
Hi Sir, I am 43 years old, working in the IT sector along with my wife. We have a 1.5-year-old daughter. Below is our current financial profile: Income My monthly salary: ₹1.78 lakhs and My wife’s monthly salary: ₹75,000. Investments & Savings NPS: ₹4 lakhs corpus (₹50,000 annual contribution). Equity: Invested ₹28 lakhs, current value ₹20 lakhs (₹8 lakhs loss). Mutual Funds: SIPs of ₹36,000/month (₹18,000 each) current value ₹2 lakhs. PF: My PF ₹15 lakhs, wife’s PF ₹1 lakh. Assets Residential property in a non-metro city worth ~₹1.2 crore Agricultural land in my village worth ~₹1 crore (no regular income generated or 0 income from it). Loans Home Loan: ₹75 lakhs, outstanding ₹55 lakhs; EMI ₹68,000/month @ 7.6%, Principal: ~₹30,000/month, Interest: ~₹38,000/month. Car Loan: ₹9 lakhs; EMI ₹22,000/month @ 7.8%. Expenses & Savings Monthly household expenses (rent, groceries, etc.): ~₹30,000. Net savings after all commitments: ₹75,000–₹80,000/month. Upcoming Commitments Daughter’s schooling expenses will begin in ~1.5 years. My Queries I am considering selling the agricultural land (worth ~₹1 crore) and constructing a house for rental income (construction cost ~₹1 crore). The rental income I am expecting 1 lakhs/Month in the worst case. Is this a wise decision? How can I repay my home loan faster and reduce interest burden? Given the current uncertainty in the IT sector, what would be a better strategy to build long-term wealth and secure my family’s future? Kindly suggest the best course of action.
Ans: You have already created a very strong base for your family. At 43, you have good income, savings, investments, and assets. Balancing your current lifestyle and your long-term wealth is the next step. You have done well so far, and with some changes, your future will be secure.
» Current Income and Lifestyle
– Your salary of Rs 1.78 lakhs plus wife’s Rs 75,000 is strong base.
– Household expense of Rs 30,000 is very reasonable.
– This gives you higher savings rate than many families.
– Loan EMIs are heavy now, but still manageable.
– Saving Rs 75,000 to Rs 80,000 monthly after all commitments shows discipline.
» Loan Position
– You have Rs 55 lakh home loan with EMI of Rs 68,000.
– This EMI is high compared to net income.
– Principal repayment is Rs 30,000 monthly.
– Interest portion is still Rs 38,000 monthly.
– Car loan EMI of Rs 22,000 is also heavy.
– Current loans reduce your free cash flow.
– Clearing loans faster will give mental relief and save interest.
» Agricultural Land Decision
– You are thinking of selling agricultural land worth Rs 1 crore.
– You want to build house for rental income of Rs 1 lakh monthly.
– This looks attractive, but has hidden risks.
– Rental market is uncertain. Vacancy periods reduce expected rent.
– Property maintenance, tax, and repairs reduce actual returns.
– Construction delays and cost overruns are common.
– Real estate locks capital for long term with low liquidity.
– It can also reduce flexibility during emergencies.
– Rental yield rarely matches growth of financial assets.
– So, this decision may not be best for wealth creation.
» Equity Investment Status
– You invested Rs 28 lakhs in equity. Current value is Rs 20 lakhs.
– That is Rs 8 lakhs notional loss.
– Markets are cyclical. Such temporary loss is common.
– If you stay invested long term, value can recover.
– Selling in loss now will make it permanent.
– Instead, continue SIPs and stay patient.
– Actively managed funds help better in volatile markets.
– Index funds just follow market up and down.
– Active funds use strategies and expertise for better growth.
– That reduces the chance of long-term underperformance.
» Mutual Fund SIPs
– You are investing Rs 36,000 monthly in mutual funds.
– This is a very strong step.
– SIP value is still small now because investments are recent.
– Over 10-15 years, SIP compounding will be huge.
– Stay consistent even if markets go down.
– That way, cost average works in your favour.
– Investing through Certified Financial Planner ensures right funds are selected.
– Direct funds may look cheaper, but you get no guidance.
– Wrong fund choice or wrong allocation can cost more than saved expense.
» NPS and PF
– You have Rs 4 lakh corpus in NPS.
– Contribution of Rs 50,000 yearly is helpful for tax and retirement.
– NPS has equity and debt mix for long term.
– Your PF corpus of Rs 15 lakhs and wife’s Rs 1 lakh add stability.
– PF gives steady growth and retirement safety.
– These act as foundation for retirement income.
» Family Protection with Insurance
– You must check term insurance cover.
– With high loans and young child, cover must be at least 15-20 times annual income.
– If cover is less, increase it soon.
– Health insurance is also very important.
– A Rs 5-10 lakh base cover with super top-up is needed.
– This shields savings from medical inflation.
» Home Loan Strategy
– One approach is prepayment to reduce loan faster.
– If you get bonuses or increments, channel them into part-prepayment.
– Even yearly lump sum reduces principal burden.
– That lowers interest and shortens tenure.
– Focus first on closing car loan. It has shorter tenure and high EMI.
– Once car loan closes, redirect that Rs 22,000 into home loan prepayment.
– Over time, this builds huge saving in interest cost.
– This way you reduce debt stress without disturbing investments too much.
» Education Planning for Daughter
– Schooling expenses will start in 1.5 years.
– Education is a big long-term goal.
– Create a dedicated mutual fund portfolio for her education.
– Starting now with small SIP ensures smoother journey.
– Do not depend on rental income or agricultural land for this goal.
– Financial assets give more transparency and control.
» Wealth Building Strategy
– Do not divert Rs 1 crore land into construction.
– Instead, if you sell land, channel proceeds into diversified financial portfolio.
– This portfolio can include equity mutual funds, debt funds, and some safe products.
– It will give both growth and liquidity.
– Rental income is uncertain, but financial portfolio gives flexible withdrawals.
– Keep systematic approach to avoid overspending.
» Dealing with IT Sector Uncertainty
– Your worry about IT sector is valid.
– Maintain emergency fund equal to 12 months of expenses.
– Keep this in liquid funds or short-term FDs.
– Do not block all money in illiquid assets like property.
– Diversified financial assets protect you even during job loss.
– Skill upgrading and networking also reduce career risk.
– If needed, your wife’s income adds extra cushion.
» Taxation Angle
– Rental income is taxable fully under income tax slab.
– Capital gains from land sale will be taxed depending on holding period.
– Equity mutual funds have LTCG tax above Rs 1.25 lakh at 12.5%.
– STCG is taxed at 20%.
– Debt fund gains taxed at your income tax slab.
– With careful planning, you can balance tax and growth.
– Tax efficiency improves long-term compounding.
» Emotional Readiness and Lifestyle
– Owning multiple properties adds stress with tenants and repairs.
– Financial assets give simpler life.
– Retirement should not be filled with property management.
– Keep wealth structure that allows freedom and peace.
» Steps for Next 5 Years
– Do not construct house with Rs 1 crore.
– Instead, continue current SIPs and increase when income rises.
– Create emergency fund now.
– Prepay car loan first, then home loan with extra savings.
– Secure insurance for life and health.
– Create separate fund for daughter’s education.
– Review portfolio yearly with Certified Financial Planner.
» Finally
– You are in a very strong position already.
– With your income, savings, and discipline, wealth will multiply.
– Avoid locking Rs 1 crore in construction project.
– Stay invested in financial assets for growth and flexibility.
– Focus on reducing loans, increasing SIPs, and securing family protection.
– Your daughter’s future and your retirement both can be well managed.
– With smart steps now, your family will enjoy financial freedom and peace.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment