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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 24, 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
Asked by Anonymous - Jun 24, 2025Hindi
Money

Hi, Im 30y old and married, Ive one kid who is 2.6y old. Im planning to buy a house via loan next year consodering my current expenses and investments is it good approach to take the flat next year? My inhand salary post tax deduction 1.08L My expenses and investments as below Rent: 12k Household expenses:18k Mutual Funds SIP: 18k(current accumulated amount is 2.16L) Stocks:1.38L Emergency fund: 20k RD deposit(accumulated 1.3L) Sukanya samridhi yogana:3.5k monthly(44k accumulated so far) Liquid savings:10k monthly(for my daughter education) Cheeti: 17k monthly(its for 20 monthly,completed 9 monthly after 20 monthly amount credited is 4L) LIC: Monthly 4k(Paid 5 years, 11 more years to be paid yearly premium is 45k) Please advise how well I can manage my savings and im planning to buy a flat how can I achieve that considering the current expenses and savings. Thanks in advance

Ans: You’ve shown great discipline in managing savings, family needs, and future goals at just 30.

Let us evaluate your financial readiness, the impact of a home loan, and how to adjust wisely.

This assessment will guide you from all angles—cash flow, liquidity, investment health, and protection.

Income, Expenses, and Monthly Surplus
In-hand income after tax is Rs 1.08 lakh.

Monthly rent is Rs 12,000.

Household expenses are Rs 18,000.

Mutual fund SIPs are Rs 18,000.

LIC premium is Rs 4,000.

Chit fund contribution is Rs 17,000.

Sukanya Samriddhi deposit is Rs 3,500.

Liquid savings for daughter is Rs 10,000.

These monthly outflows total around Rs 82,500.

Your monthly balance is only around Rs 25,000.

This makes your budget tight for handling any large EMI.

Mutual Fund SIPs — Continue with Discipline
Rs 18,000 SIP shows excellent saving behaviour.

Current mutual fund corpus is Rs 2.16 lakh.

Please continue these SIPs through regular plans via MFD with CFP support.

Avoid direct mutual funds. They give no handholding, no alerts, no correction strategies.

Direct plans look cheap, but they lack timely guidance.

Investors panic during market falls and exit direct plans wrongly.

Regular plans help you stay invested with a CFP guiding your risk.

Avoid index funds too. They follow market passively and offer no downside protection.

Index funds underperform when markets fall or stay flat.

Actively managed mutual funds are better with professional decision-making.

They adjust sector exposure based on economy and risk cycles.

Stocks and Equity Exposure
You have Rs 1.38 lakh in stocks.

This is a good experience builder.

However, limit direct equity exposure to 10% of total assets.

Stock markets need time and research.

Let mutual funds handle most of your equity investment.

Emergency Fund Is Too Low
You currently have Rs 20,000 as emergency corpus.

This is insufficient for a family with a child.

Target at least Rs 1.5–2 lakh as safety reserve.

Use a liquid fund or short-term debt fund to build this.

Emergency fund protects you from job loss, health issue or delay in income.

RD Corpus — Use it Wisely
RD balance of Rs 1.3 lakh is decent for short-term goal.

It’s not suitable for long-term growth.

Use it partially for your house down payment.

Once RD matures, allocate half to mutual funds and half to emergency fund.

Sukanya Samriddhi Account
Rs 3,500 monthly is being contributed.

Accumulated corpus is Rs 44,000.

Good long-term step, but SSY is illiquid till 18 years.

Returns are also fixed and not inflation-adjusted fully.

Don’t increase investment here. Continue as is.

Better to put fresh long-term savings in equity mutual funds.

Liquid Savings for Child Education
You save Rs 10,000 monthly for daughter’s education.

You’re doing great with that intention.

But liquid savings may give only 3–4% returns.

Shift this to a hybrid equity mutual fund.

It gives better growth with moderate risk.

As your daughter grows, this corpus can support quality education.

Chit Fund Contribution
Rs 17,000 monthly for 20 months is ongoing.

9 months are completed.

On maturity, you’ll receive around Rs 4 lakh.

Chits are risky, unregulated, and lack transparency.

You can use this Rs 4 lakh as part of your down payment.

After maturity, avoid rejoining any new chit.

Mutual funds are safer, flexible and goal-oriented.

LIC Policy — Reconsider and Reallocate
You pay Rs 4,000 monthly towards LIC.

5 years completed, 11 more years remain.

Annual premium is Rs 45,000.

This is most likely an investment-cum-insurance plan.

Such policies offer poor returns, usually less than 5%.

Surrender now and reinvest in mutual funds.

Take a pure term plan separately for life cover.

LIC traditional plans lock your money and give low value at maturity.

Buying a Flat Next Year — Readiness Check
Buying a home is emotional, but let’s stay financial while assessing it.

Down Payment Readiness
You need to fund around 20% of flat price + registration.

Flat worth Rs 40 lakh needs Rs 8–10 lakh upfront.

Your chit fund will give Rs 4 lakh.

RD + mutual fund corpus adds Rs 3.5 lakh.

You’ll still need Rs 2–3 lakh more.

Start saving Rs 20,000 monthly for next 10 months.

EMI Capacity and Loan Readiness
With Rs 25,000 surplus monthly, you can afford Rs 20,000 EMI.

But this removes your safety cushion.

During initial loan years, reduce SIPs to Rs 10,000.

Post 2–3 years, increase it again once comfortable.

Maintain emergency fund before committing EMI.

Don't rely on LIC maturity or chit reinvestment to manage EMI.

Loan Tenure Planning
Don’t stretch loan beyond 15–20 years.

Longer loans increase total interest outgo.

Choose fixed or reducing interest options.

Check foreclosure charges, if any.

Prefer prepayment after emergency fund is strong.

Term Insurance and Health Cover
You didn’t mention life insurance apart from LIC.

Please take term insurance of at least Rs 1 crore.

This protects your child and spouse financially.

Also, take a family floater health cover of Rs 10 lakh.

Medical emergencies should not eat into your savings.

Realigning Financial Flow
Let’s adjust current strategy for better results:

Surrender LIC, save Rs 4,000 monthly.

Stop chit fund after maturity, save Rs 17,000 monthly.

Build emergency corpus, save Rs 1.5 lakh over next 6–8 months.

Protect yourself with term and health cover.

Shift liquid savings and RD maturity to hybrid/equity mutual funds.

Continue SSY but don’t increase investment in it.

Pause SIP temporarily if loan starts, but restart in 2 years.

Capital Gains Tax Rules for Mutual Funds
If you redeem mutual funds for flat purchase, be aware:

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

Short-term equity gains taxed at 20%.

Debt mutual funds are taxed as per your income slab.

Plan redemptions in a staggered manner.

Avoid sudden bulk withdrawals from mutual funds.

Steps for Next 12 Months
Take these steps now to be ready for next year:

Build Rs 2 lakh in emergency fund.

Save Rs 2–3 lakh more for down payment.

Close chit and redirect that amount to mutual funds.

Take term insurance immediately.

Take family health insurance.

Don’t buy new policies from LIC or any other insurer.

Avoid any new direct stock investments.

Continue mutual funds through MFD and CFP-guided regular plans.

Final Insights
You have good savings habits and long-term thinking.

Your expenses are controlled. You’re focused on family security and stability.

But current savings are too scattered. Efficiency is low due to illiquid and underperforming products.

Avoid chit funds, LIC, and liquid-only strategies. Shift to structured mutual fund investments.

Protect your family with insurance before taking any home loan.

Buying a flat is possible next year if you plan now.

You need 6–8 months of focused savings and safety net.

With proper support from a Certified Financial Planner, your journey will stay smooth.

Please don’t choose index funds or direct mutual funds. They are riskier without expert support.

Stick with actively managed regular mutual funds. Let a CFP track and guide every goal.

This ensures peace of mind, even after the EMI starts.

Build your plan, not just your flat.

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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Milind

Milind Vadjikar  | Answer  |Ask -

Insurance, Stocks, MF, PF Expert - Answered on Jan 23, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 23, 2025Hindi
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Hi , I am 40 years married and have one child residing in Bangalore. I have 30 lakh in PPF , 32 lakh in PF and 15 Lakh in MF and around 40 Lakh in Shares. A flat in different city of value around 60 lakh I have two emi for total 67000 per month running for next 3 years. Rent is 35k per month. Income around 3 lakh per month. I am planning to buy flat , 2.1 cr taking loan 1.5 cr for 20 years. Remaining 60 lakh as personal financing for flat purchase with income for next 2 years. Please advise what I can do to manage my finance and build corpus for saving as well
Ans: Hello;

Your monthly expenses:
Current EMIs: 67000
New EMI: ~133000
Rent: 35000
Household expenses:~ 50000
Total monthly Expense: 285000
Total monthly Income:~ 300000

You have hardly any income left for investments.

If I would have been in your place, I would have settled earlier loans before venturing into a new home loan, using part of the savings.

Also I would have sold the flat in other city and used the sale proceeds towards down payment of new house purchase.

This will ensure that my current investments remain mostly untouched(except loan prepayment).

I get exemption from long term capital gain arising from sale of old flat since reinvested into new residence(As per provisions of ITax Act).

My EMI burden will be much lesser and I can invest aggressively in mutual funds and NPS for:
1. Kid higher education &
2. Retirement

This was my perspective.

You may have different approach but key is to ensure reasonable amount of debt so that you have disposable income left for investments towards
future goals.

Happy Investing;
X: @mars_invest

..Read more

Milind

Milind Vadjikar  | Answer  |Ask -

Insurance, Stocks, MF, PF Expert - Answered on Jan 23, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 23, 2025Hindi
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Hi , I am 40 years married and have one child residing in Bangalore. I have 30 lakh in PPF , 32 lakh in PF and 15 Lakh in MF and around 40 Lakh in Shares. A flat in different city of value around 60 lakh I have two emi for total 67000 per month running for next 3 years. Rent is 35k per month. Income around 3 lakh per month. I am planning to buy flat , 2.1 cr taking loan 1.5 cr for 20 years. Remaining 60 lakh as personal financing for flat purchase with income for next 2 years. Please advise what I can do to manage my finance and build corpus for saving as well
Ans: Hello;

Your monthly expenses:
Current EMIs: 67000
New EMI: ~133000
Rent: 35000
Household expenses:~ 50000
Total monthly Expense: 285000
Total monthly Income:~ 300000

You have hardly any income left for investments.

If I would have been in your place, I would have settled earlier loans before venturing into a new home loan, using part of the savings.

Also I would have sold the flat in other city and used the sale proceeds towards down payment of new house purchase.

This will ensure that my current investments remain mostly untouched(except loan prepayment).

I get exemption from long term capital gain arising from sale of old flat since reinvested into new residence(As per provisions of ITax Act).

My EMI burden will be much lesser and I can invest aggressively in mutual funds and NPS for:
1. Kid higher education &
2. Retirement

This was my perspective.

You may have different approach but key is to ensure reasonable amount of debt so that you have disposable income left for investments towards
future goals.

Happy Investing;
X: @mars_invest

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 24, 2025

Money
Hi Sir, I'm a 36 yrs aged software employee working in Hyderabad with monthly in hand salary of 120k and withs 2 kids my son(his age is around 4 yrs) and my daughter (her age is around 2yrs). I have the following investments as of today. 1) PPF -8.5 Lakhs (12500/- monthly contribution) 2) Sukanya(SSY)- 4.8 Lakhs (12500/- monthly contribution) 3) NPS - 1.5 lakhs (8560/- monthly contribution) 4) EPFO - 6.5 Lakhs 5) NPS Vastalya (My son) - 13k (1k monthly contribution) 6) Post office RPLI (My wife) - 1.3 lakhs (22000/- yearly contribution) after the above all deductions, I can save 50k per month. My long term goal is buying a flat/house along with my retirement plan in next 10 yrs and need take care of my children education & marriage. I don't have any accumulated amount for down payment for buying a flat/house. What would be best approach to purchase a flat/house in Hyderabad ? should I take a home loan and buy a flat immediately in next 1/2 yrs (or) Should I invest an SIP of 50K per month for 5/10 yrs then buy ?
Ans: Thank you for sharing detailed information. You already have a disciplined approach to savings. You are clearly focused on long-term goals. Let's now look at the best approach to meet those goals.

 
 
 

Income and Savings Review
Your monthly in-hand salary is Rs.1.2 lakh. That gives a good base.

 
 
 

After all deductions, you can save Rs.50,000 monthly. That is a strong habit.

 
 
 

With two kids, financial responsibilities are high. You are still managing savings. Appreciate it.

 
 
 

Let’s now assess each of your investments.

 
 
 

Review of Existing Investments
PPF of Rs.8.5 lakh with Rs.12,500 monthly. Good for long-term. Safe and tax-free.

 
 
 

Sukanya for your daughter with Rs.4.8 lakh is well-planned. Continue it till she turns 14.

 
 
 

NPS of Rs.1.5 lakh with Rs.8,560 monthly. It builds retirement corpus. Continue it.

 
 
 

EPFO of Rs.6.5 lakh is part of your salary benefits. That’s a stable addition to retirement.

 
 
 

NPS for your son is a new initiative. It’s too early to predict its usefulness.

 
 
 

Post office RPLI in wife’s name with Rs.1.3 lakh. Yearly Rs.22,000 is manageable.

 
 
 

Overall, you have built a strong base with safe and regular investments. But these are mostly conservative. They may not beat inflation by a good margin.

 
 
 

Let’s now look at your primary goals.

 
 
 

Goal 1: Buying a Flat in Hyderabad
This is a big financial goal. Needs careful planning and timing.

 
 
 

You have zero savings for down payment now. That limits immediate action.

 
 
 

Buying now through a loan will put pressure on your cash flow.

 
 
 

If you go for loan now, EMI may be Rs.30,000–Rs.35,000 monthly.

 
 
 

That leaves you with very little for future goals and emergencies.

 
 
 

It is better to avoid rushing to buy flat now.

 
 
 

You can start a savings plan for down payment. Build at least Rs.6–8 lakh in 3–4 years.

 
 
 

Then you can take loan for balance amount. EMI will be safer then.

 
 
 

This way, your financial stress remains low.

 
 
 

Should You Wait or Buy Now?
Let’s compare both approaches carefully.

 
 
 

Buy Flat Immediately:

EMI pressure starts immediately. About Rs.30,000–Rs.35,000 per month.

 
 
 

You won’t be able to invest Rs.50,000 monthly anymore.

 
 
 

No funds left for kids’ future or your retirement.

 
 
 

You will be forced to stop current PPF or NPS contributions.

 
 
 

Not a safe approach. Will affect your other goals badly.

 
 
 

Wait and Invest for 5 Years:

Invest Rs.50,000 every month for 5 years.

 
 
 

You can build a down payment corpus of Rs.6–8 lakh easily.

 
 
 

Invest this amount in regular mutual funds with CFP guidance.

 
 
 

You can plan your home buying calmly. With less loan burden.

 
 
 

Your EMI will start only after 5 years. By then income also will grow.

 
 
 

Verdict: Wait and invest. Buy later. More secure path.

 
 
 

About Mutual Funds for SIP
SIP is best way to grow money in a planned way.

 
 
 

You should go for actively managed mutual funds.

 
 
 

Avoid index funds. They just follow index. No protection in falling market.

 
 
 

Actively managed funds try to give higher return than index.

 
 
 

They select good companies using deep research.

 
 
 

Use regular mutual funds through MFD with CFP support.

 
 
 

Avoid direct mutual funds. No help, no monitoring, no personal advice.

 
 
 

Regular funds provide tracking, rebalancing and expert guidance.

 
 
 

For you, regular plans through CFP will reduce risk and improve returns.

 
 
 

Start SIP of Rs.50,000 monthly in 3 to 4 funds.

 
 
 

Mix of large, mid and flexi-cap funds can work well.

 
 
 

Over 5 years, this SIP will help in flat down payment.

 
 
 

After that, you can reduce SIP and start EMI for flat.

 
 
 

Also continue SIP with lower amount for retirement and kids’ goals.

 
 
 

Retirement Planning
You are 36 now. Planning retirement early is smart.

 
 
 

NPS and EPFO are your current retirement tools.

 
 
 

They are safe but not flexible. Returns also moderate.

 
 
 

Mutual funds SIP gives better flexibility and return potential.

 
 
 

You can assign one fund’s SIP fully to your retirement goal.

 
 
 

You need bigger retirement fund. So SIP is needed even after NPS and EPFO.

 
 
 

Don’t rely only on NPS. Add mutual fund SIP to build a proper retirement fund.

 
 
 

Children’s Education and Marriage Planning
Your son is 4. Your daughter is 2. You have 13–16 years for education planning.

 
 
 

Sukanya is good for daughter. But more is needed.

 
 
 

For both kids, education cost will be high.

 
 
 

Start separate SIP for each child’s education.

 
 
 

You can start with Rs.10,000 each per month. Adjust based on your income.

 
 
 

Use separate mutual funds for these goals.

 
 
 

Later, assign some part of PPF maturity also for child marriage.

 
 
 

Avoid child insurance plans. Low return, high cost, and lock-in.

 
 
 

SIP in regular funds gives better flexibility and growth.

 
 
 

Emergency Fund
Emergency fund is must for every family.

 
 
 

Keep at least 6 months’ salary as emergency money.

 
 
 

That is Rs.7.2 lakh in your case.

 
 
 

Use bank savings or liquid mutual funds for this.

 
 
 

Emergency fund is not for investing. Don’t mix it with SIP.

 
 
 

Build this fund slowly over 6–8 months.

 
 
 

Insurance Review
You have RPLI for wife. That is a savings product.

 
 
 

You need pure term insurance. Sum assured of Rs.1 crore is needed.

 
 
 

Premium is low. Life protection is high.

 
 
 

No need for ULIPs or investment-cum-insurance plans.

 
 
 

Also check for proper health insurance for family.

 
 
 

Don’t depend only on office health plan.

 
 
 

Tax Efficiency
Your current investments give good tax benefits.

 
 
 

PPF, Sukanya, NPS all have tax benefits.

 
 
 

EPFO also gives tax-free interest.

 
 
 

Mutual funds have long-term tax advantages too.

 
 
 

LTCG above Rs.1.25 lakh is taxed at 12.5%.

 
 
 

STCG taxed at 20%. Still better than FD or RD taxation.

 
 
 

Mutual funds help in better tax planning in long term.

 
 
 

What You Can Do Now – Step-by-Step
Start SIP of Rs.50,000 monthly in 3–4 mutual funds.

 
 
 

Take help from CFP for selecting right funds.

 
 
 

Review current RPLI. Keep only if not affecting liquidity.

 
 
 

Buy term life cover of Rs.1 crore immediately.

 
 
 

Start emergency fund. Target Rs.7.2 lakh over 1 year.

 
 
 

Start planning for home buying after 4–5 years.

 
 
 

Rebalance your investments every year with your CFP.

 
 
 

Track progress of each goal separately.

 
 
 

Don’t take any loan now. Wait until you are ready.

 
 
 

Finally
You have done a good job with disciplined savings.

 
 
 

But now, you need to shift from saving to smart investing.

 
 
 

Mutual funds with CFP guidance will take your goals forward.

 
 
 

Avoid direct funds and index funds. Use active regular funds.

 
 
 

Delay home buying. Build your down payment through SIP first.

 
 
 

Continue PPF, NPS and Sukanya. But add mutual fund SIP for higher growth.

 
 
 

Keep insurance pure and simple. No ULIPs or endowment plans.

 
 
 

Follow this roadmap. All your goals can be met peacefully.

 
 
 

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

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Sep 09, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 09, 2025Hindi
Money
Hi I am 30 year old female, until now I have not made any major investment, I stay with parent. I have liked a flat in Bangalore and I am planning to move out. My plan is to take loan of 45 lakhs for 20 years but the over all cost of flat comes around 60 lakhs. My monthly income is 94k out of which 15k goes to my parents. 6k for INSURANCE and my monthly expenses are roughly 5-6k. Yearly i contribute around 1L PPF. Please suggest that will it be good plan to purchase a flat it's a 3bhk I plan to stay and rent the flat room basis. Also I am unmarried this investment is a back bone for me in future because my dream was to own a home. Please suggest if this a good plan without any major financial burden.
Ans: You have a dream. You are acting on it. That is very powerful. Many people keep waiting. You are ready to take decisions. You are earning well. You take care of your parents. You save in PPF. You already have insurance. You think of a backbone for the future. That is wise. I appreciate your planning mindset.

Now we must assess your home buying plan in detail. We will look at your income, expenses, loan, property, and future goals. We will analyse from all sides. We will find the safest way for you.

» Your current financial position
– Your monthly income is Rs. 94,000.
– You give Rs. 15,000 to parents.
– You pay Rs. 6,000 for insurance.
– Your monthly expense is about Rs. 6,000.
– You contribute Rs. 1 lakh yearly to PPF.
– You have no major investment yet.
– You are unmarried and live with parents.
– You plan to move out and buy a flat.

» Home purchase plan
– You liked a 3 BHK flat in Bangalore.
– Cost is Rs. 60 lakhs.
– You plan a loan of Rs. 45 lakhs for 20 years.
– You will arrange Rs. 15 lakhs down payment.
– You want to live there.
– You want to rent out some rooms.
– You see this flat as a backbone for the future.
– This is your dream home.

» Loan impact
– A Rs. 45 lakh loan for 20 years will need a big EMI.
– EMI may be around Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 45,000 monthly.
– This is nearly half your income.
– You will also pay property tax, maintenance, and utilities.
– You must pay society charges, repairs, and insurance.
– Your living cost will increase after moving out.
– Your savings may reduce sharply.
– This can delay wealth creation.

» Rental plan insight
– You plan to rent rooms.
– You may get Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 per room monthly depending on location.
– Rental income is not guaranteed.
– Tenants can leave anytime.
– You may face vacancy periods.
– You must handle maintenance and tenant issues.
– You must declare rental income for tax.
– Rental yield in cities is usually 2% to 3% only.
– EMI cost is far higher than rent earned.
– Real estate rarely beats inflation with liquidity.
– You will lock a big part of your money in one asset.

» Emotional and personal goals
– You always dreamed to own a home.
– Emotional peace has value.
– It gives pride and comfort.
– A home can give security.
– But financial burden can reduce peace.
– If EMIs eat savings, you may feel trapped.
– We must balance dream and money safety.

» Risks of early home buying
– You are unmarried now.
– Your life may change after marriage.
– Your spouse may work in another city.
– Your career may move you elsewhere.
– If you shift cities, the house becomes a rental property.
– You may prefer a different location later.
– Selling a property is slow and expensive.
– Loan repayment continues even during personal changes.
– You may feel pressure during job loss or salary cut.

» Alternative wealth path
– If you invest instead of buying now, your money grows.
– Mutual funds with active management can give better liquidity and returns.
– You can build a large corpus in 7 to 10 years.
– Later, you can buy a home with higher down payment or full payment.
– You avoid long-term loan pressure.
– You stay flexible for career, marriage, and family.

» Emotional satisfaction vs financial strength
– Your heart wants a home now.
– Your mind wants safety and growth.
– Owning a home feels good but limits flexibility.
– Renting a house is not waste. It is buying flexibility.
– You can stay close to work.
– You can shift easily when life changes.
– You can invest the surplus to grow future wealth.

» Steps if you buy now
– Keep EMI within 30% of income.
– Keep emergency fund equal to 12 months of EMI plus expenses.
– Continue PPF.
– Start mutual fund SIP.
– Increase SIP every year.
– Do not stop investing because of EMI.
– Keep insurance updated.
– Avoid buying furniture or car with loans.
– Keep career growth strong to handle EMIs easily.

» Steps if you delay buying
– Save for larger down payment.
– Grow mutual fund corpus for next 5 years.
– Reassess housing needs after marriage or job shifts.
– Buy with more clarity and lesser loan.
– Keep lifestyle simple while wealth grows.

» Certified Financial Planner role
– A Certified Financial Planner can make a detailed cash flow plan.
– They check your risk tolerance.
– They project expenses, tax, and loan impact.
– They suggest safe investment mix.
– They help you protect both dream and money safety.
– This ensures no regret later.

» Finally
– You are doing very well by planning early.
– Buying a home is emotional and financial both.
– It can bring pride or pressure based on timing.
– With Rs. 94,000 income, a Rs. 45 lakh loan is heavy.
– It may be manageable if career grows, no job loss, no emergencies.
– But risk remains high for next 10 years.
– Think of flexibility, future family plans, and investment opportunities.
– Sometimes waiting a few years builds more safety and power.
– You can own your dream home with more peace and less burden.
– Discuss with a Certified Financial Planner before finalising.
– This one step of advice can save years of stress.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

..Read more

Reetika

Reetika Sharma  |417 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF and Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 19, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 13, 2025Hindi
Money
Hi I am 43 years old IT professional having compensation of 80L per annum. I have health insurance of 30L for family. I have house of own so no EMI’s. I have 30 lakhs cash lying in FD, debt fund, 30L in stocks. My EPF is currently 1 crore and investment in Mutual fund is 1 crore out of which 70% is in equity fund, 5% in gold and rest in debt fund. I am doing SIP of 1 lakh per month. Other than that my monthly expense is 1 lakh. Wife is working as a teacher and earns 30K per month. Daughter is 2 years old and is in pre-school. Parents stay with us but not dependent on me. I am thinking of buying a flat which will cost me around 2.5 crore. Idea is to sell all stocks and mutual funds for down payment and take home loan for rest i.e. around 1 crore. Rent would be around 40K, but chances of future property appreciation is good. What do you suggest, is this a wise move or instead of buying flat I should invest more of mutual funds? Pls do consider, in current circumstances, job market in IT is not stable specially for senior professionals. Also, if i retire at age of 45 how much savings will I need ? Thanks
Ans: Hi,

I understand your dilemma. It is very common these days to decide what to do.
In your case, selling everything to buy a land doesn't seem a wise decision. Holding onto your funds and stocks can help you in early retirement.
However, if you get into another loan EMI, you will not be able to retire early. You have to work to pay off emi and will have no source to fund your retirement.

Hence best possible outcome here is to increase your monthly sIP to maximum to generate corpus to fund your lifestyle as well as retirement. As you said, you have a 2-yo, you also need to plan her higher studies which will require another 50 lakhs to 1 crore.

30L in FD and debt funds is good for your emergency. If you increase your SIP amount to 2 lakhs for another 4 -5 years, you can easily retire without worrying for anything.
Also for your daughter, start SIP of 50,000 into equity oriented funds for 5 years and let it grow till she turns 18. Her education expense will be sorted.

Also as your corpus is more than bare minimum of 10lakhs, I advice you to take a professional help as a guided portfolio generates better returns than a self-made one.

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.

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

..Read more

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Asked by Anonymous - Dec 08, 2025Hindi
Money
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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