Dear Sir, My monthly income is 2.5 lac, savings include three land parcels (1.37 cr), mutual funds (43 lac), LIC (12 lac), and stocks worth 64 lac. I am not including PF in my saving. My liabilities include home loan emi 60k per month (58 lac...

Dear Sir, My monthly income is 2.5 lac, savings include three land parcels (1.37 cr), mutual funds (43 lac), LIC (12 lac), and stocks worth 64 lac. I am not including PF in my saving. My liabilities include home loan emi 60k per month (58 lac outstanding) and emi of personal loan 40k per month (16 lac outstanding). Please note that i have not included my ancestral property (aaprox 4cr) back in my home town and my current house (1.2cr) in delhi as my investment and am not intended to sell them. I am doin SIP of 50k month in mutual fund as well. Please suggest if i should prepay my loans (14 years remaining in both) my disposing off my real estate assets, or by selling my mutual funds and stocks, or should continue to pay the emi.. I am a 39 year old workin in private sector.

Ans: You have done a fine job building your finances.
A monthly income of Rs. 2.5 lakh offers good scope to plan further.
Your net worth is strong. Your clarity about assets is useful.

Let’s now evaluate your loans and investments fully.

We will see if loan prepayment is better or continuing EMI suits you more.

We will give you a simple, practical, and 360-degree answer.

Loan Details – A Quick Understanding
Your home loan has Rs. 58 lakh balance. EMI is Rs. 60,000 monthly.

Your personal loan has Rs. 16 lakh balance. EMI is Rs. 40,000 monthly.

Both loans have 14 years left.

Your total EMI is Rs. 1 lakh monthly, which is 40% of income.

This EMI load is still manageable, but can limit your savings.

Asset Overview – You Hold Valuable Assets
Three land parcels – total value is around Rs. 1.37 crore.

Mutual funds – Rs. 43 lakh. SIP of Rs. 50,000 is ongoing.

Stocks – Rs. 64 lakh. Good value and can grow further.

LIC – Rs. 12 lakh. This can be evaluated separately.

House in Delhi – Rs. 1.2 crore (not meant for selling).

Ancestral property – Rs. 4 crore (not meant for selling).

EPF not included in current asset count.

Income Stability – Key Strength
You are working in the private sector at age 39.

You likely have 20+ years of earning life ahead.

Income of Rs. 2.5 lakh monthly shows strong earning power.

This gives you room to act on a long-term plan.

Approach to Loan Prepayment – Thoughtful Steps
Let’s now assess your prepayment options clearly.

Should you prepay home and personal loans?
And if yes, what is the best way to do it?

We’ll check each option with clarity and purpose.

Option 1: Use Mutual Funds and Stocks to Prepay
You hold Rs. 1.07 crore across mutual funds and stocks.

Selling this can close your loans fully.

But this step ends future compounding.

Equity and mutual funds grow better over time.

Selling now reduces future wealth potential.

Also, mutual funds sold now can attract capital gain tax.

LTCG on equity funds above Rs. 1.25 lakh is taxed at 12.5%.

STCG is taxed at 20%.

Selling in a hurry may create tax burden.

Stocks too, if held long term, may grow better than loan savings.

Do not liquidate full equity portfolio unless under financial pressure.

Option 2: Use Real Estate (Land Parcels) to Prepay
Land parcels are worth Rs. 1.37 crore.

Land does not give monthly returns.

It has holding cost and liquidity issues.

Selling land and closing personal loan is a good move.

Personal loan has higher interest than home loan.

Prepaying personal loan gives instant relief in cash flow.

This saves you Rs. 40,000 per month.

After that, you can partly reduce home loan as well.

This will reduce total interest over 14 years.

Real estate is not ideal for wealth building.

Land sale can be better used to reduce high-cost loans.

Option 3: Continue Paying EMI and Keep Assets Untouched
Current EMI is Rs. 1 lakh monthly.

You save Rs. 50,000 in SIP and likely save more outside that.

If you continue EMIs, equity portfolio will grow faster.

In the long run, equity can give higher return than loan rate.

But, you carry high EMI stress for next 14 years.

You stay exposed to job risk in private sector.

Reducing loan now gives more future comfort.

Balanced and Smart Approach – Best for Your Case
Now let us give a 360-degree mix of the above.

This balanced path protects growth and reduces loan burden.

First, sell one land parcel.

Use this to close the full personal loan.

Personal loan has high interest. Closing it gives immediate benefit.

EMI burden drops from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 60,000 monthly.

You save Rs. 40,000 monthly, which can now go to investments.

Second, part-prepay the home loan using remaining land money.

Don’t close full loan, just reduce tenure or EMI.

This cuts interest and lowers future outgo.

You also stay eligible for home loan tax benefits.

Third, continue equity investments without selling.

Let mutual funds and stocks stay invested.

They can grow well over next 10–15 years.

Fourth, review your LIC policies.

If they are traditional or ULIPs, returns are low.

Surrender them if lock-in is over.

Reinvest proceeds in mutual funds.

Equity funds give better compounding over time.

Fifth, don’t touch the house or ancestral property.

You are wise to keep them outside this plan.

They are emotional and security assets. Not financial investments.

Use Regular Funds via CFP – Not Direct
Direct mutual funds look cheaper but give no support.

Wrong fund choice or timing can harm you.

You already have a large equity portfolio.

Without guidance, portfolio can become risky or unbalanced.

Regular funds, through Certified Financial Planner, give expert guidance.

You get help with rebalancing, tax planning, and goal alignment.

You save more in long term with right direction.

Other Important Steps You Can Take
Build or review your emergency fund.

Keep 6–9 months of expenses in liquid mutual fund.

Maintain good health and life insurance.

Term plan should be 10–15 times your annual income.

Health plan should cover you and family.

If any insurance is bundled with investment, review it critically.

Review your SIP portfolio every year.

Use asset allocation based on age and risk comfort.

Consider increasing SIPs by 5–10% yearly.

Finally
You are in a strong financial position.

You are earning well and saving consistently.

Your asset base is rich and diverse.

But your EMI load is affecting your monthly surplus.

You also carry high-cost personal loan.

Avoid touching equity investments for prepayment.

Instead, sell land parcels and close personal loan.

Then reduce some home loan principal also.

This improves monthly cash flow and reduces future interest.

Keep investing through mutual funds regularly.

Don’t shift to direct funds. Stay with regular funds via CFP.

Review your LIC policies and shift to equity if possible.

Build a clear financial roadmap for 15–20 years.

Take help from a Certified Financial Planner to stay on course.

This balanced strategy gives you growth, liquidity, and peace.

You are not late. You are well-placed to grow further.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

Ans: You are managing multiple loans and investments. Now let's work on a complete 360-degree solution for better financial management.

Understanding Your Current Financial Situation
– You are 39 years old with retirement in April 2046.
– You earn Rs 1.06 lakh monthly, which is a decent income.
– Your home loan is Rs 62 lakh with Rs 50,000 EMI for 20 years.
– You also have another home loan of Rs 11.8 lakh with Rs 19,000 EMI for 7 years.
– Your total EMI burden is Rs 69,000 monthly.

– PPF balance is Rs 1 lakh and Sukanya Samriddhi is Rs 2.2 lakh.
– You have Rs 21.8 lakh in NPS.
– Equity investments are around Rs 1.5 lakh.
– A SIP of Rs 10,000 started recently, which is a good step.
– You receive Rs 1 lakh yearly income from dry land.
– You also hold 3 plots now valued at Rs 75 lakh.

Your family consists of your spouse, son in 7th class, and daughter in 1st class.

Assessing Your Current Cash Flow
– Total EMI is Rs 69,000 out of Rs 1.06 lakh income.
– This leaves you with only around Rs 37,000 for all other expenses.

If your monthly expenses are higher, your savings will suffer.
So, your loans are eating a big part of your income now.

Analysing the Home Loans in Detail
Home Loan 1: Rs 62 Lakh, 240 Months
– EMI started in May 2025, EMI is Rs 50,000.
– This is a long-term loan, so interest outgo is large.

Home Loan 2: Rs 11.8 Lakh, 84 Months
– EMI is Rs 19,000, with 7-year tenure.
– This is a smaller and shorter loan.

Which Loan to Prepay First?
– Always prepay the small loan first.
– Prepay the Rs 11.8 lakh loan faster.
– This will free up Rs 19,000 EMI within 3 to 4 years.
– After clearing it, you can focus on the bigger loan.

Managing Investments and Loans Simultaneously
Don’t stop all your investments to pay loans.
But also don’t invest heavily while loans are pending.

Split your surplus cash wisely:

– Use part of your dry land income to prepay the small home loan.
– Use any yearly bonuses and incentives for loan prepayment.
– Don’t use equity or PPF for loan repayment now.

Your SIP of Rs 10,000 should continue.
This builds wealth for long-term goals.

Building Your Emergency Fund First
Before prepaying loans, build an emergency fund.
Keep at least 6 months of household expenses.

Park this in a liquid mutual fund or sweep-in FD.

This gives financial protection during job loss or medical issues.

Reviewing Your Insurance Cover
Check if you have pure term life insurance.
If not, buy it immediately for Rs 75 lakh to Rs 1 crore.

This will protect your family during your loan tenure.

Don’t mix insurance with investments like ULIPs.
Buy health insurance for the full family if not done yet.

Managing Existing Investments Wisely
– PPF and Sukanya are for long-term goals. Continue them yearly.
– NPS will support your retirement. Don't withdraw it early.
– Equity holding is small. Don't sell it now. Let it grow.

Your SIP of Rs 10,000 is a good start.
Keep increasing it by 10% every year.

Don’t stop mutual fund SIPs while paying loans.
You need both loan clearance and wealth creation together.

Avoiding Real Estate as an Investment
Your 3 plots have grown in value from Rs 33 lakh to Rs 75 lakh.
But plots don’t give regular income.

If you plan to use them for selling later, it is fine.
But don’t buy new plots for investment.

Real estate is illiquid and takes time to sell.
Also, managing dry land is not a consistent income source.

Future savings should focus on mutual funds, not plots or land.

Making Use of Dry Land Income
The Rs 1 lakh yearly income from land is helpful.

Use this income as below:

– 50% towards emergency fund and loan prepayment.
– 50% towards child’s future or your SIP top-up.

This way your passive income is also working for your goals.

Children’s Education Planning
Your son is in 7th class. Daughter in 1st class.

Their higher education will cost more in 7 to 10 years.

Start separate SIPs for their college education.
Allocate at least Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,500 for each child’s goal.

Mutual funds help beat inflation over the long term.

Don’t rely on Sukanya Samriddhi alone for your daughter.
It is safe but offers lower growth compared to equity mutual funds.

Retirement Planning Perspective
Your retirement is 21 years away in 2046.

NPS corpus is building well. Continue regular contributions.

Along with NPS, grow your equity mutual fund investments.
They will give higher growth in your working years.

Later, shift to balanced funds closer to retirement.

Cash Flow Management Month by Month
Your cash flow is tight due to high EMIs.

Try this plan:

– Household and lifestyle expenses: Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000.
– EMIs: Rs 69,000.
– SIPs: Rs 10,000.
– Emergency fund build-up: Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000.

If expenses exceed this, cut down on lifestyle spends.
Postpone luxury buys and vacations for 3 to 4 years.

Suggested Loan Prepayment Strategy Timeline
Year 1 to 4:

– Build emergency fund first.
– Prepay the small home loan slowly.
– Try to clear the Rs 11.8 lakh loan in 4 years.

Year 5 onwards:

– Focus on the Rs 62 lakh loan.
– Increase prepayment using the freed Rs 19,000 EMI.
– Target to close it in 10 to 12 years instead of 20.

This reduces your debt burden before retirement.

Should You Sell the Plots?
Don’t sell them immediately unless facing a cash crunch.
Plots have appreciated well and may grow further.

But if your cash flow becomes very tight, sell one plot.
Use the sale proceeds to clear the bigger home loan partly.

Selling plots reduces your interest burden faster.

Discuss this step with a Certified Financial Planner before selling.

Future Financial Milestones to Focus On
– Build Rs 5 lakh emergency fund in 3 years.
– Clear the small home loan in 4 years.
– Increase your SIPs gradually to Rs 20,000 monthly.
– Build your children's higher education fund in 10 years.
– Clear the big home loan 5 years before retirement.
– Build a retirement corpus to cover 25 to 30 years post-retirement.

Why You Shouldn’t Pause SIPs for Loans
Some people pause SIPs to repay loans fast.
This is wrong because they lose long-term compounding.

Keep your SIPs running while prepaying loans side by side.
This balance builds both wealth and peace of mind.

Avoid Index Funds and Direct Funds
Don’t choose index funds.

– Index funds blindly follow the market.
– They don’t protect you in market crashes.
– Actively managed funds give better long-term results.

Also, avoid direct mutual funds.

– Direct funds give no expert guidance.
– You will be confused during market falls.

Instead, invest in regular funds through an MFD holding CFP credential.
They provide handholding, monitoring, and rebalancing.

This is very important for a working family man like you.

Keeping a Long-Term View
Don’t get stressed by your present EMI load.
In 3 to 5 years, your cash flow will ease.

Your children’s education, your retirement, and a debt-free life are achievable.
Stay disciplined and avoid distractions like real estate investments.

Finally
Your financial journey has good foundations already.
Two things need improvement now. First, your high loan burden. Second, consistent wealth creation.

Take these steps next:

– Focus first on clearing the small home loan in 4 years.
– Continue SIPs and grow them over time.
– Avoid any more real estate purchases.
– Use dry land income wisely for wealth building and debt clearing.
– Review your plan yearly with a Certified Financial Planner.

In the long term, you will achieve both debt freedom and wealth growth.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

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