Hi Sir My current age in 32 ,unmarried with monthly salary 1.4L. I am having a current portfolio value of 36L and pf around 5L this will also increase by 13000 every month till my job is there. Sips of total 45000 per month is going on and will continue this till I am working or not laid of and also I invest lump sum of 2L in MF whenever my salary savings account balance exceeds 3L, this will also continue till I have job. Can you please guide on how to plan further considering scenarios after getting married or staying unmarried both. I dont have any loan.

Ans: You are managing your money quite well at 32. Your monthly income of Rs. 1.4 lakhs is healthy. You are unmarried now and investing well. SIP of Rs. 45,000 monthly shows your discipline. A portfolio of Rs. 36 lakhs plus Rs. 5 lakhs in PF at this age is strong. No loans and no liabilities make your position even better. Let us plan further for your financial future.

You Are on a Good Track
You save and invest regularly without fail.

You are using surplus salary wisely.

Your PF contribution adds to long-term wealth.

You are preparing well for unknown situations.

Your current habits show maturity in money matters.

Let us build your plan further step by step. We will cover two paths — staying unmarried or getting married. Also, we will factor risk like job loss, lifestyle changes and future financial goals.

Define Your Life Goals First
Financial planning starts with goal setting. Define your short and long-term goals. These goals will guide your money decisions.

Short-Term Goals:

Building emergency fund.

Buying vehicle or gadgets.

Family responsibilities like parent support.

Foreign trips or higher studies.

Mid-Term Goals:

Marriage expenses (if applicable).

Buying a car for family or personal need.

Setting up own venture or moving cities.

Long-Term Goals:

Retirement planning.

Children’s education and marriage (if married).

Passive income generation.

Financial freedom before 50.

You may update these goals as life changes. Flexibility is key. But always align investments to your goals.

Continue SIP Discipline – But With Structure
Your SIPs are strong at Rs. 45,000 per month. That’s around 32% of your salary.

Key Recommendations for SIP Strategy:

Don’t increase SIP amounts randomly.

Link SIPs to specific financial goals.

Create buckets like wealth creation, home buying, retirement.

Use active mutual funds with diversified exposure.

Review performance every 12 months.

Continue SIPs even during market dips.

Why Not Index Funds?

Index funds copy the market blindly.

No flexibility in changing market cycles.

No fund manager to manage downside risk.

Lower returns compared to active funds in tough times.

Active Funds are Better Because:

Experts manage and review the portfolio.

Better strategy during correction periods.

Regular rebalancing for higher returns.

You get performance beyond market average.

So, active mutual funds should be your core SIP choice.

Lumpsum Strategy: Fine But Add Rules
You invest Rs. 2 lakhs lump sum when bank balance exceeds Rs. 3 lakhs. This is smart. But more rules will help you avoid over-investment or under-investment.

Lumpsum Investing Plan:

Set aside 6 months’ expenses in emergency fund.

Keep that amount untouched.

Invest excess only after maintaining emergency buffer.

Use lumpsum to top up specific goal-based mutual funds.

Avoid investing entire lump sum at once.

Use 3 to 6-month STP if market is high.

This keeps you safe during emergencies and market volatility.

Emergency Fund is Your First Shield
Your current income is stable. But job risk or health issue can come anytime.

Emergency Fund Rules:

Keep at least 6 to 9 months’ expenses.

Park in liquid funds or savings account.

Don’t invest this amount in market-linked instruments.

Build and maintain it always.

Helps you avoid breaking mutual funds.

This fund will support you if job loss or medical event occurs.

PF Is Good. But Don’t Rely On It Fully
Your EPF balance is around Rs. 5 lakhs and rising every month.

Things to Note:

PF grows slowly but safely.

Treat PF as retirement-only money.

Don’t plan short-term goals using PF.

Avoid premature withdrawal from EPF.

It gives you long-term compounding with tax benefit. So preserve it for retirement.

Risk Management is Equally Important
You have no loans or liabilities. But life risks must be covered.

Insurance Planning:

Buy term insurance for 20X your annual income.

You may not need it now, but get early for low premium.

Get health insurance with Rs. 10 lakh coverage.

Even if company provides cover, take personal one.

Add critical illness cover optionally.

This keeps you and your family safe from financial shocks.

Planning for Marriage Scenario
Marriage brings both joy and expenses. Let us prepare for both.

If You Get Married:

Joint financial planning becomes important.

Discuss money approach with partner early.

Align goals like home purchase, child planning, etc.

Create joint emergency fund after marriage.

Buy health insurance for both.

Increase life cover after marriage.

Start planning wedding expenses now if you wish to fund it. You may start a short-term SIP for this goal.

Planning for Staying Unmarried
If you choose to stay unmarried, your money goals are more personal.

What Changes Then:

No spouse or child responsibilities.

More control over your lifestyle choices.

Focus more on passive income and early retirement.

Invest more towards travel, hobbies or business.

In this case, create strong corpus for health and long-term care. Family support may be less later, so you must be independent financially.

Asset Allocation Strategy Based on Age and Goals
You are young and earning well. Your risk capacity is high now. Let us use that wisely.

Ideal Allocation Recommendation:

Equity mutual funds – 65% to 75%.

Hybrid funds – 15% to 20%.

Liquid/short-term debt funds – 5% to 10%.

Gold – 5% for diversification.

Rebalance every 12 to 18 months. Don’t chase returns blindly. Follow a system. Risk management matters more than returns.

Tax Planning Tips for Mutual Fund Investors
New mutual fund tax rules are important. Don’t ignore them.

Key Tax Points:

Long term gains on equity MFs above Rs. 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%.

Short term equity gains taxed at 20%.

Debt fund gains taxed as per income slab.

Always record purchase date and amount clearly.

Don’t redeem MFs blindly. Plan redemptions based on tax efficiency and goal requirement.

Avoid Direct Plans If Investing Alone
Some investors go for direct plans to save commission. But that can be risky without guidance.

Why Not Direct Plans:

You don’t get advice or monitoring.

You may select wrong funds.

You may exit during market crash.

No one guides you on goal alignment.

Why Regular Plans Through CFP or MFD:

You get personalised advice.

Funds are selected after analysis.

Regular reviews and corrections.

Better long-term outcomes with support.

Saving 1% commission can cost 20% return if wrong fund is selected. Always value advice.

Review Your Plan Once a Year
Financial planning is not one-time work. It needs yearly review.

Yearly Checklist:

Review mutual fund performance.

Check insurance coverage and nominees.

Update emergency fund amount.

Track your net worth growth.

Adjust SIPs based on income and goals.

Take help from Certified Financial Planner.

This keeps your plan aligned and efficient every year.

Final Insights
You are doing great at 32. Keep going strong.

Your habits show long-term thinking and care.

Stay focused on goal-based investments.

Structure your SIPs better.

Plan both personal and financial life ahead.

Buy right insurance products now itself.

Don’t chase high returns. Stay invested long.

Take professional help to align portfolio properly.

Always prepare for life changes with flexibility.

Money is your tool. Let it serve your future well.

Your journey can be smooth with the right system.

Stay consistent, stay disciplined, and stay goal-focused.

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