
I am 53 yrs old central government retired with in-hand pension of 57000 p.m. out of which I put 19k yearly for son's (23 year old) into investment like LIC and ULIP icici pru signature (2.5 lakh) for 5 year paying term with 20 years maturity period with swp @9% per annum after 10th year. I have not taken any type of loan. I have also invested in mutual funds lump sum in July 2024 growth fund like tata business cycle fund 3.7 lakh, kotak business cycle fund (1.9 lakh), nippon flexi cap fund 65k, kotak multi asset allocation fund 5 lakh, Bajaj Finserv flexi cap fund 5 lakh, Bajaj Finserv multi cap fund 65k, motilal oswal multi cap fund 15k, bank of india multi cap fund 15k, nippon multi asset active fof 45k, HDFC multi asset active fof 42k, in various bank i have deposited around 75 lakh as fd, 2 PPf a/c invested 40k every year each ppf account since 2023. I have already taken health insurance 8 lakh cover from 2021 and also have government health card cashless for life time. My son (23 year doing bba) and daughter (20 year doing Bpharma 5th semester) is still studying and unmarried. 2 years still remain in graduation. For two year around 6 lakh would be payable as a fees for both and in marriage 50 lakh would be expenses within 4-5 year for childrens marriage. My monthly income is 63 k however expenses is 71k. I am resending in my own parental house and also have a 1bhk flat and getting rent 6k per month. Can we generate 50-70k per month income within 10-12 years through investment? Please tell me if I need to rethink my investments. If yes then what changes should I make as I need to save more so that more investment can be made for my future.
Ans: – You have managed finances carefully after retirement.
– Pension and rent cover part of your expenses.
– No loans at this stage gives relief.
– Health cover and government card add strong security.
– Supporting children’s studies shows responsibility.
– Planning ahead for their marriages is thoughtful.
» Present income and expense position
– Your pension is Rs.57,000 per month.
– Rental adds Rs.6,000 monthly.
– Total income becomes Rs.63,000 monthly.
– Your expenses are Rs.71,000 monthly.
– Presently, there is a small shortfall.
– This shortfall must be addressed soon.
» Current investments overview
– You have invested Rs.17 lakh in mutual funds.
– Large part is in thematic, multi-cap, and flexi-cap funds.
– Around Rs.75 lakh is in bank fixed deposits.
– PPF contributions add long-term safety.
– LIC and ULIP plans are also included.
– You hold diversified mix but not fully efficient.
» Issues with LIC and ULIP plans
– LIC and ULIPs combine insurance with investment.
– Returns from such policies are often very low.
– Long lock-in reduces flexibility.
– Costs inside ULIPs reduce growth potential.
– They are less suitable than pure mutual funds.
– Surrendering and shifting to mutual funds improves returns.
» Assessment of mutual fund allocation
– You have many funds with small amounts.
– Too many funds create overlap and confusion.
– Thematic and business cycle funds carry higher volatility.
– Multi-asset allocation is good for stability.
– Core allocation should be in diversified active funds.
– Flexi-cap and balanced equity are safer anchors.
» Disadvantages of index-based approach
– Index funds copy benchmarks without adjustment.
– They cannot exit underperforming sectors.
– In downturns, they fall fully with market.
– Active funds have flexibility to reduce risks.
– Skilled managers give better protection.
– Long-term returns are healthier with active strategies.
» Over-reliance on bank fixed deposits
– Rs.75 lakh in FDs is very high.
– FD interest is fully taxable.
– Inflation reduces real value of returns.
– For long-term income, FD is inefficient.
– Part of FD should shift into equity and hybrid funds.
– Balanced mix helps beat inflation while keeping safety.
» Income generation goal of Rs.50,000–70,000
– You want income growth within 10–12 years.
– Inflation will raise expenses further by then.
– Pure FD cannot support such rising income.
– Mutual funds can create sustainable growth.
– SWP from equity and hybrid funds gives steady flow.
– Professional planning ensures this income is stable.
» Children’s education and marriage needs
– Rs.6 lakh fees needed in two years.
– Keep this in liquid funds or FDs for safety.
– Do not take risk for short-term goals.
– Marriage expenses of Rs.50 lakh in 4–5 years need planning.
– Systematic withdrawals from balanced funds can help.
– Keep dedicated allocation for these goals separate.
» Insurance and protection
– Health insurance cover of Rs.8 lakh is good.
– Government health card adds strong backup.
– Ensure children also have health cover.
– Term insurance may not be needed now.
– Focus more on investment planning.
» Importance of cash flow management
– Present shortfall of Rs.8,000 per month must be covered.
– Can use small FD interest for now.
– Reduce non-essential spending where possible.
– Cash flow balance is first priority.
– Avoid dipping into long-term funds for daily use.
» Tax efficiency in investments
– Equity fund long-term gains above Rs.1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%.
– Short-term gains taxed at 20%.
– FD interest is taxed at full slab rate.
– This reduces real benefit from FDs.
– Equity-hybrid mix provides better tax advantage.
– Planned withdrawals improve net income.
» Need for simplification
– You hold many small investments across funds.
– Simplification gives better tracking.
– Focus on 4–5 good diversified funds.
– Multi-cap, flexi-cap, and hybrid can form the base.
– Remove duplication to reduce confusion.
– Regular review keeps allocation aligned.
» Why professional support matters
– Your needs cover retirement, children, and marriages.
– Balancing all these alone is difficult.
– Certified Financial Planner gives structured approach.
– Mistakes in fund choice or redemption can be costly.
– Professional monitoring improves confidence.
– Safer path for long-term income stability.
» Behavioural discipline during investing
– Avoid chasing high returns aggressively.
– Too much focus on thematic funds increases stress.
– Long-term steady growth is better than quick gains.
– Patience is essential for compounding.
– Discipline ensures your plan works smoothly.
» Building sustainable income after 10 years
– Shift part of FD into equity-hybrid mix gradually.
– Allow them to compound for 10–12 years.
– At retirement stage, set up SWP.
– Monthly income can come from hybrid equity funds.
– Core corpus remains invested for continued growth.
– This supports Rs.50,000–70,000 monthly income sustainably.
» Succession and legacy planning
– Children are still young and dependent.
– Keep nominations updated for all accounts.
– Draft a simple Will for clarity.
– Inform family about all investments.
– Ensure smooth transfer of wealth later.
– This protects your family from future disputes.
» Finally
– You are already disciplined with no loans and good savings.
– Present investments need restructuring for efficiency.
– LIC and ULIPs should be surrendered and shifted to mutual funds.
– Reduce FD portion, increase equity-hybrid allocation.
– Simplify mutual funds into limited diversified options.
– Keep short-term money safe for education and marriage.
– Plan for SWP to create stable income in future.
– Professional guidance ensures goal alignment and tax efficiency.
– With these steps, Rs.50,000–70,000 monthly income is possible.
– You are on the right path, just fine-tune for better results.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment