Home > Money > Question
Need Expert Advice?Our Gurus Can Help
Mahesh

Mahesh Padmanabhan  |124 Answers  |Ask -

Tax Expert - Answered on May 05, 2023

Mahesh Padmanabhan has specialised in payroll, personal and corporate taxation for more than two and a half decades, enabling him to provide practical, realistic and correct advice to his clients.
He is a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and has a degree in cost accounting from the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.
He is also a qualified information systems auditor. ... more
Sunil Question by Sunil on Apr 01, 2023Hindi
Listen
Money

Is there any limit of my contribution and employer contribution towards EPF, VPF, Graduity. Is PPF also coming in this list Is Sukanya Samruddhi Yogna maturity amount taxble @ 21 yrs of daughters age? What is the tax implications

Ans: Hi Sunil
Employer contribution to PF is done at 12% of the basic salary. Gratuity contributions generally are about 15 days salary for each completed year. PPF and Sukanya maturity amounts are not taxable
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.
Money

You may like to see similar questions and answers below

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6292 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 16, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 30, 2024Hindi
Money
HI Anil ji, I am shri, age 51 and my net take home salary is 1.13 lac monthly. My current expenses and investment structure is given below. As salaried person, Retirement will be at the age of 60. Net take home is 1.13 lac after deducting below given contributions. 5600 voluntary pf 6000 employer nps current Investment valuation (in Lac) ppf stock mf nps Epf Total 21.04 5.7 12.84 4.92 17 61.5 The above PPF valuation is of my and spouse account which will be maturing on Mar 2025 Rs.5.4 lac generated in daughters PPF account. Current Monthly Investment 4000 NPS 25000 SIP - nippon india small cap fund-growth 25000 SIP - quant midcap fund- regular growth 20000 SIP - quant small cap fund- regular growth 74000 TOTAL SIP started just one year back and currently PPF is running with minimum contribution to continue the account. Planning to increase SIP amount every year, depend upon increment from company and target is to achieve SIP of 1 lac. Almost 40,000 monthly kept for house hold and other expenses such as Mediclaim, car and bike insurance etc. Don’t have any Loan liability. No life cover and I am the only earning member with dependent of spouse and daughter. Daughter is in 12 std, age 17 and want to pursue Engineering. Future Fees will be paid from MF redemption if sufficient saving is not generated. Expectation to have corpus of 5 Cr on retirement. Do we need to withdraw and divert the PPF amount to MF ? Kindly suggest the Funds. or shall I continue in PPF? is it feasible to achieve 5 cr or what will be the corpus amount after continuing above investment? Secondly, withdrawal from MF to get 50000 per month for monthly expenses. Currently staying in own 1 bhk costing nearly 1.25 cr (No Home Loan) and after 5 years (after completion of daughter’s education) want to purchase 2 bhk flat which will cost around 2.5 – 2.60 cr. The above expectations may sound on higher side, but kindly advise action plan to reach nearby. Thanks in advance.
Ans: Shri, your current financial structure is quite robust. The take-home salary of Rs. 1.13 lakh is well-allocated towards savings and investments. Your monthly investment strategy, especially with SIPs and contributions to NPS, is commendable. You’ve done well to diversify your investments across different asset classes like PPF, stocks, mutual funds, NPS, and EPF.

Evaluating Your PPF and NPS Contributions
The PPF account maturity in March 2025 provides a good opportunity to reassess its role in your portfolio. The current PPF valuation of Rs. 21.04 lakhs (including your spouse’s account) is a safe and low-risk investment. However, with your goal of achieving a Rs. 5 crore corpus, the returns from PPF might not suffice.

Your NPS contributions are beneficial due to the tax benefits under Section 80CCD(1B). However, it’s important to remember that NPS has a long lock-in period until retirement. This could limit your flexibility.

Instead of withdrawing from PPF to invest in mutual funds, you can continue the PPF until maturity and then assess the need based on market conditions. As PPF provides a fixed and risk-free return, it’s wise to balance it with other growth-oriented investments.

SIP Strategy
Your current SIPs in small and mid-cap funds are aligned with higher risk and higher return strategies. Small and mid-cap funds can offer significant growth over the long term but are also more volatile.

As you plan to increase your SIP contributions annually, consider adding some large-cap or balanced funds to your portfolio. These funds provide stability and can cushion your portfolio during market downturns.

Given the one-year duration of your current SIPs, it's essential to regularly review their performance. Consistently monitor the funds, but avoid frequent changes unless there’s a significant underperformance.

Instead of withdrawing from mutual funds for monthly expenses, consider building an emergency fund. You can invest this fund in low-risk instruments that are easily accessible.

Assessing Your Retirement Goal
Your target of achieving a Rs. 5 crore corpus at retirement is ambitious but achievable with disciplined investing. Given the current investment structure, it's feasible to get close to this target. However, it would be wise to regularly reassess your goals and make necessary adjustments to your SIP contributions.

If you maintain and gradually increase your current investment strategy, you’re on the right path. Focus on ensuring that your portfolio remains diversified across different asset classes.

Planning for Daughter's Education
Your plan to fund your daughter’s engineering education through mutual fund redemptions is practical. Given the short timeframe, it's advisable to invest the amount earmarked for her education in safer instruments. You can consider shifting some of the mutual funds into debt funds or liquid funds as the education expenses near.
Real Estate Consideration
While you plan to purchase a 2BHK flat after your daughter’s education, it's essential to evaluate the impact on your overall financial goals. The cost of Rs. 2.5-2.6 crore is significant. It’s crucial to assess whether this investment will impact your retirement corpus goal.

Since you currently stay in your own 1BHK flat, consider whether upgrading to a 2BHK is essential or if the funds could be better used towards your retirement savings.

Insurance and Risk Management
Currently, you lack life insurance, which is a critical aspect, especially as the sole breadwinner with dependents. I strongly recommend getting a term life insurance policy to cover at least 10-15 times your annual income. This will ensure financial security for your family in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Also, evaluate the adequacy of your current Mediclaim policy. Ensure that the sum insured covers potential healthcare costs adequately, considering inflation in medical expenses.

Action Plan to Achieve Financial Goals
Continue and Review SIPs: Continue with your SIPs, but ensure diversification. Add large-cap or balanced funds for stability. Regularly review the performance but avoid frequent changes unless necessary.

Insurance Coverage: Secure adequate life insurance and ensure your health insurance covers inflation-adjusted medical costs.

Retain PPF until Maturity: Let the PPF mature in 2025, then reassess its role in your portfolio. Don’t withdraw now; it offers a risk-free return.

Emergency Fund: Build an emergency fund in liquid or debt instruments instead of relying on mutual funds for monthly expenses.

Real Estate Decision: Reevaluate the need to upgrade to a 2BHK flat. Assess its impact on your retirement goals.

Education Planning: For your daughter’s education, start shifting the required amount into safer instruments like debt funds as the time nears.

Final Insights
Shri, your financial foundation is solid. With the right adjustments and a disciplined approach, you’re well on your way to achieving your financial goals. It’s crucial to regularly reassess your investments and ensure you have the right insurance coverage in place. Continue with your current strategy, but ensure diversification and risk management are prioritized.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Latest Questions
Nitin

Nitin Narkhede  |11 Answers  |Ask -

MF, PF Guru - Answered on Sep 15, 2024

Listen
Money
Dear Sir, i am an NRI, investing in mutual funds and stocks through NRO account for quite some time and i am planning to move to india approximately in another 2-3 years of time , given that NRO have high taxation, i just wanted to understand how to swiftly transfer mutual funds and taxes from nro account to indian resident account ? Appreciate if you could provide advice as well as SWP method ?
Ans: Dear Rudolf,
As an NRI planning to move back to India in 2-3 years, transitioning your investments from an NRO account to a resident account requires careful planning. First, once you become a resident, you need to convert your NRO account into a regular resident savings account. This involves contacting your bank, providing updated KYC details, and submitting proof of your new residency status in India. Additionally, you must inform mutual fund houses or registrars (like CAMS/Karvy) about your change in residential status by submitting a KYC modification form.
In terms of taxation, as an NRI, you are currently subject to higher taxes on your investments. Long-term capital gains (LTCG) on equity funds are taxed at 10%, while short-term capital gains (STCG) are taxed at 15%. For debt mutual funds, LTCG is taxed at 20% with indexation benefits, and STCG is taxed according to your income slab. Once you become a resident, the taxation on these investments will continue under resident tax laws, but any new gains after your status change will be taxed according to resident regulations.
To efficiently manage your investments, you can opt for a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP). This allows you to withdraw a fixed amount from your mutual funds regularly while keeping the rest invested. SWP is tax-efficient, as you only pay capital gains tax on the withdrawn portion. After becoming a resident, you can easily set up SWPs to your regular savings account for steady income, while the rest of your investments continue to grow.
So to conclude, it is essential to update your bank and mutual fund KYC details when you return to India to ensure regulatory compliance and take advantage of resident tax laws. SWP can provide regular income while managing taxes efficiently. You need to contact a professional Advisor or CA for managing all your assets.
Best regards,
Nitin Narkhede
Founder & MD, Prosperity Lifestyle Hub https://Nitinnarkhede.com
Free Webinar https://bit.ly/PLH-Webinar

...Read more

Nitin

Nitin Narkhede  |11 Answers  |Ask -

MF, PF Guru - Answered on Sep 15, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 14, 2024Hindi
Listen
Money
Hi Sir - I'm 35 years. Both myself and a better half are working with a monthly income of 3.65L together (2.8L mine + 85K wife's). We have a 5 year old male kid. We have a SBI max gain home loan account with a debt of 12.65L and a parked amount of 26.5L apart from the EMI paid so far from previous 5 years. No EMI on car purchased. EPF ~29L, PPF started for both of us an year back. Also started a monthly SIP of ~1.2-1.5L in MF from Jan'2024 with 8.5L balance so far and will continue the SIP in the below funds atleast for next 10 years. Not considering debt funds as I'm already having EPF and PPF components and will periodically review these funds. 1. Nifty next 50 Index, 2. Small Cap 250 Index, 3. Multi Cap, Active 4. Mid Cap, Active 5. Flexi Cap, Active Better half may quit her job by Mar'2025. We are looking to close home loan by March'2025 and stay EMI/debt free with a peace of mind. Is it a wise decision to close a home loan by this financial year and increase the monthly SIP to 2L from next financial year? Or) invest the home loan balance amount in real estate (preferably buying a land)? especially when the home loan interest of upto 3.5L are tax fee in the old tax regime. Thanks!
Ans: Dear Friend, Given your current financial standing, closing your home loan by March 2025 seems like a wise choice. You have Rs 26.5L parked in the SBI Max Gain account, which already reduces your interest liability. By clearing the remaining Rs 12.65L, you can become debt-free, providing peace of mind and freeing up your EMI payments for additional investments. While the home loan offers tax benefits under the old regime, the psychological comfort of being debt-free may outweigh the potential tax savings, especially since your financial portfolio is already strong.
Once the loan is closed, increasing your monthly SIPs to Rs 2L would be a smart move. Over the next 10 years, equity mutual funds, which historically offer returns of 10-12% annually, can significantly grow your wealth. Since you are already investing in a diversified portfolio of index, small-cap, mid-cap, and flexi-cap funds, increasing these investments aligns well with your long-term goals.
Investing in real estate, particularly land, can provide diversification. However, real estate is typically less liquid and the returns can be location-dependent. If you're confident in the property’s growth potential, this can be a good long-term investment. However, your existing strategy of focusing on equity mutual funds will likely offer better returns and flexibility, given your 10-year investment horizon.
So closing your home loan by March 2025 and redirecting the freed-up funds into increased SIPs appears to be the best route. It balances peace of mind, tax efficiency, and long-term wealth creation, while real estate can be considered for diversification if you find a promising opportunity.
There are many real estate opportunities like REIT or Partial ownership in commercial properties which can also yield between 14 to 22% overall return with about 5 to 8% monthly return and 10 to 12% of Growth in the Asset Value at end of tenure.
Investment is commodities like gold and silver can also yield a return of 8 to 10% with reducing the risk in one sector.
Diversification is the mantra, do not depend on only one or two type of investment avenues. Explore other options as well.

Best regards,
Nitin Narkhede
Founder & MD, Prosperity Lifestyle Hub https://Nitinnarkhede.com
Free Webinar https://bit.ly/PLH-Webinar

...Read more

Dr Karthiyayini

Dr Karthiyayini Mahadevan  |1065 Answers  |Ask -

General Physician - Answered on Sep 14, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 13, 2024Hindi
Listen
Health
I am 75 + ....Around two months back I was diagnosed as dengue positive with platelet count at 75,000. with proper medication, platelet counts were increased to 2,05,000 and fever was subsided.However swellings on both arms and legs persisted.. Off late on my both solders i am suffering severe pain and enable to make any movement, i feel like inner vain of my both hands are getting stretched/pulled (right from my solder to the finger tips and swelling on both hands and legs are still there. My doctor says that it may continue for another two three months and proscribed me only pain killer tablets.Doctor says that there is no specific medicine for Dengue. I got thorough blood and urine test along with other test like scanning, x-ray etc. All the test reports are normal except slightly blood sugar (PP) on higher side and enlargement of prostate gland (which is there since last 10 years and i am on regular medicine (silodosin 8-mg, one tab a day) Kindly advise me with your good suggestions that what could be the cause of this problem and which expert doctor I should consult since it is very difficult situation for carrying out my routine activities and also I can't sleep properly due to severe pain. Thank you
Ans: Post viral illness can trigger different chain of immune reactions
They are mostly self limiting if your lifestyle is well disciplined.
Here are the points towards a healthy lifestyle
1.Early dinner by 6 pm and avoid animal protein and fat at dinner meal
2.Sleeping time to be regulated. Fix a specific time around 9/9.30 pm and unwind from the world particularly off media from 7 pm
3.Regular brisk walking 30 mts a day five days a week
4.Balanaced nutrition and avoid highly refined carbohydrates

...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.

Close  

You haven't logged in yet. To ask a question, Please Log in below
Login

A verification OTP will be sent to this
Mobile Number / Email

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to

Resend OTP in120seconds

Dear User, You have not registered yet. Please register by filling the fields below to get expert answers from our Gurus
Sign up

By signing up, you agree to our
Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

Already have an account?

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to Mobile

Resend OTP in120seconds

x