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55-Year-Old Seeks Investment Advice: Can I Reach Rs. 1 Crore by Retirement?

Ramalingam Kalirajan |7510 Answers |Ask -Follow

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Sep 17, 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

Question by Sameer on Sep 11, 2024Hindi

Hello I am myself placed very weakly in terms of financial planning. My age is 55-years now and I have just 20-lakhs in bank account. A few policies are there valuing hardly a few lakhs. My Son is 14-years. I am a salaried person and my service will continue for another 5-years. My monthly expenses go up to Rs. 1 lakhs per month. Please let me know how should I invest so that I get at least Rs. 1 crore when I retire. Thanks

Ans: At age 55, with five years left in your working life, it's essential to begin serious financial planning. Your bank savings of Rs 20 lakhs and a few insurance policies may not be sufficient for the long term, especially with your goal of building a retirement corpus of Rs 1 crore.

Your monthly expenses of Rs 1 lakh indicate the need for careful management of both current income and future savings.

Your son is 14, and in a few years, there will be significant educational expenses, adding to your financial responsibilities. With your service continuing for another 5 years, it is crucial to make the best use of these years to secure your retirement and future.

Your primary objective is to accumulate Rs 1 crore by the time you retire in five years. This requires disciplined planning and a focus on investments that can provide a balanced risk-return trade-off.

Building a Strategic Investment Plan
Assessing Your Financial Priorities
Immediate Savings Goals: With your current monthly expenses and only Rs 20 lakhs in the bank, you need to optimise your savings strategy. A clear distinction between short-term and long-term goals will help. The goal is not just to build a corpus but also to ensure liquidity for emergency needs.

Retirement Fund: Accumulating Rs 1 crore in 5 years is a challenge but achievable with the right financial discipline. Starting now, every rupee saved and invested needs to work efficiently.

Son’s Education: With your son at age 14, there may be significant educational expenses in 4–6 years. Part of your investments must be allocated to cover his education needs.

Allocation of Your Current Assets
Existing Savings: The Rs 20 lakhs in your bank can be split into emergency funds and investment capital. You should keep Rs 3–4 lakhs in a liquid fund or a savings account for emergencies. The rest can be invested in diversified instruments to maximise growth over five years.

Insurance Policies: It’s unclear what type of insurance policies you hold. If they are traditional or endowment plans with low returns, it may be beneficial to surrender or partially withdraw them and reinvest the funds into more growth-oriented options like mutual funds. However, if they are critical for covering life insurance needs, retain them.

Retirement Planning: Growing to Rs 1 Crore
Invest in Actively Managed Mutual Funds
Balanced Risk and Growth: To achieve your Rs 1 crore target in 5 years, you need investments that can grow at an aggressive pace. Actively managed funds, particularly equity mutual funds, can offer better returns compared to fixed-income options like FDs. However, since you are nearing retirement, a mix of debt and equity through a balanced fund may be more appropriate.

Diversification: Ensure you invest in a combination of funds that focus on growth but are also balanced with some exposure to debt. This will reduce risk while still allowing for capital appreciation.

Systematic Investment Plan (SIP): Regularly invest your savings each month into equity and hybrid mutual funds. A SIP allows you to invest small amounts monthly and averages out market volatility. It’s an effective way to build wealth without requiring a large lump sum investment.

Avoid Direct and Index Funds
Avoid Direct Funds: Direct funds may appear cheaper, but without professional guidance, they may not perform optimally. You should choose regular funds and invest through a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), who can ensure proper fund selection and ongoing portfolio monitoring.

Index Funds Are Not Optimal: While index funds track the market, they do not offer the agility to navigate market cycles. Actively managed funds, on the other hand, allow fund managers to take advantage of market opportunities and provide a more hands-on approach, essential for someone nearing retirement.

Supplementing Your Income
Rental Income
Maximising Rental Income: Your salary is your main source of income, but you may consider additional ways to increase your cash flow. Since you have a home, renting out part of your property could provide additional rental income. This can supplement your investments and offer a cushion against rising monthly expenses.
Optimise Current Income and Savings
Cutting Unnecessary Expenses: Your expenses amount to Rs 1 lakh a month. You should evaluate where reductions can be made without compromising your family’s standard of living. Any extra savings can be directed into investments.

Salary Allocation: With just 5 years left before retirement, it’s crucial to save aggressively from your current salary. Allocate 50%–60% of your take-home pay towards investments each month. A Certified Financial Planner can guide you on where to direct these savings for optimal returns.

Insurance and Contingency Planning
Health Insurance for Family
Ensure Adequate Health Insurance: Since medical expenses can eat into your retirement savings, it’s important to ensure that you have sufficient health insurance coverage for yourself, your spouse, and your son. A comprehensive family health insurance policy is crucial at this stage to protect your savings from medical emergencies.
Life Insurance
Review Life Insurance Needs: With just a few years left in your working life, ensure you have sufficient term insurance to cover your family in case of an unfortunate event. Your son will still depend on you for his education and future needs, so having adequate cover is vital.
Planning for Your Son’s Education
Separate Fund for Education
Investment for Education: Your son will need higher education funding in a few years. This expense can be planned separately from your retirement goal. Invest in a medium-term fund that will mature when your son is ready for college. This will ensure you have funds available when needed without dipping into your retirement savings.
Managing Your Policies
Evaluate Existing Policies
Surrender Low-Performing Policies: If your existing insurance policies are traditional plans like endowment or money-back policies, their returns may be low. You can consider surrendering them or taking loans against them to invest in higher-return mutual funds. This will help you build your retirement corpus faster.
Final Insights
At age 55, you still have time to build a secure retirement fund, but it requires urgency and discipline. With Rs 20 lakhs in the bank and five years of working life remaining, it is possible to accumulate Rs 1 crore. Your focus should be on:

Investing in actively managed mutual funds that balance growth and safety.
Prioritising health insurance and life cover to safeguard your family.
Building a separate education fund for your son.
Allocating your salary and savings efficiently for long-term growth.
By implementing a structured plan with the help of a Certified Financial Planner, you can meet your financial goals and retire with peace of mind. It’s crucial to act now and make the most of the next five years to secure a comfortable retirement.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in

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