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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 14, 2024

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
srinivas Question by srinivas on Jul 14, 2024Hindi
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Hi Sir, Good morning. Hi I am 43 years old. I am regular investor in SIP. I invest 2lacs per month in SIP. My fund value will be approximately 6.5 cr in 5 years. If I would like to retire at after 5 years and need approximately 3 lacs per month as SWP for 25 years.. Can you please let me know how many years i can sustain with 6.5 cr.? or how much 6.5cr will grow if i dont withdraw lumpsum but only SWP of 3 lacs per month for 25 years.? Thank you.

Ans: Based on your follow-up question, here's a concise analysis:

Future Value of SIP Investment:

If you invest Rs. 2 lakhs per month for the next 5 years and expect your corpus to grow to approximately Rs. 6.5 crores, this assumes an estimated annual return rate of about 12-15%.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP):

You plan to withdraw Rs. 3 lakhs per month (which is Rs. 36 lakhs annually) for 25 years.
Sustainability Analysis:

Assuming an average annual return of 8% on your remaining corpus during the withdrawal phase:
After 25 years of withdrawing Rs. 3 lakhs per month, your corpus should ideally grow, considering that the returns may balance the withdrawals.
Using a financial calculator or retirement corpus calculator:

Initial Corpus: Rs. 6.5 crores
Monthly SWP: Rs. 3 lakhs (Rs. 36 lakhs annually)
Return Rate During Withdrawal: 8%
With the above parameters:

Your corpus of Rs. 6.5 crores can sustain the Rs. 3 lakhs monthly withdrawal for approximately 25 years while maintaining a positive balance due to the 8% return rate.
However, if the returns fluctuate or are lower, the sustainability period might reduce. It's always good to reassess periodically and adjust your withdrawals and investments accordingly.

Please consult a certified financial planner for customised plan.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
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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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 18, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 13, 2024Hindi
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Hi I am 43 years old. I am regular investor in SIP. I invest 2lacs per month in SIP. My fund value will be approximately 6.5 cr in 5 years. If I would like to retire at after 5 years and need approximately 3 lacs per month as SWP for 25 years.. Can you please let me know how many years i can sustain with 6.5 cr.? or how much 6.5cr will grow if i dont withdraw lumpsum but only SWP of 3 lacs per month for 25 years.? Thank you.
Ans: Evaluating Your Retirement Plan
Let's evaluate your plan to ensure financial stability during your retirement.

Current Investments
SIP Investment: Rs. 2 lakhs per month
Expected Fund Value in 5 Years: Rs. 6.5 crores
Retirement Plan
Monthly SWP Needed: Rs. 3 lakhs
Retirement Duration: 25 years
Sustaining Rs. 6.5 Crores with SWP
Assuming an average annual return of 7% on your investments post-retirement, let's calculate how long your corpus will sustain with a monthly SWP of Rs. 3 lakhs.

Calculating SWP Sustainability
Starting Corpus: Rs. 6.5 crores
Monthly Withdrawal: Rs. 3 lakhs
Annual Return: 7%
Using these parameters, we can estimate the duration your corpus will last.

Growth of Rs. 6.5 Crores with SWP
Corpus at Start: Rs. 6.5 crores
Annual Withdrawal: Rs. 36 lakhs (Rs. 3 lakhs x 12 months)
Annual Return on Remaining Corpus: 7%
The remaining corpus will continue to earn returns even as you withdraw funds. Let's see how it grows.

Insights and Recommendations
Sustainability: With a 7% return, your corpus can sustain for approximately 25 years with the monthly SWP of Rs. 3 lakhs.
Growth: The corpus will not only sustain but also grow, depending on the actual rate of return.
Detailed Calculation
Starting Corpus: Rs. 6.5 crores
Annual Return: 7%
Monthly Withdrawal: Rs. 3 lakhs
Yearly Breakdown (First Few Years)
Year 1: Starting Corpus = Rs. 6.5 crores

Annual Return = Rs. 6.5 crores * 7% = Rs. 45.5 lakhs
Withdrawal = Rs. 36 lakhs
End Corpus = Rs. 6.5 crores + Rs. 45.5 lakhs - Rs. 36 lakhs = Rs. 6.595 crores
Year 2: Starting Corpus = Rs. 6.595 crores

Annual Return = Rs. 6.595 crores * 7% = Rs. 46.165 lakhs
Withdrawal = Rs. 36 lakhs
End Corpus = Rs. 6.595 crores + Rs. 46.165 lakhs - Rs. 36 lakhs = Rs. 6.69115 crores
This pattern continues, showing how the corpus grows despite withdrawals, assuming a stable return.

Final Insights
Sustainable Plan: Your current plan is sustainable if the investments yield around 7% annually.
Monitoring: Regularly review and adjust your investments to maintain the desired returns.
Diversification: Ensure your investments are well-diversified to manage risks.
This plan should provide you with financial stability during retirement.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Sep 17, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 17, 2024Hindi
Money
Me and wife are 43 yrs old and plan to work until 70 but lets assume we work until 60. I plan to invest 2 lacs/month in SIP until 60 and post 60, i want to switch to SWP withdrawing close to 8 lacs/month for 17 yrs. I am not sure but i am getting corpus of 150cr by the age of 77 @12per annual return. Pease confirm if my calculation and thinking is correct. Also, is it practical to believe calculations of these investment calculators which shows such big number if we invest for longer period of time including SWP.
Ans: You've set out a comprehensive plan for your financial future, aiming to invest Rs 2 lakhs per month until you reach 60, followed by withdrawing Rs 8 lakhs per month post-retirement via an SWP (Systematic Withdrawal Plan). You're also projecting an annual return of 12% and estimating a corpus of Rs 150 crores by the age of 77. Let's take a close look at whether this plan is feasible and practical over the long term.

Appreciating Your Commitment and Financial Discipline

Firstly, your decision to work until 60 and invest Rs 2 lakhs monthly for the next 17 years is commendable. This kind of discipline and foresight is rare. You're also considering a systematic approach to withdrawing funds post-retirement, which reflects sound financial planning. Now, let's evaluate some key aspects to ensure your expectations are aligned with practical outcomes.

Evaluating Long-Term Projections: Reality vs Assumptions

It’s important to address the assumption of earning a consistent 12% annual return over 17 years. While equity markets have delivered such returns in the past, they are not guaranteed, especially over such a long period. The market's ups and downs could lower or even boost the returns, depending on how your investments are distributed among asset classes.

Historically, equity mutual funds have performed well over long periods, often giving returns between 10% and 15%. However, assuming a consistent 12% return for 17 years without any hiccups is optimistic.

Market fluctuations could reduce returns, especially if a recession or downturn hits close to your withdrawal phase. You need to stress-test your projections by considering both optimistic and conservative scenarios.

It's important to invest in a diversified portfolio, including large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap, and debt funds, to mitigate risks over a longer horizon.

Are Investment Calculators Reliable?

Investment calculators are useful tools for giving a ballpark figure, but they come with limitations. They often make simplified assumptions, such as constant returns and no market volatility.

Investment calculators don’t account for real-world market variability, inflation rates, or shifts in economic policy.

They also don’t include the impact of tax on withdrawals post-retirement, especially with SWP, where taxation could reduce your actual monthly income.

Instead of relying solely on calculators, it's better to consult with a Certified Financial Planner for projections that consider inflation, taxes, and changes in the market environment.

Reviewing SWP Plans and Their Practicality

Switching to an SWP at 60 and withdrawing Rs 8 lakhs monthly for 17 years sounds ambitious. An SWP can be a good strategy, but several factors need to be considered:

Market Volatility: During the withdrawal phase, market downturns can impact the corpus, leading to a faster depletion than expected. This is especially true in the initial years of retirement, known as sequence-of-return risk.

Inflation: While Rs 8 lakhs a month might sound adequate today, the impact of inflation over 17 years could significantly erode your purchasing power. It’s important to consider the inflation-adjusted value of your withdrawals.

Tax Implications: Withdrawals from SWP schemes are taxed based on capital gains. Over 17 years, these tax liabilities could accumulate, reducing your monthly income. Keep this in mind when planning your SWP amounts.

Managing Expectations: Rs 150 Crores Corpus

Accumulating Rs 150 crores by the age of 77 might be an over-optimistic projection. Although consistent investments over time can indeed generate substantial wealth, there are a few challenges to this goal:

Compounding Returns: While compounding is powerful, market volatility and inflation can curb its potential. A 12% annual return might not be consistently achievable for 34 years (17 years of investing + 17 years of withdrawing).

Post-Retirement Income: Rs 8 lakhs per month during retirement translates to Rs 96 lakhs annually. Over 17 years, this withdrawal would amount to Rs 16.32 crores. If your corpus doesn’t grow as expected, or if returns fall short of 12%, there could be a risk of the corpus depleting too quickly.

Realistic Projections: You may want to factor in more conservative return rates, such as 8% to 10%, to get a more practical estimate of your final corpus. Even with these conservative rates, you should still be able to accumulate a significant sum to support a comfortable retirement.

Active Fund Management vs Passive Investments

Since your plan involves long-term investments, it’s essential to evaluate the type of funds you're using. Actively managed funds typically offer the opportunity for higher returns than passive investments like index funds.

Disadvantages of Index Funds: Index funds, while low-cost, merely track the market, making them more suitable for short to medium-term goals. Over long periods, their returns could be lower than actively managed funds, which have the flexibility to adjust to market conditions.

Advantages of Actively Managed Funds: With actively managed funds, professional fund managers can shift your investments based on market dynamics, which is important for a long-term investor like yourself. This could help achieve your expected returns of 12% annually or close to it, especially if combined with a balanced asset allocation strategy.

The Importance of Regular Monitoring and Adjustments

Your goal of investing Rs 2 lakhs per month until 60 and then withdrawing Rs 8 lakhs per month sounds like a well-thought-out strategy. However, it's critical to review your plan regularly, especially as you near retirement. Regular monitoring and adjustments can help you stay on track.

Annual Reviews: Review your portfolio performance annually with your Certified Financial Planner. This will help ensure that you're still on track for your desired corpus and that your funds are performing as expected.

Adjusting for Life Changes: Consider any life changes such as health issues, job changes, or family commitments. These could impact your ability to save or the amount you need post-retirement.

Rebalancing: As you approach 60, you should gradually reduce your exposure to equity and shift towards debt funds to secure your corpus. This will minimize the risk of a significant loss just before retirement.

Final Insights

Your current plan to invest Rs 2 lakhs per month until 60 and switch to an SWP is well-structured but requires some fine-tuning.

Be cautious about assuming a consistent 12% return over 17 years. While it’s achievable in some market conditions, it’s better to plan with more conservative estimates.

Investment calculators can give a rough idea, but they often don’t account for inflation, market volatility, and taxes, which could significantly alter your final corpus.

An SWP can work, but you must consider the risks of market downturns, inflation, and taxation during the withdrawal phase. It’s wise to build a conservative withdrawal strategy.

Avoid relying too much on index funds or ETFs for long-term wealth accumulation. Actively managed funds will give you more flexibility to adjust to market conditions, offering potentially higher returns.

Finally, regular reviews and portfolio rebalancing will be crucial as you approach retirement. This ensures your strategy remains aligned with your goals.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Nov 04, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Nov 04, 2024Hindi
Money
Hi I am 44 years old and have 5 cr in FD,s , 1.5 cr in MF with over 1 lac monthly SIP investing in flexi cap , balanced fund , large caps, mid cap and small cap funds with an investment horizon of 10 years. Have 20 lacs in stocks , investing 7 lacs annually in annuity plan HDFC sanchay, and around 4 lacs in various insurance policies for tax free(ICICI and sriram) returns. Also I have started a sip(2k each ) for my 2 kids aged 5 and 12 in mid cap funds ..looking to increase this every year time horizon 30 years .. I would like to retire now and am looking at a swp of atleast 3-4 lacs per month after 6 years from my MF's. And annuity returns . Till that time my FD,s will also mature.. Would it be possible to earn 4 lacs through swp after 6 years...and I would like to build a corpus of around 30 cr after 15 years.. please suggest if I am on the right track.. Would it be possible to generate
Ans: Your current investments reflect thoughtful planning with multiple assets like mutual funds, FDs, annuities, and insurance. You are aiming for a substantial retirement corpus of Rs 30 crores and plan to generate a monthly income of Rs 3-4 lakhs through SWP in six years. Let's evaluate if you’re on track and explore recommendations to enhance your strategy.

1. Evaluating Your Mutual Fund Investments for SWP Needs
Your current SIPs are in flexi-cap, balanced, large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap funds, which align well with your growth and SWP goals. Here’s how these investments can work towards achieving your objectives:

High-Return Potential in Equity Funds: Over 10 years, your equity-oriented funds (large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap) can provide growth, supporting your monthly withdrawal goals.

Balanced Funds for Stability: Balanced funds add stability to your portfolio, reducing market volatility's impact on withdrawals.

Flexi-Cap Diversification: Flexi-cap funds enhance flexibility, adjusting across large, mid, and small-cap stocks as per market conditions.

2. Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) for Regular Monthly Income
Generating a SWP of Rs 3-4 lakhs after six years is achievable with a focused approach. Here’s a breakdown:

Establish a SWP Strategy: With a strong equity base, an SWP from your mutual funds can generate a monthly income. Reinvesting dividends or interest could further enhance your returns.

Aligning Fund Selection with SWP: Large-cap and balanced funds can be core SWP assets, as they are less volatile and provide stable growth.

Plan for Market Fluctuations: Market fluctuations could impact SWP withdrawals. You may consider moving a portion to debt funds closer to retirement for stability.

3. Increasing Your Kids' SIPs with Long-Term Vision
For your children, a 30-year horizon in mid-cap funds is promising. Increasing their SIPs regularly will amplify the impact of compounding:

Annual SIP Increase: Aim to raise the SIP amount yearly. Gradual increases, even by a few thousand rupees, can yield significant growth over 30 years.

Mid-Cap Growth Potential: Mid-cap funds can provide substantial returns over the long term. Diversifying with large-cap or flexi-cap funds could add stability.

Reinvestment in Tax-Efficient Funds: As your children reach different financial milestones, you can gradually move to tax-efficient funds or low-risk options for stability.

4. Reassessing Fixed Deposits and Annuities for Wealth Maximisation
Currently, a significant portion of your investments is in FDs and an annuity plan. Let’s evaluate the pros and cons of these investments:

Fixed Deposits for Short-Term Stability: FDs are stable but offer limited returns compared to mutual funds. Upon maturity, consider reinvesting in a mix of equity and debt mutual funds for higher growth potential.

Annuity Limitations: Annuity plans provide steady income but typically have lower returns. Since annuity returns are fixed, they may not keep up with inflation over the long term.

Shifting Focus to Equity Mutual Funds: Reinvesting your FD maturity and annuity corpus into mutual funds could help you achieve your Rs 30 crore target faster.

5. Optimising Insurance Plans for Better Returns
Your insurance plans provide tax-free returns, but it’s essential to assess whether they align with your overall goals. Here’s a perspective on your ICICI and Shriram policies:

Limited Growth in Traditional Insurance: Traditional insurance offers tax-free returns but often has limited growth potential.

