Mr Ulhas Appreciate your genuine efforts in educating masses about investing wisely in Mutual FUNDS. It is told that average returns on MF over a long period of time is 12 - 15% on an average. I want to understand if 12.5% is being deducted in Tax by Government, around 1% goes in AMC Expense ratio , so you are actually just left with 2 -3 % ( 15% - 12.5% -1% =1.5%). So what is the point in investing to get return of 2 % , This will not even help you to beat inflation @ 6% annually. Reply

Ans: 01. You may claim exemption for the Flat purchased, if your total amount of LTCG (minus the amount of Capital Gain Bonds) gets invested in purchase of flat. It is better if amount paid on agreement covers this gap. However, be informed that Purchase of Flat should be within 2 years, from the date of Flat Sold. This means new flat Registered in your name & possession taken, within two years.
02. Capital Bonds purchased in March-2023 & Flat sold in August-2023, does not match. There seems some mistake in the question. You are entitled for the exemption against Bonds, if you purchase the same with in 6 months from the date of sale of Capital asset, while you have purchased the same before sale of capital asset. Dates mentioned in the question needs to be verified.
Most welcome for any further clarification. Thanks.

Ans: Hi Savendra,

First of all, thank you for contacting us. I am glad to know that your son wants to pursue an engineering degree abroad. To answer your question, the USA, UK, Canada and Germany are all excellent options for studying engineering. The USA, UK and Canada offer top-notch education with diverse programs, and many universities provide scholarships which will significantly reduce the total cost. Germany, known for its engineering excellence would also be a great choice as the country offers an education with minimal or no tuition fees at its public universities. All these countries have strong safety records and promising placement opportunities, so your son can confidently pick one of these as his study abroad destination.

For more information you can visit our website: edwiseinternational.com
You can also follow us on Instagram: @edwiseint

Ans: CSE CORE

Ans: The SRM group has a good reputation.
CSE remains one of the most in-demand fields in engineering.
SRM has industry connections, and students often get placement opportunities with top tech companies.
If he stays proactive, gains experience through internships, projects, online training and develops strong programming and problem-solving skills, his career in CSE should have good growth potential.

Ans: You've outlined a comprehensive overview of your financial landscape, which provides a solid foundation for planning your retirement. With a goal to retire at 45, you have eight years to build and secure a sufficient corpus to ensure a comfortable retirement for you and your family.

Key Financial Assets and Liabilities
Real Estate: Rs 3.5 crore
Stocks: Rs 7.5 lakhs
Mutual Funds: Rs 13.5 lakhs
Corporate Bonds: Rs 2 lakhs
EPF: Rs 21.5 lakhs
PPF: Rs 8.5 lakhs (self), Rs 1.5 lakhs (wife)
Gold: Rs 20 lakhs
Home Loan: Rs 23 lakhs (planning to close in 1 year)
SIP: Rs 30,000 per month (recently started)
NPS: Rs 50,000 annually (started this year)
Insurance: Term insurance of Rs 1 crore, company-provided health insurance of Rs 7.5 lakhs
Monthly Expenses: Rs 50,000 (excluding investments)
Evaluating Your Retirement Corpus Needs
To determine the corpus required for retirement at 45, we need to consider several factors, including your expected expenses during retirement, inflation, and the number of years you plan to be retired.

1. Estimate Post-Retirement Expenses:
Current Monthly Expenses: Rs 50,000 (excluding investments)

Inflation Adjustment: Assuming an average inflation rate of 6%, your current monthly expenses will likely increase by the time you retire.

Post-Retirement Monthly Expenses: Assuming you maintain a similar lifestyle, and considering inflation, your monthly expenses could rise to approximately Rs 80,000 by the time you retire.

Yearly Expenses: Rs 80,000 x 12 = Rs 9.6 lakhs annually at retirement age.

2. Determine the Number of Years in Retirement:
Retirement Age: 45 years
Life Expectancy: Assuming you plan up to 85 years, you'll need to plan for 40 years of retirement.
3. Estimate Required Corpus:
Corpus Required: The corpus needed to sustain your lifestyle for 40 years considering inflation, and safe withdrawal rates.
Assumptions:
Post-retirement, you could adopt a safe withdrawal rate of 4% annually.
Expected returns on the retirement corpus post-retirement could be around 7%.
Using these assumptions, the corpus required to sustain annual expenses of Rs 9.6 lakhs for 40 years with a 4% withdrawal rate can be calculated.

4. Corpus Calculation:
Given the complexities of long-term retirement planning, a simplified method to estimate the corpus is:

Corpus Calculation Formula:
Annual Expenses at Retirement Age (Rs 9.6 lakhs) x 25 = Rs 2.4 crores
This formula is based on the 4% rule, which suggests that if you withdraw 4% of your corpus annually, your savings should last for 30-40 years.

However, considering the uncertainties and potential changes in your lifestyle, a more conservative approach would be to plan for a corpus of around Rs 3-4 crores. This takes into account potential healthcare costs, lifestyle changes, and other unforeseen expenses.

Current Asset Evaluation and Future Planning
Now, let’s break down how your current assets can contribute towards building the required corpus and what additional steps are necessary.

1. Real Estate: Rs 3.5 Crores
Real estate is a significant part of your net worth. However, liquidity is an issue with real estate.
You might want to consider whether you plan to keep these properties for rental income, sell them closer to retirement, or downsize.
2. Stocks: Rs 7.5 Lakhs
Your current stock portfolio is modest. Over the next 8 years, aim to increase your investment in stocks through systematic investments (SIPs or direct stock purchases) to leverage market growth.
3. Mutual Funds: Rs 13.5 Lakhs
Continue your SIPs, and consider increasing the amount when feasible. Diversify into equity funds with a good track record, and consider a mix of large-cap, mid-cap, and hybrid funds to balance risk and return.
4. Corporate Bonds: Rs 2 Lakhs
While bonds are safer, they offer lower returns. It’s good to have them for stability, but focus more on equity for growth at this stage.
5. EPF and PPF: Rs 31.5 Lakhs
Your EPF and PPF investments are doing well. Continue with these contributions as they provide tax-free returns and security. Consider increasing your contribution to PPF if possible, as it offers a secure, long-term return.
6. Gold: Rs 20 Lakhs
Your monthly investment of Rs 50,000 in gold is significant. While gold is a good hedge against inflation, it should not dominate your portfolio. Consider reducing the monthly investment in gold and reallocating some of these funds into equity SIPs or mutual funds to enhance growth.
7. Home Loan: Rs 23 Lakhs
Closing this loan within a year is a wise decision, as it will free up cash flow and reduce your financial liabilities, allowing you to invest more aggressively for your retirement.
8. NPS: Rs 50,000 Annually
Since you’ve just started investing in NPS, it’s a good tax-saving tool with the added benefit of a pension. Continue with this investment, as it will provide you with a regular income post-retirement.
9. Term Insurance and Health Insurance
Your term insurance cover of Rs 1 crore is adequate. Ensure it is kept active as it provides financial security for your family. Review your health insurance coverage to ensure it meets your future needs, especially as your family grows.
Future Investment Strategy
Given your current asset base and retirement goal, here’s a roadmap to help you reach your target:

1. Increase Equity Investments
With 8 years to retirement, your portfolio should have a higher equity exposure to maximize growth. Gradually increase your SIP amounts in equity mutual funds or direct stocks.
Consider reallocating some of your monthly gold investment into equity funds to enhance returns.
2. Diversify Mutual Fund Investments
While continuing with your current SIPs, consider adding diversified equity funds and index funds to your portfolio. A balanced mix of large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap funds will provide the necessary growth potential.
3. Consider Additional Real Estate Monetization
Evaluate if selling one of your real estate holdings closer to retirement could provide liquidity and enhance your retirement corpus. Alternatively, rental income can supplement your retirement income, but be cautious about the management and upkeep costs.
4. Maximize Tax-Advantaged Accounts
Continue contributing to your PPF and NPS accounts, as PPF provides tax-free returns and NPS contributes to a secure retirement corpus. Maximize contributions to these accounts within the allowable limits.
5. Focus on Debt Repayment
Prioritize closing your home loan within the next year. Once this debt is cleared, redirect the EMI amount into your retirement savings.
6. Emergency Fund
Ensure you have a sufficient emergency fund, equivalent to at least 6 months of expenses, to cover any unforeseen events without dipping into your retirement savings.
7. Plan for Healthcare and Child’s Education
Given that your family is growing, it’s essential to plan for increased healthcare needs and your children’s education expenses. Consider setting up dedicated funds for these goals, separate from your retirement corpus.
Regular Monitoring and Review
Retirement planning is dynamic. It’s crucial to review your investments regularly, at least once a year, to ensure they are aligned with your retirement goals. Adjust your strategy as needed based on market conditions, changes in your financial situation, and progress towards your retirement target.

Final Insights
Based on your current financial situation and assuming disciplined investment and regular reviews, accumulating a corpus of Rs 3-4 crores by the time you retire at 45 is feasible. This corpus, combined with your real estate assets and other investments, should provide a comfortable retirement with a reasonable withdrawal strategy.

Focus on increasing your equity exposure, reducing unnecessary debt, and ensuring your portfolio is well-diversified to achieve higher growth. As you approach retirement, gradually shift your portfolio towards more stable, income-generating assets to preserve your capital.

Retirement planning requires careful consideration of both current and future needs. By staying committed to your investment strategy and making informed adjustments, you can secure a financially independent retirement at 45.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

Ans: Hello Jawed.

Choose AIIMS Delhi without any hesitation for a Master in BioTechnology.
Best of luck for your future studies and bright future.

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Thanks.

Radheshyam

Ans: Hello Balaraju.
Your daughter is in 2nd PUC with PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science). For a better future and job placement point of view, opt for AI + DS i.e. Artificial Intelligence and Data Science combined or an individual branch for B.Tech. The fields of AI and DS are rapidly growing in the tech industry. It is said that, in the coming days, maximum work will be done with the help of AI. The job opportunities are across the globe. Human's future is AI.

If you are dissatisfied with the reply, please ask again without hesitation.
If satisfied, please like and follow me.
Thanks.
Radheshyam

Ans: Assessing Your Current Investment Portfolio
You've established a clear financial goal: accumulating Rs 20 crore by the time you retire in 15 years. To achieve this, you're currently investing Rs 1.55 lakh per month through SIPs in mutual funds. This commitment shows you're serious about your future and willing to take the necessary steps to secure it. However, the number of funds in your portfolio suggests you may be spreading your investments too thin, which could hinder your progress.

Understanding Over-Diversification
Diversification is a cornerstone of investing. It reduces risk by spreading investments across various assets or funds. However, over-diversification occurs when too many investments are made in similar funds or asset classes. This dilutes potential returns and complicates portfolio management. Your portfolio consists of 27 different funds, which is excessive.

The Dangers of Over-Diversification
Fund Overlap: Many funds in your portfolio likely invest in the same or similar stocks, leading to unnecessary redundancy. This doesn’t enhance diversification but rather makes it harder for you to see significant returns.

Management Complexity: With 27 funds, it’s challenging to track each one’s performance. This complexity makes it difficult to make timely adjustments to your portfolio, which is crucial for achieving your long-term goals.

Diluted Returns: When you invest in too many funds, the performance of your best-performing funds gets diluted by the average or poor performance of others. This can drag down your overall returns.

The Need for Streamlining Your Portfolio
To achieve your goal of Rs 20 crore in 15 years, it’s essential to streamline your portfolio. A focused approach will allow you to benefit from the growth potential of carefully selected funds without the drawbacks of over-diversification.

1. Large-Cap Funds: Foundation of Stability and Growth
Current Allocation: You have several large-cap funds in your portfolio, which are known for their stability and lower volatility compared to mid-cap and small-cap funds. However, holding multiple large-cap funds is unnecessary as they often invest in the same blue-chip companies.

Recommended Action: Consolidate your large-cap investments into one or two well-performing funds. This will simplify your portfolio and ensure that your investments are concentrated in the best opportunities within the large-cap space.

Suggested Allocation: Ideally, 25-30% of your portfolio should be allocated to large-cap funds. This allocation provides stability and consistent growth potential, crucial for someone planning retirement in 15 years.

2. Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Funds: Growth Drivers
Current Allocation: Mid-cap and small-cap funds are essential for achieving high growth. However, these funds come with higher risk and volatility. Your portfolio includes multiple mid-cap and small-cap funds, which may lead to overlapping investments.

Recommended Action: Narrow down your mid-cap and small-cap funds to one or two top performers in each category. Focus on funds that have a consistent track record of outperforming their benchmarks.

Suggested Allocation: Allocate 30-40% of your portfolio to a mix of mid-cap and small-cap funds. This will provide the growth potential needed to reach your Rs 20 crore goal while managing the risk associated with these funds.

3. Multi-Cap and Flexi-Cap Funds: Balanced Growth with Flexibility
Current Allocation: Multi-cap and flexi-cap funds offer flexibility by investing across different market capitalizations. Your portfolio has several of these funds, which is a good strategy for diversification. However, having too many can dilute their benefits.

Recommended Action: Consolidate your multi-cap and flexi-cap funds into one or two that have demonstrated consistent performance. These funds should have the ability to adjust their portfolio allocation based on market conditions.

Suggested Allocation: 20-25% of your portfolio should be in multi-cap or flexi-cap funds. This provides a balance between stability and growth, essential for long-term wealth accumulation.

4. Sectoral and Thematic Funds: Tactical Bets for Enhanced Returns
Current Allocation: You’ve invested in sectoral funds like Quant Infrastructure Fund and Motilal Oswal Nifty India Defence Index Fund. These funds can offer high returns but come with increased risk due to their concentrated exposure to specific sectors.

Recommended Action: Limit your exposure to sectoral and thematic funds. These should represent a small portion of your portfolio, used for tactical bets rather than core holdings. Choose sectors you believe will outperform in the long term, but be mindful of the higher volatility.

Suggested Allocation: Restrict sectoral and thematic funds to 5-10% of your portfolio. This ensures that while you can benefit from sectoral growth, the overall portfolio remains stable and diversified.

5. Index Funds: A Reconsideration of Their Role
Current Allocation: Your portfolio includes index funds like Zerodha Nifty LargeMidcap 250 Index Fund and ICICI Prudential Nifty Next 50 Index Fund. While index funds have low expense ratios and provide broad market exposure, they may not always be the best choice, especially when aiming for high growth.

Disadvantages of Index Funds:

Lack of Active Management: Index funds merely replicate the market and do not exploit market inefficiencies. Active fund managers, on the other hand, can outperform the market by selecting stocks based on research and analysis.
Underperformance in Volatile Markets: During market downturns or periods of high volatility, index funds may not protect your capital as well as actively managed funds, which can adjust their portfolios to minimize losses.
Recommended Action: Consider reducing or eliminating your index fund exposure. Instead, focus on actively managed funds that have a track record of outperforming their benchmarks.

Suggested Allocation: If you choose to retain any index funds, limit them to no more than 5% of your portfolio. The majority of your investments should be in actively managed funds with the potential for higher returns.

Building an Ideal Portfolio for Your Retirement Goal
To achieve your Rs 20 crore target in 15 years, it’s essential to build a portfolio that is both diversified and focused. Here’s a suggested portfolio structure that aligns with your risk profile, time horizon, and return expectations:

1. Large-Cap Funds (25-30% of Portfolio):
Retain 1-2 high-performing large-cap funds. These funds should have a history of consistent returns and lower volatility.
Why Large-Cap Funds? They provide stability and steady growth, essential as you approach retirement. Large-cap funds invest in established companies with strong track records, making them a safer bet.
2. Mid-Cap Funds (20-25% of Portfolio):
Retain 1-2 mid-cap funds that have shown resilience and consistent growth over the years.
Why Mid-Cap Funds? Mid-cap funds offer a good balance between risk and return. They invest in companies with the potential to become large-caps in the future, providing higher growth opportunities.
3. Small-Cap Funds (15-20% of Portfolio):
Retain 1-2 small-cap funds that have consistently outperformed their benchmarks.
Why Small-Cap Funds? Small-cap funds are riskier but can deliver significant returns over the long term. They are suitable for the growth portion of your portfolio, especially given your 15-year time horizon.
4. Flexi-Cap Funds (20-25% of Portfolio):
Retain 1-2 flexi-cap funds with a strong performance history. These funds should have the flexibility to invest across market capitalizations.
Why Flexi-Cap Funds? Flexi-cap funds provide a balanced approach to investing, with the flexibility to adjust to market conditions. This makes them a valuable part of your portfolio.
5. Sectoral/Thematic Funds (5-10% of Portfolio):
Retain only 1-2 sectoral funds that align with your long-term views.
Why Sectoral Funds? Sectoral funds can provide high returns, but they come with higher risk. By limiting exposure, you can benefit from sectoral growth without exposing your portfolio to excessive risk.
6. Index Funds (Up to 5% of Portfolio):
If you wish to retain any index funds, limit them to a small portion of your portfolio.
Why Limit Index Funds? Index funds offer market returns but lack the ability to outperform. Given your aggressive growth target, actively managed funds may serve you better.
Final Insights
Your goal of accumulating Rs 20 crore by retirement is ambitious but achievable with the right strategy. By consolidating and focusing your investments, you can maximize returns while managing risk effectively. Here’s a summary of the steps you should take:

Consolidate large-cap funds: Merge similar funds to avoid redundancy and simplify management.
Focus on mid-cap and small-cap funds: Select the top performers in each category to drive growth.
Streamline multi-cap/flexi-cap funds: Keep the best performers and ensure they have the flexibility to adapt to market changes.
Limit sectoral funds: Use them for tactical investments but keep their exposure low to manage risk.
Reduce index fund exposure: Consider actively managed funds for their potential to outperform, especially in volatile markets.
By implementing these changes, you’ll not only simplify your portfolio but also enhance its performance potential. This streamlined approach will help you stay on track to achieve your retirement goal of Rs 20 crore in 15 years.

Investing is a long-term commitment, and regular reviews of your portfolio are essential to ensure it remains aligned with your goals. As you get closer to retirement, consider gradually shifting your portfolio towards more stable investments to protect your capital. However, for now, an aggressive yet focused strategy is key to reaching your ambitious financial goal.

Remember, every investment decision should be made with a clear understanding of your risk tolerance, time horizon, and financial objectives. By staying disciplined and focused, you can build the wealth you need to enjoy a comfortable retirement.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in

Ans: Hello Dinesh,

Thank you for reaching out to us. To get to your question, I think it’s crucial that first of all, your son should determines which field he wants to pursue—MBBS or B.Tech. The choice of career path should guide the decision on which college and country to consider. Irrespective of the location, the focus should be on aligning his interests and career goals with the right educational program. Once he has a clear idea of his desired profession, evaluating the best institutions for that specific field, will become more straightforward.

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