I want to create a retirement corpus of 5 Cr. Currently I earn 42200 per month and will retire in 12 years from now. Is this corpus achievable through MFs. If yes how? If not, what should be my investment strategy?

Ans: No changes required. Rs 8,000 monthly investment can create a corpus of Rs 1 crore, with step-up (20% of net salary will increase every year) the corpus will be much more!

Ans: Let's analyse your plan for a Rs 2 lakh monthly income after retirement:

Corpus Calculation:

To determine if your current strategy is sufficient, we need to calculate the total corpus you'll need. Here's a simplified approach (assuming a fixed monthly withdrawal):

• Expected Investment Period: 10 to 12 years (considering your retirement timeframe)
• Monthly Investment: Rs 2 lakh.
• Monthly Target Income: Rs 2 lakh.
• There are two unknowns: total investment period and corpus amount. We can't predict the exact number of years until retirement, so let's analyse both scenarios (10 and 12 years).

Scenario 1: 10 Years of Investment

For this scenario, we can use a financial calculator or spreadsheet to solve for the corpus needed. However, I can't directly provide financial product recommendations or perform calculations that require specific rates of return.

Scenario 2: 12 Years of Investment

Similar to scenario 1, you'll need to calculate the corpus considering a 12-year investment horizon.

Additional Considerations:

• Inflation: The purchasing power of your Rs 2 lakh monthly income will decrease over time due to inflation. You might need to increase your withdrawals gradually to maintain your standard of living.
• Investment Returns: The actual corpus will depend on the return you get on your investments. This can vary based on your chosen investment options.

Recommendations:

• Retirement Needs Assessment: Consider consulting a financial advisor to assess your retirement needs based on your lifestyle and future plans. They can help you with a more personalised calculation considering inflation and your risk tolerance.
• Investment Strategy: A financial advisor can also suggest an investment strategy to achieve your target corpus. This may involve a mix of equity and debt instruments to balance growth and stability.

Positive Aspects:

• You're taking a proactive approach to retirement planning by starting early and investing regularly.
• A Rs 2 crore corpus and a Rs 2 lakh monthly investment are good starting points.

Conclusion:

While it's difficult to say definitively without a detailed calculation, your plan has a good foundation for achieving your Rs 2 lakh monthly income target. Consulting a financial advisor can provide a more personalised assessment and help you fine-tune your strategy for a comfortable retirement.

Ans: You have a clear goal: building a corpus of Rs. 2 crore in 10 years for retirement. Your current investments include a diversified mix of mutual funds, direct equity, EPF, and FDs. You are also consistently investing through SIPs, which is a disciplined approach.

Appreciation for Discipline
Your commitment to SIPs and consistent saving in EPF and FDs shows your disciplined approach to investing. This is a strong foundation for long-term wealth creation.

Analysing Your Current Portfolio
Let's break down your existing portfolio to understand its alignment with your goal.

Mutual Funds:
You are investing Rs. 35,000 monthly across seven funds, which is well-diversified across large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap, and flexi-cap categories. Diversification is key to balancing risk and returns. However, certain aspects could be optimised.

Direct Equity:
Your Rs. 3 lakh investment in direct equity can offer potential high returns, but it also carries higher risk compared to mutual funds. It’s important to ensure that you are comfortable with this risk and are monitoring your portfolio regularly.

EPF:
Your EPF balance of Rs. 20 lakh is a significant component of your retirement planning. The regular contribution of Rs. 14,000 per month will continue to grow your corpus steadily, offering safety and tax benefits.

FDs:
With Rs. 6 lakh in FDs, you have a safe but low-return component in your portfolio. While this ensures liquidity and security, FDs generally offer lower returns compared to other options.

Evaluating Your SIP Choices
Your mutual fund selection includes a mix of index funds, mid-cap, large-cap, small-cap, flexi-cap, and contra funds. Here’s a quick assessment:

1. UTI Nifty 50 (Rs. 5,000):
Index funds like UTI Nifty 50 track the index closely, offering low-cost exposure to the market. However, index funds have limitations in flexibility and cannot adapt to market changes. Actively managed funds can potentially outperform in the long run.

2. Motilal Oswal Midcap (Rs. 5,000):
Midcap funds are great for long-term growth, but they come with higher volatility. Given your conservative profile, ensure you are comfortable with the fluctuations.

3. Parag Parikh Flexi Cap (Rs. 5,000):
This is a well-diversified fund, which can adapt to market conditions by investing across market caps. It’s a good choice for a balanced approach.

4. Motilal Oswal Large and Midcap (Rs. 5,000):
Large and midcap funds offer a blend of stability and growth potential. This fund can provide good returns over the long term while balancing risk.

5. Axis Small Cap (Rs. 5,000):
Small cap funds have high growth potential but also come with significant risk. Consider your risk tolerance carefully before continuing with this allocation.

6. Quant Active (Rs. 5,000):
This actively managed fund offers flexibility to navigate different market conditions, which is beneficial in volatile markets.

7. SBI Contra (Rs. 5,000):
Contra funds invest in undervalued stocks, which may take time to perform. While this can provide good returns, it also requires patience.

Recommendations for Optimisation
Based on your profile as a conservative investor, there are some areas where you can optimise your portfolio for better alignment with your goals.

1. Rebalance Your Portfolio:
Given your conservative nature, consider reducing exposure to high-risk funds like small-cap and mid-cap. Instead, allocate more to large-cap and flexi-cap funds, which offer a better balance of risk and return.

2. Consider Actively Managed Funds:
Actively managed funds can outperform index funds by making strategic investments based on market conditions. Replacing your index fund with an actively managed large-cap fund could enhance returns while still aligning with your conservative risk profile.

3. Increase Your SIP Contribution:
To achieve your Rs. 2 crore target, increasing your SIP amount will be crucial. Consider increasing your monthly SIPs by Rs. 10,000-15,000. This can significantly boost your corpus over 10 years.

4. Utilise Your Lumpsum Investment Wisely:
Your plan to invest Rs. 1-1.5 lakh yearly in mutual funds is wise. Spread this investment across well-performing flexi-cap and large-cap funds. This will ensure you are taking advantage of market opportunities while staying within your risk tolerance.

5. Monitor and Review Regularly:
Regularly reviewing your portfolio is essential. Markets change, and so do fund performances. Make sure to reassess your investments annually with the help of a Certified Financial Planner to ensure you stay on track.

Projecting Your Corpus Growth
With your current SIPs and an additional increase, along with your yearly lumpsum investments, you have a strong chance of reaching your Rs. 2 crore target. However, this projection assumes a steady market growth rate. Be prepared for market fluctuations and adjust your investments as needed.

Final Insights
Your disciplined approach and diversified portfolio set a solid foundation for achieving your retirement goals. By optimising your investments and increasing your SIPs, you can confidently work towards your Rs. 2 crore corpus in the next 10 years. Regularly review your portfolio, stay informed, and make adjustments as needed to stay on track.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

Ans: Hello;

Current MF corpus(40 L) may grow into 2.19 Cr after 15 years.

You need a sum of 10.5 Cr to generate post-tax monthly income of 3 L.

So for generating balance corpus of 8.31 Cr you may start a flat monthly sip of 1.55 L or begin with a monthly sip of 1 L with 10% step up every year for 15 years.

12% modest return is assumed from a combination of pure equity mutual funds.

A 4% SWP from the corpus(10.5 Cr) invested in equity savings fund with low to moderate risk rating would be apt to generate desired monthly income after tax.

Happy Investing;