Consider Surrendering for Higher Growth: If these policies underperform compared to mutual funds, you may consider surrendering them. Reinvesting in mutual funds could yield higher long-term returns.

Insurance for Protection, Not Investment: Moving towards term insurance for coverage and mutual funds for investment may be a more effective approach.

6. Building a Rs 30 Crore Corpus Over the Next 15 Years
Achieving a Rs 30 crore corpus in 15 years will require a strategic blend of high-growth investments. Here’s a suggested approach:

Focus on Equity Funds for Growth: Equity funds, especially mid and small-cap, can accelerate your portfolio growth. Increasing SIPs over time will enhance your corpus.

Reinvest Maturity Proceeds: As your FDs mature, reinvest them into equity and balanced mutual funds to benefit from compounding.

Balance with Debt Funds in Later Years: As you near your goal, gradually move funds to debt mutual funds. This will reduce risk and protect the corpus for withdrawal.

7. Disadvantages of Index Funds and Direct Plans
Although index funds and direct funds are popular, there are better options for your high-growth goals:

Index Funds’ Growth Limitation: Index funds simply track the market and don’t aim for higher returns. Actively managed funds, on the other hand, can outpace the market.

Direct Plans Lack Professional Guidance: With direct plans, there’s no personalised guidance. Investing through a Certified Financial Planner ensures regular monitoring and timely adjustments.

8. Tax Considerations on Mutual Fund Withdrawals
Tax-efficient planning is essential for maximising SWP returns:

Equity Fund Taxation: For equity mutual funds, LTCG over Rs 1.25 lakh is taxed at 12.5%. STCG is taxed at 20%. Plan withdrawals to stay within these limits for minimal tax impact.

Debt Fund Taxation: Debt mutual funds are taxed according to your tax slab. Using a mix of debt and equity can balance returns with lower taxes.

Final Insights
Your diversified portfolio places you on a solid path to a secure retirement and wealth creation. Increasing SIPs for your kids, reinvesting maturing FDs, and focusing on mutual funds over insurance and annuities will strengthen your approach. Working closely with a Certified Financial Planner will keep your investments aligned with your Rs 30 crore goal, ensuring a steady retirement income and lasting legacy.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 06, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 06, 2025Hindi
Money
Dear Sir/Ma'am, I need some guidance and advice for continuing my mutual fund investments. I am a 36 year old male, married, no kids yet and no debts/liabilities as such. I have couple of savings in PPF, NPS, Emergency funds and long term investing in direct stocks. I recently started below mentioned SIPs for long term to grow wealth. Request you to review the same and let me know if I should continue with the SIPs or need to rationalize. Kindly also advice on how to invest a lumpsum amount of around 6lacs. invesco small cap 2000 motilal oswal midcap 2700 parag parikh flexicap 3000 HDFC flexicap 3100 ICICI prudential largecap 3100 HDFC large and midcap 3100 HDFC gold etf FOF 2000 ICICI Pru equity and debt fund 3000 HDFC balanced advantage fund 3000 nippon india silver etf FOF 2000
Ans: You already built a solid foundation. Many investors delay planning. But you started early at 36. That gives you a strong advantage. You have no liabilities. You have long term thinking. You also have diversified savings like PPF, NPS, Emergency funds and direct stocks. That shows clarity and discipline. This approach builds wealth with less stress over time.

You also started systematic investments in equity funds. That is a positive step. Your selection covers multiple categories like large cap, mid cap, small cap, flexi cap, hybrid and precious metals. So the intent is right. You are trying to create a broad portfolio. That gives balance.

» Your Portfolio Composition Understanding
Your current SIP list includes:

Small cap

Mid cap

Flexi cap

Large cap

Large and mid cap

Hybrid category

Gold and Silver FoF

Equity and Debt allocation fund

Dynamic hybrid fund

This shows you are trying to cover many segments. But too many categories can create overlap. When there is overlap, you get confusion during review. It also makes portfolio discipline difficult. You may think you are diversified. But the holdings inside may repeat. That reduces efficiency.

Your portfolio now looks like:

Equity dominant

Hybrid for stability

Metals for hedge

So the broad direction is fine. But simplifying helps in long-term habit building.

» Fund Category Duplication
You hold:

Two flexi cap funds

One large and mid cap fund

One pure large cap fund

One mid cap fund

One small cap fund

Flexi cap funds already invest across large, mid, small. Then large and mid also overlaps. So the large cap exposure gets repeated. That may not add extra benefit. But it increases monitoring complexity.

So I suggest rationalising. Keep one fund per category in core. Keep satellite space for only high conviction.

» Core and Satellite Strategy
A structured portfolio follows core and satellite method.

Core portfolio should be:

Simple

Long term

Stable

Satellite portfolio can be:

High growth

Concentrated

Based on your thinking level, you can structure like this:

Core funds:

One large cap

One flexi cap

One hybrid equity and debt fund

One balanced advantage type fund

Satellite funds:

One mid cap

One small cap

One metal allocation if needed

This division gives clarity. You can continue SIPs with review every year. No need to stop and restart often. That reduces behavioural mistakes.

» Your Current SIP List Review with Suggested Streamlining

You can consider continuing:

One flexi cap

One large cap

One mid cap

One small cap

One balanced advantage

One equity and debt hybrid

You may reconsider keeping both flexi caps and both gold silver funds. One of each category is enough. Because too many funds do not increase returns. It complicates tracking.

Precious metal funds should not be more than 5 to 7 percent in your portfolio. This is because metals are hedge assets. They do not create compounding like equity. They act as protection during cycles. So keep them small.

» How to Use the Rs 6 Lakh Lump Sum
You asked about lump sum investing. This is important. Lump sum should not go fully into equity at one time. Markets move in cycles. So use a staggered method. You can invest the lump sum through STP (Systematic Transfer Plan). You can keep the amount in a liquid fund and set STP toward your chosen growth funds over 6 to 12 months.

This reduces timing risk. It also creates discipline. So your Rs 6 lakh can be deployed gradually. You may use 50% towards core equity funds and 30% toward satellite growth category. The remaining 20% can go into hybrid category. This gives balance and comfort.

» Regular Funds Over Direct Funds
One important point many investors miss. Direct funds look cheaper. But they demand deep knowledge, discipline, and behaviour control. Most investors lose more through emotional selling and wrong timing than they save on expense ratio.

With regular funds through a Mutual Fund Distributor with Certified Financial Planner qualification, you get guidance, structure and correction. The advisory discipline protects you during market extremes. That is more valuable than a small saving in expense ratio.

A personalised planner also tracks portfolio drift, rebalancing need and category shifts. So regular fund investing gives long-term benefit and behaviour coaching.

» Actively Managed Funds over Index or ETF
Some investors choose index funds or ETF thinking they are simple and cheap. But they ignore drawbacks.

Index funds or ETF will not avoid weak companies in the index. They will invest whether the company grows or struggles. There is no fund manager decision making. So when markets are at peak, index funds continue aggressive exposure. In downturns also they fall fully. There is no cushion.

Actively managed funds work with research teams. They can avoid bad sectors. They can shift allocation based on market and economy. Over long term, this gives better alpha and stability. So continuing with actively managed funds creates better wealth compounding.

» SIP Continuation Strategy
Once the rationalisation is done, continue SIPs every month without interruption. Pause and restart behaviour damages compounding power. SIP works best when you go through all market cycles. You benefit more during corrections because cost averaging works.

So continue SIP amount. You can also review SIP increase every year based on income. Increasing SIP by 10 to 15 percent every year helps you reach large corpus faster.

» Asset Allocation Based Approach
One key point in wealth creation is having the right asset mix. Equity gives growth. Hybrid gives balance. Metals give hedge. Debt gives safety. Your asset allocation should stay aligned to your risk profile and time horizon.

Since you are young and have long term horizon, higher equity allocation is fine. But as time moves, rebalancing is important. Rebalancing protects gains and restores allocation.

So review your asset allocation every year or during major life events like child birth, home buying or retirement planning.

» Behaviour Management
Many portfolios fail not due to bad funds. They fail due to bad decisions. Selling during correction. Stopping SIP when market falls. Chasing past return performance. These mistakes reduce wealth.

Your discipline so far is good. Continue to stay patient during volatility. Equity rewards patience and time.

» Financial Goals Clarity
Since you have no children now, you can decide your long-term goals. Typical goals may include:

Retirement

Future child education

Dream lifestyle purchase

Health care reserves

When goals are clear, investment purpose becomes stronger. So you can map each fund category to goal horizon. Short-term goals should not use equity. Long-term goals should use equity with hybrid support.

» Role of Review and Monitoring
Review once in a year is enough. Frequent review can create anxiety. Annual review helps check:

Fund performance

Expense drift

Category relevance

Allocation balance

Then adjust only if needed. This progress helps you stay confident and aligned.

» Taxation Awareness
Equity mutual funds taxation rules are:

Short term (below one year holding) taxable at 20 percent

Long term (above one year holding) gains above Rs 1.25 lakh taxable at 12.5 percent

Debt mutual funds are taxed as per your income slab.

So always hold equity funds for long term. That reduces tax impact and gives better growth.

» SIP Increase Plan
You can create a simple plan to increase SIP over time. For example:

Increase SIP at every salary increment

Increase SIP during bonus time

Use rewards or extra income for investing

This habit accelerates wealth. So by the time you reach 45 to 50 years, your investments could reach a strong level.

» Insurance and Protection
Before investing large, ensure you have term insurance and health insurance. If not already done, it is important. Insurance protects wealth. Without insurance, even a small medical event can impact investment plan. So review this part also. Since you are married, cover both.

» Wealth Behaviour Mindset
You are already disciplined. Just keep these simple principles:

Invest without stopping

Review once a year

Avoid funds overlap

Follow asset allocation

Avoid reacting to media noise

This helps you reach long term milestones.

» Finally
You are on the right track. Only fine tuning and simplification is needed. Your discipline is visible. Your portfolio will grow well with structure, patience and periodic review. Use the Rs 6 lakh with STP approach. And continue SIP with rationalised categories.

With time and consistency, wealth creation becomes effortless and peaceful. You just need to stay committed and avoid overthinking during market movements.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

...Read more

Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1837 Answers  |Ask -

Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Dec 05, 2025

Career
Dear Sir, I did my BTech from a normal engineering college not very famous. The teaching was not great and hence i did not study well. I tried my best to learn coding including all the technologies like html,css,javascript,react js,dba,php because i wanted to be a web developer But nothing seem to enter my head except html and css. I don't understand a language which has more complexities. Is it because of my lack of experience or not devoting enough time. I am not sure. I did many courses online and tried to do diplomas also abroad which i passed somehow. I recently joined android development course because i like apps but the teaching was so fast that i could not memorize anything. There was no time to even take notes down. During the course i did assignments and understood the code because i have to pass but after the course is over i tend to forget everything. I attempted a lot of interviews. Some of them i even got but could not perform well so they let me go. Now due to the AI booming and job markets in a bad shape i am re-thinking whether to keep studying or whether its just time waste. Since 3 years i am doing labour type of jobs which does not yield anything to me for survival and to pay my expenses. I have the quest to learn everything but as soon as i sit in front of the computer i listen to music or read something else. What should i do to stay more focused? What should i do to make myself believe confident. Is there still scope of IT in todays world? Kindly advise.
Ans: Your story does not show failure.
It shows persistence, effort, and desire to improve.

Most people give up.
You didn’t.
That means you will succeed — but with the right method, not the old one.

...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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