Need Expert Advice?Our Gurus Can Help

Ramalingam Kalirajan |9854 Answers |Ask -Follow

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 20, 2024

Ramalingam Kalirajan has over 23 years of experience in mutual funds and financial planning.
He has an MBA in finance from the University of Madras and is a certified financial planner.
He is the director and chief financial planner at Holistic Investment, a Chennai-based firm that offers financial planning and wealth management advice.... more

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 20, 2024Hindi

Hello Sir, I am 49 and my Wife is 48. We have a total Net take home of Rs. Rs 2 Lakh/Month. We have combined corpus of around 1 Cr invested in MF, 5 lakh in Stocks, 55 lakh in PF, 20 lakh in NPS, 28 lakh in PPF/SSA. SIP of 39K per Month (mainly in direct equity Funds) with separate VPF Contribution of 17K (my Wife) apart from Yearly contribution in NPS/PPF. Our Annual Expenses are around 7-8 Lakh with around 9 lakh in Bank Accounts. I have a term insurance of 1.5 Cr currently with No loan. We need money for my daughter’s PG studies in 3 years (50 Lakh) and marriage in 10 years (50-70 lakh) , and my Son’s UG Education in 7 Years (30-50 Lakh). We hope to save 3 Cr for our retirement. Please suggest if we need to invest more or carry on with the current investment (with some changes).Thanks.

Ans: First, thank you for sharing your financial details. It’s great to see your commitment to securing your family’s future. Here’s a detailed analysis of your financial situation and investment strategy.

Current Financial Situation
Your monthly net take-home income is Rs 2 lakh. You and your wife have diligently saved and invested in various instruments, which is commendable.

Mutual Funds: Rs 1 crore
Stocks: Rs 5 lakh
Provident Fund (PF): Rs 55 lakh
National Pension System (NPS): Rs 20 lakh
Public Provident Fund (PPF)/ Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA): Rs 28 lakh
SIP: Rs 39,000 per month
Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF): Rs 17,000 per month
Bank Accounts: Rs 9 lakh
Annual Expenses: Rs 7-8 lakh
Term Insurance: Rs 1.5 crore
Future Financial Goals
Daughter’s Postgraduate Studies: Rs 50 lakh in 3 years
Daughter’s Marriage: Rs 50-70 lakh in 10 years
Son’s Undergraduate Education: Rs 30-50 lakh in 7 years
Retirement Corpus: Rs 3 crore
Savings and Investment Assessment
Mutual Funds
You have Rs 1 crore invested in mutual funds, with SIPs of Rs 39,000 per month. While investing in direct funds can save on commissions, regular funds through a certified financial planner (CFP) can offer better guidance and performance.

Disadvantages of Direct Funds:

Lack of professional guidance
Higher risk due to lack of diversified advice
Time-consuming to manage and monitor
Advantages of Regular Funds:

Expert management
Better diversification
Regular review and rebalancing by professionals
Stocks
Your investment in stocks stands at Rs 5 lakh. Direct equity can be volatile and requires constant monitoring. Given your financial goals, focusing more on mutual funds with a proven track record might be more beneficial.

Provident Fund and Voluntary Provident Fund
You have a significant amount in PF (Rs 55 lakh) and contribute Rs 17,000 monthly in VPF. PF offers a safe and steady return, suitable for long-term security.

National Pension System (NPS)
NPS is a good retirement savings option with tax benefits. However, you may need to review the asset allocation to ensure it aligns with your risk tolerance and retirement goals.

Public Provident Fund / Sukanya Samriddhi Account
Your investments in PPF/SSA (Rs 28 lakh) are excellent for long-term goals due to their tax benefits and steady returns.

Bank Accounts
You have Rs 9 lakh in bank accounts, which is good for liquidity and emergency funds.

Term Insurance
Your term insurance of Rs 1.5 crore is crucial for protecting your family’s future. Ensure the coverage is adequate considering inflation and your family’s lifestyle needs.

Financial Goals Strategy
Daughter’s Postgraduate Studies (3 years)
You need Rs 50 lakh in 3 years. Short-term goals should focus on low-risk investments.

Recommendation: Invest in short-term debt funds or fixed deposits. This ensures capital protection with moderate returns.
Son’s Undergraduate Education (7 years)
You need Rs 30-50 lakh in 7 years. Medium-term goals can tolerate moderate risk.

Recommendation: Invest in a balanced mix of equity and debt mutual funds. This offers growth potential with some stability.
Daughter’s Marriage (10 years)
You need Rs 50-70 lakh in 10 years. Long-term goals can afford higher risk for better returns.

Recommendation: Invest in equity mutual funds and consider systematic withdrawal plans (SWPs) closer to the goal. This strategy balances growth and risk.
Retirement Corpus (Rs 3 crore)
You aim for Rs 3 crore for retirement. You already have substantial investments towards this goal.

Recommendation: Continue with your current SIPs, VPF, and NPS contributions. Regularly review and rebalance your portfolio with a CFP’s guidance.
Optimizing Current Investments
Increase SIP Contributions
Consider increasing your SIPs as your income grows. This harnesses the power of compounding.

Review and Rebalance Portfolio
Regularly review your investments with a CFP to ensure they align with your goals and risk tolerance. Rebalancing helps maintain the desired asset allocation.

Diversify Investments
Diversify across various asset classes and sectors to mitigate risk. Avoid concentrating too much in one area.

Avoid Unnecessary Risks
Stay away from speculative investments. Focus on long-term, stable growth.

Emergency Fund
You have Rs 9 lakh in your bank accounts. Ensure this is enough to cover at least 6 months of expenses. You might want to keep part of this in a liquid fund for slightly better returns.

Insurance Coverage
Review your insurance coverage periodically. Ensure it covers all your family’s needs adequately.

Tax Planning
Leverage tax-saving instruments like ELSS funds, PPF, and NPS to maximize tax benefits while achieving your financial goals.

Final Insights
Your financial planning shows strong discipline and foresight. You’re on the right track but need minor adjustments.

Regularly consult a CFP for portfolio reviews.
Focus on balanced growth with risk management.
Keep updating your goals and strategies as needed.
Your dedication to securing your family’s future is commendable. Stay focused and keep planning proactively.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.