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Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6986 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 19, 2024

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 - Apr 24, 2024Hindi
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I am 55 years old and I will retire at the age of 62 years. I am under NPS and so far my NPS corpse is Rs. 1crore and I have MF of Rs. 25lakhs. I have been doing SIP of Rs. 20000/- for the last 10 years. Currently my sip amount is Rs.45000/- per month. My NPS tire 1 contribution is Rs. 67000/- per month. Are these enough for my retirement purpse ?

Ans: Firstly, let me commend you on your diligent efforts towards planning for your retirement. It's essential to evaluate your current financial position and assess if your savings and investments align with your retirement goals.

Evaluating Existing Retirement Corpus
NPS and Mutual Funds
Your NPS corpus of Rs. 1 crore and MF investments of Rs. 25 lakhs signify a significant portion of your retirement savings.
It's commendable that you've been consistently investing through SIPs over the past decade, demonstrating discipline and foresight.
Monthly Contributions
Your current SIP of Rs. 45,000 and NPS Tier 1 contribution of Rs. 67,000 per month reflect a substantial commitment towards retirement planning.
Regular contributions over an extended period can potentially lead to significant wealth accumulation over time.
Analyzing Retirement Adequacy
Consideration of Retirement Expenses
To determine if your savings and investments are sufficient for retirement, it's crucial to estimate your post-retirement expenses.
Consider factors such as living expenses, healthcare costs, inflation, and any additional financial commitments.
Retirement Income Sources
Apart from your NPS and MF investments, assess other potential sources of retirement income, such as pension benefits, annuities, rental income, or passive income streams.
Diversifying income sources can provide stability and resilience during retirement.
Conducting a Retirement Gap Analysis
Retirement Corpus Estimation
Estimate the corpus required to sustain your desired lifestyle and meet financial goals during retirement.
Consider factors like inflation, life expectancy, healthcare expenses, and any outstanding liabilities.
Assessing Shortfall or Surplus
Compare your estimated retirement corpus requirement with your existing savings and investments.
Identify any shortfall or surplus to determine if adjustments are necessary in your savings strategy.
Recommendations for Retirement Planning
Review and Adjust Strategy
Regularly review your retirement plan and make adjustments based on changing circumstances, financial goals, and market conditions.
Consider consulting with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) for personalized advice tailored to your specific needs and objectives.
Explore Additional Retirement Avenues
Explore opportunities to enhance your retirement savings, such as voluntary contributions to NPS, tax-saving investments, or retirement-oriented mutual funds.
Ensure a diversified portfolio mix aligned with your risk tolerance and investment horizon.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while your current savings and investments demonstrate a proactive approach towards retirement planning, it's essential to conduct a comprehensive analysis to ensure adequacy. Regular monitoring, prudent asset allocation, and strategic adjustments can help you achieve your retirement objectives with confidence.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
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.
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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6986 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 04, 2024

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I am a Grade-III state govt. servant covered under Tier-I NPS. The accumulated NPS amount of employee contribution and employer contribution is 14 lakh. I have also invested in Mutual Funds an amount of 10000 for the last 5 years. I am going to retire after 6 years. Are the investment of NPS and MF are sufficient for retirement fund.
Ans: Evaluating Your Current Retirement Portfolio
Your accumulated NPS amount of Rs. 14 lakh and consistent investment in mutual funds demonstrate disciplined financial planning. Let's assess if these investments will be sufficient for your retirement fund.

Understanding Your Retirement Goals
Retirement Corpus: To evaluate your retirement corpus, we need to understand your retirement goals. This includes your expected monthly expenses, lifestyle, and inflation.

Time Horizon: You have 6 years until retirement. This is a relatively short time frame for investment growth.

National Pension System (NPS)
Contribution and Growth: Your NPS has accumulated Rs. 14 lakh. NPS offers a mix of equity and debt investments, providing a balanced growth approach.

Tax Benefits: NPS contributions offer tax benefits, which is an added advantage. At retirement, you can withdraw up to 60% of the corpus tax-free, while 40% is mandatorily used for purchasing an annuity.

