28-Year-Old with 1-Month-Old Baby Seeks Investment Advice for Retirement and Future Goals

Ans: Assessing Your Current Financial Situation
You are 28 years old with a salary of Rs 1.2 lakh per month. You have a one-month-old baby and a dependent wife. Your current investments are:

PPF: Rs 50,000 annually
LIC: Rs 43,000 annually
NPS: Rs 50,000 annually
Mutual Funds: Rs 20,000 monthly
Nifty Index Fund: Rs 5,000
Axis Small Cap: Rs 5,000
Canara Robeco Small Cap: Rs 5,000
Quant Mid Cap: Rs 5,000
Your monthly expenditure is Rs 30,000, leaving you with Rs 90,000 for savings and investments.

Goal Setting
Retirement Corpus
You want to build a substantial corpus for retirement.

House Purchase
You plan to buy a house in the near future.

Car Purchase
You also intend to buy a car soon.

Current Investments Analysis
PPF: Provides tax-free returns and is a good long-term investment.
LIC: Traditional policies offer low returns. Consider evaluating its performance.
NPS: Offers tax benefits and helps build a retirement corpus.
Mutual Funds: Good mix of small-cap and mid-cap funds, but consider diversifying further.
Suggestions for Mutual Fund Investments
Diversification

Your current portfolio is heavy on small and mid-cap funds. Diversify by adding large-cap and multi-cap funds for stability.

Systematic Investment Plan (SIP)

Increase your SIP amount to make the most of compounding. Consider allocating Rs 40,000 per month to mutual funds.

Recommended Mutual Fund Portfolio
Large-Cap Fund

Monthly SIP: Rs 10,000
Reason: Provides stability and steady growth.
Multi-Cap Fund

Monthly SIP: Rs 10,000
Reason: Diversified exposure to large, mid, and small-cap stocks.
Balanced Advantage Fund

Monthly SIP: Rs 10,000
Reason: Balances between equity and debt based on market conditions.
Existing Funds

Continue with your current investments in small-cap and mid-cap funds.
Investment Strategy for House and Car
Short-Term Goals

For buying a house and car, focus on low-risk investments.

Recurring Deposits (RD)
Set up RDs for disciplined savings.

Debt Mutual Funds
Invest in short-term debt funds for better returns than savings accounts and FDs.

Fixed Deposits (FD)
Use FDs for guaranteed returns and safety.

Monthly Budget Allocation
Emergency Fund

Maintain an emergency fund covering 6 months of expenses.
Amount: Rs 1.8 lakh
Keep it in a high-interest savings account or a liquid mutual fund.
Investment Allocation

Mutual Funds: Rs 40,000 per month
NPS: Continue with Rs 50,000 annually
PPF: Continue with Rs 50,000 annually
LIC: Re-evaluate the policy and consider switching if returns are low.
Savings for House and Car

RD/FD/Debt Funds: Rs 20,000 per month
This will help you accumulate funds for a house and car.
Tax Planning
Section 80C

Maximize the Rs 1.5 lakh limit under Section 80C.
PPF, NPS, and ELSS investments are tax-efficient.
Health Insurance

Consider taking health insurance.
Premiums are tax-deductible under Section 80D.
Final Insights
Start Early: Investing early maximizes the benefits of compounding.
Diversify: A well-diversified portfolio balances risk and returns.
Review Regularly: Regularly review and adjust your investments.
Stay Disciplined: Consistent investments will help you achieve your financial goals.
Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in