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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 02, 2025

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
Asked by Anonymous - Jul 02, 2025Hindi
Money

Hi sir , I am shweta.I am working from 7 years. I am planning to buy house of price 1cr and planning to take loan of 50 lakhs. Currently I am having no emi. Monthly I spend around 20 thousand. My salary in hand is 95k. 1. I want to know the best pension plan where I can invest next 10 years . Monthly around 20k 2. Also confused with managed SIP and normal SIP . Planning to invest 10k every month. Which is best for for. 3. I am having pf and PPF and hdfc ULIP plan . Which is 1.3 lakhs every months. 4. I have invested in shared value is now 28 lakhs . Also kept fd of 25 lakhs . May i know to buy home is it good to sell the shares or use the FD ?

Ans: You've built a solid base with seven years of income and savings. Now, you want to buy a home, plan your pension, and decide between investment options. Let’s build a 360-degree long-term plan that aligns with your goals and risk profile.

Your Current Financial Snapshot

No existing EMIs

Salary in hand: Rs 95,000 per month

Monthly spending: Rs 20,000

Considering home purchase worth Rs?1 crore with Rs?50 lakh loan

Investments in PF and PPF already in place

Holding a ULIP plan with monthly premium of Rs 1.3 lakh

Mutual fund investment in "Shared Value" fund worth Rs 28 lakh

Fixed Deposit corpus of Rs 25 lakh

You clearly manage your finances well. Discipline at this stage is appreciable. Now we align your investments with your goals.

1. Structuring Your Pension Plan Over 10 Years

Goal: Build retirement corpus by age 55 (10 years from now)

Key Actions:

Reduce allocations to insurance-linked ULIP—returns and liquidity are limited

ULIPs combine insurance and investment, but give low returns

Prefer pure investment and pure insurance approach

Continue your PF and PPF contributions—they provide stable, tax-efficient returns

Pension Building via Mutual Funds:

Allocate Rs 20,000 monthly to actively managed equity and hybrid funds

Equity funds for long-term growth

Add hybrid funds to balance risk and ensure capital buffer

Use a regular fund plan via a Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

Avoid direct funds—they lack guided review and rebalancing

Suggested Fund Mix:

60–70% in equity funds—for growth and inflation defence

20–30% in hybrid funds—for moderate stability

10–20% in ultra-short or dynamic debt funds—for liquidity

Start with such allocation and fine-tune annually with your CFP.

2. Managed SIP vs Regular SIP

You’re planning to invest Rs 10,000 per month via SIP. Let’s compare options:

Direct SIP: Lower cost, but no expert review or support. You must select and monitor funds yourself.

Regular SIP (through MFD + CFP): Slightly higher cost, with professional guidance. You’ll receive fund selection advice, goal alignment, rebalancing, and performance tracking.

Considering your home loan and ULIP, guided support becomes essential. Hence, use regular SIP for clarity, discipline, and risk management, especially as your risk appetite may change over time.

3. Reviewing PF, PPF, and ULIP

You already contribute to PF and PPF—this is good. They are stable and offer tax benefits.

However:

ULIP plan with Rs 1.3 lakh premium/month: These plans lock funds with limited returns.

Insurance-linked ULIPs add cost and complexity with poor performance.

Suggested Action:

Consider surrendering the ULIP or reducing premium

Replace it with pure term insurance for coverage

Reinvest the surrendered amount into mutual funds to build wealth

This improves returns, liquidity, and control

4. Decision for Home Purchase: Selling Shares vs Using FD

You plan to fund Rs 50 lakh loan; deciding between liquidating shares or FD:

Selling Shares (Rs 28 lakh):

Equity redemption may involve LTCG above Rs 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%

Market corrections could erode value if redeemed during a dip

Partial withdrawal is safer, but timing matters

Using Fixed Deposit (Rs 25 lakh):

FD stays stable and predictable

Withdrawals are fully taxable as per your income slab

Using FD avoids disturbing equity holdings, preserving long-term growth

Recommended Approach:

Use FD first to fund the down payment or partial loan

Avoid disrupting equity corpus

If more cash needed, consider small equity fund withdrawals through SWP—this gives monthly income tables

SWP in equity and hybrid funds helps save tax and spread redemptions over years

5. Comprehensive 360° Investment Roadmap

A. Home Purchase

Keep FD corpus for home purchase to maintain stability

Use interest earned for minor expenses

If loan needed, keep EMI affordable (approx Rs 45,000–50,000/month), using your low expenses and salary margin

B. Pension Plan (10-year horizon)

Reduce ULIP, switch to term insurance and invest proceeds

Start a pension-focused SIP of Rs 20,000/month into a mix of equity and hybrid funds

Gradually reduce equity weighting as you near 55

Track with CFP to adjust corpus and withdrawal strategy

C. Regular SIP Plan (Rs 10,000/month)

Use regular plan via MFD + CFP for this SIP

Allocate between flexi-cap, large-mid cap, and hybrid funds

Rebalance annually to reflect performance and goals

Avoid direct SIPs as they lack guided support

D. Emergency Fund & Insurance

Keep 6 months' expenses (~Rs 1.2 lakh) in a liquid mutual fund

Maintain health insurance for yourself and family

Buy term insurance to support dependents if anything happens

6. Risk Management Over Time

Start with high equity exposure, then gradually reduce risk at age 50 onward

Within 3 years of retirement, shift some equity into hybrid or debt funds

Emergency and FD holdings provide safety during downturns

7. Tax Efficiency Strategy

Equity fund gains above Rs?1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%

Short-term gains (
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  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 25, 2024

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I am 36 years old, married. I am investing 45k per month on SIP ( 22k Nifty 50 UTI, 10K parag parekh, 8k SBI small cap, 5k Mid cap) , 10k in PPF, 7k NPS, 5k on stocks as investment. I have EPF as well 16k per month. I am planning to buy a house and I also I pay rent of 16k currently. I have a small flat of home loan 14k. Sir plz do let me know if my investment choice is fine or not. Also I want to have a pension of 70k-1 lac when I retire in my home town.
Ans: It's commendable to see your commitment towards saving and investing at such a young age. Let's delve into your current investment strategy and future goals.

Your SIP investments across different categories indicate a diversified approach, which is good. However, it's essential to review the performance of these funds periodically and ensure they align with your risk tolerance and financial goals.

The allocation towards PPF and NPS reflects a mix of long-term savings and retirement planning, which is a prudent move.

Considering your plan to buy a house and current home loan, it's crucial to balance your investments with your liabilities. Also, with rent and EPF contributions, ensuring sufficient liquidity for short-term needs and emergencies is vital.

For your retirement goal of having a pension of 70k-1 lac, you might want to consider increasing your NPS contributions or exploring other pension-oriented investment avenues.

A Certified Financial Planner can provide personalized advice tailored to your financial situation, goals, and risk tolerance. They can help you optimize your investment portfolio, guide you on balancing investments with your future home purchase, and align your retirement savings with your desired pension.

Remember, financial planning is a dynamic process, and it's essential to review and adjust periodically to stay on track towards your goals. Best wishes for your financial journey ahead!

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

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

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 18, 2024Hindi
Money
Hi Sir, I'm 31 years old and having a monthly take home around 1 Lakh , I have FD of 6 Lakh, PPF of 2.50 L, NPS of 1 Lakh and Mutual Fund of 8 Lakh ( 2 Flexi Fund, 2 Mid Cap Fund, 2 Small Cap, 1 BAF and 1 ELSS) with monthly SIP 55000. I have no loan. I have only two major goals as of now as I don't have any kid: Goal 1. Need to generate a corpus of 1 Cr. In next 5 year to buy a house , will this be possible with this SIP Plan? Goal 2- I need to retire by age 50 with 10 Crores of corpus at present value. Will my SIP suffice if not then by what % I need to increase it YoY if I don't wanna increase the SIP value? Please help me with your invaluable advice :)
Ans: Creating a robust financial plan to achieve your goals of buying a house and retiring early is essential. At 31 years old with a strong monthly income and substantial investments, you are well-positioned to reach your financial objectives. Let's analyze your current financial situation and strategize to meet your goals of buying a house worth Rs. 1 crore in the next five years and retiring by 50 with a corpus of Rs. 10 crores.

Evaluating Your Current Financial Situation
Income and Investments
Your monthly take-home salary is Rs. 1 lakh. Here's a breakdown of your current investments:

Fixed Deposit (FD): Rs. 6 lakhs
Public Provident Fund (PPF): Rs. 2.5 lakhs
National Pension System (NPS): Rs. 1 lakh
Mutual Funds (MF): Rs. 8 lakhs across various funds
Monthly SIP: Rs. 55,000
Your disciplined investment approach is commendable and sets a solid foundation for achieving your financial goals.

Goal 1: Generating a Corpus of Rs. 1 Crore in 5 Years
Current SIP Analysis
To determine if your current SIP of Rs. 55,000 per month can help you achieve a corpus of Rs. 1 crore in five years, let's consider the potential growth of your investments. Assuming an average annual return of 12% on your mutual funds, the future value of your SIPs can be estimated.

With a consistent SIP of Rs. 55,000 per month, you are on track to achieve substantial growth. However, it's important to regularly review and adjust your investments based on market performance and your financial goals.

Additional Strategies
If your current SIP falls short of the Rs. 1 crore target, consider these strategies:

Increase SIP Contributions: If feasible, gradually increase your SIP contributions each year. A 10-15% annual increase can significantly boost your corpus.

Lump Sum Investments: Allocate a portion of your FD or other savings to a lump sum investment in equity mutual funds. This can provide higher returns compared to traditional savings instruments.

Review and Rebalance Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is well-diversified and aligned with your risk tolerance and financial goals. Rebalance your portfolio periodically to optimize returns.

Goal 2: Retiring by Age 50 with a Corpus of Rs. 10 Crores
Assessing Your Retirement Goal
To retire by age 50 with a corpus of Rs. 10 crores, you need to ensure that your investments are growing at a healthy rate. Considering you have 19 years until you reach 50, let's evaluate if your current SIPs and investments are sufficient.

Calculating Required SIP Growth
Assuming an average annual return of 12% on your mutual funds, let's estimate the future value of your current SIPs and the additional contributions needed:

Current SIP of Rs. 55,000 per month:

Projected Future Value (FV) at 12% annual return over 19 years can be significant but may need a boost.
Increasing SIP Contributions Annually:

To avoid increasing the SIP value drastically, you can opt for a systematic increase of 10-15% per year. This approach leverages the power of compounding and incremental growth.
Additional Investments and Strategies
To bridge any gaps and ensure you meet your retirement goal, consider the following:

Utilize Annual Bonuses and Increments: Allocate any annual bonuses, increments, or windfalls towards your investment corpus.

Optimize Tax Savings: Maximize contributions to tax-saving instruments like PPF, NPS, and ELSS. This not only reduces your tax liability but also boosts your investment corpus.

Diversify Investments: Ensure a mix of equity and debt investments. Equity funds provide growth, while debt funds offer stability and risk mitigation.

Detailed Investment Plan and Strategies
Fixed Deposits (FD)
Your current FD of Rs. 6 lakhs is a safe but low-return investment. Consider reallocating a portion of this to higher-yield investments like mutual funds or direct equity. Retain some amount in FD for emergency liquidity.

Public Provident Fund (PPF)
PPF is a long-term investment with tax benefits. Continue your annual contributions to PPF, as it provides stable returns and tax-free maturity. Aim to maximize your yearly contribution limit to Rs. 1.5 lakhs.

National Pension System (NPS)
NPS is a good retirement savings tool. Continue your contributions to NPS, considering the tax benefits under Section 80C and 80CCD. You can increase your contributions periodically to enhance your retirement corpus.

Mutual Funds
Your current mutual fund portfolio is well-diversified across flexi, mid-cap, small-cap, BAF, and ELSS funds. Here's a detailed strategy to optimize your mutual fund investments:

Flexi Funds: Continue your investments in flexi funds as they provide flexibility to invest across market capitalizations, offering balanced risk and return.

Mid and Small Cap Funds: These funds have high growth potential but come with higher risk. Maintain a balanced allocation and review performance periodically.

Balanced Advantage Fund (BAF): BAFs provide a balanced approach with a mix of equity and debt. Continue your SIP in BAF for risk management and steady returns.

Equity-Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS): ELSS offers tax benefits under Section 80C and good returns. Continue your SIP in ELSS for tax-efficient growth.

Future Strategy and Incremental SIP Increase
To achieve your long-term goal of Rs. 10 crores by retirement, an annual incremental increase in SIPs is advisable. Assuming a 10-15% annual increase in SIPs, you can significantly enhance your investment corpus. Here's how:

Year 1: Rs. 55,000
Year 2: Rs. 60,500 (10% increase)
Year 3: Rs. 66,550 (10% increase)
Year 4: Rs. 73,205 (10% increase)
Year 5: Rs. 80,526 (10% increase)
By following this incremental approach, your SIP contributions will grow substantially, leveraging the power of compounding to reach your financial goals.

Risk Management and Contingency Planning
Emergency Fund
Ensure you have an adequate emergency fund to cover 6-12 months of living expenses. This fund should be easily accessible and kept in liquid assets like savings accounts or short-term FDs.

Insurance
Life Insurance: Adequate life insurance coverage is essential to protect your family’s financial future. Consider term insurance for high coverage at low premiums.

Health Insurance: Ensure you and your family have comprehensive health insurance coverage to safeguard against medical emergencies and expenses.

Tax Planning and Efficiency
Maximize Tax-saving Investments
Utilize the full benefits of Section 80C by contributing to PPF, ELSS, NPS, and other eligible investments. Efficient tax planning reduces your tax liability and increases your investable surplus.

Regular Review and Adjustments
Annual Portfolio Review
Conduct an annual review of your portfolio to assess performance and make necessary adjustments. This ensures your investments remain aligned with your goals and risk tolerance.

Rebalancing
Periodically rebalance your portfolio to maintain the desired asset allocation. This involves selling over-performing assets and reinvesting in underperforming ones to manage risk and optimize returns.

Professional Guidance
Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
Engaging a CFP can provide expert advice and tailored financial planning. A CFP helps you navigate complex financial decisions and stay on track to achieve your goals.

Final Insights
Achieving your financial goals of buying a house and retiring early requires disciplined planning and strategic investments. By increasing your SIP contributions, optimizing your portfolio, and leveraging tax-efficient investments, you can create substantial wealth.

Regularly review and adjust your financial plan to stay aligned with your goals. Engaging a Certified Financial Planner ensures professional guidance and support in your financial journey.

Your proactive approach to financial planning is commendable. With the right strategies and disciplined execution, you can achieve your goals and secure a prosperous future.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 03, 2024

Money
Hi , I am 24 yrs old. My monthly income 28k in hand(total PF deductions 3600 (1800 + 1800) from both me and employer PM) and total PF amount till date 26000 and I had been doing SIP contributions (5000 thousand Per month) started last November 23. In Nov 24 I have increased it to 5500 PM. I have FD (50,000) as emergency fund . From next month my income will be increased to 32k. I have some questions related. 1. Should I increase my PF contribution ? or should I open a PPF/NPS account if yes then which one should I go for PPF or NPS ? 2.Planning to get married in next 3 years and need 15 lakhs for that . So how to plan for that? 3. This is a bit early but I need to ask that I would be planning to buy a house in next 20 yrs or 25 years . So should I start investing for it seperately or leave it as of now? 4. As my father is retired and mother house wife , we have a combined health insurance but no life insurance. My employer has provided me with both of them (life/health) . So should I buy a life insurance for me now or I can wait for another 2 to 3 years ? given that( I am fit as of now with no bad eating habbits) 5. Should I think of investing in gold like SGBs somewhere down the line? 6. For short- term investments which investment option is best like for 2 years or less ? 7. As my father is a senior citizen so I opt to have FDs in his account but the problem is he has account in two banks where in one account interest rates are more but it's not breakable online (Gramin Bank) and SBI(where Roi is a bit less but accessible and brekable online). Which one to prefer? 8. My father is having a PPF account is which is maturing next year Mar 25. Corpus almost 30lacs . Where should he invest it as he has a fear that if he invest it in SWP (all 30 ) then due to war's between europen countries the market can crash and he has this saving only. So how to invest this 30lacs ?? 9. In every six months I get some bonus cash from company so how to invest that? 10. How to increase the emergency fund like should I do FD every month or like every quarter or every six months? Plz guide me and suggest me a roadmap on how to move ahead with my investment journey.
Ans: Below is a step-by-step guide to address your queries and create a comprehensive financial roadmap.

1. Should You Increase Your PF Contribution or Open a PPF/NPS Account?
EPF Contribution: There is no harm in increasing your voluntary PF contribution. It provides tax savings and builds a solid retirement corpus with safe returns.

PPF or NPS:

PPF: Suitable if you prefer tax-free returns with safety and a fixed interest rate.
NPS: Good if you are comfortable with partial market exposure and disciplined for retirement planning.
Recommendation: If you are not yet focused on retirement, continue with the EPF for now. Consider PPF for additional tax-saving benefits.

2. Planning Rs 15 Lakhs for Marriage in 3 Years
Set Clear Goals: Start by estimating how much you can save monthly toward this goal.

Investment Options:

Invest Rs 20,000 per month in debt-oriented mutual funds or recurring deposits for stability.
Avoid equities as the horizon is short, and markets can fluctuate.
Utilize Fixed Deposits for lump-sum allocations if you receive bonuses.
Pro Tip: Monitor your goal regularly and adjust SIPs to meet the Rs 15 lakh target.

3. Should You Start Planning for a House Purchase Now?
House Goal Timeline: Since this is a 20-25 year goal, it’s better to wait. Your immediate focus should be marriage and emergency funds.

Long-Term Investment: Once other goals are on track, consider investing in diversified equity mutual funds. These have the potential to generate inflation-beating returns over decades.

4. Should You Buy Life Insurance Now?
Life Insurance Requirement: As you are unmarried and have no dependents, life insurance is not urgent.

Health Insurance: Stick with the employer-provided health insurance for now.

Action Plan: Purchase term life insurance only when you have financial dependents, such as a spouse or children. Ensure coverage of at least 10-15 times your annual income.

5. Should You Consider Investing in Gold?
Gold as an Investment: Gold should not exceed 5-10% of your portfolio. Use it as a diversification tool, not a primary investment.

SGBs (Sovereign Gold Bonds):

Ideal if you plan to hold for the long term.
They provide interest income and capital appreciation without physical storage hassles.
6. Best Short-Term Investment Options (2 Years or Less)
Fixed Deposits: Offer guaranteed returns and are suitable for short-term needs.

Liquid Mutual Funds: These are better than savings accounts and provide slightly higher returns with liquidity.

Recurring Deposits: Good for disciplined savings over the short term.

7. FD in Father’s Account: Gramin Bank or SBI?
Choose SBI FD: Although Gramin Bank offers higher interest, SBI provides online accessibility and convenience.

Reasoning: Accessibility is crucial, especially during emergencies or market volatility.

8. Where Should Your Father Invest Rs 30 Lakhs PPF Maturity?
Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP): A good option for monthly income with partial market exposure. However, diversify the amount to reduce risks.

Suggested Allocation:

Rs 10 lakhs: Invest in Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS) for safety and regular income.
Rs 10 lakhs: Opt for balanced advantage mutual funds for moderate growth.
Rs 10 lakhs: Keep in FDs for emergencies or short-term needs.
Pro Tip: Reassure your father that diversification minimizes risks. Avoid investing all in one instrument.

9. How to Invest Your Bonus?
Allocate Wisely:

50% toward goals like marriage or emergency fund.
30% toward long-term investments such as mutual funds.
20% for personal needs or contingencies.
Flexibility: Use the bonus to increase SIP contributions for long-term benefits.

10. Increasing Emergency Fund
Systematic Savings: Add Rs 5,000 monthly to a Fixed Deposit or Liquid Fund.

Flexible Frequency: Alternatively, allocate every quarter or six months based on bonuses or surpluses.

Target: Aim for at least six months’ worth of expenses as your emergency fund.

Additional Suggestions
Regular Mutual Fund Investments: Continue increasing SIPs as income grows. Opt for actively managed funds with proven track records.

Avoid Direct Funds: Direct funds require active monitoring and expertise. Invest through a Certified Financial Planner for better guidance.

Tax Planning: Use Section 80C to save tax through EPF, PPF, or ELSS funds.

Final Insights
You have taken the right steps by starting SIPs and creating an emergency fund. Focus on balancing short-term and long-term goals effectively. Diversify your investments and ensure risk management. Seek professional advice for complex decisions involving larger amounts.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 25, 2025

Money
Hello Sir. I am 38 year old and in my family wife and 1 son 4 year old. I have my own house. Currently my annual family income (business) is 15 lac (after tax) and my expenses is 10 lac. I am saving around 5 lac per annum. My total savings till now is around 80 lac in fd-od. I get around 18-20% annual return on this. 7-8 % from fd and 10-12 % from ipo, ofs, short term secured loan and other small opportunity. It works very well till now don't know how it's work in future. I have a small portion of land also around 8.33% my share in that. That belongs to extended family and don't know when that liquid. Current value my share (8.33) is 18-20 lac. I have a health insurance of 15 lac. Term insurance of 2 cr till age 60. Emergency fund 5 lac in fd. I have started 20000 pm sip 2 month back In 3 fund hdfc flexi cap, bandhan small cap, and icici balance advantage fund. I want to know more about financial planning for my son education and my retirement
Ans: You are doing well in many areas.
You have strong savings, good income, and decent insurance coverage.
Your SIP initiation is also timely. You are on the right path.
Let us now work on creating a clear, 360-degree plan for your son’s education and your retirement.

» Income, Expenses and Savings Health

– Annual income is Rs. 15 lakh.
– Household expenses are Rs. 10 lakh.
– You save Rs. 5 lakh each year. That is good.
– Try to increase savings to Rs. 6–6.5 lakh over time.
– This surplus must be directed into structured investments.

