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Hardik

Hardik Parikh  | Answer  |Ask -

Tax, Mutual Fund Expert - Answered on Apr 11, 2023

Hardik Parikh is a chartered accountant with over 15 years of experience in taxation, accounting and finance.
He also holds an MBA degree from IIM-Indore.
Hardik, who began his career as an equity research analyst, founded his own advisory firm, Hardik Parikh Associates LLP, which provides a variety of financial services to clients.
He is committed to sharing his knowledge and helping others learn more about finance. He also speaks about valuation at different forums, such as study groups of the Western India Regional Council of Chartered Accountants.... more
Srinivasa Question by Srinivasa on Apr 08, 2023Hindi
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Dear Sir, Iam 51 and I have been investing in diversified mutual funds since last 10 years and accumulated around Rs 1.28 Crores and continuing SIP's in following funds. Quant Large cap - Rs 9000, SBI Health care fund - Rs 5000, UTI Flexi cap fund - Rs 5000, Kotak Flexi cap fund - Rs 13000, Mirae asset hybrid equity fund - Rs 8000. I have also accumulated corpus of Rs 13 lakhs in NPS tier 1 and doing SIP of Rs 5000 every months. Further i have combine corpus of Rs 43 Lakhs in EPF and PPF accounts. I have invested Rs 4.72 Lakhs in 20 Year bonds of HUDCO, PFC tax free bonds in 2013 and receiving Rs 42000 every year as interest. I want to have Rs 50000 every month from the above from next year. I will try to continue SIP's till next 2-3 years from other expected incomes from parents.Iam also getting Rs 15000 per month as rent and do not have nay debt.

Ans: Dear Srinivasa,

First of all, congratulations on your disciplined investment approach over the past decade. You have built a considerable corpus that should serve you well in the coming years.

Based on the information you provided, you currently have:

Mutual Funds: Rs 1.28 Crores
NPS (Tier 1): Rs 13 Lakhs
EPF and PPF: Rs 43 Lakhs
HUDCO and PFC Bonds: Rs 4.72 Lakhs (Rs 42,000 annual interest)
Rental Income: Rs 15,000 per month
Your goal is to generate Rs 50,000 per month starting next year.

Here's a suggested plan:

Continue your SIPs in mutual funds for the next 2-3 years, as you mentioned. This will help your corpus grow even further.
Utilize the interest income from the HUDCO and PFC bonds (Rs 42,000 per year) as a part of your desired Rs 50,000 per month. You can reinvest the interest income in a liquid fund or a short-term debt fund to ensure its availability when needed.
You can consider allocating a portion of your mutual fund corpus to a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) in order to generate the remaining monthly income needed. Assuming you require Rs 50,000 per month (Rs 6 Lakhs per year), you can use a small portion of your Rs 1.28 Crores corpus to fund this. Start the SWP next year to meet your monthly income requirement.
Your rental income of Rs 15,000 per month will serve as an additional source of income, which can be used to cover any unforeseen expenses or to reinvest in your portfolio.
It's advisable to keep your EPF and PPF investments intact until maturity, as they provide a safe and tax-efficient option for long-term wealth creation.
Please remember that the above plan is only a suggestion, and you should consult with a certified financial planner to create a personalized plan based on your specific financial situation and goals.

Wishing you the best in your financial journey.

Warm regards,
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 Kalirajan  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 11, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 11, 2024Hindi
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Hi Gurus, I'm 37+, monthly take home salary 2.17 Lakhs, married (wife working, earning decent salary, no kid as of yet). I contribute 32.4k pm (12% EPF + 10% VPF) towards PF (balance ~27 Lakhs), 14.7k pm towards NPS as Employer's contribution + 50k yearly towards Tier2 (balance ~11.6 Lakhs), 1.5 Lakhs yearly towards PPF (balance ~11.3 Lakhs) and have couple of LIC plans with SA ~11 lakhs maturing in 10 years. I also have MF SIP of 50k pm as below (total portfolio value ~19.7 Lakhs with small holdings in International Funds) which I wish to top up by 15% every year. 1. Kotak Small Cap - 3000 2. Axis Small Cap - 3000 3. Edelweiss Mid Cap - 3000 4. PGIM Mid Cap - 3000 5. PGIM Flexi Cap - 3000 6. Parag Parikh Flexi Cap - 5000 7. Quant Active Fund - 5000 8. Edelweiss Bal. Advtg. Fund - 3000 9. Mirae Assets L&M Cap - 5000 10. Canara Robeco Emerging Equity - 3000 11. Canara Robeco Bluechip - 3000 12. SBI Focused Equity - 5000 13. ICICI Pru. Focused Equity - 3000 14. Edelweiss US Tech ETF FoF - 3000 I have my own loan free home, health insurance from the company, no term insurance and a liquid emergency fund of 12 Lakhs. My average monthly expenses are around 1.3 Lakhs. I know I'm heavily into equity without having the balance of Debt or Gold, but for that reason I contribute towards FI instruments like PF, PPF as much as possible. Also I'm aware that my MF portfolio has become over diversified over the years. My ultimate financial target is to accumulate 10cr by my late 50s. Could you please suggest how far or diverted I am from my target and what all adjustments should I make to my overall investment portfolio.
Ans: ou have a well-diversified investment portfolio with a strong focus on equity through both mutual funds and retirement savings. However, there are a few areas you may consider adjusting:

Diversification: While equity can provide high returns over the long term, ensure you have adequate diversification across asset classes. Consider allocating a portion of your portfolio to debt instruments like bonds or fixed deposits for stability.

Insurance: Since you don't have term insurance, consider purchasing a policy to provide financial security to your dependents in case of any unfortunate event.

Review MF Portfolio: Consolidate and streamline your mutual fund holdings to avoid over-diversification. Focus on high-quality funds with proven track records and consider reducing the number of funds to simplify your portfolio management.

Goal Planning: Reassess your financial goals and time horizon periodically to ensure your investments are aligned with your objectives. Consider seeking professional advice to develop a comprehensive financial plan tailored to your needs.

Regular Review: Continuously monitor the performance of your investments and make adjustments as necessary to stay on track towards your long-term financial goals.

By making these adjustments and staying disciplined in your investment approach, you can work towards achieving your target of accumulating 10 crores by your late 50s.

..Read more

Reetika

Reetika Sharma  |417 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF and Insurance Expert - Answered on Oct 18, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Oct 09, 2025Hindi
Money
My Goal is to retire in 40-45 age with 5 Crore. I’m 30 now. I invested in PPF (6.75 Lakh till now it’s been 4 years now) and I will continue till I complete 15 years (1.5 Lakh/ Year Plan) NPS- 3.2 Lakh till now FD- 25 Lakh ( All will mature in June 2026) Mutual Fund (Lumpsum & Sip includes 13.5 Lakhs till today. Doing SIP of ₹25500 per month which is below.. MidCap Funds-(HDFC -5k, Motilal Oswal- 5k) LargeCap-(ICICI Pru- 2K, Canara Robeco- 1k) SmallCap-( SBI - 5K, Quant- 1K, Nippon India -1K) Flexi cap- (Parag Parikh-3.5k, HDFC Flexi-1K) Value - ICICI Pru Value Direct Fund-1k Above were all my SIP’s and I have invested lumpsum funds below. ICICI Pru asset allocator -7 Lakh Business cycle fund- 1.14 Lakh SBI Gold Direct plan- 6k EPF- 1.75Lakh till now Physical gold worth-9 Lakh SBI Nifty 50 Gold ETF worth -1 Lakh I recently left my Job where my salary was 14 LPA. I will start looking for new opportunity in few days. I’m also planning to purchase a house since I’m staying in Rented home where my monthly expenses are 30k /Month. I don’t have any responsibilities of kids & family as such . Please suggest me how should I plan accordingly & achieve my targets?
Ans: Hi,

Good that you have invested in various diversified assets at such age. Your dedication shows the sincerity you have towards your goals. Let us have a look at your financials:

1. FD - 25 lakhs. You should keep maximum 10 lakhs in FD as your emergency and other unforeseen expense. Move the remaining amount in multicap funds.
2. Have a dedicated term and health insurance for yourself and family.
3. Your contribution to PPF is not required. Instead redirect it to Balanced Advantage Fund as PPF is locked for 15 years and provide only 7% where as BAF gives 10-11% and is not locked. Contribute minimum amount in PPF to keep it active.
4. Continue with NPS investments.
5. Currently there are no responsibilites but in future, you might get married. Hence you should also be prepared for other major expenses such as your marriage, future family and life post marriage.
6. Currently your expenses - 30k. Factor in future - maximum 60k. You can save and invest the rest amount wholly in equity mutual funds.
7. Current 25.5k monthly inflow in your retirement corpus.
8. Start another SIP of 30k per month for down payment of your house after 4-5 years. It will help with less burden and you not liquidating your other investments.
9. Save the remaining amount from salary for your marriage or other expenses in hybrid funds.

The funds you are investing in currently are very overdiversified and overlapped. Entire scheme selection needs to be worked upon thoroughly.
Although direct mutual funds are quite famous due to their less expense ratio, but maximum times a direct portfolio underperformsto a major expense. That is why a guided portfolio with regular funds in much needed. It is important for you to work with a professional for their expert guidance as it will help in the periodic review of portfolio and any change whenever required.

Hence do consult a professional Certified Financial Planner - a CFP who can guide you with exact funds to invest in keeping in mind your age, requirements, financial goals and risk profile.

Let me know if you need more help.

Best Regards,
Reetika Sharma, Certified Financial Planner
https://www.instagram.com/cfpreetika/

..Read more

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Asked by Anonymous - Dec 08, 2025Hindi
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Hi i am 40M. would request your help to understand what should be the corpus required for retirement as i want to get retired in next 3-5yrs. currently my take home is 2.3L monthly & my wife also works but leaving the job in next 2-3 months. we have a daughter 10yrs, currently i stay on rent and total monthly expense is 1.1L month. once i will retire we will shift in our own parental flat, where hopefully there will be no rent. current Investments 1. 50L in REC bonds getting matured in 2029 2. 42L in stocks 3. 17L in MF 4. 16L FD 5. 15L in PPF 6. 1.3L SIP monthly i do My Wife Investments 1. 30L corpus 2. flat with current value 40L and we get rental of 10K monthly. Please guide what should be the retirement corpus required combined to retire, assuming i need 75L for my daughter post grad and marriage and we would be requiring 75K monthly for our expenses after retiring
Ans: You have explained your income, goals, current assets, and future plans with great clarity. Your early planning spirit is strong. This gives a very good base. You can reach a peaceful retirement with smart steps in the next few years.

» Your Current Position

You are 40 years old. You plan to retire in 3 to 5 years. You earn Rs 2.3 lakh per month. Your wife also works but will stop working soon. You have one daughter aged 10. Your current monthly cost is around Rs 1.1 lakh. This cost will reduce after retirement because you will shift to your parental flat.

Your investment base is already good. You have saved in bonds, stocks, mutual funds, PPF, FD, and SIP. Your wife also has her own savings and rental income from a flat. All these create a good starting point.

This early base helps you plan stronger. It also gives room for more shaping. You are on the right road.

» Your Family Goals

You need Rs 75 lakh for your daughter’s higher education and marriage.

You want Rs 75,000 per month for family living after retirement.

You want to retire in 3 to 5 years.

You will shift to your parental flat after retirement.

You will have rental income of Rs 10,000 from your wife’s flat.

These goals are clear. They give direction. They allow a strong plan.

» Your Present Investments

Your investments include:

Rs 50 lakh in REC bonds maturing in 2029.

Rs 42 lakh in stocks.

Rs 17 lakh in mutual funds.

Rs 16 lakh in fixed deposits.

Rs 15 lakh in PPF.

Rs 1.3 lakh as monthly SIP.

Your wife holds:

Rs 30 lakh corpus.

A flat worth Rs 40 lakh with rent of Rs 10,000 each month.

Your combined net worth is healthy. This gives good power to build your retirement fund in the coming years.

» Understanding Your Expense Need After Retirement

You expect Rs 75,000 per month after retirement. This includes all basic needs. You will not have rent. That reduces cost. This assumption looks fair today.

Your cost will rise with inflation. So you must plan for rising needs. A strong retirement corpus must support rising cost for 40 to 45 years because you are retiring early.

An early retirement needs a large buffer. So you need safety along with growth. Your plan must include growth assets and safety assets.

» How Much Monthly Income You Will Need Later

Rs 75,000 per month is Rs 9 lakh per year. In future years, this cost can rise. If we assume steady rise, your future cost will be much higher.

So the retirement corpus must be designed to:

Give monthly income.

Beat inflation.

Support you for 40 to 45 years.

Protect your family even in market down cycles.

Allow flexibility if your needs change.

A strong retirement fund must support both safety and long-term growth.

» How Much Corpus You Should Target

A safe target is a large and flexible corpus that can support long years without running out of money. For early retirement, the usual thumb rule suggests a very high number. This is because you need income for many decades.

You need a corpus big enough to produce rising income. You also need a cushion for unexpected health costs, lifestyle shocks, and inflation changes.

Your target retirement corpus should be in a strong range. For your needs of Rs 75,000 per month and for goals like daughter’s education and marriage, you should aim for a combined retirement readiness corpus in the higher bracket.

A safe range for your family would be a very large number crossing multiple crores. This large range gives you:

Income safety.

Inflation protection.

Peace during market cycles.

Comfort in long life.

Room for daughter’s future.

Strong backup for health.

You are already on the way due to your existing assets. You will reach close to this range with systematic building over the next 3 to 5 years.

» Why You Need This Larger Corpus

You will retire early. That means more years of living from your corpus. Your corpus must not fall early. It must grow even after retirement. It must give monthly income and long-term family protection.

This is only possible when the corpus is strong and well-structured. A weak corpus creates stress. A strong corpus creates freedom.

Also, your daughter’s future cost must be kept aside. This must be parked in a separate fund. This must not touch your retirement money.

A strong corpus makes these two worlds separate and safe.

» Your Existing Assets and Their Strength

You already have good diversification:

Bonds give safety.

Stocks give growth.

Mutual funds give managed growth.

FD gives stability.

PPF gives tax-free long-term savings.

This blend is already a good start. But you need to make the blend more structured for early retirement.

Your Rs 1.3 lakh monthly SIP is also strong. It builds your future fast. You should continue.

Your wife’s rental income is small but steady. This adds strength.

Your combined financial base can reach your retirement target if you refine your allocation now.

» Your Daughter’s Future Fund Need

You need Rs 75 lakh for your daughter’s education and marriage. You should keep this goal separate from your retirement goal.

Your current SIP and future allocations should create a dedicated fund for this goal. A long-term fund can grow well when managed actively.

Do not mix this fund with your retirement needs. Mixing leads to shortage in old age. Always keep this corpus ring-fenced.

» A Strong Asset Mix For Your Retirement Path

A balanced mix is needed. You need growth assets to beat inflation. You also need stable assets for income.

You must avoid index funds because they do not give flexibility. Index funds follow a fixed index. They cannot make active changes in different markets. They cannot move to better stocks when markets change. They force you to stay in weak sectors for long. They also do not help you in down cycles because they cannot protect you by shifting to safer options. This can hurt retirement planning.

Actively managed funds are better because:

They give active asset selection.

They give scope for better returns.

They give flexibility to change sectors.

They give downside management.

They give access to a skilled fund manager.

They support long-term planning more safely.

Direct plans also carry risk. Direct plans do not give guidance. They do not give behavioural support. They do not give market timing help. They do not give portfolio shaping. They leave all the judgement to you. One mistake can cost years of wealth.

Regular plans with guidance from a Certified Financial Planner help you shape decisions. They help you remain disciplined. They help you avoid panic. They help you decide allocation changes at the right time. This saves wealth in long-term.

» How Your Investment Journey Should Grow in the Next 3–5 Years

Continue your SIP.

Increase SIP when your income rises.

Shift part of your stock holding into planned long-term mutual funds to reduce concentration risk.

Build a defined daughter’s education fund.

Keep a part of your REC bond maturity amount for long-term.

Avoid locking too much into fixed deposits for long periods.

Build a safety fund for one year of expenses.

This will create a full structure.

» Your Rental Income Role

Your rental income of Rs 10,000 per month is small but steady. Over time it will rise. This income will support your monthly cash flow after retirement.

You can use this for utilities or health insurance premiums. This gives a cushion.

» Your Emergency Buffer

You should keep at least one year of essential cost in a safe place. This can be in a liquid account or short-term fund. This protects you in shocks.

Since you plan early retirement, a strong buffer is important. It gives peace even in low months.

» A Structured Retirement Approach

A complete retirement plan for you should include:

A clear monthly income plan after retirement.

A corpus that can grow and protect.

A rising income system that matches inflation.

A separate daughter’s future fund.

A health cover plan for your family.

A tax-efficient withdrawal plan.

A market cycle plan to protect you in tough times.

This holistic approach keeps your family strong for decades.

» What You Should Build by Retirement Year

Your aim should be to reach a strong multi-crore range in investments before retirement. You already hold a large amount. You will add more in the next 3 to 5 years through SIP, stock growth, bond maturity, and disciplined saving.

Once you reach your target range, you can start the shifting process:

Move a part to stable assets.

Keep a part in long-term growth assets.

Create a monthly income strategy.

Keep a reserve bucket.

Keep a child future bucket.

Keep a long-term growth bucket.

This structure protects you in all market conditions.

» Final Insights

Your financial journey is already strong. You have a good income. You have saved well. You have multiple asset types. You have a clear timeline. And you have clear goals. This foundation is solid.

In the next 3 to 5 years, your focus should be on growing your combined corpus to a strong multi-crore range, keeping a separate fund for your daughter, reducing risk in unplanned assets, and building a stable long-term structure.

With the present path and a disciplined structure, you can retire peacefully and support your family with confidence for many decades.

Best Regards,

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

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

...Read more

Samraat

Samraat Jadhav  |2499 Answers  |Ask -

Stock Market Expert - Answered on Dec 08, 2025

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Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 08, 2025

Money
Hello my name is saket, I monthly salary is 43k and my saving is zero. My Rent is 15 k and 10 k i send to my parents. How can i save money and investments.
Ans: 1. Your Current Monthly Numbers

Salary: Rs 43,000

Rent: Rs 15,000

Support to parents: Rs 10,000

Left with: Rs 18,000 for food, travel, bills, and savings

You have very little room, but saving is still possible if done smartly.

2. First Step: Build a Small Emergency Buffer

You must build Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 emergency money.
This protects you from taking loans for small issues.

How to build it:

Save Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 every month in a simple bank savings account

Do this for the next few months

Don’t touch it unless truly needed

3. Create a Mini Budget (Very Simple One)

Try this split from the remaining Rs 18,000:

Daily living (food + transport): Rs 10,000 – 11,000

Personal expenses (phone, internet, basics): Rs 3,000 – 4,000

Savings + investments: Rs 3,000 – 5,000

If this feels difficult, reduce food/transport costs by small adjustments.

4. Where to Invest Once You Have Emergency Money

(For minors: This is general education. For actual investing, get guidance from a trusted adult or family member.)

After you build emergency money, start small monthly investing.

You can begin with:

Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 SIP in a simple, diversified equity fund

Increase the SIP whenever salary increases or expenses reduce

Avoid complicated products.
Keep it simple.
Focus on consistency.

5. Easy Practical Ways to Increase Saving

These small moves help a lot:

Avoid food delivery

Use public transport as much as possible

Reduce subscriptions you don’t use

Fix a daily expense limit

Keep a separate bank account only for savings

Even Rs 200 saved daily = Rs 6,000 monthly.

6. Increase Income Slowly

Try small income boosters:

Weekend tutoring

Freelancing

Part-time projects

Selling old gadgets

Learning new skills for future salary growth

Even Rs 3,000 extra income changes your savings life.

7. Build the Habit First

The amount doesn’t matter in the beginning.
The habit matters more.

Even saving Rs 500 every month is better than zero.
Once salary grows, you will already know how to save.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

...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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