Mutual Fund Investments
Investment Pattern: Investing Rs. 10,000 monthly for the last 5 years shows a strong commitment. Mutual funds, especially equity funds, can offer higher returns over the long term.

Potential Growth: Assuming an average annual return of 12%, your mutual fund investments can grow significantly in the next 6 years. However, market volatility should be considered.

Assessing Sufficiency for Retirement
Projected Growth of NPS: Assuming an average annual return of 10%, your NPS corpus can grow considerably in the next 6 years. This growth will depend on the asset allocation within NPS.

Projected Growth of Mutual Funds: Your mutual fund investments will continue to grow. Consistent SIPs and market performance will influence the final corpus.

Expected Retirement Corpus:
Let's estimate the potential corpus at retirement:

NPS Corpus: Rs. 14 lakh growing at 10% annually.
Mutual Funds Corpus: Rs. 10,000 monthly SIP for 11 years growing at 12% annually.
Additional Considerations
Inflation: Consider inflation's impact on your retirement corpus. Inflation erodes the purchasing power of money over time.

Lifestyle and Expenses: Estimate your monthly expenses post-retirement. Include medical costs, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

Contingency Fund: Maintain a contingency fund for emergencies. This prevents dipping into retirement savings for unexpected expenses.

Recommendations for Enhancing Retirement Corpus
Increase SIP Amount: Gradually increase your SIP amount if possible. This leverages the power of compounding and accelerates growth.

Diversify Investments: Ensure your mutual fund portfolio is well-diversified across different sectors and market caps. This reduces risk and enhances returns.

Review and Rebalance: Regularly review and rebalance your portfolio. This ensures alignment with your risk profile and financial goals.

Consult a Certified Financial Planner: Personalized advice from a certified financial planner can help optimize your investment strategy. They can tailor recommendations based on your specific needs and goals.

Conclusion
Your current investments in NPS and mutual funds show good financial discipline. With some adjustments and increased contributions, you can work towards achieving a sufficient retirement corpus.

Consider inflation, lifestyle needs, and maintain a diversified portfolio. Regularly review and adjust your investments to stay on track.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6986 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 16, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 09, 2024Hindi
Money
I am 44 years old. I have 34 lac in MF, 4 Lac in NPS, 1.06 Cr in PPF, 50 Lac in PF, 1 Lac in stock and 22 Lac in post office Fixed deposit.Monthly income 1.2 Lac. I am investing 26500 Monthly in MF SIP and 15000 towards post office RD, also in VPF 21000 and PPF yearly 450000 (In 3 account). My monthly expense is 60000 and planing to retire at 50. I have school going child studing in class 7. Is my investment is sufficient for retirement planning.
Ans: Your current financial situation shows a strong foundation, and your disciplined approach to saving and investing is commendable. Let’s dive deeper into your investments and see if they align with your retirement goals at age 50, while ensuring your child's education and other expenses are covered.

Evaluating Your Current Financial Status
You have a diversified portfolio, which is excellent for mitigating risks and optimizing returns. Here’s a summary:

Mutual Funds (MF): Rs 34 lakhs
National Pension System (NPS): Rs 4 lakhs
Public Provident Fund (PPF): Rs 1.06 crores
Provident Fund (PF): Rs 50 lakhs
Stocks: Rs 1 lakh
Post Office Fixed Deposit (FD): Rs 22 lakhs
Monthly Income: Rs 1.2 lakhs
Monthly Investments: Rs 26,500 in MF SIPs, Rs 15,000 in post office RD, Rs 21,000 in VPF, and Rs 4,50,000 annually in PPF
Monthly Expenses: Rs 60,000
Financial Goals and Challenges
Retirement at Age 50: Ensuring a comfortable lifestyle post-retirement.
Child’s Education: Saving for higher education expenses.
Emergency Fund: Maintaining liquidity for unforeseen circumstances.
Health Insurance: Securing health coverage to avoid high medical costs.
Assessing Retirement Corpus
Calculating Required Corpus
To retire comfortably at 50, you need to ensure that your investments can sustain your lifestyle. With your current expenses at Rs 60,000 per month, let’s consider inflation and increased medical costs as you age.

