Retirement Investing: Is My Portfolio on Track?

Ans: Your decision to invest Rs. 70,000 per month shows financial discipline and a clear focus on wealth creation. With a diversified portfolio spread across multicap, small-cap, midcap, contra, balanced advantage, and large-cap funds, your approach balances growth and stability. Let’s review the details:

Strengths in Your Portfolio
Multicap and Flexicap Funds: These funds provide flexibility to invest across all market capitalisations. They help capture growth opportunities while minimising risk.

Small-Cap and Midcap Exposure: Investing Rs. 20,000 (28.5%) in these categories offers high-growth potential. It is suitable for long-term wealth creation.

Balanced Advantage Fund: This allocation adds stability to your portfolio by balancing equity and debt exposure.

Contra Fund: Contrarian strategies can deliver good returns during market turnarounds.

Large-Cap Fund: Though Rs. 4,000 (5.7%) in large-cap may seem low, it provides a stable base for your portfolio.

Areas of Improvement
1. Overlapping Funds
Having multiple funds in similar categories (e.g., multicap and flexicap) may cause portfolio overlap.
This can reduce diversification and increase redundancy.
2. Underweight in Large-Cap
Large-cap funds offer stability during market corrections.
Your allocation of 5.7% is low for a balanced portfolio.
3. Balanced Advantage Fund Contribution
Rs. 4,000 (5.7%) in a balanced advantage fund is not substantial enough to impact portfolio stability.
4. Sectoral or Thematic Gaps
The portfolio lacks exposure to sectoral or thematic funds, which can enhance returns during specific market phases.
Recommendations for Optimising Your Portfolio
1. Increase Large-Cap Allocation
Allocate at least 10-15% of your monthly SIPs to large-cap funds.
This provides a strong foundation and reduces portfolio volatility.
2. Rationalise Fund Categories
Retain either the multicap or flexicap fund, as both serve similar purposes.
Consolidation can improve portfolio efficiency and reduce redundancy.
3. Optimise Small-Cap and Midcap Allocation
Limit small-cap and midcap exposure to 20-25% of your portfolio.
This balances growth potential with risk mitigation.
4. Increase Contribution to Balanced Advantage Fund
Increase the SIP in this fund to 10-15% of your portfolio.
This ensures better risk-adjusted returns during volatile markets.
5. Avoid Contra Overdependence
Keep the contra fund allocation to a maximum of 8-10%.
Monitor its performance regularly, as contrarian strategies may underperform in certain phases.
6. Consider International Funds
Include 5-10% exposure to international equity funds for geographical diversification.
This reduces dependence on the Indian market and provides global growth opportunities.
Tax Considerations for Your Plan
1. During the Investment Phase
Equity mutual funds are taxed at 12.5% LTCG for gains above Rs. 1.25 lakh annually.
Short-term capital gains (STCG) are taxed at 20%.
2. Post-Investment Phase
If you plan to withdraw systematically (SWP mode) after five years:
Withdrawals will attract LTCG or STCG based on the holding period of redeemed units.
Plan withdrawals strategically to minimise tax outflows.
Strategies for Your Rs. 42 Lakh Investment Over Five Years
Stick to SIPs: Continue with systematic investments to benefit from rupee cost averaging.
Rebalance Periodically: Review and rebalance your portfolio every 6-12 months.
Align with Goals: Ensure your investments match your risk tolerance and financial objectives.
Alternative Suggestions
1. Hybrid Funds
Consider hybrid funds that blend equity and debt for balanced growth and stability.
They are suitable if you seek moderate returns with reduced risk.
2. Systematic Transfer Plans (STPs)
Invest lump sums in liquid funds and transfer them systematically to equity funds.
This strategy reduces market timing risks.
3. Diversify Beyond Mutual Funds
Include options like gold ETFs, sovereign gold bonds, or government-backed schemes for better diversification.
Finally
Your portfolio is well-structured and shows a clear focus on long-term wealth creation.

Consolidate overlapping funds to improve efficiency.
Increase allocations to large-cap and balanced advantage funds for better stability.
Include geographical diversification through international funds.
Review your portfolio periodically and align it with your financial goals.
Work with a Certified Financial Planner to optimise fund selection and tailor a withdrawal strategy after five years.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment