Sir, I am a 50-year-old working in a private company. I own a house worth 1 crore, which is now loan-free, along with 3 lakh in mutual funds, 16 lakh in fixed deposits, and 10 lakh in the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF). I have 2 children, aged 18 and 12. How can I build up a monthly income of 1 lakh by the age of 58?
Ans: You are 50 years old and still working. You own a Rs. 1 crore home. It is loan-free. That is a great financial base. You also have Rs. 3 lakh in mutual funds, Rs. 16 lakh in fixed deposits, and Rs. 10 lakh in EPF. You want to build Rs. 1 lakh per month income by 58. That’s your retirement age. Let's plan in detail.
You have 8 years left. That’s enough time to build a strong monthly income. Let us plan step by step from all angles.
? Present Financial Snapshot
– Rs. 1 crore in residential property (not liquid).
– Rs. 3 lakh in mutual funds.
– Rs. 16 lakh in fixed deposits.
– Rs. 10 lakh in EPF.
Your liquid and semi-liquid assets total Rs. 29 lakh.
House is not counted for income generation here.
Because it is for your own use and not investment.
You have 2 children – age 18 and 12. Their education goals are close.
You must also keep funds for their education and possibly marriage.
So, your income goal and family needs must balance carefully.
? Target Income Assessment
– You want Rs. 1 lakh per month income after retirement.
– That is Rs. 12 lakh per year.
– And that is just in today’s cost level.
– After 8 years, you may need Rs. 1.7–2 lakh monthly.
– Because of inflation.
This means you must build a strong retirement corpus.
It must give inflation-protected income for 30+ years.
You need to save aggressively now.
And also grow your existing assets wisely.
? Asset Allocation Needs Correction
Right now, your money is mostly in low-growth instruments.
FD and EPF are safe. But their return is low.
They cannot beat inflation in the long run.
Rs. 16 lakh in FD is too much for someone planning income generation.
FDs give taxable interest. Real return is lower after tax.
EPF is helpful for long-term safety. But it is not enough.
Only Rs. 3 lakh in mutual funds is not enough.
You must increase your equity exposure immediately.
That is the only way to grow faster in the next 8 years.
? Mutual Funds Must Be The Growth Engine
You are currently underinvested in mutual funds.
Mutual funds give access to long-term equity growth.
You should invest monthly in good quality active mutual funds.
Avoid index funds. They simply copy the market.
Index funds hold weak companies also.
They fall heavily during market crashes.
Actively managed mutual funds are better.
They protect capital better during bad markets.
Their fund managers make changes when needed.
This gives better downside protection.
Always invest in regular mutual funds through MFDs backed by a Certified Financial Planner.
Direct funds may look cheaper. But they offer no guidance.
Most investors panic and stop SIPs or withdraw early.
That harms compounding.
With regular funds and a good advisor, you stay consistent.
You get personalised advice, reviews and rebalancing.
That is more valuable than saving a small fee.
? How Much Monthly SIP You Need
You are 50 now. You have 8 working years.
To build a strong income corpus, SIP is your best tool.
You should start SIP of at least Rs. 50,000 per month.
If possible, increase it to Rs. 60,000–70,000.
Use step-up SIP feature. Increase it by 10% yearly.
That gives compounding a big boost.
Don’t stop SIPs even if market falls.
Continue for next 8 years without fail.
Choose a mix of multicap, flexicap, and balanced equity funds.
They give better growth and smoother ride.
Add a small portion in debt mutual funds for short-term goals.
This creates flexibility without blocking too much in FD.
? Reallocation From FD to Mutual Funds
You have Rs. 16 lakh in FDs now.
That is too much for someone still working.
You can move Rs. 8–10 lakh from FD into mutual funds.
Do this gradually in 6–8 months using STP.
Do not shift all at once.
Use short-term debt funds to begin STP.
This allows smoother entry into equity.
Avoids the risk of investing large sum in one shot.
Remaining FD amount can be kept for emergency fund.
That ensures liquidity and peace of mind.
? Review of EPF
EPF is a good long-term safety net.
It gives stable, tax-free growth.
Do not withdraw it before age 58.
Let it grow till retirement.
It will become a useful pension backup.
You can use it to partly fund early years of retirement.
After that, mutual fund corpus can take over.
Don’t rely only on EPF. Use it as one part of the solution.
? Child’s Education and Other Family Goals
Your elder child is 18 now.
That means college education will need funds now.
Younger child will also need funds after 4–5 years.
Plan separately for their education.
Don’t touch retirement corpus for their studies.
Use short-term debt and balanced mutual funds for this.
Do not use FD fully. Keep education fund in hybrid form.
If scholarships or education loans are available, use them smartly.
This keeps your retirement plan on track.
Avoid using mutual funds built for retirement on their education.
Always separate goals by investments.
? Emergency Fund and Health Cover
Keep Rs. 3–4 lakh in liquid mutual funds or savings account.
This is your emergency buffer.
Do not mix this with investment funds.
Also check your health insurance status.
After retirement, medical cost will rise.
Make sure you have a separate personal health insurance.
Don’t rely only on employer policy.
Buy a Rs. 10–20 lakh health policy if not yet done.
Do this before 55. After that, health checks may make it hard.
Medical expenses can eat retirement savings if not planned.
? Building Retirement Corpus for Income
You want Rs. 1 lakh per month.
That is Rs. 12 lakh yearly need.
You must build a corpus that can support that spending.
Even if it grows at 9% and you withdraw 6%,
You need Rs. 2 crore–Rs. 2.5 crore at least.
So, you must combine current investments, new SIPs, and compounding.
Use mutual funds for main retirement income plan.
Split retirement funds like this:
– 60–70% equity mutual funds
– 20–25% balanced or hybrid funds
– 5–10% debt or liquid funds
This gives stability and growth both.
Use SWP (Systematic Withdrawal Plan) post retirement.
This gives monthly income. Also, it is tax-efficient.
But don’t start SWP immediately.
Build corpus first in growth option.
At 58, restructure into SWP-ready structure.
? Keep Reviewing Yearly
Your life situation may change in next 8 years.
Keep reviewing your financial plan every year.
Track goal progress, portfolio balance and tax changes.
Take help of Certified Financial Planner with MFD support.
They help you stay on track and avoid wrong decisions.
Don’t chase returns. Focus on right asset mix.
And consistent investing. That wins in the long run.
? Final Insights
You already have a house. That gives stability.
Your fixed deposits and EPF give safety.
But safety alone cannot give growth.
Rs. 1 lakh monthly income in retirement needs strong compounding.
You must now shift towards growth-oriented planning.
Start monthly SIPs right away.
Shift part of FDs to equity mutual funds.
Review and surrender any LIC or ULIP if you hold.
Plan children’s education separately.
Secure your health and emergency needs.
Build a 360-degree retirement income plan.
Don’t rely on one asset or one type.
Act now. You still have 8 good working years left.
Make each year count with disciplined investing.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment