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Ramalingam Kalirajan |11060 Answers |Ask -Follow

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Feb 17, 2026

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 - Feb 17, 2026Hindi

I am 57 years age. By SIP till now, i have invested value around 1 cr. I have 2 child. daughter at age 25 years, yet to marry and get job. Son 20 years studying BE 2 nd year. I am still working in private job and receive 4 lacs/month salary. i shall work upto 62 years age and will retire then being privately job oriented. i own a house. my question is. i like to have after retierement 2 lacs/month ( after 62 years of my job) , as a regular income. daughter marriage expenses will be their.Existing 1 cr will not be sufficient . i also need to purchase 1 car of worth 30 lacs in a year. how to plan and where to invest and what will be horizon time line. pl give me planning considering present balance and revenue till 62 age.

Ans: You have done very well till now. Building around Rs.1 crore through SIP discipline, owning a house, and earning a strong salary at this stage shows clarity, patience, and consistency. This gives you a solid base to plan the next phase with confidence.
» Present life stage and responsibilities
– Age 57, with 5 years left for active earning till 62
– Monthly salary around Rs.4 lakhs, which is a big strength
– Daughter aged 25, marriage and career yet to be settled
– Son aged 20, education expenses still ahead
– One car purchase of around Rs.30 lakhs planned within a year
– Retirement income need of Rs.2 lakhs per month after age 62
– Existing investment corpus around Rs.1 crore, mainly through SIPs
This is a classic “high earning, high responsibility” phase. The next 5 years are the most powerful years for your financial life.
» Understanding your retirement income need
– Rs.2 lakhs per month after retirement means regular cash flow, not one-time money
– Retirement may last 25 to 30 years, so safety and growth both are needed
– Depending only on interest or fixed income will not support this for long
– A part of the corpus must continue to grow even after retirement
This means your retirement corpus must be larger than what you feel today, and it must be structured properly.
» Why existing Rs.1 crore is not enough by itself
– This Rs.1 crore has done its job well, but it is still in accumulation mode
– Car purchase will reduce future surplus, so planning is needed now
– Daughter’s marriage is a known large expense and must be planned separately
– Inflation will keep pushing monthly needs higher year after year
So, the focus should be on growing this corpus further and protecting it from wrong withdrawals.
» Strategy for the next 5 working years (age 57 to 62)
– These 5 years should be treated as a “wealth acceleration phase”
– Continue SIPs aggressively as long as salary is coming
– Increase SIP amounts every year if possible, even by small steps
– Do not stop equity-oriented investments just because retirement is near
– New investments should be gradually balanced with stability-oriented options
The aim here is not safety alone, but creating a strong retirement base.
» Planning for the Rs.30 lakh car purchase
– Do not disturb long-term retirement investments for the car
– Park money meant for the car separately and safely
– Keep this money away from market volatility due to short time frame
– This ensures retirement planning remains untouched and disciplined
This separation of goals brings peace and control.
» Planning for daughter’s marriage
– Marriage expense should be treated as a medium-term goal
– Do not depend on retirement corpus for this purpose
– Allocate a separate investment bucket with moderate risk
– As the event comes closer, gradually reduce risk in that bucket
This way, emotional decisions at the last moment are avoided.
» How to structure investments going forward
– Growth-oriented investments are still required, even at your age
– Gradual shift towards stability should happen only in phases
– Avoid putting everything into low-return options too early
– Keep part of the money working for growth even after retirement
– Avoid locking money where flexibility is poor
Your income requirement is monthly, but your money must think long-term.
» Retirement phase income planning (post 62)
– Do not withdraw randomly from investments
– Create a planned, regular withdrawal structure
– Ensure one part gives stability and another part gives growth
– Review withdrawals every year, not every month
– Taxes should be managed carefully while withdrawing
This makes income smoother and stress-free.
» Risk management and protection
– Ensure adequate health insurance continues beyond retirement
– Emergency fund should cover at least one year of expenses
– Keep nominee details and documentation updated
– Write a simple will to avoid family stress later
These steps protect your wealth, not just grow it.
» What to avoid at this stage
– Avoid chasing guaranteed-looking high return products
– Avoid stopping SIPs too early out of fear
– Avoid using retirement money for lifestyle upgrades
– Avoid mixing goals like children’s needs and retirement
Clarity is more important than complexity now.
» Time horizon summary
– Next 1 year: Car purchase planning and disciplined execution
– Next 3 to 5 years: Aggressive but sensible wealth building
– Post 62 years: Structured withdrawal with continued growth
– Long term: Retirement corpus should last your full lifetime
» Finally
– You are not late; you are actually in a strong position
– High income years are still ahead, which many people do not have
– With goal-based separation, discipline, and timely reviews, Rs.2 lakhs per month is achievable
– The key is planning early, staying invested, and withdrawing wisely
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

Asked on - Mar 04, 2026 | Answered on Mar 04, 2026

how to do SWP at that particular age , when tax sealing is 1.25 lacs/annum only. however we need 24 lacs/annum at age of 62 years. secondly not all MF supports SWP. in that case again switching fund implies tax.

Ans: » Efficient tax management with SWP

In an SWP, only the "profit" part is taxed, not the full amount you take out. Withdrawing Rs. 24 lakhs annually does not mean you have Rs. 24 lakhs in taxable gains. By spreading these withdrawals monthly, you use your Rs. 1.25 lakh LTCG exemption very well. Even for gains above that, the 12.5% tax rate is much smaller than the 30% tax you would pay on bank interest or salary.

» Managing your existing funds

Since all your funds support the SWP option, you can easily set up a monthly payout without shifting your money. However, a Certified Financial Planner can help you review if these funds are still the best for the "distribution phase" of your life. While you stay invested in regular funds, your MFD with CFP credentials will monitor the performance and ensure your Rs. 2 lakh monthly income remains steady regardless of market mood.

» Finally

Using SWP is the smartest way to get regular money because it keeps your tax low and lets your remaining wealth grow. It provides a 360-degree solution for your retirement needs.

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.

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