Advice required regarding SWP in mutual funds?For monthly expenses how much percentage one can withdraw from mf corpus?

Ans: Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) is an excellent way to ensure regular income during retirement. Given that your father is 70 years old, it's important to balance growth and safety. Let’s assess your situation to provide a 360-degree solution.

Assessing the Lumpsum Amount
Investment Corpus: You intend to invest Rs. 8-9 lakhs. This amount is crucial in determining the monthly withdrawal amount of Rs. 10,000.

Sustainability of SWP: With Rs. 8-9 lakhs, withdrawing Rs. 10,000 monthly could be challenging over a long period. Let's explore how this can be managed.

Understanding SWP in Different Mutual Funds
Equity-Oriented Funds: These funds, such as large-cap, mid-cap, and flexi-cap, generally provide higher returns. However, they are also volatile. While equity can provide inflation-beating returns, it might not be the best sole option for a 70-year-old.

Hybrid Funds: A balanced or hybrid fund combines equity and debt. This mix can provide growth with lower volatility. It’s safer for an SWP at your father’s age.

Debt Funds: These funds are safer and less volatile. They might not offer high returns but can provide stable income. They are often used for SWP by retirees to preserve capital.

Which Type of Mutual Funds Are Good for SWP?
Balanced Approach: Combining equity and debt funds can create a balanced portfolio. This approach offers both growth and safety.

Two-Fund Strategy: Splitting the Rs. 8-9 lakhs into two different funds can diversify risk. One fund could be a hybrid fund, and the other a debt fund. This combination can provide stability and growth.

Safety First: Considering your father's age, prioritise safety. The bulk of the investment should be in debt or hybrid funds. A smaller portion can be in equity to capture growth potential.

Is SWP in Equity-Oriented Funds Wise?
Risk Consideration: Pure equity funds can be risky for someone in retirement. Market fluctuations can affect the fund value, impacting the sustainability of the SWP.

Diversification: If opting for equity-oriented funds, ensure they are part of a diversified portfolio. Avoid putting the entire amount in high-risk funds.

Long-Term Growth: While equity can provide good returns, it’s crucial to balance it with safer options, especially when relying on the funds for regular income.

Practical Insights on SWP Execution
Withdrawal Sustainability: If you withdraw Rs. 10,000 monthly from Rs. 8-9 lakhs, the sustainability depends on the fund’s performance. In a conservative estimate, this might last for 8-10 years in a balanced portfolio.

Reinvestment of Gains: If the funds perform well, you can reinvest the gains to extend the SWP period. This requires regular monitoring.

Consulting a CFP: To ensure the strategy aligns with your father’s needs, consult a Certified Financial Planner. They can tailor the fund selection to match his risk profile and income requirements.

Final Insights
Balanced Portfolio: Prioritise a mix of equity and debt, leaning more towards safety due to your father's age.

Two-Fund Strategy: Split the investment into two different funds to diversify risk and ensure stable withdrawals.

Monitoring: Regularly review the performance of the funds. Adjust the SWP if required to maintain sustainability.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

Ans: To achieve a monthly withdrawal of Rs 25,000 with a lump sum of Rs 10-12 lakh, the investment would need to generate a return of around 25-30 per cent annually, which is unrealistic for a sustainable and low-risk plan, especially for a retiree. A more reasonable withdrawal rate is around 6-8 per cent annually, which would give you Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per month from that investment.

Suitable Mutual Funds for SWP:

• Hybrid Funds (Balanced Funds): These funds invest in both equities and debt, balancing growth potential with lower volatility. They are suitable for moderate risk and could provide a steady income.
• Debt Funds: These funds are less volatile and offer more predictable returns, making them good for stable withdrawals, though the growth potential is lower compared to equities.
• Conservative Hybrid Funds: These funds have a higher allocation to debt and a smaller portion in equity, making them more conservative but still offering some growth.

SWP in Equity-Oriented Funds:

Equity funds can offer higher returns over the long term, but they are volatile. SWP from equity-oriented funds could result in selling units at a loss during market downturns, which may not be ideal for generating steady income. For your mother, who is 60, a balance between equity and debt could be more suitable to manage risk.

Splitting the Investment:

Investing in two different funds for SWP is a good strategy for diversification. You could allocate one part to a hybrid or balanced fund for moderate growth and another to a debt fund for stability.

Recommendation:

Consider starting the SWP from a hybrid or balanced fund for moderate risk and some exposure to growth. Add a conservative debt fund for stability.

If you’re targeting Rs 10,000 per month, an investment of Rs 10-12 lakh should work well with lower withdrawal rates of around 6-8 per cent. For Rs 25,000 per month, you may need a higher investment or explore other income-generating assets alongside SWP.

Here are some specific mutual fund categories and examples that could suit your SWP strategy, considering your goal of stable withdrawals for your mother:

1. Hybrid Funds (Balanced Advantage Funds):

These funds automatically adjust their equity and debt exposure based on market conditions, providing a mix of growth and stability.

Examples:

• ICICI Prudential Balanced Advantage Fund
• HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund

These funds are suitable for moderate risk, with potential for long-term growth while providing a stable income.

2. Conservative Hybrid Funds:

These funds have a higher allocation to debt and a smaller portion in equity, making them more conservative. They offer lower volatility and steady income.

Examples:

• ICICI Prudential Equity & Debt Fund
• HDFC Hybrid Debt Fund

These funds are suitable for low-risk investors who still want some equity exposure for growth potential.

3. Debt Funds (Short-Term or Corporate Bond Funds):

Debt funds provide stable returns with low risk, which is ideal for conservative investors. They are more predictable but offer lower returns compared to equity.

Examples:

• SBI Magnum Medium Duration Fund
• HDFC Corporate Bond Fund

These funds are good for regular income generation while maintaining capital preservation.

Suggested Allocation:

• 50 per cent in a Balanced/Hybrid Fund: This will provide moderate growth with some equity exposure.
• 50 per cent in a Debt Fund: This will stabilise the income and protect against market volatility.

By splitting the Rs 10-12 lakh investment between these two types of funds, you could balance risk and growth potential while generating a steady income through SWP.

Ans: Hello;

It would be advisable to invest your corpus lumpsum in hybrid conservative (debt oriented) fund type.

I recommend Kotak hybrid debt fund or SBI conservative hybrid fund both from the same category as mentioned above, suggested based on 5 year returns.

I recommend that you let the corpus compound for 2 years minimum.

Your corpus may grow to 1.17 Cr after 2 years assuming modest return of 8%.

Here if you do a 5% SWP then you may expect a monthly payout of 48750 per month for next 25 years.

At the end of 25 years you can expect a net corpus value of around 3.58 Cr(modest return of 8% considered) after deducting monthly payouts.

Other option for you could be to buy immediate annuity from an insurance company. Considering annuity rate of 6% you may expect to receive monthly payment of 50K from the next month onwards. It has various features for joint holding and return of purchase price after the end of annuity period(25 years for eg) or expiry of the annuity holder, to the nominee.

Do your due diligence and choose the best option suiting to your requirement.

*Investments in mutual funds are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme related documents carefully before investing

Happy Investing!!

Ans: You want Rs. 1 lakh monthly from your mutual fund corpus. You also plan to invest Rs. 30 lakh more. Your goal is to withdraw through SWP while preserving your capital.

Let’s break this down step by step.

Existing Portfolio and New Investment
Your current mutual fund corpus is Rs. 70 lakh.
You plan to invest Rs. 30 lakh more.
Your total mutual fund investment will be Rs. 1 crore.
You have funds across balanced, multi-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap categories.
These are from three fund houses: HDFC, ICICI, and Nippon.
Required Withdrawal Through SWP
You need Rs. 1 lakh per month.
That equals Rs. 12 lakh per year.
Your goal is to withdraw this amount while keeping your corpus intact.
Sustainable SWP Strategy
To ensure that your money lasts, consider these points:

Average Expected Return: A mix of equity and debt funds can give 10-12% annual return.
Safe Withdrawal Rate: A sustainable SWP rate is 7-8% of the corpus.
Rs. 1 Crore Corpus: A 7-8% annual withdrawal is Rs. 7-8 lakh per year.
Shortfall: You need Rs. 12 lakh yearly but should ideally withdraw Rs. 7-8 lakh.
Solution for the Shortfall
To cover the extra Rs. 4-5 lakh needed:

Invest Rs. 30 Lakh More in Balanced and Debt Funds

This will create additional stability.
The portfolio will generate steady returns.
Withdraw Less in Initial Years

Start with Rs. 80,000 per month.
Increase withdrawal every year based on fund growth.
Rebalance the Portfolio Annually

Move profits from equity to debt funds.
Maintain an ideal mix of 60% equity and 40% debt.
Asset Allocation for Stability
To ensure long-term sustainability:

Equity Funds (60%) – For long-term capital growth.
Debt and Hybrid Funds (40%) – To provide stability and steady SWP.
Emergency Fund (Rs. 5-10 Lakh in FD or Liquid Funds) – To manage unexpected expenses.
Tax Implications of SWP
Equity Funds: If held for over 1 year, gains above Rs. 1 lakh are taxed at 10%.
Debt Funds: If held for over 3 years, gains are taxed at 20% with indexation benefits.
SWP Tax Impact: Only the capital gains portion of the withdrawal is taxed, not the principal.
Risk Management
Avoid Withdrawing Too Much: If you withdraw more than 8% yearly, the corpus may deplete.
Market Volatility: In bad market years, withdraw from debt funds instead of equity.
Keep Medical Insurance Active: Ensure coverage for hospital expenses to avoid using savings.
Final Insights
Your current corpus and planned investment are strong.
A well-structured SWP can provide Rs. 1 lakh monthly.
You must limit withdrawals to 7-8% to sustain funds for life.
Rebalancing and asset allocation are key for long-term stability.
Plan tax-efficient withdrawals to maximise savings.
Your financial independence is within reach. A disciplined strategy will keep your funds growing while providing steady income.

Best Regards,

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