am 24 year old software engineer with 50,000 monthly salary. I have education loan of 4,70,000 @4% rate. I have credit card due of 90,000 (which I rollover). I have EMIs- (a) 13600 for next 3 months (b) 7000 for next 6 months I have savings of 50,000, with which I take swing trades and on average make 5-8k from this. I also want to make a long term portfolio with 6-8 large & midcap stocks. (I don't want to invest in MF and I know the stocks which I want to buy) But I can't do it currently due to my loans. I have a term insurance 2Cr with 18K annual premium. I am a single child and currently don't have any responsibility. Kindly suggest how to manage all this.
Ans: Income and Expense Structure
Monthly income is Rs. 50,000.
You have EMIs and credit card dues.
A portion of your savings is used in swing trading.
You want to build a long-term stock portfolio.
No dependents now. But planning is still essential.
Let us assess each area carefully.
Review of Current Liabilities
Education Loan – Rs. 4.7 Lakhs @ 4% Interest
Interest rate is low.
Tax benefits are available on interest under Section 80E.
This loan is not urgent to close.
You may keep paying EMI and not prepay aggressively.
Credit Card Dues – Rs. 90,000 (Rollover Ongoing)
This is most dangerous.
Interest is likely above 36% per year.
Rollover leads to compounding debt.
Must be priority to clear.
EMI Commitments
Rs. 13,600 for 3 months.
Rs. 7,000 for 6 months.
These are short-term.
Total Rs. 20,600 outflow for now.
Total EMI + Minimum Due Pressure
High fixed outflows from salary.
Your net monthly surplus is very low.
Need discipline for next 6–9 months.
First Step: Correct Debt Strategy
Stop swing trading for next 3 months.
Use full Rs. 50,000 savings to clear credit card.
Clear Rs. 90,000 in two steps:
Rs. 50,000 from savings.
Rs. 40,000 from salary over 2–3 months.
Pay only minimum on education loan.
Don’t touch stock investing until this is done.
Debt Management Plan (Next 6 Months)
Month 1–3:
Pay Rs. 13,600 EMI.
Pay Rs. 7,000 EMI.
Pay Rs. 10,000–15,000 towards credit card.
Month 4–6:
Rs. 13,600 EMI ends.
Redirect full Rs. 20,000–25,000 surplus to credit card.
Credit card must be fully paid within 6 months.
Emergency Fund Is Missing
You have no buffer fund.
Keep minimum Rs. 20,000–25,000 in savings for emergencies.
Start building this once credit card is cleared.
Don’t use this fund for trading or stock investing.
About Swing Trading Practice
Swing trading can be profitable, but risky.
You make Rs. 5,000–8,000 per month.
But trading with borrowed money is dangerous.
Temporarily pause this till debt is under control.
Trading profits should be added to emergency fund, not spent.
Term Insurance Review
Rs. 2 Cr cover is excellent at your age.
Annual premium Rs. 18,000 is acceptable.
You have no dependents now, but it is future-proofing.
Continue this policy without stopping.
Long-Term Investing in Stocks
You want to build a portfolio of 6–8 large/midcap stocks.
You do not want to invest in mutual funds.
Let us assess this choice.
Disadvantages of Not Using Mutual Funds
Direct equity requires deep knowledge and time.
You must track business cycles, quarterly results, etc.
No diversification if you pick 6–8 stocks only.
Mutual funds give access to expert management.
They help manage risks and volatility better.
But since you are clear about the stocks you want:
Wait for next 6 months till credit card and EMIs reduce.
Then start monthly buying in 2–3 stocks first.
Keep others in watchlist and slowly accumulate.
Start with Stock SIP Strategy
After 6 months:
Start investing Rs. 5,000–10,000 monthly in stocks.
Prioritise large-cap stocks first.
Avoid penny or low-volume stocks.
Reinvest dividends.
Don’t sell in panic.
Build the portfolio over 2–3 years gradually.
Budgeting Approach You Can Follow
Break your Rs. 50,000 salary like this (post-debt clearance):
Rs. 10,000 for Emergency Fund (until it is Rs. 1 Lakh).
Rs. 10,000 in Long-Term Stock Portfolio.
Rs. 25,000 for fixed and flexible expenses.
Rs. 5,000 to short-term trading or goals.
This 50–30–20 type split gives a healthy balance.
Avoid These Common Traps
Avoid rolling over credit cards again.
Avoid investing lump sum in stocks suddenly.
Don’t pick stocks based on social media tips.
Don’t depend only on swing trading for wealth building.
Avoid taking personal loans to invest or repay.
Use of Certified Financial Planner
Since you don’t prefer mutual funds:
Still consult a Certified Financial Planner (CFP).
They will help in:
Risk assessment.
Tax planning.
Investment allocation.
Monitoring and balancing equity exposure.
Avoid investing on impulse or based on trending advice.
Why Mutual Funds Are Still Worth a Look
Even if you don’t like mutual funds now, later consider:
Mutual funds offer sector-wise exposure.
Fund manager expertise matters.
Large caps and midcaps are better handled through funds.
Funds allow SIPs, STPs, and rebalancing.
Actively managed funds outperform passive ones in India.
Avoid direct plans unless you have deep market knowledge.
Choose regular funds through an MFD with CFP qualification.
They provide:
Handholding and regular review.
Emotional discipline during volatility.
Rebalancing support.
Goal alignment.
Taxation Awareness
If you make profits from swing trades:
You are taxed as per your income tax slab.
If frequent, it may be treated as business income.
Keep proper records.
File ITR accordingly.
When you start building long-term portfolio:
If you hold stocks for more than 1 year:
LTCG above Rs. 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%.
If sold within a year:
STCG taxed at 20%.
Plan exits accordingly.
Step-by-Step 6-Month Action Plan
Month 1–3
Use Rs. 50,000 savings to reduce credit card dues.
Pay Rs. 20,600 EMIs.
Pay Rs. 10,000–15,000 extra on credit card.
Pause swing trading and stock investing.
Month 4–6
Rs. 13,600 EMI ends.
Increase debt repayment speed.
Credit card should be cleared fully.
Keep Rs. 20,000 emergency fund aside.
Month 7 Onwards
Resume swing trading if desired.
Start stock SIPs with Rs. 5,000–10,000 per month.
Grow emergency fund to Rs. 1 Lakh gradually.
Avoid fresh credit card loans.
Track expenses and maintain monthly surplus.
Use of Tools and Tracking
Use Excel or free budgeting apps.
Set up auto debit for EMI and stock SIP.
Review portfolio every 6 months.
Read annual reports of selected stocks.
Finally
Focus on discipline more than returns.
Clear bad debt first.
Delay investing until you build base.
Stay away from fast returns mindset.
Build habits today that your future self will thank you for.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment