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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |7201 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Oct 01, 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
samiran Question by samiran on Sep 30, 2024Hindi
Money

Hi Sir, I have around 4 CR which will be available to me by March 2025.I wanted to do investment of that 4 CR so that I can generate enough funds (roughly 2 lakh) per month. I dont want some risky investment where I might loose money. I am OK with a fund manager who can manage that. I am strongly against mutual funds as they dont give actual return what they earn from our funds. Please advise.

Ans: You are looking for a safe, low-risk investment strategy for Rs 4 crore, which will be available to you by March 2025. Your target is to generate a monthly income of Rs 2 lakh. You have clearly stated that you are not interested in mutual funds due to dissatisfaction with their returns.

Generating Rs 2 Lakh Monthly Income
Your goal of generating Rs 2 lakh per month translates to Rs 24 lakh annually, which is 6% of Rs 4 crore. Achieving this in a low-risk manner is possible, but it requires careful planning. Your preference for low risk indicates that capital preservation is a priority, and you are open to engaging a fund manager for this purpose.

Here are some options that could meet your requirements.

Safe Investment Options
1. Fixed Deposits (FDs)
Bank FDs are one of the safest investment options in India. Many banks offer senior citizen fixed deposit schemes with slightly higher interest rates.

Though returns from FDs range between 6-7%, this might be lower than your target. However, FDs ensure safety of your principal amount, which is important for low-risk investors.

2. Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS)
The Senior Citizen Savings Scheme is a government-backed scheme. It is ideal for investors above 60 years old who seek regular income. The current interest rate is around 8%, but it may fluctuate based on government decisions.

The scheme has a tenure of 5 years, which can be extended by another 3 years. You can invest a portion of your Rs 4 crore in SCSS, subject to its upper limit.

3. Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS)
POMIS is a government-backed scheme, offering a guaranteed monthly income. The returns are not high, but it offers security and peace of mind. Interest rates are around 6.6% to 7%.

The maximum investment limit per individual is Rs 9 lakh, so you can consider spreading the amount across multiple family members.

4. Debt Instruments
You can explore corporate bonds or non-convertible debentures (NCDs) from reputed companies. These offer better returns than bank FDs, ranging between 7-9%, and are relatively safe when invested in top-rated companies.

Government bonds are another option, where you can lock in returns for the long term. Though they may offer lower returns than corporate bonds, they come with low risk.

5. Conservative Hybrid Funds
Although you have reservations about mutual funds, conservative hybrid funds may align with your risk profile. These funds invest predominantly in debt instruments, ensuring stability, and a small portion in equities for growth.

Returns from such funds generally range between 7-9%, and they provide regular dividend payouts. The active fund management ensures risk is minimised, and you can achieve better returns than traditional FDs.

6. RBI Floating Rate Bonds
RBI Floating Rate Savings Bonds are considered very safe as they are backed by the government. These bonds currently offer interest rates around 7-8%.

The interest is paid semi-annually, providing a steady source of income. The rates are linked to prevailing government securities rates, making them slightly more flexible.

7. SWP in Debt Mutual Funds
While you are not in favour of mutual funds, a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) in debt funds could be a good fit. It ensures regular income while keeping risk low since these funds invest mainly in government securities and corporate bonds.

Debt funds also offer tax efficiency if held for more than three years, as long-term capital gains are taxed at a lower rate than interest income.

Role of Certified Financial Planner
You have mentioned that you are comfortable with a fund manager handling your investments. A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) can help design a customised portfolio tailored to your risk appetite. The CFP will manage your investments actively, ensuring that the balance between income generation and capital preservation is maintained.

The advantage of having a CFP manage your investments is that they continuously assess the market conditions. They can recommend switching to better-performing options if necessary.

CFPs also focus on tax efficiency, ensuring that you keep more of your earnings rather than losing them to taxes.

Tax Efficiency
Given your preference for safety and regular income, tax-efficient investments are crucial. Interest income from FDs, bonds, or other fixed-income instruments is taxable at your income tax slab rate. However, certain investment options like debt mutual funds can offer more tax-efficient returns.

SWP in Debt Funds: In an SWP, only the portion that represents capital gains is taxed, making it more tax-efficient than receiving the entire amount as interest income.

Achieving Balance Between Safety and Returns
To meet your goal of generating Rs 2 lakh per month, your investments should ideally be spread across various low-risk instruments. Here is a potential approach:

Fixed Deposits and SCSS: Allocate a portion to these to ensure safety and guaranteed returns.

Corporate Bonds and Debt Funds: These can provide higher returns than traditional FDs without taking too much risk.

Post Office Monthly Income Scheme and RBI Bonds: Allocate another portion here to diversify across low-risk government-backed schemes.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP): Set up an SWP in conservative hybrid or debt mutual funds to provide regular monthly income with tax-efficient withdrawals.

By balancing your portfolio between these safe options, you can aim to achieve both capital preservation and regular income.

Final Insights
You are rightly focused on maintaining the safety of your principal amount while generating a regular income of Rs 2 lakh per month. Based on your preferences, a combination of fixed deposits, SCSS, bonds, and conservative debt mutual funds will help you meet your goals.

While mutual funds may not be your first choice, debt funds with an SWP option can offer a tax-efficient alternative with minimal risk. Working with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) will ensure that your investments are professionally managed, keeping your financial objectives in mind.

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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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |7201 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Oct 14, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Oct 13, 2024Hindi
Money
Hello Sir, I am 48 years old.. want to get 2 cr by investing monthly 50000 to 60000 please advise how should i invest to get 2 cr in next 5 years.
Ans: At 48 years old, you are at a critical phase of wealth creation. You want to reach a target of Rs 2 crore by investing Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 monthly over the next five years. Achieving this goal requires a disciplined, well-structured approach and smart investment decisions. Here's how you can get there:

Assessing Your Financial Goals
Investment Horizon: You have a relatively short investment horizon of five years. This means that you need a blend of high-growth investments with a certain degree of safety as you approach the target.

Risk Appetite: Since you are nearing retirement, your ability to take risks may not be as high. However, to achieve Rs 2 crore in five years, you will need to consider moderately aggressive options.

Investment Flexibility: With a monthly commitment of Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000, you have the flexibility to diversify your portfolio effectively.

Investment Strategy
Diversified Portfolio:

A balanced portfolio between equity and debt is necessary for your goal. Investing entirely in equities may offer higher returns but comes with higher risks, especially in the short term. On the other hand, debt-oriented investments offer stability but may not generate the required returns.

Equity Allocation: Given your time frame, allocate around 60% to 70% of your monthly investments into equity mutual funds. Actively managed funds are better in this scenario than index funds. Active funds provide opportunities for fund managers to outperform benchmarks, while index funds simply replicate the market performance, which may not be sufficient to meet your high return target.

Disadvantages of Index Funds: Index funds tend to underperform in volatile markets because they lack the flexibility to adapt. A Certified Financial Planner can guide you toward actively managed funds, which can better suit your five-year horizon. Moreover, active funds may help mitigate the impact of downturns due to professional management and sector rotation.
Debt Allocation: Allocate 30% to 40% of your portfolio to debt mutual funds. Debt investments provide stability and balance your portfolio’s risk. Debt funds can protect you from market volatility as you approach the end of your investment horizon.

Systematic Investment Plan (SIP):

Investing monthly through SIPs in mutual funds is ideal for your needs. It provides a disciplined way of investing and helps in rupee cost averaging, which reduces the impact of market fluctuations over time.

SIP in Equity Mutual Funds: You should focus on diversified equity mutual funds that invest in large-cap and mid-cap stocks. These funds can offer potential growth while balancing risk.

SIP in Debt Mutual Funds: Debt funds provide more consistent returns. You can consider funds with lower interest rate sensitivity for safety. SIPs into these funds can ensure you don’t put too much at risk while still gaining moderate returns.

Review Your Existing Insurance and Policies
If you have any existing LIC or ULIP policies, review their performance. Many of these traditional plans may not offer the kind of returns you need for wealth creation. In such cases, consider surrendering these policies and reinvesting the proceeds into mutual funds with the help of a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). A CFP will guide you on how to exit these policies without losing too much and reinvest for better returns.

Tax Efficiency in Mutual Fund Investments
Given the new mutual fund capital gains taxation rules, you need to consider tax implications while planning your investments.

Equity Mutual Funds: The long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax on equity mutual funds is now applicable above Rs 1.25 lakh, and it is taxed at 12.5%. This tax can impact your returns in the long run, so proper tax planning is essential. When you sell your funds, any profits beyond Rs 1.25 lakh in a financial year will be taxed, which needs to be factored into your overall return calculation.

Debt Mutual Funds: For debt mutual funds, capital gains are taxed based on your income tax slab. If your income falls in a higher tax bracket, this could significantly impact your returns. Short-term capital gains (STCG) from debt funds are taxed as per your income tax slab, while LTCG from debt funds are also taxed based on the slab rate.

To minimise tax impact, your CFP will guide you in structuring withdrawals and optimising your tax liabilities by keeping an eye on the investment tenure and tax slabs.

Increase Your SIP Contributions Annually
As your income increases or you receive bonuses, try to increase your SIP contributions. Small increments can make a big difference in achieving your Rs 2 crore target. A step-up SIP strategy allows you to increase your investment amount every year, boosting your chances of meeting your goal within the given time frame.

Emergency Fund
Even though your goal is to build a Rs 2 crore corpus, you must not overlook building an emergency fund. Your emergency fund should cover at least six months of your living expenses. Having this buffer will ensure that you don’t need to withdraw from your long-term investments in case of unexpected events.

An emergency fund can be held in liquid mutual funds or fixed deposits. These options provide liquidity while offering moderate returns.

Contingency Planning
While you are focusing on building a significant corpus, also ensure you have adequate contingency plans in place. Since you are 48 years old, health insurance and life insurance are crucial to protect your family in case of any unexpected events. Review your existing health insurance coverage to ensure it is adequate. You may need to enhance it based on your current financial status and family needs.

Health Insurance: If you don’t have health insurance, get a robust plan that covers critical illnesses. This ensures you don’t have to dip into your savings for medical emergencies.

Life Insurance: Term insurance is the most cost-effective option for covering life risk. Ensure that the sum assured is enough to meet your family’s needs in case of your absence.

Investment Monitoring
Regularly monitor your portfolio performance. Review your investments at least once every six months. This will allow you to make adjustments if needed, especially if your investments are underperforming or if there are significant market changes.

Also, keep an eye on your goals. If there’s a shortfall or if the market environment changes, you can tweak your portfolio to get back on track. Work closely with your CFP, who can provide guidance during volatile markets or periods of underperformance.

Final Insights
Reaching Rs 2 crore in five years is ambitious but achievable with careful planning. Balancing high-growth equity investments with safe debt options is essential. A Certified Financial Planner can help you select the right mutual funds and maintain tax efficiency.

By investing Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 monthly, sticking to your plan, and reviewing it regularly, you will increase your chances of success. Remember, wealth creation requires discipline, patience, and a balanced approach.

Ensure you have sufficient insurance coverage to protect your family and have an emergency fund in place.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

..Read more

Latest Questions
Milind

Milind Vadjikar  |741 Answers  |Ask -

Insurance, Stocks, MF, PF Expert - Answered on Dec 03, 2024

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What happens when a Mutual Fund company shuts down / gets sold off?
Ans: Hello;

If a mutual fund company gets sold or fails, the process is prescribed by SEBI:

In case MF company is Sold,
The new fund house may:
1. Continue the scheme with a new name and management.

2. Merge the scheme with similar funds and offer investors the option to exit without any exit load.

In case MF company shuts down,
The fund house will:
1. Pay out investors based on the fund's last recorded Net Asset Value (NAV) and the number of units the investor holds, after deducting expenses.

2. If the company is not in a position to do so then SEBI may liquidate the funds assets and distribute the proceeds to unit holders.

It is also pertinent to note that mutual fund regulation in India is one of the most stringent and hence best, from investor's point of view, globally.

This is not just in theory. We have seen how the Franklin Templeton abrupt closure of debt funds was handled with surgical precision, by SEBI, with no loss to unitholders.


Skin in the game regulation mandates that 20% salary of key mutual fund personnel and fund managers is paid in terms of units of their funds with a 3 year lock-in.

The stocks and bonds purchased by the AMC for the fund are held by a custodian, appointed by the trust that administers the fund.

The trust engages into a investment management agreement with the AMC for managing the fund as per their mandate and within regulatory guidelines.

Registrar and Transfer Agents handle the investor registration,kyc, maintaining records, providing account and tax statements etc.

Happy Investing;
X: @mars_invest

...Read more

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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