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Ramalingam Kalirajan |10241 Answers |Ask -Follow

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 24, 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 - May 26, 2025Hindi

I need to get my son admitted into Engineering college. The total tution fees along with hostel fees is 30 Lakhs. The first year fees will be taken care with the money I have right now. My PPF is maturing in Mar 26 and the maturity amount will be 23 lakhs. I have MF whose valuation as on date is 65 lakhs. What do you suggest as to how to take care of Son's education....

Ans: You’ve already built a strong base.

You have the first-year fees covered. You have PPF maturity in 2026. You have Rs 65 lakhs in mutual funds. This is a position of strength.

Now let’s look at your situation with a 360-degree view and create a simple, low-stress education funding plan.

? Know the Payment Timeline for College Education

– Total education cost is Rs 30 lakhs for 4 years.

– First year is already taken care of.

– That leaves Rs 22 to 23 lakhs needed over the next 3 years.

– That will likely be paid in parts—one year at a time.

– So cash flow planning is better than full lump sum withdrawal.

– Avoid selling full amount now just to keep it aside in a bank.

– Instead, match redemptions with yearly requirements.

? Don’t Use Mutual Funds Randomly – Plan Withdrawals Smartly

– You have Rs 65 lakhs worth of mutual funds.

– Don’t rush to redeem it all.

– Instead, identify how much is needed and when.

– Sell only what’s needed each year, not the entire value now.

– Equity mutual funds fluctuate. So redeem 4–6 months before fee due.

– That gives time to handle market volatility.

– You also save on emotional panic.

– Use systematic withdrawal if needed for cash flow.

– Monitor market trends and sell into strength, not weakness.

? Don’t Ignore PPF – It’s a Powerful Resource

– Your PPF is maturing in March 2026.

– Maturity value is Rs 23 lakhs.

– You can plan to use it for 3rd or 4th year fees.

– PPF maturity is tax-free. That’s a big plus.

– Use this amount for the last part of the education goal.

– This reduces the burden on your mutual funds.

– Also, keep the money in PPF until it is fully required.

– Don’t withdraw early unless there’s a big gap.

– Redeem mutual funds first if market conditions are favourable.

? Keep One Year Fee in a Safer Parking Option

– Before each academic year starts, move next year’s fees into a safer fund.

– Use a short-term debt mutual fund or overnight fund.

– These are not volatile and keep your capital safe.

– This will help you avoid sudden shocks at the time of fee payment.

– Redeem equity fund gradually and move it to safety bucket.

– Avoid waiting until the last minute.

– Mutual fund NAVs can drop quickly in market panic.

– Lock in gains ahead of time to ensure stability.

? Don’t Take an Education Loan Unnecessarily

– You have enough personal funds.

– Loans should be last option, not first.

– Interest burden will affect your future goals.

– Paying out of your own wealth is much better.

– Avoid the mindset of using loan for tax benefit.

– Tax benefit is small compared to interest cost.

– Also, repaying loans takes away flexibility.

– You’re in a position to stay loan-free. Keep it that way.

? Maintain Your Other Financial Goals

– Don’t divert all money into education planning.

– You may also have retirement or emergency fund needs.

– Keep Rs 5 to 6 lakhs as emergency fund always.

– Don’t compromise on long-term financial health.

– Split your mutual fund portfolio accordingly.

– Allocate only Rs 22 to 23 lakhs for this goal.

– Keep the rest for other life goals.

– Don’t mix long-term and short-term plans in one place.

? Don’t Use Sector or Thematic Funds for Education

– These funds are risky and unpredictable.

– They are not goal-friendly for short timelines.

– Their performance depends on external triggers.

– Education goals need steady, safe growth.

– Choose hybrid or large-cap oriented active funds for withdrawals.

– Use debt funds or liquid funds for near-term parking.

– Don’t hold gold funds or international funds for this purpose.

– Exit such funds in a phased and timely manner.

? Plan Redemptions Tax-Efficiently

– Mutual fund redemptions have tax impact.

– Equity fund LTCG above Rs 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%.

– STCG is taxed at 20%.

– So stagger your withdrawals to reduce tax impact.

– Avoid selling everything in one financial year.

– Plan in such a way that you redeem before March each year.

– Spread the redemption across 3 years.

– This smoothens tax liability and reduces strain.

? Avoid Index Funds and Direct Plans for Such Goals

– Index funds don’t protect downside.

– They just mirror market moves.

– They fall heavily when market crashes.

– No one controls risk in index funds.

– Actively managed funds offer better downside protection.

– They adjust sector weights when needed.

– Your money gets some risk management from the fund manager.

– For important goals like education, control is important.

– Direct plans don’t give you expert guidance.

– At this stage, you need planned redemption, taxation advice, and risk control.

– A CFP offering regular plans gives you goal-linked clarity.

– That support is worth much more than 0.5% saved.

? What You Can Do Now – Simple Action Points

– Identify the exact yearly requirement for your son’s education.

– Tag Rs 22–23 lakhs worth of mutual funds for this goal.

– Review those fund types and categories.

– Exit thematic and volatile funds linked to this allocation.

– Retain large-cap, hybrid or conservative fund types.

– Move Year 2 fees into a short-term debt fund now.

– Plan Year 3 redemptions in early 2025.

– Keep Year 4 for PPF maturity in March 2026.

– Rest of your MF portfolio can stay invested for long-term growth.

– Track your fund performance every 6 months.

– Don’t get affected by short-term news or market noise.

– Use a Certified Financial Planner to re-check portfolio alignment.

? Balance Emotion with Practicality

– Education is a deeply emotional goal.

– But don’t let fear or urgency drive decisions.

– Structured planning gives better outcomes.

– You already have most resources available.

– Just aligning timing, tax, and safety will give you success.

– This is not the time to chase high returns.

– This is the time to protect and use wealth wisely.

– Avoid surprises by preparing early for each year’s need.

– You don’t have to sell more than needed.

– Peace of mind is more valuable than percentage returns.

? Finally

– You’ve done the hard work already.

– You’ve created wealth. You’re ready for your son’s future.

– Now just match withdrawals with goals.

– Keep your mutual fund redemptions phased and tax-smart.

– Use PPF maturity with a clear timeline.

– Avoid loans, panic-selling, or overexposure to risk.

– Stay guided, focused, and balanced.

– A Certified Financial Planner can help map this in detail.

– Education is a noble goal. You’ve built the base. You just need smart execution now.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

Asked on - Jul 26, 2025 | Answered on Jul 28, 2025

What if I use my PPF maturity amount to fund rest 3 years of engineering ( 2nd year fees paid upfront from the maturity amount and keep rest in liquid funds and redeem before the required date?) And use the MF for his further studies and my retirement plan?( I have an ongoing SIP of 50k every month and I have 10 yrs of service left)

Ans: Yes, this is a sensible approach.

– Use PPF maturity in Mar 2026 to pay 2nd year fees upfront.
– Park balance in liquid funds for 3rd and 4th year.
– This ensures safety, liquidity, and tax-free use of PPF.
– Retain mutual funds for further studies and retirement.
– Continue Rs 50K SIP to grow long-term corpus.
– Keep tracking and reallocating with a Certified Financial Planner.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

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