
Hi, I am 35 years old. I have below conditions-
- House with value of 1.7 Cr with 65 lacs of loan - 37 as OD account and remaining 28 as top up loan
- PPF of 15 lacs
- MF of 16 lacs in all types small, medium, large Index funds
- A residential plot of value 45 lacs
- A monthly SIP of 1 lac in above MFs
- Health Insurance of my complete family including parents and in laws
- My term Insurance of 2 Cr
- I have 2 kids of age 1
- I have monthly expesne of 2 lacs per month including everything
- My wife and my joint income is of 3.5 lacs
Goals -
- Continue to spend similar in after retirement 2 lacs per month
- Children education after 18 years - 2 Cr
- Children marriage- 1 Cr
Adjust goal amounts with inflation in future.
Questions-
- Clear strategy and advice staring where to invest which funds or assets to target including their names to achieve goals
- I will have get addiotnal amount of 10 lacs in next 6 months which I am planning to use to close one house loan or do part payment. Suggest me best usgae of this fund to get maximum value.
- Suggest overall planning if I want to retire in 10 years.
-
Ans: You have built a strong base at a young age. You are managing high-value assets, regular investments, and key protections well. Let me now provide a complete, 360-degree financial plan, following your goals, with clear and practical steps.
» Assets and Income – Present Foundation
House value is Rs. 1.7 Cr with Rs. 65 lakh home loan.
Of this, Rs. 37 lakh is an overdraft, Rs. 28 lakh is a top-up.
You have Rs. 15 lakhs in PPF. This gives safe and tax-free growth.
Mutual funds total Rs. 16 lakhs. This includes all categories, even index funds.
You own a plot worth Rs. 45 lakhs. But we won’t count this as core retirement asset.
You invest Rs. 1 lakh per month through SIPs.
Family has health insurance. You have Rs. 2 Cr term insurance, which is sufficient.
Monthly expenses are Rs. 2 lakhs. Family income is Rs. 3.5 lakhs.
» Goals – Future Vision
Children’s education: Rs. 2 Cr needed in 18 years.
Children’s marriage: Rs. 1 Cr needed later.
Retirement in 10 years. Want to maintain Rs. 2 lakhs per month expenses.
Let’s now analyse and align investments to each goal.
» Key Flaw – Presence of Index Funds
Index funds offer no downside protection in volatile markets.
You cannot switch strategy during market corrections.
They underperform actively managed funds in non-bull phases.
You also lose the guidance of a Certified Financial Planner with direct/index investing.
Recommend shifting index funds to well-managed active funds.
Regular plans through a Certified Financial Planner offer monitoring, advice, and better discipline.
» Rs. 10 Lakh Surplus – Use Wisely
You expect Rs. 10 lakhs in 6 months.
You are thinking of closing the home loan partially.
Do not repay the top-up or OD loan unless rate is above 10%.
Check which loan portion is carrying higher interest.
If OD/top-up loan interest rate:
Above 10%, repay partially.
Between 8–10%, consider partial repayment or investment.
Below 8%, better to invest the money.
Instead of full prepayment, split the Rs. 10 lakhs like this:
Rs. 3 lakhs into short-term active hybrid funds (1–2 years holding)
Rs. 3 lakhs into balanced advantage fund (long term)
Rs. 4 lakhs to repay highest interest part of home loan (if >10%)
This strategy balances liquidity, tax benefit, and debt reduction.
» Existing Mutual Funds – Streamline Portfolio
Avoid keeping too many schemes. It creates confusion and duplication.
You already have small-cap, mid-cap, large-cap, and index.
Exit index funds gradually through STP (Systematic Transfer Plan).
Shift to actively managed flexi-cap or multi-cap funds.
Retain 2 small-cap, 1 mid-cap, 2 flexi-cap, 1 large-cap fund.
Avoid sectoral funds unless you have very high risk capacity.
» Rs. 1 Lakh Monthly SIP – Goal-Wise Split
Split your Rs. 1 lakh monthly SIP as per goals:
Rs. 40,000 – Retirement (long term, aggressive mix):
Small-cap (2 funds) – Rs. 15,000
Mid-cap (1 fund) – Rs. 10,000
Flexi-cap (1–2 funds) – Rs. 15,000
Rs. 35,000 – Children’s education (18-year goal):
Balanced Advantage Fund – Rs. 15,000
Large-cap fund – Rs. 10,000
Flexi-cap – Rs. 10,000
Rs. 25,000 – Children’s marriage (long term):
Multi-cap or Focused Equity fund – Rs. 15,000
Hybrid equity fund – Rs. 10,000
Review this SIP mix once every 12–15 months with a Certified Financial Planner.
» PPF – Use Strategically
PPF maturity can align with children’s college or marriage needs.
Avoid fresh contributions if SIPs are already fully covering long-term needs.
Let current PPF grow passively.
Use it as backup for future emergencies or children’s education gap.
» Home Loan – Manage Intelligently
Home loan gives tax benefit under Sec 24 and 80C.
If EMI interest is under 8.5%, continue regular EMI payments.
Don’t rush to prepay if you get better returns through SIPs.
Use OD smartly. Park idle funds to reduce interest.
If OD is interest-only, repay principal gradually after age 45.
» Children’s Education Planning – Separate Fund Tracking
Target Rs. 2 Cr in 18 years (inflation-adjusted).
Allocate SIPs separately. Use 3 funds only.
Track the education corpus separately every year.
Around 6–8 years before college, shift to hybrid funds slowly.
In last 3 years, move to short-term debt funds.
» Children’s Marriage Planning – Long Horizon
This is a flexible goal.
Target Rs. 1 Cr in 20–22 years.
You can use retirement surplus if children are settled.
Maintain equity allocation till 10 years before marriage.
Gradually move funds to hybrid and then debt category.
» Retirement Planning – Prime Focus
Retirement is only 10 years away.
You want Rs. 2 lakh per month post-retirement.
This means you need around Rs. 5–6 Cr corpus in 10 years.
SIP of Rs. 40,000/month can give about Rs. 1.1–1.2 Cr in 10 years (moderate estimate).
You will need to add lump sums, bonuses, or step-up SIP by 10% yearly.
Use top-up ELSS or hybrid equity funds for retirement benefit if you want tax savings.
Invest extra income or bonuses annually in retirement-linked hybrid funds.
» Real Estate – Don’t Rely on Plot
Plot of Rs. 45 lakh value is not generating income.
Don’t count this in retirement funding.
Avoid holding it for emotional or uncertain future gain.
If you get a strong offer in 4–5 years, consider liquidating.
Redeploy to MF/retirement corpus or children’s education pool.
» Emergency Fund – Build Cushion
Current expenses are Rs. 2 lakhs/month.
You need Rs. 6 lakhs as emergency fund minimum.
Use ultra-short-term debt funds or bank sweep-in FD.
Do not keep emergency corpus in equity.
» Insurance Review – Important Step
Term insurance of Rs. 2 Cr is sufficient.
Check tenure. Ensure it covers till age 60–65.
Health insurance covers family and in-laws. That is very good.
Confirm if parents and in-laws have sufficient separate sum insured.
Ensure no sub-limits for ICU, surgery, or room rent.
» Taxation – Plan Proactively
New MF CG rules apply.
LTCG above Rs. 1.25 lakh on equity funds is taxed at 12.5%.
STCG on equity funds is now 20%.
Debt fund capital gains are taxed as per your income slab.
Avoid short-term exits.
Use STP instead of lump-sum exit to manage taxation.
» Financial Discipline – Stay On Course
Don’t chase hot sectors or returns.
Don’t add too many new funds every year.
Review only once in 12–15 months.
Rebalance if one fund type outperforms by 25–30% or more.
Keep goal tracking in separate sheets or folders.
Avoid direct stocks unless you have experience and time.
» Future Step-Up Strategy – Essential Boost
Increase your SIP amount by 8–10% every year.
Use every salary hike or bonus partly for investment.
Target Rs. 1.3–1.5 lakh monthly SIP in next 5 years.
This will bring your retirement and child goals closer.
» Will & Nomination – Secure the Family
Make sure mutual funds have nominees.
Register a Will clearly.
Mention who will manage children’s education and money.
Keep all investments jointly or assign alternate nominees.
» Finally
You are already on a solid foundation. Your income is strong. You are investing well. But refining the strategy will give maximum value. Prioritising SIP allocation by goals, exiting index funds, and smartly using the Rs. 10 lakh surplus will make your future more secure. Don’t rely on plots or illiquid assets. Increase your SIPs each year. Retirement at 45 is possible with discipline. Family goals like education and marriage are achievable with your planned steps. Continue to review annually. You are on the right path.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment