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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 15, 2025

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
Ajitabh Question by Ajitabh on May 01, 2025
Money

Hello Sir , I have a monthly expenditure of 1 Lakh right now. Have 2 kids of 8 years and 5 years. Present investment 44 Lakh in Mutual funds, 14 lakh in stocks, PF 50 Lakh ( Adding 10 K extra employee contribution per month ) , SSY 1 11 Lakh, SSY 2 16 Lakh. I am doing SIP of 85 K per month, NPS ( 1LAKH at present) 9 K per month. SSY 1 and SSY 2 1.5 Lakh each yearly. My age is 41 and want to retire by 50. How much money do it need to live the same life style ? and will I be able to achieve by these investments?

Ans: You have a clear goal to retire by 50.

You also want to maintain your current lifestyle.

That is a strong clarity, which is the first step for good planning.

Now let us go step by step to assess your plan.

We will evaluate your current setup, goals, gaps and action points.

This will help you plan your retirement confidently.

Let us begin.

Understanding Your Monthly Expenses and Retirement Age
Your monthly expenses are Rs. 1 lakh now.

This means you spend Rs. 12 lakh in a year.

You plan to retire in 9 years from now.

After that, you will depend fully on your investments.

If expenses grow with inflation, they will double in around 10-12 years.

So, your post-retirement lifestyle will cost more than today.

This rising cost needs to be planned in advance.

Also, retirement will last for 35 to 40 years after age 50.

Hence, you need a big enough retirement corpus.

This corpus must grow, give monthly income, and last lifelong.

Current Investment Summary and Contribution Assessment
Let’s now understand your current assets and contributions.

Mutual Funds: Rs. 44 lakh

Stocks: Rs. 14 lakh

Provident Fund (PF): Rs. 50 lakh + Rs. 10,000 added monthly

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY 1): Rs. 11 lakh

SSY 2: Rs. 16 lakh

SIP in Mutual Funds: Rs. 85,000 per month

NPS: Rs. 1 lakh current value + Rs. 9,000 added monthly

SSY Annual: Rs. 1.5 lakh for each child, total Rs. 3 lakh per year

This is a very disciplined and forward-looking approach.

You are managing a wide basket of assets.

Now we will assess each one for suitability and effectiveness.

Evaluation of Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)
SSY is good for your daughters’ education or marriage.

It gives fixed returns and tax benefits.

It is locked till they turn 21 or marry after 18.

So, this money is not for your retirement.

Keep contributing as planned, since it’s for them.

But do not depend on SSY for your retirement.

Assessment of Provident Fund (PF)
PF is a strong, safe long-term tool.

It also gets tax-free interest.

Your contribution is healthy, and returns are stable.

But PF alone won’t be enough for post-retirement lifestyle.

Interest rates may reduce over time.

Inflation eats into the real value.

Continue contributing, but treat it as support income.

Review of NPS Account
NPS offers good tax savings.

It helps in long-term wealth creation.

But after 60, you can only withdraw 60% freely.

The rest must go into pension, which has restrictions.

NPS returns are market-linked, but with low flexibility.

Keep it for diversification, not main retirement funding.

Evaluation of Direct Stock Investments
You have Rs. 14 lakh in stocks.

Stocks are risky and volatile.

Managing stock portfolio needs time and expertise.

Avoid using stock returns for retirement expenses.

If confident, keep it to a small percentage only.

You can consider shifting some stock amount to mutual funds.

Assessment of Mutual Fund Investments
Your mutual fund investment is Rs. 44 lakh now.

You are adding Rs. 85,000 through SIP every month.

This is your strongest and most important wealth builder.

Mutual funds are flexible, diversified, and inflation-beating.

You must choose actively managed mutual funds through an MFD.

Avoid index funds as they give average returns only.

Index funds follow the market, so no active opportunity use.

Also avoid direct mutual funds if you are not a professional.

Direct funds do not provide advice or review support.

You can make costly mistakes without CFP or MFD guidance.

Go only with regular funds through a Certified Financial Planner.

They help in rebalancing, goal mapping, and fund selection.

This will increase the success of your retirement plan.

Lifestyle Expectation and Retirement Corpus Need
You spend Rs. 1 lakh a month today.

By age 50, your expenses may become Rs. 1.7 lakh monthly.

After 10 years of retirement, that could go to Rs. 3 lakh monthly.

So you need a retirement corpus that can handle these needs.

It should give monthly income and still grow.

It should last till age 90 or 95.

For that, you will need a corpus of at least Rs. 5 to 6 crore.

This estimate considers inflation, returns, and longevity.

Are You on Track to Reach Retirement Goal?
Let’s now assess your future corpus based on present efforts.

You already have around Rs. 1.35 crore in different assets.

You are investing about Rs. 1.2 lakh monthly (SIP, PF, NPS, SSY).

You have 9 years to grow these assets.

If you continue with same discipline, your corpus may cross Rs. 5 crore.

However, only mutual funds and part of PF should be used for retirement.

SSY and part of PF are for children or other fixed uses.

Your mutual fund SIP will play the most important role.

Ensure regular review and rebalancing with a CFP.

Keep increasing your SIP by 5% to 10% yearly.

You can stop NPS after retirement age of 50, as it matures at 60.

Do not depend on NPS pension fully post-retirement.

Stock investments can be reviewed and partly shifted to funds.

Investment Strategy to Reach Retirement Goal
Use goal-based investment for each need: Retirement, Kids’ Education, and Emergency.

Retirement goal must be your top priority now.

Divide your corpus as per time horizon.

Invest long-term money in equity mutual funds.

Use balanced or hybrid mutual funds near retirement.

Avoid investing in annuities. They have low returns and less flexibility.

Keep 2 years of expenses in liquid or low-risk funds post-retirement.

Start a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) after retirement.

This gives regular income with tax efficiency.

SWP from mutual funds beats bank interest or pension plans.

Review all investments once every year with a CFP.

Children’s Future Planning
You are saving Rs. 3 lakh every year in SSY.

This is a great decision for their future.

Also consider child-specific mutual funds for flexibility.

Their higher education needs will begin in 10 to 12 years.

SSY matures after 21 years of age.

Plan mutual funds to fill the gap for education if needed.

Do not stop SSY. Continue it till maturity.

Avoid touching retirement money for kids’ education.

Emergency Planning and Insurance Check
You must create an emergency fund.

Keep at least 6 months’ expense in liquid fund.

That is Rs. 6 lakh in your case.

Do not touch this for investments or expenses.

You have Rs. 10 lakh health insurance.

This is good. But check if it covers all family members fully.

Also keep a term insurance policy for your life.

This protects your family in case something happens to you.

Debt Management and Loans
You did not mention any home loan or other loans.

This is a positive situation.

No loan burden means better cash flow for investment.

Avoid taking personal loans or education loans in future.

Plan all big expenses in advance and use goal-based investment.

Finally
You are already doing very well with your savings.

Your SIP, PF and SSY contributions are focused and regular.

Your awareness about retirement at age 50 is strong.

To reach your goal confidently, increase SIP every year.

Avoid index funds and direct mutual funds. Stick to regular active funds.

Keep reviewing the portfolio once a year with a CFP.

Do not depend on NPS or stocks for post-retirement income.

Build your corpus mainly through mutual funds.

Start SWP once you retire, and use low-risk funds for liquidity.

You can live your current lifestyle post-retirement with this disciplined approach.

Just stay consistent and review regularly.

This plan gives you a strong chance of financial independence by age 50.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 25, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 16, 2024Hindi
Money
Hi, I am 28 years old. I earn 1 lakh monthly & have no savings as of now. I am bachelor and no plans of marriage as I want to retire at 35 & start my spiritual journey. I don't have any loans. I have started SIP of 30k per month with 10% increase every year. My current expenses are around 15k per. I am expecting per month expenses of around 30k per month including inflation after 7 yrs when I retire at 35. I have my term life insurance & health insurance already in place by my parents. Let's assume I live till the age of 80 yrs. What courpus of money should I have to live comfortable life & how to plan for that? Thanks.
Ans: Planning to retire early, especially by 35, and then leading a spiritual life is a unique and commendable goal. I appreciate your focus and dedication. Let’s dive into how you can achieve this dream step by step, ensuring you have enough to live comfortably until 80 years.

Understanding Your Financial Needs
To start with, let's break down your financial journey and requirements.

Current Financial Situation:

You earn Rs. 1 lakh monthly, with no current savings but a clear investment plan.

Your monthly expenses are around Rs. 15,000, which is quite manageable given your income.

Investment Strategy:

You've started a SIP of Rs. 30,000 per month, which is a solid move.

Increasing it by 10% annually is wise and shows foresight in managing inflation and growing your investments.

Future Expenses:

You expect monthly expenses to rise to Rs. 30,000 in 7 years, accounting for inflation.

This seems reasonable given typical inflation rates and your lifestyle expectations.

Long-Term Financial Goal:

You plan to retire at 35 and need funds to last till 80, which is 45 years.
Estimating the Required Corpus
To live comfortably after retirement with an expected Rs. 30,000 monthly expense adjusted for inflation, you need to calculate how much you’ll need saved up. Let’s break it down:

Monthly Expenses in Future Terms:

At retirement in 7 years, Rs. 30,000 is your expected monthly need.

Considering an annual inflation rate of around 6%, Rs. 30,000 today would likely equate to Rs. 45,000 in 7 years.

Annual Expenses:

Your annual expenses would be Rs. 45,000 x 12 = Rs. 5,40,000.
Corpus Calculation:

You’ll need to cover 45 years of these expenses.

A rough estimate would suggest you need Rs. 5,40,000 annually, multiplied by the number of years you expect to live post-retirement.

To factor in inflation and ensure your corpus lasts, we use the "4% rule" in reverse to calculate the required corpus.

According to this rule, to withdraw Rs. 5,40,000 annually, your corpus should be 25 times this amount, i.e., Rs. 5,40,000 x 25 = Rs. 1.35 crores approximately.

To account for inflation and other contingencies, it’s safe to aim for a corpus of Rs. 2 crores.

Strategic Investment Approach
Given your goal, let’s outline a robust investment strategy:

Continue with SIP:

Your current SIP of Rs. 30,000 is a great start. With a 10% annual increase, it will significantly grow your corpus.

By investing in equity mutual funds, you can expect returns averaging 12% per annum over the long term.

Use a combination of large-cap, mid-cap, and flexi-cap funds to diversify and maximize returns.

Increase Contributions:

As your income grows, try to save and invest more than the planned 10% increase.

The more you can invest now, the more compounding will work in your favor.

Diversify Investments:

Consider adding debt funds or balanced funds to reduce risk and provide stability.

As you near retirement, gradually increase your exposure to safer, less volatile assets.

Emergency Fund:

Maintain a separate emergency fund to cover at least 6 months of your expenses.

This fund should be in a highly liquid form like a savings account or a short-term fixed deposit.

Monitoring and Adjusting Your Plan
Regularly reviewing and adjusting your financial plan is crucial to stay on track. Here’s how to keep your plan aligned with your goals:

Annual Review:

Annually review your investments and financial situation. Assess whether you’re on track to meet your retirement corpus goal.

Adjust your SIP contributions if you can afford to increase them more.

Rebalance Portfolio:

Periodically rebalance your investment portfolio to maintain your desired asset allocation.

This ensures that you are not overly exposed to one asset class, minimizing risk.

Stay Updated on Financial Goals:

Keep yourself informed about changes in the financial markets and economic conditions.

Adapt your investment strategy to any major shifts that could impact your goals.

Benefits of Actively Managed Funds
When it comes to building a corpus for early retirement, actively managed funds have distinct advantages over index funds:

Higher Potential Returns:

Actively managed funds aim to outperform the market, providing higher returns over the long term.

Skilled fund managers can leverage market opportunities, especially in a growing economy like India.

Flexibility:

These funds can adapt to changing market conditions, investing in sectors or stocks that are expected to perform well.

This dynamic approach is particularly beneficial when planning for a significant goal like early retirement.

Professional Management:

Investing through a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) ensures you get expert advice tailored to your needs.

CFPs help in selecting the right funds and managing your portfolio effectively.

Disadvantages of Direct Funds
While direct funds save on distributor fees, they have some drawbacks, especially for someone planning an early retirement:

Complexity and Time Commitment:

Managing direct funds requires significant time and expertise in selecting and monitoring investments.

Without professional guidance, it’s easy to make mistakes that could impact your financial goals.

Lack of Personalized Advice:

Direct investors miss out on personalized financial advice and strategies provided by an MFD or CFP.

Expert advice is crucial in complex financial planning, especially for early retirement.

Stress and Uncertainty:

The responsibility of tracking and managing investments can be stressful, especially without a financial background.

Having a CFP ensures peace of mind and confidence in your financial plan.

Preparing for Non-Financial Aspects of Retirement
Financial planning is crucial, but preparing for retirement involves more than just money:

Define Your Post-Retirement Goals:

Clearly outline your plans for your spiritual journey and lifestyle after retirement.

This clarity will help you align your financial goals with your life goals.

Health and Wellness:

Maintain a healthy lifestyle to ensure you can enjoy your retirement years.

Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and mental well-being practices are essential.

Stay Engaged and Active:

Plan activities or hobbies that keep you engaged and fulfilled during retirement.

This could include volunteering, traveling, or pursuing personal interests.

Build a Support System:

Cultivate a strong social network to provide emotional support and companionship.

Staying connected with family, friends, and community can enhance your retirement experience.

Final Insights
Your goal of retiring at 35 to pursue a spiritual journey is inspiring. With focused planning and disciplined investing, you can achieve it. Here’s a summary to keep you on track:

Target Corpus:

Aim for a retirement corpus of at least Rs. 2 crores to ensure a comfortable life till 80.
Strategic Investing:

Continue with your SIP, increasing it annually. Diversify your portfolio with a mix of equity and debt funds.
Professional Guidance:

Leverage the expertise of a Certified Financial Planner to optimize your investments and achieve your goals.
Regular Monitoring:

Review your financial plan annually and adjust your investments as needed.
Balance Financial and Non-Financial Planning:

Prepare for the lifestyle and emotional aspects of retirement, ensuring a fulfilling and rewarding journey.
By following these steps and maintaining a disciplined approach, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your dream of early retirement and embarking on your spiritual journey.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 23, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 13, 2025
Money
Age 37 and retirement age 60 . Having corpus of 45 lakh with me in mutual fund stocks and gold . Having 1 5 years old son and wife together living. Monthly expenses are 55 k and investing 35K in MF out of total monthly earning 90K. how much amount I need after retirement to live comfortably life.
Ans: You are 37 now. You plan to retire at 60. That gives you 23 years to invest. You are already doing well with a Rs. 45 lakh corpus and Rs. 35K SIP.

Let us now assess how much you may need post-retirement to maintain a comfortable lifestyle.

 

Understanding Your Current Lifestyle
You spend Rs. 55K per month now.

 

That equals Rs. 6.6 lakh per year.

 

Your family includes your wife and 15-year-old son.

 

Your lifestyle may not reduce drastically post-retirement.

 

In fact, medical and personal expenses may go up.

 

So, we must plan inflation-adjusted future needs.

 

You have 23 years until retirement.

 

Inflation may reduce the value of money every year.

 

Assuming average lifestyle inflation, your future needs will increase.

 

Estimating Retirement Corpus Required
With 6% inflation, Rs. 55K/month becomes about Rs. 2.1 lakh/month in 23 years.

 

That means you will need about Rs. 25 lakh annually after retirement.

 

Post-retirement, you may live till 85. That means 25 years of retired life.

 

For 25 years, you’ll need income generation from your corpus.

 

This should beat inflation and also give you a steady income.

 

Therefore, your target corpus should ideally be Rs. 4 crore to Rs. 5 crore.

 

This range considers inflation, life expectancy, healthcare, and travel goals.

 

Evaluating Your Current Position
You have Rs. 45 lakh saved already. That’s a great start.

 

You invest Rs. 35K monthly in mutual funds.

 

You have a stable income of Rs. 90K/month.

 

Your savings rate is 39%. Very impressive.

 

You have disciplined investing behaviour.

 

You are also diversified into gold and stocks.

 

This gives a strong base for compounding.

 

Assuming a balanced risk profile, you can aim for 10-12% annual returns.

 

Over 23 years, your current savings and SIPs can help you reach your target.

 

Suggestions to Maximise Retirement Readiness
Continue Rs. 35K SIP monthly without fail.

 

Gradually increase SIP amount by 5-10% every year.

 

This will match inflation and grow your contribution.

 

Shift equity-heavy funds to moderate risk 5 years before retirement.

 

Ensure you hold diversified mutual funds managed by reputed AMCs.

 

Avoid index funds. They only copy the market.

 

Index funds don’t protect you in falling markets.

 

Actively managed funds aim to beat the market.

 

A skilled fund manager can control downside.

 

Direct mutual funds seem low-cost. But they miss human guidance.

 

A Certified Financial Planner-backed MFD can guide with proper rebalancing.

 

You will need help during market falls.

 

Regular plan through MFD with CFP gives personalised support.

 

Avoid real estate as an investment. It lacks liquidity.

 

Real estate also has tax, maintenance, and legal hassles.

 

Instead, focus on mutual funds, gold, and debt allocation.

 

You can also add PPF and NPS for retirement safety.

 

Allocate 10-15% of savings into gold as a hedge.

 

Ensure your emergency fund is ready for 6-12 months of expenses.

 

Don’t forget health insurance with Rs. 10-25 lakh cover.

 

It will reduce medical pressure post-retirement.

 

Consider term insurance until your child becomes financially stable.

 

You can surrender any LIC or ULIP policies.

 

Reinvest surrender amount into mutual funds for higher growth.

 

Set goal-wise buckets for wealth creation, son’s education, and retirement.

 

Review your plan with a Certified Financial Planner every year.

 

Don’t chase returns. Focus on consistency and time in market.

 

Compounding works best with patience and discipline.

 

Rebalance portfolio once a year. Reduce risk as age increases.

 

Keep your wife involved in your financial planning.

 

Teach your son about basic finance. It’ll help him in future.

 

Income Strategy Post Retirement
Use Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) for monthly income.

 

SWP gives you monthly income from mutual funds.

 

It’s tax-efficient compared to fixed deposits.

 

SWP from equity funds has new tax rules.

 

Long term capital gains above Rs. 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%.

 

Short-term gains taxed at 20%.

 

SWP can be created from balanced or multi-cap funds.

 

Mix it with debt funds for safety and lower volatility.

 

Plan 3 income buckets – Immediate, Medium, Long-Term.

 

Immediate (0-5 yrs) – keep low-risk debt and liquid funds.

 

Medium (5-10 yrs) – hold balanced and flexi-cap funds.

 

Long term (10+ yrs) – invest in small and mid-cap funds.

 

This strategy protects capital while providing income.

 

Tax planning must be done smartly to reduce outgo.

 

Withdraw money in tax-smart way from various buckets.

 

You can use HUF account for tax savings if applicable.

 

Steps You Can Take Now
Make a written goal for Rs. 4 to 5 crore retirement corpus.

 

Continue monthly SIP of Rs. 35K. Increase yearly if possible.

 

Keep investing bonus and lump sum into mutual funds.

 

Do not pause SIPs during market falls.

 

Track goal progress every 2-3 years.

 

Match asset allocation as per life stage.

 

Buy health insurance separately for self and wife.

 

Plan your son’s higher education with a separate corpus.

 

Avoid using retirement fund for child’s education.

 

Keep estate planning documents updated.

 

Write a Will. Nominate family across all accounts.

 

Keep records of mutual funds, stocks, insurance in one place.

 

Inform spouse about everything.

 

This reduces family stress in your absence.

 

Treat retirement planning as life goal, not just financial goal.

 

Retirement is your longest holiday. Plan it with joy.

 

Discipline + time + patience = financial freedom.

 

Finally
You are already doing very well. Your monthly investments are strong. Expenses are controlled. Lifestyle is modest and focused.

You need around Rs. 4 to 5 crore corpus. This will help you live comfortably post 60.

You have 23 years. That’s enough time to build this corpus. You must continue with focused discipline. And review your plan regularly with a Certified Financial Planner.

This way, your retirement will be peaceful. And full of freedom.

 

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

..Read more

Sunil

Sunil Lala  | Answer  |Ask -

Financial Planner - Answered on Jul 22, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 19, 2025Hindi
Money
Hi, I am 37 years old, married but no kids. Plan to have a kid in next 18-24 months. My current investments include 25lakh in PPF, 45 lakh in EPF, 98 lakh in MF, 20 lakh in stocks and 50 lakh in NSC/KVP, 15 Lakh in NPS & 10 Lakh SGB. My monthly in hand is 2.5 Lakh. My SIP is 60k per month spread across 8 MFs including Index, MidCap, BlueChip & Arbitrage funds. Have a car loan with 40k EMI. My monthly expenses are approx. 75k. With a kid planned in 18-24 months and monthly expenses growing to 1.25 lakh. I have my own house and have no EMIs for it. Major future expenses shall include 1 international trip once in every 2 years (approx 3 lakh at current value each trip post retirement), kids education (20 lakh for Grad & 50 lakh for PG at current value) , marriage (approx 30-40 lakh @ current value) etc. How much savings do I need to safely retired by 48-50. Also, by how much shall I increase my SIP to achieve financial independence by 48-50 years with Life expectancy until approx. 75 yrs.
Ans: Hello, you have a lot of money parked in investments that are not liquid at all. For eg, money locked in PPF, EPF (70L) is not considered a liquid asset and may pose a problem in case need arises in near future. Also, 50L in NSC/KVP, 15L in NPS and 10L in SGB are investments that are not yielding optimum returns. You have 98L worth of MFs and I'm sure you have seen the growth rate, and even after seeing that you have decided to lock your money in low yielding assets that are barely beating the inflation. Your SIP decisions of Index funds, Bluechips and Arbitrage funds are also ineffecient since you have a lot of investible time in your hand to make generational returns over long periods of time.
I understand your financial goals w.r.t to your child and retirement, but there still seems some data that may be required on my end in order to help you with apt advice about planning for the future. But as of now, from the data you have shared, I would humbly advice you to stop investing in assets that are illiquid in nature or are not yielding optimum returns for you like investments in PPF, EPF, NPS, NSC and SGBs.
I'll be very happy to discuss more with you about your scenario, and if you are interested do have a look at my website www.slwealthsolutions.com

..Read more

Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |233 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 18, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 17, 2025
Money
I am 42 year old, with two kids 12 and 3. I have 4 lakhs in stock and mutual fund. I am trying to keep sip investment 25000 every month. 13 lakhs in PF. My house loan is 5600000 and EMI is 49000 for 30 years. I want to retire at age of 60. I want 2 crores at the time of retirement after the th amount required for kids education. I am expecting 20 lakhs for kids education. How much I need to invest per month.
Ans: Dear sir,

???? Your Current Snapshot

Age: 42 (Retirement target: 60 → 18 years left)

Kids: Age 12 & 3 (education goal upcoming in ~6 years & ~15 years)

Current Assets:

PF: ?13 lakhs

Stocks + MF: ?4 lakhs

SIP: ?25,000/month ongoing

Liability: Home loan ?56 lakhs, EMI ?49,000 (30 years – but practically, should be cleared before retirement).

Goals:

Kids’ education: ?20 lakhs (in today’s value)

Retirement corpus: ?2 crores at 60

???? Kids’ Education Goal

Let’s assume 8% inflation in education costs.

For 12-year-old: need in ~6 years
?20 lakhs × (1.08^6) ≈ ?31.7 lakhs

For 3-year-old: need in ~15 years
?20 lakhs × (1.08^15) ≈ ?63.4 lakhs

Total future requirement: ~?95 lakhs

???? Education needs itself are close to ?1 crore.

???? Retirement Goal

You want ?2 crores at age 60.
Let’s assume your MF equity SIP earns 11% annualized return.

Future value of existing PF (?13 lakhs @ 7% for 18 years) ≈ ?44 lakhs
Future value of current ?4 lakhs (equity @ 11%) ≈ ?22 lakhs

So without any extra investment, you already have ~?66 lakhs growing.

To reach ?2 crores, you need another ?1.34 crores in 18 years.

At 11% returns, SIP needed ≈ ?32,000/month

???? Putting Together

For Education:
To accumulate ~?95 lakhs in 6–15 years, you need separate investments:

6 years horizon (child 1) → equity + debt hybrid, SIP ≈ ?35,000/month

15 years horizon (child 2) → equity oriented, SIP ≈ ?15,000/month

For Retirement:
SIP required ≈ ?32,000/month (equity funds).

? Total SIP required = ?82,000/month

Currently you’re investing ?25,000/month. You’ll need to step up gradually (every year increase SIP by 10–12%).

???? Key Suggestions

Separate Buckets

Education funds → don’t mix with retirement SIPs.

Use debt/equity mix depending on time horizon.

Step-up SIP

If you start at ?25k now and increase by 10% yearly, by 18 years you’ll still reach close to goals.

But be disciplined to increase annually.

Loan Strategy

Try to reduce tenure of home loan. Clearing it before retirement is critical.

Any bonuses/surplus should partly go towards prepayment.

Insurance Check

Take adequate term life cover (at least ?1–1.5 crore).

???? To sum up:

Education: ~?50k/month (combined for both kids)

Retirement: ~?30–32k/month

Adjust with step-up SIPs if not possible immediately.

It is strongly recommended to consult a QPFP/Financial Planner to work on detailed cash flow budgeting, expense control, and long-term goal planning tailored to your family’s needs.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme related documents carefully before investing.

Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
https://members.networkfp.com/member/naveenkumarreddy-vadula-chennai

..Read more

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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 06, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 06, 2025Hindi
Money
Dear Sir/Ma'am, I need some guidance and advice for continuing my mutual fund investments. I am a 36 year old male, married, no kids yet and no debts/liabilities as such. I have couple of savings in PPF, NPS, Emergency funds and long term investing in direct stocks. I recently started below mentioned SIPs for long term to grow wealth. Request you to review the same and let me know if I should continue with the SIPs or need to rationalize. Kindly also advice on how to invest a lumpsum amount of around 6lacs. invesco small cap 2000 motilal oswal midcap 2700 parag parikh flexicap 3000 HDFC flexicap 3100 ICICI prudential largecap 3100 HDFC large and midcap 3100 HDFC gold etf FOF 2000 ICICI Pru equity and debt fund 3000 HDFC balanced advantage fund 3000 nippon india silver etf FOF 2000
Ans: You already built a solid foundation. Many investors delay planning. But you started early at 36. That gives you a strong advantage. You have no liabilities. You have long term thinking. You also have diversified savings like PPF, NPS, Emergency funds and direct stocks. That shows clarity and discipline. This approach builds wealth with less stress over time.

You also started systematic investments in equity funds. That is a positive step. Your selection covers multiple categories like large cap, mid cap, small cap, flexi cap, hybrid and precious metals. So the intent is right. You are trying to create a broad portfolio. That gives balance.

» Your Portfolio Composition Understanding
Your current SIP list includes:

Small cap

Mid cap

Flexi cap

Large cap

Large and mid cap

Hybrid category

Gold and Silver FoF

Equity and Debt allocation fund

Dynamic hybrid fund

This shows you are trying to cover many segments. But too many categories can create overlap. When there is overlap, you get confusion during review. It also makes portfolio discipline difficult. You may think you are diversified. But the holdings inside may repeat. That reduces efficiency.

Your portfolio now looks like:

Equity dominant

Hybrid for stability

Metals for hedge

So the broad direction is fine. But simplifying helps in long-term habit building.

» Fund Category Duplication
You hold:

Two flexi cap funds

One large and mid cap fund

One pure large cap fund

One mid cap fund

One small cap fund

Flexi cap funds already invest across large, mid, small. Then large and mid also overlaps. So the large cap exposure gets repeated. That may not add extra benefit. But it increases monitoring complexity.

So I suggest rationalising. Keep one fund per category in core. Keep satellite space for only high conviction.

» Core and Satellite Strategy
A structured portfolio follows core and satellite method.

Core portfolio should be:

Simple

Long term

Stable

Satellite portfolio can be:

High growth

Concentrated

Based on your thinking level, you can structure like this:

Core funds:

One large cap

One flexi cap

One hybrid equity and debt fund

One balanced advantage type fund

Satellite funds:

One mid cap

One small cap

One metal allocation if needed

This division gives clarity. You can continue SIPs with review every year. No need to stop and restart often. That reduces behavioural mistakes.

» Your Current SIP List Review with Suggested Streamlining

You can consider continuing:

One flexi cap

One large cap

One mid cap

One small cap

One balanced advantage

One equity and debt hybrid

You may reconsider keeping both flexi caps and both gold silver funds. One of each category is enough. Because too many funds do not increase returns. It complicates tracking.

Precious metal funds should not be more than 5 to 7 percent in your portfolio. This is because metals are hedge assets. They do not create compounding like equity. They act as protection during cycles. So keep them small.

» How to Use the Rs 6 Lakh Lump Sum
You asked about lump sum investing. This is important. Lump sum should not go fully into equity at one time. Markets move in cycles. So use a staggered method. You can invest the lump sum through STP (Systematic Transfer Plan). You can keep the amount in a liquid fund and set STP toward your chosen growth funds over 6 to 12 months.

This reduces timing risk. It also creates discipline. So your Rs 6 lakh can be deployed gradually. You may use 50% towards core equity funds and 30% toward satellite growth category. The remaining 20% can go into hybrid category. This gives balance and comfort.

» Regular Funds Over Direct Funds
One important point many investors miss. Direct funds look cheaper. But they demand deep knowledge, discipline, and behaviour control. Most investors lose more through emotional selling and wrong timing than they save on expense ratio.

With regular funds through a Mutual Fund Distributor with Certified Financial Planner qualification, you get guidance, structure and correction. The advisory discipline protects you during market extremes. That is more valuable than a small saving in expense ratio.

A personalised planner also tracks portfolio drift, rebalancing need and category shifts. So regular fund investing gives long-term benefit and behaviour coaching.

» Actively Managed Funds over Index or ETF
Some investors choose index funds or ETF thinking they are simple and cheap. But they ignore drawbacks.

Index funds or ETF will not avoid weak companies in the index. They will invest whether the company grows or struggles. There is no fund manager decision making. So when markets are at peak, index funds continue aggressive exposure. In downturns also they fall fully. There is no cushion.

Actively managed funds work with research teams. They can avoid bad sectors. They can shift allocation based on market and economy. Over long term, this gives better alpha and stability. So continuing with actively managed funds creates better wealth compounding.

» SIP Continuation Strategy
Once the rationalisation is done, continue SIPs every month without interruption. Pause and restart behaviour damages compounding power. SIP works best when you go through all market cycles. You benefit more during corrections because cost averaging works.

So continue SIP amount. You can also review SIP increase every year based on income. Increasing SIP by 10 to 15 percent every year helps you reach large corpus faster.

» Asset Allocation Based Approach
One key point in wealth creation is having the right asset mix. Equity gives growth. Hybrid gives balance. Metals give hedge. Debt gives safety. Your asset allocation should stay aligned to your risk profile and time horizon.

Since you are young and have long term horizon, higher equity allocation is fine. But as time moves, rebalancing is important. Rebalancing protects gains and restores allocation.

So review your asset allocation every year or during major life events like child birth, home buying or retirement planning.

» Behaviour Management
Many portfolios fail not due to bad funds. They fail due to bad decisions. Selling during correction. Stopping SIP when market falls. Chasing past return performance. These mistakes reduce wealth.

Your discipline so far is good. Continue to stay patient during volatility. Equity rewards patience and time.

» Financial Goals Clarity
Since you have no children now, you can decide your long-term goals. Typical goals may include:

Retirement

Future child education

Dream lifestyle purchase

Health care reserves

When goals are clear, investment purpose becomes stronger. So you can map each fund category to goal horizon. Short-term goals should not use equity. Long-term goals should use equity with hybrid support.

» Role of Review and Monitoring
Review once in a year is enough. Frequent review can create anxiety. Annual review helps check:

Fund performance

Expense drift

Category relevance

Allocation balance

Then adjust only if needed. This progress helps you stay confident and aligned.

» Taxation Awareness
Equity mutual funds taxation rules are:

Short term (below one year holding) taxable at 20 percent

Long term (above one year holding) gains above Rs 1.25 lakh taxable at 12.5 percent

Debt mutual funds are taxed as per your income slab.

So always hold equity funds for long term. That reduces tax impact and gives better growth.

» SIP Increase Plan
You can create a simple plan to increase SIP over time. For example:

Increase SIP at every salary increment

Increase SIP during bonus time

Use rewards or extra income for investing

This habit accelerates wealth. So by the time you reach 45 to 50 years, your investments could reach a strong level.

» Insurance and Protection
Before investing large, ensure you have term insurance and health insurance. If not already done, it is important. Insurance protects wealth. Without insurance, even a small medical event can impact investment plan. So review this part also. Since you are married, cover both.

» Wealth Behaviour Mindset
You are already disciplined. Just keep these simple principles:

Invest without stopping

Review once a year

Avoid funds overlap

Follow asset allocation

Avoid reacting to media noise

This helps you reach long term milestones.

» Finally
You are on the right track. Only fine tuning and simplification is needed. Your discipline is visible. Your portfolio will grow well with structure, patience and periodic review. Use the Rs 6 lakh with STP approach. And continue SIP with rationalised categories.

With time and consistency, wealth creation becomes effortless and peaceful. You just need to stay committed and avoid overthinking during market movements.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

...Read more

Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1837 Answers  |Ask -

Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Dec 05, 2025

Career
Dear Sir, I did my BTech from a normal engineering college not very famous. The teaching was not great and hence i did not study well. I tried my best to learn coding including all the technologies like html,css,javascript,react js,dba,php because i wanted to be a web developer But nothing seem to enter my head except html and css. I don't understand a language which has more complexities. Is it because of my lack of experience or not devoting enough time. I am not sure. I did many courses online and tried to do diplomas also abroad which i passed somehow. I recently joined android development course because i like apps but the teaching was so fast that i could not memorize anything. There was no time to even take notes down. During the course i did assignments and understood the code because i have to pass but after the course is over i tend to forget everything. I attempted a lot of interviews. Some of them i even got but could not perform well so they let me go. Now due to the AI booming and job markets in a bad shape i am re-thinking whether to keep studying or whether its just time waste. Since 3 years i am doing labour type of jobs which does not yield anything to me for survival and to pay my expenses. I have the quest to learn everything but as soon as i sit in front of the computer i listen to music or read something else. What should i do to stay more focused? What should i do to make myself believe confident. Is there still scope of IT in todays world? Kindly advise.
Ans: Your story does not show failure.
It shows persistence, effort, and desire to improve.

Most people give up.
You didn’t.
That means you will succeed — but with the right method, not the old one.

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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