Hello. I am 41 years old and I am planning to open my own small business of food outlet as I was in same industry in next 3 month after planning of 1.5 years. Currently I have below savings. 4,00,000/- in NPS adding 5,000 each month. 6,00,000/- in PPF adding 5,000 each month. I have below SIP. Franklin India tax shield growth. Investment is 10,70,000/- and gain is 51,21700/- 5000 SIP. HDFC Defense fund regular growth. Investment is 33,000/- and gain is 15,538/- 3000 SIP. HDFC Flexi Cap Fund Direct growth. Investment is 5,48,000/- and gain is 11,70,600/- 4000 SIP. And also invested in below mutual funds as lumpsum. Aditya Birla sunlife Equity Hybrid fund growth. AXIS small cap fund regular growth. HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund direct growth HDFC Midcap opportunities fund regular growth HDFC NIFTY200 momentum index fund growth HDFC small cap fund direct growth HDFC top 100 fund direct growth ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund Growth Motilal Oswal large and mid cap fund growth Motilal Oswal small cap fund regular growth Nippon India multi cap fund retail plan growth Nippon India small cap fund growth Quant small cap fund regular growth SBI contra fund growth UTI MNC fund growth. Total Investment is 21,50,000/- and gain is 16,70,000/- which was reinvested by tax-harvesting in same mutual funds. Since my age of 25 I have started investing 10,000/- in NSC. And after maturing after 5 years add 15,000/- and make it round figure value in and then some same thing in my years of 35 to 40 years. Investing 25,000/- and made round five and invested in NSC. I get maturity of NSC on 1st of every month now. I have 25,00,000 as emergency fund kept in FDs in bank. And I have also invested if Rs. 12,00,000 in shares from which gain is of 6,00,000/- Investment in physical gold is 3,50,000/- from which gain is 35,00,000/- Investment in physical silver is 75,000/- from which gain is 3,50,000/- ULIP investment is 1,50,000/- and gain is 2,70,000/- My monthly income is the income which I receive from FDs and NSC maturation which I reinvest now. My expenses exceeds no more than 65,000/- which includes SIP investment and PPF and NPS investments. I have my own home which costs 98,00,000/- and 18 years of EMIs are pending which my wife is paying pending amount as we divide everything in home. I have 7 years old son who is studying in school. I want suggestion that can I retire now or should I start getting along with small business. As if I stay back home it will be very hard for me coz previously I used to work for more than 12 to 14 hours daily. Also do let me know if I need to change anything in my investment.

Ans: Congratulations on your diligent savings and investment journey! Your detailed financial portfolio reflects years of disciplined planning and prudent decision-making. It's impressive how you've diversified across various asset classes, including mutual funds, NSC, real estate, and precious metals.

Regarding your plan to start a small food outlet business, it's essential to assess your financial situation and risk appetite carefully. While your investments provide a strong financial cushion, transitioning to entrepreneurship requires thorough consideration of cash flow requirements, business risks, and potential returns.

Given your history of hard work and dedication, pursuing your entrepreneurial dream seems feasible. However, ensure you have a robust business plan in place, including financial projections and contingency measures. Additionally, consider consulting with a business advisor or mentor to validate your business idea and strategy.

Regarding your investments, your portfolio appears well-diversified, but it's always prudent to periodically review and rebalance based on changing market conditions and personal goals. Consider consulting with a Certified Financial Planner to ensure your investment strategy aligns with your long-term objectives, including retirement planning and your son's education.

Remember, entrepreneurship entails both opportunities and challenges, so proceed with careful planning and realistic expectations. Your determination and financial discipline will likely serve you well in this new endeavor. Wishing you success in your entrepreneurial journey!

Ans: Retirement Planning and Business Venture Analysis
Your comprehensive financial portfolio reflects diligent savings and diverse investments. Let's evaluate whether you can retire comfortably or should proceed with your small business venture, considering your financial situation and goals.

Retirement Readiness Assessment
Retirement Corpus:
NPS: ?4,00,000 + ?5,000 monthly
PPF: ?6,00,000 + ?5,000 monthly
SIPs and Mutual Funds: Diversified portfolio with substantial gains
NSC: Consistent investments
Emergency Fund: ?25,00,000 in FDs
Real Estate and Other Investments: Including shares, gold, silver, and ULIPs
Expenses and Liabilities:
Monthly Expenses: Within ?65,000, including investments
Home Loan: Being managed jointly with your wife
Business Venture Consideration
Pros:
Fulfillment of entrepreneurial aspirations
Potential for additional income and growth
Utilization of skills and experience in the food industry
Cons:
Risk of business failure or financial loss
Time and effort required may impact work-life balance
Uncertainty in initial business profitability
Retirement Decision and Investment Review
Retirement:
With your substantial investments and diversified portfolio, early retirement is feasible.
Regular review and rebalancing of investments may be necessary to ensure sustained income growth and stability.
Business Venture:
Proceeding with your small business can offer new opportunities for income and personal fulfillment.
Assess the financial viability and risks involved in the venture carefully before making a decision.
Investment Review:
Consider consolidating or reallocating investments based on your retirement goals and risk tolerance.
Seek professional advice to optimize your portfolio for retirement income generation and business investment.
Conclusion
Your financial prudence and diversified investments provide a strong foundation for retirement. Whether you choose to retire or pursue your small business venture, careful planning and periodic review of your investments are crucial for long-term financial security. Consider your personal aspirations, risk appetite, and financial goals before making a decision.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

Ans: Your dedication to disciplined saving is commendable. I see your goals are important and well-structured. Let me review your savings and guide you to achieve them. I will share insights, suggest changes, and ensure your plans are 360-degree focused.

Let’s look at each area carefully.

Current SIP Portfolio Review

Your SIP portfolio is quite diversified.

It includes large-cap, hybrid, small-cap, and flexi-cap funds.

The total monthly SIP is Rs 23,000, which is good.

But you have many small-cap funds.

Small-cap funds are more risky and can be volatile.

You should balance your funds by including more large-cap and hybrid funds.

Flexi-cap funds are good for diversification and can balance the risk.

Having too many funds can create confusion and overlap in investments.

It is better to streamline the number of funds to 4 or 5.

Regular review of SIP performance is essential every year.

Instead of direct funds, consider switching to regular plans.

Regular plans give you a Certified Financial Planner’s advice and help.

Direct funds do not have advisory support.

Without advice, wrong fund selection can lead to poor performance.

Paying a small fee in regular funds is worth the professional help.

This will help you achieve your goals in a planned manner.

Please consider this change for better results.

EPF and Retirement Planning

EPF contribution of Rs 22,000 per month is very good.

EPF is a safe and long-term product.

It will support your retirement well.

But you need Rs 1.5 crore after 10 years.

Your EPF will not be enough for this goal alone.

Your SIPs and EPF together can help if managed properly.

Retirement is your most important goal.

Do not compromise your retirement for other goals.

Keep your EPF untouched until retirement.

Avoid taking loans or early withdrawals from EPF.

This will ensure a secure future after retirement.

You should also increase your monthly SIP slowly.

Whenever your salary increases, increase your SIP by 10-15%.

This will help build a bigger retirement corpus.

Working with a Certified Financial Planner will ensure your retirement target is met.

Daughter’s Marriage Goal

You need Rs 20 lakh after 7 years for your daughter’s marriage.

This is a clear goal with a defined time horizon.

You should allocate a portion of your SIPs for this goal.

Avoid small-cap funds for this short-term goal.

Choose large-cap and hybrid funds with stable growth.

They are less risky and can meet the 7-year goal better.

Review the corpus every year.

Adjust the SIP amount if needed to meet the target.

Avoid withdrawing from this corpus early for other needs.

Keeping it separate ensures clarity and discipline.

Home Loan Repayment Goal

You need Rs 24 lakh after 8 years to close your home loan.

This is also a defined goal with a specific time frame.

Use hybrid funds and large-cap funds to accumulate this corpus.

Small-cap funds are too risky for an 8-year goal.

Review the home loan goal corpus every year.

Make sure your SIP allocation is enough to meet this goal.

If the goal is not on track, increase SIPs for this goal.

Prepaying home loan is a good idea as it saves interest costs.

Do not use retirement corpus for loan prepayment.

Keep your goals separate and focused.

Other Existing Investments

Sukanya Samriddhi of Rs 1000 per month is a great step for your daughter.

Continue this as it gives guaranteed returns and tax-free benefits.

PPF of Rs 1000 per month is a secure option.

Keep contributing to PPF for safe growth.

LIC policy is maturing in 2035 with Rs 10 lakh maturity value.

LIC policies are low-return plans.

It’s better to surrender them and reinvest in mutual funds.

ULIP and insurance-cum-investment policies do not give good returns.

By surrendering, you can put the money into mutual funds for better growth.

Keep Atal Pension Yojana as it gives pension benefits to you and your wife.

Do not rely only on this pension.

It should be seen as an extra source of income in retirement.

Your main retirement corpus will be your EPF and mutual funds.

Keep tracking and aligning these investments.

Streamlining Your SIPs and Fund Choices

You have 8 funds right now in SIP.

Too many funds lead to duplication and confusion.

I suggest reducing it to 4-5 funds.

Choose 1 large-cap fund, 1 hybrid fund, 1 flexi-cap fund, and 1 mid-cap fund.

This mix will give stability, growth, and manage risk.

Large-cap funds are more stable in volatile markets.

Hybrid funds balance equity and debt for steady returns.

Flexi-cap funds can adjust allocation based on market conditions.

Mid-cap funds can add some extra growth potential.

Avoid small-cap funds for short-term goals.

Small-cap funds can be volatile and risky in 7-8 years.

Keep small-cap exposure only for long-term retirement goal.

Reviewing your fund performance every year is critical.

Switch underperforming funds if needed after proper evaluation.

Disadvantages of Direct Funds

Direct funds do not involve advice or professional help.

Without help, you may choose funds based on wrong information.

Poor selection can lead to losses and not meeting your goals.

Market conditions change.

Without advice, you may miss opportunities or risks.

Investing through a Certified Financial Planner in regular funds ensures guidance.

Regular funds may have a small fee.

But this fee covers expert advice and goal tracking.

In the long run, this improves returns and reduces mistakes.

Direct plans are better for experts only.

For most investors, working with a CFP using regular plans is safer and more effective.

Taxation and Rebalancing

When you sell mutual funds, capital gains tax is applicable.

For equity funds, LTCG above Rs 1.25 lakh is taxed at 12.5%.

Short-term capital gains are taxed at 20%.

Debt funds are taxed as per your income slab.

Keep this in mind when withdrawing funds for goals.

Plan redemptions to minimise tax impact.

Rebalance your portfolio every year.

Rebalancing helps maintain the right mix of equity and debt.

It also keeps your risk in check and ensures smooth growth.

Your CFP can guide you on when and how to rebalance.

Risk Management and Emergency Planning

Always keep an emergency fund of at least 6 months’ expenses.

This can be in a liquid fund or a savings account.

Emergency fund protects your SIPs and long-term plans during tough times.

Your current insurance covers are good.

Keep them updated as family and income grow.

Health insurance is very important to avoid sudden big expenses.

Life insurance should be only term insurance for maximum cover at low cost.

Surrender any traditional insurance plans and ULIPs for better returns in mutual funds.

This will ensure your family is protected while wealth grows faster.

Finally

You have a strong habit of saving and investing.

Keep SIPs aligned with your goals and review them regularly.

Reduce the number of funds and switch to regular funds for better guidance.

Use large-cap, hybrid, flexi-cap, and mid-cap funds for balance.

Surrender LIC plans and reinvest for better growth.

Do not withdraw EPF and PPF. Let them grow for retirement.

Work closely with a Certified Financial Planner to track progress.

Increase your SIPs whenever income increases.

This small step will build a much bigger corpus over 10 years.

Follow this disciplined approach and stay patient.

You will achieve your goals with a secure and comfortable retirement.

Keep reviewing your goals every year.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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