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Ramalingam Kalirajan |10874 Answers |Ask -Follow

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 10, 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

Question by Kiran on Jul 03, 2025Hindi

I have boy kid 5years old, i want to invest in savings for his career my investment would be around 2 lakhs kindly suggest wer to invest

Ans: ?Understanding the Need for Child’s Future Planning
– You are thinking ahead for your child’s future. That is wise and timely.
– At 5 years old, your child has around 12–15 years until higher education.
– Career and education costs are rising fast. Early planning can ease that burden.
– Investing Rs. 2 lakhs now with the right strategy can create strong support.
– A Certified Financial Planner always recommends disciplined, goal-based investing for such needs.

?Clarifying Your Goal and Time Horizon
– The purpose is to fund your child’s education and career.
– The time frame is long-term. So you can consider equity-oriented options.
– You need safety, growth, and liquidity at different stages.
– The key is to plan for a staggered withdrawal around age 18 to 22.
– Having a clear view of when and how the funds will be used helps.

?Importance of Investment Allocation and Structure
– A lump sum of Rs. 2 lakhs is a good start, but not enough for the full goal.
– Combine this lump sum with regular SIPs later as income allows.
– Split the Rs. 2 lakhs into diversified instruments instead of one place.
– You can mix growth-focused and safety-focused options.
– This combination balances risk and return over time.

?Mutual Funds for Long-Term Education Goals
– Mutual funds are ideal for long-term wealth creation.
– Choose actively managed funds, not index funds.
– Index funds follow the market and lack strategy or downside protection.
– Active funds have fund managers who aim to beat the market returns.
– For your case, equity mutual funds with multicap or flexicap exposure are best.
– Over 10–15 years, they help create inflation-beating growth.
– Always invest through a Certified Financial Planner or Mutual Fund Distributor.
– Avoid direct plans unless you are an expert in fund selection.

?Why Not Direct Plans
– Direct plans have lower expense ratios but no guidance or tracking.
– You risk making poor fund choices without help.
– Regular plans through a CFP-backed MFD come with monitoring and handholding.
– That is vital for long-term discipline and goal corrections.
– Costs saved in direct plans may lead to bigger losses if mistakes happen.

?Fixed Income Component for Stability
– Keep some portion in fixed return instruments for safety.
– You may allocate 25% of the amount to fixed options.
– This gives stability and a fallback if markets perform poorly.
– Post office options or high-quality debt funds can be explored.
– For example, 5-year small savings plans offer decent and safe returns.

?Children-Specific Savings Instruments
– Some government-backed child savings schemes offer tax benefits and fixed returns.
– These are ideal for the secure part of your investment.
– Lock-in and maturity coincide with education years.
– But don’t put entire money here, as returns may not beat inflation.
– Use such options to complement equity funds, not replace them.

?Insurance is Not Investment
– Avoid any child insurance plans or endowment policies.
– These give low returns and mix insurance with investment.
– For long-term needs, they are inefficient and restrictive.
– Pure term insurance for parents is important, not investment-linked ones.
– If you hold any such LIC or ULIP plans, surrender and reinvest in mutual funds.

?Gold and Sovereign Gold Bonds – Good but Not Core
– Gold can be a good diversification tool, but not core education planning tool.
– It is best to keep gold investments limited to 10–15% of your overall wealth.
– They can help during emergencies or if gold prices rise sharply.
– But gold does not produce income or consistent returns.

?Avoid Real Estate for Child’s Future
– Real estate lacks liquidity and has unpredictable exit timelines.
– Not suitable for specific-time goals like education.
– Also, property sale near a child’s 18th birthday may be hard.
– Avoid tying up funds in property purchases for this goal.

?Don’t Depend on Index Funds or ETFs
– Index funds are unmanaged and mirror the index, with no downside protection.
– In volatile markets, index funds can lose value without intervention.
– Active funds adapt to changing market conditions and sectors.
– Your goal is critical. Don’t risk it with passive strategies.
– ETF and index strategies are best suited for market experts, not long-term goals.

?Tax Efficiency in Mutual Funds
– Long-term gains over Rs. 1.25 lakhs are taxed at 12.5% under new rules.
– Short-term capital gains are taxed at 20%.
– For debt mutual funds, all gains are taxed as per your tax slab.
– Investing via SIPs over time helps in averaging cost and improving tax outcomes.
– Use tax planning as part of overall goal planning.

?Rebalancing and Annual Review
– Once invested, review your plan annually with a Certified Financial Planner.
– Rebalance if one category outperforms or underperforms.
– As your child grows, shift some equity to safer funds.
– Around 3–5 years before use, reduce risk gradually.
– This protects gains and gives better predictability.

?Adding SIPs to Strengthen the Plan
– The Rs. 2 lakhs lump sum alone won’t cover the full cost.
– Add a small monthly SIP alongside. Even Rs. 2000 to Rs. 5000 helps.
– Step up SIPs as income improves.
– Combine lump sum and SIPs for the strongest outcome.
– Automatic investments build habit and reduce emotional decisions.

?Building a Child-Centric Portfolio
– Your investment mix should grow with your child.
– Include growth instruments when child is young.
– Add safety layers as the goal nears.
– Use proper tracking and documentation.
– Assign a nominee and keep spouse informed of the plan.

?Emergency Fund and Term Insurance
– Always maintain a separate emergency fund for family needs.
– This avoids breaking investments meant for child.
– Ensure you have adequate term insurance coverage for yourself.
– This ensures child’s future is safe even in your absence.

?Avoid Locking All in Illiquid Assets
– Liquidity is key when education payments are due.
– Avoid putting entire money in instruments with long lock-ins.
– Balance liquidity and growth carefully.
– Having flexible exit options helps during uncertain times.

?Education Loans Should Be Last Resort
– If you plan early, you can avoid education loans later.
– Loans come with interest burden and stress.
– Early investments help build a self-funded education corpus.
– This gives more choice and confidence to the child.

?Keep Documentation and Goal Tracking Clear
– Maintain a file or digital record of all investments for this goal.
– Use a separate folio or account where possible.
– Tag all investments with your child’s name or purpose.
– This builds discipline and clarity.

?Work with a Certified Financial Planner
– For such goals, expert advice matters.
– A CFP helps with product selection, rebalancing, and tracking.
– They also guide you on tax and exit planning.
– Their expertise adds value beyond fund returns.
– Choose an advisor who works with long-term focus.

?Finally
– Investing Rs. 2 lakhs for your son’s future is a great start.
– Use it wisely across equity funds and fixed income options.
– Avoid insurance-linked products and direct mutual funds.
– Keep reviewing and adding to the plan each year.
– A Certified Financial Planner can ensure this goal is met confidently.
– Your discipline and long-term approach will shape your child’s future well.

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

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