Inflation Impact
Inflation will erode the value of your savings over time. Assuming an average inflation rate of 6%, your current monthly expenses of Rs 60,000 could significantly increase by the time you retire. Planning for a higher monthly expense post-retirement, say Rs 1 lakh, will be prudent.

Estimating Corpus
For a retirement period of 30 years (assuming a lifespan of 80 years), a rough estimate suggests you might need a corpus that can generate Rs 1 lakh per month. Considering inflation and a conservative withdrawal rate, a corpus of around Rs 6-7 crores would be required.

Strengthening Your Investment Portfolio
Mutual Funds
Your current SIP of Rs 26,500 in mutual funds is a strong commitment.

Actively Managed Funds: Actively managed funds can outperform index funds, especially in emerging markets like India. They offer potential for higher returns due to professional fund management.

National Pension System (NPS)
NPS provides a good mix of equity and debt, which is beneficial for long-term growth.

Continue Contributions: Consider increasing your contributions to NPS if possible. NPS also provides additional tax benefits under Section 80CCD(1B).

Public Provident Fund (PPF)
PPF is a safe and reliable investment.

Regular Contributions: Your substantial investment in PPF is good, considering its tax-free interest. Continue maxing out your contributions annually.

Provident Fund (PF) and Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF)
Your PF and VPF contributions ensure steady and safe growth.

Maximize Contributions: Continue maximizing VPF contributions, as they offer higher interest rates and tax benefits.

Stocks
While your current investment in stocks is minimal, direct equity investments can offer significant returns.

Consider Equity Mutual Funds: If you’re not comfortable picking individual stocks, consider equity mutual funds for diversified exposure.

Fixed Deposits and Recurring Deposits
Your investments in post office FDs and RDs provide safety but offer lower returns.

Shift to Higher Returns: Gradually shift a portion of these funds to higher-return investments like debt mutual funds or balanced funds for better growth potential.

Planning for Child’s Education
Education Corpus
Your child is in class 7, and you have about 5-6 years before college expenses start. Higher education costs can be substantial, so planning early is crucial.

Education Funds: Consider dedicated education funds or balanced funds, which provide a mix of safety and growth.

Systematic Investment Plan (SIP): Continue or increase SIPs in diversified mutual funds earmarked for education.

Health Insurance
Health insurance is crucial to protect your savings from medical emergencies.

Family Floater Plan: Ensure you have a comprehensive family floater plan that covers all members adequately.

Critical Illness Cover: Consider adding a critical illness cover to safeguard against severe health issues.

Emergency Fund
An emergency fund acts as a financial buffer for unforeseen expenses.

3-6 Months Expenses: Ensure you have 3-6 months’ worth of expenses set aside in a liquid fund or savings account for easy access.

Tax Planning
Effective tax planning helps maximize your savings.

Section 80C
Maximize 80C Benefits: Your investments in PPF, PF, and life insurance already provide tax benefits under Section 80C. Ensure you’re maximizing these benefits.

Section 80CCD
NPS Contributions: Contributions to NPS provide additional tax benefits under Section 80CCD(1B).

Diversification and Rebalancing
A diversified portfolio minimizes risks and maximizes returns.

Asset Allocation
Diversify Across Asset Classes: Allocate your investments across equities, debt, and fixed income instruments. Consider a mix of 60% equity and 40% debt for balanced growth.

Regular Rebalancing
Periodic Review: Review your portfolio periodically and rebalance to maintain your desired asset allocation. This ensures your portfolio remains aligned with your financial goals.

Professional Guidance
Consulting a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) can provide personalized advice and help you stay on track.

CFP Benefits
Expert Guidance: A CFP provides expert advice on investment strategies, tax planning, and retirement planning.

Regular Reviews: Regular reviews with a CFP can help you adjust your strategy as needed.

Final Insights
Your disciplined approach to saving and investing has put you on a solid financial footing. With your current investments and income, you’re well-positioned to achieve your retirement goals.

However, ensuring your corpus grows sufficiently to sustain your post-retirement life is crucial. By optimizing your investment strategy, managing risks, and planning for inflation, you can build a secure future.

Consider increasing your contributions to equity mutual funds and NPS for better growth. Ensure you have adequate health insurance and maintain a robust emergency fund.

With careful planning and regular reviews, you can achieve your goal of retiring at 50 comfortably and ensure your child's education expenses are covered. Keep up the good work and stay committed to your financial goals.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6986 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Sep 02, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Aug 29, 2024Hindi
Money
Hello...I m holding following 3 funds and doing an sip of 60k per month (20k each in below funds) Parag Parikh flexi cap fund (g) SBI bluechip fund (g) HDFC large and midcap fund (g) Currently the fund value of these are 16L Considering my age is 40 right now and I need to build 1 cr of education funds by 2034 for my 2 kids and the have to plan for retirement, is my current SIP sufficient I also contribute in NPS 14 K per month and EPF 12 K per month and in PPF 10 K per month. Also I am having a icici smart kid policy (20!year) for my kid with 48K per year premium, which I am continuing since 2016
Ans: Your investment strategy is off to a great start. You're investing Rs. 60,000 per month across three funds. Additionally, you contribute Rs. 14,000 monthly to NPS, Rs. 12,000 to EPF, and Rs. 10,000 to PPF. These contributions reflect a disciplined approach to long-term wealth creation.

However, the goal of building a Rs. 1 crore education fund by 2034 for your children is ambitious. With the right strategy, it is achievable.

Reviewing Your Mutual Fund Investments
Fund Selection: Your current SIPs in Parag Parikh Flexi Cap, SBI Bluechip, and HDFC Large and Midcap are diversified across different market caps. This is a solid strategy, as it balances risk and return.

Flexi Cap Fund: This type of fund gives the fund manager the flexibility to switch between market caps based on market conditions. This can be advantageous, but the performance is highly dependent on the manager's skill.

Bluechip Fund: Large-cap funds like SBI Bluechip are relatively safer. They invest in established companies with a stable track record. This provides stability but limits the potential for very high returns.

Large and Midcap Fund: The HDFC Large and Midcap Fund balances the stability of large caps with the growth potential of mid-caps. This adds a layer of moderate risk to your portfolio.

Considering your goal, a mix of growth-oriented funds (like mid-cap and flexi-cap) and stability-focused funds (like large-cap) is good. However, given the education goal for your kids, a more aggressive strategy in the early years could potentially yield higher returns.

Contribution to NPS, EPF, and PPF
NPS: The National Pension System (NPS) is a good option for retirement planning. Your Rs. 14,000 monthly contribution is tax-efficient and offers decent returns. However, NPS has a lock-in until retirement, which may limit liquidity.

EPF: Your Rs. 12,000 contribution to EPF is another safe, tax-efficient option. It provides guaranteed returns and adds to your retirement corpus.

PPF: PPF is a safe investment with tax benefits. Your Rs. 10,000 monthly contribution ensures stable, long-term growth. However, the returns from PPF are modest compared to equity investments.

Assessing the ICICI Smart Kid Policy
Policy Overview: The ICICI Smart Kid policy is a combination of insurance and investment. You’ve been contributing Rs. 48,000 annually since 2016.

Policy Efficiency: Investment-cum-insurance policies generally offer lower returns compared to pure investment products like mutual funds. Moreover, the insurance coverage might not be adequate. It’s often better to separate insurance and investment.

Recommendation: Given the long-term goal and the potential underperformance of such policies, consider surrendering this policy and reallocating the funds to higher-performing mutual funds. You can use the surrender value to boost your SIP contributions.

Is Your Current SIP Sufficient for Rs. 1 Crore by 2034?
Projection: Your current SIP of Rs. 60,000 per month in the mentioned funds will need to grow at a significant rate to reach Rs. 1 crore by 2034. Assuming an average annual return of 12%, which is realistic for equity mutual funds, your portfolio could grow substantially. But it’s crucial to periodically review and adjust your SIP amounts to stay on track.

Potential Shortfall: If the market underperforms, you may face a shortfall. To mitigate this risk, consider increasing your SIP amount or reallocating funds to more aggressive growth options like mid-cap or small-cap funds. This can help bridge any potential gaps in your target amount.

Strategy for Retirement Planning
Current Contributions: Your NPS, EPF, and PPF contributions are all directed towards retirement. However, you should assess whether these will be sufficient to meet your retirement goals, considering inflation and lifestyle needs.

Retirement Corpus: The goal should be to accumulate a corpus that can generate a steady post-retirement income, adjusted for inflation. Given your current age and the fact that you have 20 years until retirement, you should focus on building a corpus that can sustain your desired lifestyle.

Asset Allocation: As you get closer to retirement, gradually shift towards safer assets like debt funds or fixed income instruments. But for now, focus on growth through equity funds.

Reevaluating Your Insurance Needs
Insurance Coverage: Ensure you have adequate life insurance, separate from your investments. Term insurance is a more cost-effective way to secure your family's future.

Health Insurance: Since you didn’t mention health insurance, it’s crucial to ensure you have adequate coverage for unforeseen medical expenses. If you don’t have one, consider a comprehensive family health insurance plan.

Final Insights
Increase SIP: Consider increasing your monthly SIP by at least Rs. 10,000 to ensure you meet your education goal for your children. This can be done gradually, as your income grows.

Reallocate Funds: Evaluate the ICICI Smart Kid policy and consider surrendering it to reallocate the funds to mutual funds. This could potentially offer better returns for your child’s education and your retirement planning.

Retirement Planning: Keep your focus on building a retirement corpus that accounts for inflation and rising expenses. Your current contributions are on track, but regular reviews are essential.

Regular Monitoring: Review your investments at least once a year. This will help you stay aligned with your goals and make necessary adjustments.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

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Anu Krishna  |1281 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Nov 07, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Oct 07, 2024
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Anu Krishna  |1281 Answers  |Ask -

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Help me!!! 1.I'm starting new "work" on my own(challenging for me) but my mind says quit it, be quite & do nothing. I myself don't know that wether the result of work will be +ive or uncompleted like alws. 2. My mind has become like order seeker type, when someone orders me, I do those things with dedicated(but sad from inside) manner. But when myself will try something different(which i fear, but necessary) then. "I QUITS IT" & sometimes I don't even start. 3. I'm like stuck no clue what/whom I want to do in life, I'm in cllg(1 yr) doing (CSE) ,. 4. I want to do/try (sports,talking girls,study,stocks,coding..) many things, but myself, my thoughts(overthinker), R like just be in the place where u are[confused,po*n,think about past/future(being billio..re,olympics..), girl (that u liked & never talked), abusive/beating self,.. sometimes feels like end life, but don't hv courage for that also.. 5. I tried self help books, spirituality, god, self affirmation, writing... & thay affected me(sometimes) but for only some time, then again that devil me comes up &these things never get completed. As no one in my family knows about all these, so that's Y ,I hv to fight/loose/try again, the battles with myself.
Ans: Dear Harsh,
If in the past you have had the urge to QUIT, how is this time going to be different? This is not to discourage you from taking up 'new work' but pointing out that there is some amount of work that you need to put to clear the mind out of blockages.
-What is limiting you?
- What is the reason for putting off things?
- What comes first to the mind when you start something new?
Also, focus on one thing at a time; study and go deep into it...what's this thing with work? I don't understand. When the mind is unsettled, take one thing/activity, pursue it and finish it. It could simply be studying for Year 1 of your college...just only do that...once your mind is trained in completing an activity, you can add another one the next year along with studying and then pursue both...it could be some sport and studying...then the next year, you could add a third activity. This is called 'training the mind in discipline'. Discipline will make sure that you start and finish things...So, go slow and do one thing at a time.

All the best!
Anu Krishna
Mind Coach|NLP Trainer|Author
Drop in: www.unfear.io
Reach me: Facebook: anukrish07/ AND LinkedIn: anukrishna-joyofserving/

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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.

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