
I am 42 years old living in hyderabad. I have a son 15 years old and a daughter 8 years old. I have a mutual fund portfolio of Rs. 80lakhs, all in to equity mutual funds, flexi cap, multi cap, some mid cap and very little in small cap. I have another 40lacs in FDs for which I am getting interest amount of Rs. 25000 monthly and this 25000 is again invested in to equity mutual funds. Apart from these I have 4 lands which will account to 1.3cr roughly.I have another 55lacs invested with one of my friend which fetches me roughly 10lacs a year as profit. I have no loans left and have a monthly expenses of around 1lac including kids education. Total money available with me is 80lacs in mutual funds + 40lacs FDs + 1.3cr in lands + 55lacs investment in friends real estate company. Health insurance of 40lacs as of now and 1cr term insurance. Please suggest me how do I retire in next 4 to 5 years with sufficient corpus. How much corpus I need for the same. I am currently working and getting about 1lac per month. I also own my house for which home loan is over and no other commitments. I am willing to dispose my 4 lands and reinvest them in to mutual funds. Please suggest me a suitable plan for retirement based on my current situation
Ans: You’ve already taken great steps.
Let’s now create a 360-degree retirement plan. We’ll focus on capital needs, cash flow, and the best structure to meet your goals.
You’re 42 now, and want to retire by 46 or 47. You spend Rs 1 lakh monthly. That means you need a strong passive income from your investments to live comfortably.
Let’s assess everything carefully.
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?????Understanding Your Current Financial Assets
You already built a strong base. Let’s review the asset distribution.
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Mutual Funds: Rs 80 lakhs, all in equity-oriented funds
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Fixed Deposits: Rs 40 lakhs, giving Rs 25,000 monthly interest
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Land: Rs 1.3 crore in 4 plots, planned for liquidation
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Investment with Friend: Rs 55 lakhs, earning Rs 10 lakhs per year
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House: Self-owned, no loan pending
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Monthly Income: Rs 1 lakh from job, planning to stop in 4-5 years
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Monthly Expenses: Rs 1 lakh (including education costs)
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Insurance: Rs 1 crore term insurance + Rs 40 lakhs health cover
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Other: Rs 25,000 FD interest is reinvested into equity MFs
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This is a solid financial standing.
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???? Estimating Your Retirement Corpus Need
You want to retire by 46 or 47.
Let us work towards your long-term goal of peace and financial independence.
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Your family size is three. Kids’ expenses will reduce later.
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Inflation will raise your current Rs 1 lakh expense over time.
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After 5 years, you may need Rs 1.3 to 1.5 lakh monthly to maintain lifestyle.
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For 35+ years post-retirement, you need a minimum of Rs 4 to 4.5 crore.
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But to be fully safe, aim for a retirement corpus of Rs 5 crore.
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This will cover post-retirement lifestyle, kids’ support, and emergency care.
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???? Smart Move: Plan to Liquidate Land
This is a very wise thought.
Holding land gives no regular income.
Maintenance, legal issues, and liquidity risks are also high.
Prices may grow slowly or stay stagnant for years.
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Better to exit and invest in mutual funds.
This ensures liquidity, growth, diversification, and simplicity.
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Sell all four lands and plan staggered reinvestment.
Use mutual funds with different risk levels and categories.
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???? Asset Allocation Strategy For Your Retirement
At 42, equity exposure is still ideal.
But nearing retirement, you must protect capital too.
Hence, a proper mix of equity and debt is vital.
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Proposed asset mix (post land sale):
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55% equity mutual funds
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30% debt mutual funds or safe debt instruments
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15% hybrid funds for smoother risk-adjusted returns
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This mix will help grow wealth, reduce risk, and give flexibility.
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???? Monthly SIP From FD Interest is a Good Habit
Continue investing Rs 25,000 monthly into mutual funds.
You already made it a habit. That’s excellent.
It helps in rupee cost averaging and long-term growth.
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But make sure you invest in actively managed funds.
Avoid index funds or ETFs for retirement planning.
They are too rigid and give average results.
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Actively managed funds adapt to market cycles.
They protect downside and beat average returns.
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Also avoid direct mutual funds.
They may look cheaper but lack guidance and monitoring.
A regular plan via a certified MFD with CFP support is safer.
They give timely rebalancing, switch advice, and tax help.
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???? Your Investment With Friend: Keep Close Watch
This investment brings Rs 10 lakhs per year.
That’s nearly 18% return which is quite high.
But this is an informal, high-risk investment.
You must track it regularly and ensure safety.
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Ideally, limit such exposure to 10-15% of your wealth.
You can withdraw partially over time and shift to mutual funds.
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Capital safety is more important than high returns.
If the business fails, you may lose both capital and income.
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???? Kids’ Education: Future Cash Outflow Planning
Your son is 15, daughter is 8.
You may need around Rs 40–50 lakhs for higher education.
So, don’t allocate all your money for retirement.
Keep separate goal buckets for their college fund.
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From current mutual funds, set aside Rs 20–25 lakhs per child.
Invest in balanced advantage funds or multi cap funds.
They give growth and reduce volatility.
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Don’t disturb this money for any other goal.
Let it grow till education expenses arrive.
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???? Health Insurance: Reasonable, but Review Annually
You have Rs 40 lakh cover now.
That is good, but medical inflation is rising.
Post-retirement, you can’t afford sudden expenses.
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So plan to top-up the cover every 2–3 years.
Opt for super top-up plans, not new policies.
They cost less and give good protection.
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If parents are dependent, cover them too.
Any unplanned medical event can harm retirement plans.
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???? Income Plan After Retirement
You want to retire at 46–47.
That means income must come from investments.
Let us build income streams like this:
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Use SWP from debt mutual funds for monthly needs
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Keep emergency funds for 18 months’ expenses in liquid funds
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Use hybrid funds for stability and limited equity
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Avoid FDs after retirement – they give lower returns
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Equity funds should continue but reduce exposure gradually
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Use partial withdrawals only when needed, not regularly
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This will make sure your money lasts 30+ years post-retirement.
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???? Tax Efficiency Matters in Mutual Fund Withdrawals
New tax rules must be kept in mind.
For equity funds:
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LTCG above Rs 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%
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STCG taxed at 20%
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For debt funds:
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Both LTCG and STCG taxed as per slab
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So, structure redemptions smartly.
Split gains across financial years.
Prefer SWP over lump sum withdrawals.
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A certified financial planner can guide year-wise drawdown.
This helps you save lakhs in taxes.
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???? Rebalancing Every Year is Very Important
Once you retire, returns alone are not enough.
You must protect gains and manage risk.
So, rebalancing your portfolio every year is crucial.
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Shift part of gains from equity to debt each year.
This locks profits and gives stability.
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Avoid emotional decisions during market volatility.
Stick to the plan with discipline.
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???? Emergency Fund and Buffer Reserve
Before you retire, keep 18–24 months’ expenses aside.
Put this in ultra-short or liquid funds.
Do not use this fund unless urgent.
It gives peace of mind when markets are down.
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Also keep a separate buffer fund for car repair, travel, etc.
This avoids disturbing your main portfolio.
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???? Income Protection Through Term Insurance
You have Rs 1 crore term insurance.
This is sufficient for now.
But once your corpus is fully built, it may not be needed.
Till then, continue the premium without break.
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???? Safe Transition Plan Towards Retirement
You should plan your shift from job slowly.
Don’t stop working suddenly in 2029 or 2030.
Instead, reduce workload and shift to part-time if needed.
This protects your investments longer.
Even earning Rs 50,000 per month can delay withdrawals.
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It gives your money more time to grow.
And it builds confidence in your retirement life.
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???? Planning Beyond Retirement Corpus
Once you hit Rs 5 crore in liquid corpus, you’re ready.
But don’t stop there.
Plan for legacy and gifting to children.
Have nomination, will, and succession planning ready.
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Also prepare mentally for post-retirement purpose.
Money helps, but meaningful days matter too.
Stay active, contribute, mentor or start something new.
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???? What You Should Not Do
Don’t invest more in land or real estate
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Don’t go for direct mutual funds
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Don’t use index funds
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Don’t keep FDs post-retirement for long term
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Don’t chase ultra-high return options with capital risk
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Don’t delay rebalancing or financial reviews
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Don’t ignore inflation, taxes, and medical costs
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Finally, all your financial efforts show discipline and wisdom.
You are only 4–5 years away from a peaceful retirement.
Just focus on your investment behaviour and structure now.
Stick to a well-diversified mutual fund plan.
Stay engaged with a certified financial planner who rebalances yearly.
Avoid complex or illiquid assets.
You are fully on the right track.
Retirement is not just possible — it is near and achievable.
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Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
Asked on - Jun 05, 2025 | Answered on Jun 05, 2025
Hi,
Out of the above mentioned, I am liquidating some real estate which should fetch me 50lacs and also 50lacs of my fund which was invested with one of my friend in real estate and investing this 1Cr in to commercial real estate space. In commercial real estate, we take up a bare shell office space in prime areas and get the premises ready as per the tenant requirements by investing some amount and sub lease. My 1cr investment in this commercial space should fetch me around 3lacs per month rent for 9 years to come. Suggest me if this is a good investment option or not? And also I will be reinvesting this 3lac per month of rental income in to mutual funds for the next 9 years. Need your opinion and guidance on this.
Ans: Your proposed commercial real estate investment of Rs. 1 crore yielding Rs. 3 lakhs per month (i.e., 36% annual return) appears too high and unrealistic unless there’s significant risk, leverage, or capital appreciation assumptions involved. Such high rental yields in prime areas are extremely rare, especially on net investments.
Key Cautions:
Rental yield of 8–10% is considered excellent in commercial real estate. 36% is highly unusual.
Sub-leasing and tenant improvements come with execution, vacancy, legal, and maintenance risks.
Liquidity is poor. Exiting such investments mid-way can be difficult.
If your capital is tied up, it may compromise retirement cash flow flexibility.
Returns may drop if tenants vacate early, or cost overruns happen.
Guidance:
If this 3L/month rental is assured and documented contractually, it can be considered, but only after:
Proper legal vetting of lease agreements
Due diligence on tenant quality
Clarity on exit options after 9 years
Not more than 20–25% of your portfolio should be illiquid
Unless all these are solid, you’re better off using that Rs. 1 crore in hybrid + equity mutual funds, generating 10–12% CAGR with full liquidity, diversification, and lower risk.
Verdict: High caution advised. Revalidate all projections and legal safeguards. Don’t proceed unless cash flow and capital security are guaranteed.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
Asked on - Jun 05, 2025 | Answered on Jun 07, 2025
Got your point. My investment is going towards getting the premises ready as per the tenant office requirements and this investment will not come back. What I get is 3lacs per month for 9 years as we are taking these premises for 9 years lease from the owner. And we get tenants for 3 to 5 years lease agreements. Technically we might need 3 clients for next 9 years assuming each tenant gives 3 years lease agreements. There might be a rental loss every 3 years if we can't find tenants immediately. So my point is don't look at 3lacs rental as 36% yield. This 3lacs per month includes my capital return also. I know this is a business model I am trying. Just wanted your opinion and suggestions.
Ans: Since your Rs. 1 crore investment goes into tenant fit-outs and won’t be recovered, this is more of a cash-flow-focused business model than an asset-backed investment.
Here are key points to consider:
This is not passive income. It involves operational work like tenant sourcing, negotiation, and fit-out execution.
Risk of vacancy is real. You may face rental gaps between leases every 3 years.
Capital is at risk. Since the fit-out investment is non-recoverable, there is no asset protection.
Returns depend on occupancy. If tenants delay or leave early, monthly inflows will drop.
Diversification issue. Locking Rs. 1 crore into a single tenant-driven model creates concentration risk.
My opinion: If you're treating this purely as a business, and are ready for the effort and risks, proceed — but do not allocate more than 10–15% of your net worth into it. Maintain majority investments in liquid, diversified instruments like mutual funds to protect your long-term retirement safety.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment