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Ramalingam Kalirajan |8910 Answers |Ask -Follow

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 15, 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

Question by Prabodh on Apr 20, 2025

I am looking for personal finance advice. I am a working processional (private company) based out of Bangalore and 40 years old. I am married (wife at 34 years) with a kid of 6 years. I also have parents, father at 70 years and mother at 65 years. So total members in my family is 5. I am planning to work in Bangalore for maximum 3 more years and will relocate to Kolkata, and try to find out a less stressful job for myself. Overall, the total liquid asset we have is 5 cr INR. Father gets pension 40,000 INR per month. Apart from these 2, we don't have any other asset. We have floating health insurance of 13 Lakhs, which covers all 5 of us. After I relocate to Kolkata, how should we plan to invest 5 Cr to ensure we have a moderate lifestyle, can cover my sons higher education, and occasional domestic vacation? Note: After relocating to Kolkata, I am my wife both will look for some work, to cover our monthly expenses, but until that happens, we need to plan everything with our existing assets. Looking for expert opinion please. Thanks in advance.

Ans: You are 40 years old, married, and have one child. Your parents are dependent, and your son is 6 years old. You are in Bangalore now, planning to move to Kolkata in 3 years. You have Rs. 5 crores in liquid assets. You also have Rs. 13 lakhs health cover for your entire family.

This is a strong financial base. Let us build on it with clarity and caution. Below is a 360-degree plan for your financial future.

Understanding Your Financial Landscape
You are in a life transition phase, which needs structured planning.

The liquidity of Rs. 5 crore gives you flexibility to manage changes easily.

You have 5 dependents including your spouse, child, and parents. All must be factored in.

Your parents are aging, and their health care needs will rise with time.

Your son’s education needs will peak in 10–12 years. You must be prepared well before that.

You are considering a lifestyle shift, so passive income must be planned smartly.

Your goal is to maintain a moderate lifestyle, provide for education, and enjoy vacations.

Lifestyle Management during Transition
Your moderate lifestyle can be sustained for now with your savings.

You plan to work in Kolkata after 3 years, but there may be an income gap.

You must set aside a specific reserve for 3 years of household expenses.

This ensures peace of mind while you find suitable work in Kolkata.

Once income starts again, you can reduce dependence on your corpus.

Allocation of Rs. 5 Crores: Structured Investment Plan
Let us split the Rs. 5 crore based on financial priorities. Each portion will have a clear objective.

1. Emergency and Lifestyle Buffer: Rs. 75 Lakhs
Set aside Rs. 75 lakhs for emergencies and living costs for 3-4 years.

Invest in ultra-short-duration or liquid mutual funds, through a Certified Financial Planner.

This will give returns better than savings accounts and fixed deposits.

Keep some part in a sweep-in FD for immediate access.

This covers any temporary gaps after moving to Kolkata.

2. Son’s Higher Education Fund: Rs. 1.25 Crore
Your son is 6 years old now. You have 10–12 years before college.

Allocate Rs. 1.25 crore specifically for this education goal.

Choose diversified mutual funds across flexicap, large and mid-cap categories.

Use SIPs and lumpsum wisely to balance risk and growth.

Avoid index funds. They only follow the market and lack active monitoring.

Actively managed funds give better long-term returns with expert decision-making.

Use only regular plans through a Certified Financial Planner.

Avoid direct mutual funds. They lack guidance and portfolio review support.

With regular monitoring, you can course-correct based on your child’s aspirations.

Track this fund separately to avoid dipping into it for other needs.

3. Retirement Corpus Building: Rs. 2 Crore
You are only 40, so you have 15–20 years to build a strong retirement pool.

Start investing in long-term focused mutual funds, primarily equity-oriented.

Use a mix of flexicap, focused, and multi-cap funds.

This Rs. 2 crore corpus should be left untouched until age 58–60.

Avoid annuities. They give poor returns and no inflation protection.

Through mutual funds, your returns can grow with inflation and time.

Systematic withdrawal plans (SWP) post-retirement will offer tax-efficient income.

You can increase SIPs once you and your spouse find new jobs.

This pool ensures your old age is stress-free and independent.

4. Health and Eldercare Provision: Rs. 50 Lakhs
Your parents are above 65. Future medical expenses will increase.

Your current floater cover is Rs. 13 lakhs. This may be inadequate later.

Keep Rs. 50 lakhs aside for health emergencies.

Invest in low-risk hybrid mutual funds for better-than-FD returns.

Use part of this fund to buy a separate senior citizen policy if needed.

Maintain a medical buffer of Rs. 10 lakhs in a liquid fund for quick access.

For long-term medical care or nursing support, this reserve will be crucial.

Do not touch this fund for lifestyle or education purposes.

5. Domestic Vacation and Leisure Fund: Rs. 25 Lakhs
Family trips and leisure refresh your mind and relationships.

You may want to travel once a year or twice in two years.

Allocate Rs. 25 lakhs in a short-term debt mutual fund.

Withdraw annually using SWP for travel plans.

This way, your fund earns while also serving your goals.

Keep the budget flexible based on other income sources once you relocate.

Don’t let lifestyle inflation impact your other critical goals.

Income During Relocation Phase: What If You Don't Earn?
Assume you and your wife take time to find a job in Kolkata.

Use the Rs. 75 lakhs lifestyle buffer to manage for 3 years.

Withdraw monthly using SWP for tax efficiency and regular income.

If income starts earlier, you can reduce withdrawal and extend corpus life.

Don’t withdraw from the retirement or education fund.

You can also do part-time work or freelancing to reduce dependency on corpus.

Inflation Management and Risk Balancing
Your goals are long-term, and inflation will reduce value of money.

Equity mutual funds are your best friend here for long-term growth.

Keep 60–65% of your Rs. 5 crore in equity-oriented funds.

Rest 35–40% should be in debt or hybrid funds for short-term needs.

Review allocation once in 6–12 months with your Certified Financial Planner.

Do not react to market ups and downs emotionally.

Your time horizon is long, and markets reward patience.

Taxation Strategy on Mutual Funds
Equity fund gains above Rs. 1.25 lakh yearly are taxed at 12.5%.

Short-term gains are taxed at 20%.

Debt mutual fund gains are taxed as per your income slab.

SWP from equity funds can be tax-friendly if planned properly.

Track all fund transactions to manage capital gains efficiently.

Do not redeem fully unless absolutely required.

Role of Your Wife in Financial Planning
Encourage your wife to also take up work once in Kolkata.

Even a part-time income can reduce pressure on the corpus.

Her income can be used to restart SIPs or cover health expenses.

Both of you should stay financially engaged and share planning responsibility.

Retirement Planning Beyond Age 60
Once you and your wife stop working fully, use SWP from retirement fund.

This method offers monthly income and tax optimisation.

Combine SWP with the pension your father receives.

Consider gifting strategies later to your son if corpus grows beyond your needs.

Planning for Your Son's Future Support
Start SIPs in your son’s name through your guardianship.

When he turns 18, you can transfer funds legally to him.

Teach him basic money management as he grows up.

Avoid burdening him with financial responsibilities too early.

Legal and Documentation Readiness
Make a Will to mention your asset distribution preferences.

Add nominee details in all investments and insurance plans.

Keep joint holdings to ensure easy access in case of emergency.

Update address and contact details after shifting to Kolkata.

Don't Make These Common Mistakes
Don’t keep too much money idle in savings account or fixed deposit.

Don’t get influenced by tips from social media or relatives.

Don’t switch funds based on short-term performance.

Don’t mix insurance with investment. Use term insurance only.

Don’t delay action thinking you still have time. Start now.

Don’t chase quick returns. Prioritise long-term safety and stability.

Finally
You are in a very strong financial position right now.

You are aware, responsible, and thinking ahead for your family.

With the right planning and discipline, your Rs. 5 crore can support all your life goals.

You can give your son good education, maintain a relaxed lifestyle, and retire with freedom.

Stay focused on your plan and don’t get distracted.

Review your plan once every 6 to 12 months with your Certified Financial Planner.

That will keep your investments on the right track.

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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