25 lakh taxable at 12.5 percent

Debt mutual funds are taxed as per your income slab.

So always hold equity funds for long term. That reduces tax impact and gives better growth.

» SIP Increase Plan
You can create a simple plan to increase SIP over time. For example:

Increase SIP at every salary increment

Increase SIP during bonus time

Use rewards or extra income for investing

This habit accelerates wealth. So by the time you reach 45 to 50 years, your investments could reach a strong level.

» Insurance and Protection
Before investing large, ensure you have term insurance and health insurance. If not already done, it is important. Insurance protects wealth. Without insurance, even a small medical event can impact investment plan. So review this part also. Since you are married, cover both.

» Wealth Behaviour Mindset
You are already disciplined. Just keep these simple principles:

Invest without stopping

Review once a year

Avoid funds overlap

Follow asset allocation

Avoid reacting to media noise

This helps you reach long term milestones.

» Finally
You are on the right track. Only fine tuning and simplification is needed. Your discipline is visible. Your portfolio will grow well with structure, patience and periodic review. Use the Rs 6 lakh with STP approach. And continue SIP with rationalised categories.

With time and consistency, wealth creation becomes effortless and peaceful. You just need to stay committed and avoid overthinking during market movements.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

...Read more

Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1837 Answers  |Ask -

Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Dec 05, 2025

Career
Dear Sir, I did my BTech from a normal engineering college not very famous. The teaching was not great and hence i did not study well. I tried my best to learn coding including all the technologies like html,css,javascript,react js,dba,php because i wanted to be a web developer But nothing seem to enter my head except html and css. I don't understand a language which has more complexities. Is it because of my lack of experience or not devoting enough time. I am not sure. I did many courses online and tried to do diplomas also abroad which i passed somehow. I recently joined android development course because i like apps but the teaching was so fast that i could not memorize anything. There was no time to even take notes down. During the course i did assignments and understood the code because i have to pass but after the course is over i tend to forget everything. I attempted a lot of interviews. Some of them i even got but could not perform well so they let me go. Now due to the AI booming and job markets in a bad shape i am re-thinking whether to keep studying or whether its just time waste. Since 3 years i am doing labour type of jobs which does not yield anything to me for survival and to pay my expenses. I have the quest to learn everything but as soon as i sit in front of the computer i listen to music or read something else. What should i do to stay more focused? What should i do to make myself believe confident. Is there still scope of IT in todays world? Kindly advise.
Ans: Your story does not show failure.
It shows persistence, effort, and desire to improve.

Most people give up.
You didn’t.
That means you will succeed — but with the right method, not the old one.

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

Close  

You haven't logged in yet. To ask a question, Please Log in below
Login

A verification OTP will be sent to this
Mobile Number / Email

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to

Resend OTP in120seconds

Dear User, You have not registered yet. Please register by filling the fields below to get expert answers from our Gurus
Sign up

By signing up, you agree to our
Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

Already have an account?

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to Mobile

Resend OTP in120seconds

x