Hi my CTC is 1600001, my PF contribution is 95,988, My policies - 1,60,000, Tution fee -50000, Sukanya yojana - 25000, Atal pension - 7848, Rent - 2,40,000. What tax i need to pay and how i save my tax to do further Investment, Is home loan advisable for tax benefit in current scenario.

Ans: For a higher salary after proposal of Standard deduction and new slab rate under new regime, new tax regime is more beneficial. With CTC 21.5 lacs and housing loan deductions of Rs.2,00,000 for interest and Rs.1,50,000 for 80C (including housing loan principle); tax liability under new old regime will be Rs.3,37,500 and under new regime it will be Rs.3,30,000.

Ans: Assuming your loan of 40L with duration of 15yrs , the EMI will be 40k approx with interest component being 3.36L for the first year. The Old regime will still be beneficial in this case.

Ans: Optimizing Your Investment Strategy for Financial Goals
It's commendable that you have a clear vision for your financial future. Balancing a home loan, tax-saving investments, and building a corpus for property down payment requires a strategic approach. Let's evaluate your current investments and suggest improvements.

Evaluating Current Investments
You have diversified your investments across various mutual funds and ELSS schemes. This is a good start. Here’s a brief analysis of your portfolio:

Small Cap Funds: Investing Rs. 10K/month in small cap funds for 9 months shows an aggressive growth strategy. Small cap funds offer high returns but come with higher risk.

ELSS Tax Saver Funds: You have significant investments in ELSS to avail tax benefits under Section 80C. This is prudent as it serves dual purposes of tax saving and wealth creation.

PSU Equity Funds: Your recent investments in PSU equity funds suggest a strategic shift towards stability. PSUs can offer relatively stable returns and dividends.

Stock Investments: Your stock investments of Rs. 60K till date indicate a hands-on approach to wealth building. Stock picking requires research and time, which you seem committed to.

Financial Goals: Home Loan Closure and Down Payment Corpus
Closing Home Loan by 2028
To close your home loan by 2028, you need to focus on prepayment strategies. Prepaying your loan can significantly reduce the interest burden. Here’s how you can approach it:

Prepayment Plan: Allocate any annual bonuses, increments, or windfall gains towards loan prepayment. Even small prepayments can shorten the loan tenure.

Increase EMI Amount: If possible, increase your EMI by a small percentage each year. This reduces the principal faster.

Building a Corpus for Property Down Payment
You aim to accumulate Rs. 20 lakh for a property down payment. Given your investment horizon of 4-5 years, here’s a structured approach:

Systematic Investment Plan (SIP): Continue your SIPs but focus on a mix of mid-cap, multi-cap, and balanced funds. These funds balance growth and stability.

Monthly Investment: To accumulate Rs. 20 lakh, calculate the required monthly SIP amount. This should include a realistic growth rate based on past performance.

Optimizing Your Portfolio
Reviewing Fund Performance
Small Cap Funds: Continue with small cap funds but monitor their performance regularly. Small cap funds can be volatile, so stay updated with their performance and market trends.

ELSS Funds: Consolidate your ELSS investments if needed. Too many funds can lead to overlapping and diluted returns. Choose the best-performing ELSS funds and focus on them.

PSU Funds: Continue with PSU funds for stability and dividends. However, ensure they align with your risk profile and long-term goals.

Suggested Funds for Additional Investment
To invest an additional Rs. 20K per month, consider the following types of funds:

Multi-Cap Funds: These funds offer flexibility to invest across different market capitalizations, providing a balanced growth approach.

Balanced Advantage Funds: These dynamically adjust the allocation between equity and debt based on market conditions, offering stability with growth.

Mid-Cap Funds: Mid-cap funds offer a balance between the high risk of small caps and the stability of large caps.

Focused Equity Funds: These funds invest in a concentrated portfolio of high-conviction stocks, potentially offering high returns with a focused risk approach.

Hybrid Funds: These funds invest in both equity and debt instruments, providing balanced risk and return.

Creating a Diversified Portfolio
Sample Allocation
Multi-Cap Funds: Rs. 5,000/month
Balanced Advantage Funds: Rs. 5,000/month
Mid-Cap Funds: Rs. 5,000/month
Focused Equity Funds: Rs. 3,000/month
Hybrid Funds: Rs. 2,000/month
This allocation ensures diversification across various asset classes, reducing risk while aiming for optimal returns.

Regular Monitoring and Rebalancing
Regularly monitor your investments and rebalance your portfolio annually. This ensures your portfolio remains aligned with your financial goals and risk tolerance.

Conclusion
Your current investment strategy is well thought out. By optimizing your portfolio and focusing on a mix of funds, you can achieve your financial goals of closing your home loan and building a property down payment corpus.

Continue your disciplined approach, stay informed, and adjust your investments as needed. Seek guidance from a Certified Financial Planner for personalized advice and to stay on track with your financial journey.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

Ans: Income and Existing Investments
Annual Package: Rs 21 lakhs
Home Loan EMI: Rs 2.28 lakhs per annum
Insurance Investments: Rs 3.6 lakhs
Mutual Fund Investments: Rs 2 lakhs
Tax Saving Investments Under Section 80C
To maximize tax savings under Section 80C, you can invest up to Rs 1.5 lakhs per annum. Here’s a breakdown:

Existing Eligible Investments
Home Loan Principal Repayment: Part of your home loan EMI goes towards principal repayment, which qualifies under Section 80C.
Insurance Premiums: The Rs 3.6 lakhs in insurance schemes might include premium payments that are eligible under Section 80C.
Additional Investments Required
Calculate Existing Deductions: First, identify the portion of your EMI and insurance premiums that qualify for Section 80C. Let's assume your home loan principal repayment is Rs 1 lakh per annum and the insurance premiums are Rs 50,000 per annum.
Investment Suggestions for Additional Tax Savings
To fully utilize the Rs 1.5 lakhs limit, you need to invest an additional Rs 50,000.

Equity-Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS)
Benefits: ELSS funds offer tax savings and have the potential for high returns.
Lock-in Period: They come with a 3-year lock-in period, the shortest among all tax-saving options under Section 80C.
Public Provident Fund (PPF)
Benefits: PPF offers tax-free returns and is a safe investment option.
Lock-in Period: 15-year lock-in, but partial withdrawals are allowed after the 7th year.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)
Benefits: If you have a daughter, SSY is a good option with attractive interest rates and tax benefits.
Lock-in Period: Till the daughter turns 21 or gets married after the age of 18.
National Savings Certificate (NSC)
Benefits: NSC is a safe investment option with a fixed interest rate.
Lock-in Period: 5 years.
Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF)
Benefits: You can contribute more than your mandatory EPF contribution.
Returns: Similar to EPF returns and safe.
Other Tax-Saving Sections
Section 80D - Health Insurance Premium
Benefits: Deduction up to Rs 25,000 for self, spouse, and children. Additional Rs 25,000 for parents under 60 and Rs 50,000 if they are over 60.
Section 80E - Education Loan Interest
Benefits: Deduction on interest paid on education loans for higher studies.
Section 24 - Home Loan Interest
Benefits: Deduction up to Rs 2 lakhs on interest paid on home loan.
Review and Reallocate Existing Investments
Insurance Policies
Evaluation: Assess if your insurance policies are purely for investment or provide adequate life cover.
Reallocation: Consider surrendering or reducing investment-cum-insurance policies and reallocating to mutual funds.
Mutual Funds
Focus on Growth: Since your goal is wealth creation, consider allocating more to equity funds for higher growth potential.
Final Insights
Maximize Section 80C: Utilize the full Rs 1.5 lakh limit under Section 80C with a mix of ELSS, PPF, and SSY.
Diversify: Ensure your portfolio is diversified across different asset classes for balanced growth and risk management.
Regular Monitoring: Periodically review and adjust your investments to stay aligned with your financial goals.
Certified Financial Planner: Consider consulting a Certified Financial Planner for personalized advice and strategy.
Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP

Chief Financial Planner

www.holisticinvestment.in