» FD and Opportunity Investment: Good Past, But Caution Ahead

– You have Rs. 80 lakh in FD-OD and opportunity assets.
– Your average return of 18–20% is above market average.
– FD returns are 7–8%, which are taxable.
– IPOs, OFS, and short-term loans gave 10–12% returns.
– These strategies worked well earlier.
– But they are irregular and not sustainable.
– IPOs can become illiquid when markets turn.
– Short-term loans involve credit risk.
– Do not rely on them fully for future goals.
– Slowly reduce share in FDs and risky assets.
– Move towards structured long-term mutual funds.

» Equity Mutual Fund Investment Review

– You have started Rs. 20,000/month SIP. That is excellent.
– You chose 3 funds: flexi cap, small cap and balanced advantage.
– This mix gives growth, aggression, and stability.
– It is a good base to start your mutual fund journey.
– Keep monthly SIP discipline. Do not pause it.
– Increase SIP every year by 10–15%.
– Your target SIP should become Rs. 40,000/month in 3 years.

» Emergency Fund and Insurance Review

– Rs. 5 lakh in FD for emergencies is suitable.
– This covers 6 months of expenses. Good backup.
– You have Rs. 15 lakh health cover. That’s fair for now.
– Add top-up health insurance after age 45.
– Term insurance of Rs. 2 crore till age 60 is good.
– Do not take any endowment or ULIP plans.
– If you already hold such policies, plan to surrender them.
– Shift those funds into mutual funds.

» Avoiding Direct Mutual Funds: Key Reasons

– Direct funds give no professional support or reviews.
– You must track, analyse, and adjust yourself.
– Wrong fund selection can hurt your future.
– Regular plans via MFD with CFP give better guidance.
– MFD gives periodic reviews and goal tracking support.
– Also helps with portfolio correction during market cycles.
– The small cost is worth the behavioural and advisory support.

» Why Index Funds Don’t Suit You

– Index funds copy the market without judgement.
– They do not protect during market crashes.
– Active funds use sector shifts and tactical allocation.
– This helps reduce volatility and improve gains.
– In India, many active funds beat index consistently.
– You already use active funds. Continue that path.

» Son’s Education Goal Plan

– Your son is 4 years old now.
– You have 13–14 years to build the education corpus.
– Target Rs. 50–70 lakh in future value.
– For that, keep a separate SIP of Rs. 20,000/month.
– Use 2–3 diversified equity funds with long-term focus.
– Prefer flexi cap and large & midcap fund categories.
– Increase SIP every year by at least 10%.
– Shift to low-risk funds 2–3 years before usage.
– Don’t use this corpus for other needs.
– Tag it strictly for education.

» Retirement Planning: Framework and Action Plan

– You are 38 now. You have 22 years for retirement planning.
– Target corpus should be Rs. 4–5 crore in today’s value.
– Actual need will be higher due to inflation.
– Start Rs. 20,000/month SIP in retirement bucket.
– Increase this to Rs. 40,000 in 3–4 years.
– Use equity-oriented hybrid and flexicap funds.
– Don’t touch this corpus for other needs.
– Keep reviewing this fund yearly.
– After age 55, reduce equity exposure gradually.
– Shift part of corpus to conservative hybrid or low-duration debt funds.

» Real Estate Asset: Keep as Passive Holding

– Your share in family land is only 8.33%.
– Current value is Rs. 18–20 lakh.
– No timeline is known for liquidation.
– Don’t plan goals around this asset.
– Keep it as windfall wealth or legacy.

» Diversification of Overall Investments

– Too much money is still in FDs.
– Slowly move at least Rs. 40 lakh to mutual funds.
– Keep Rs. 10–15 lakh in FD for stability and emergencies.
– Keep Rs. 5–10 lakh in opportunity-based ideas.
– The rest should go into SIP or lump sum mutual fund investing.
– Spread across flexicap, hybrid, and growth funds.
– Limit small cap and thematic exposure to 10–15% only.

» Mutual Fund Categories You Can Explore

– Flexi cap funds for broad-based exposure.
– Large & midcap funds for balance of risk and return.
– Aggressive hybrid funds for steady growth.
– Balanced advantage funds for dynamic allocation.
– Limit small cap to one fund only.
– Avoid thematic or sectoral funds for now.
– Don’t keep more than 5–6 funds overall.
– Too many funds will reduce focus.

» Capital Gains Taxation Rules: New Update

– Equity mutual fund LTCG above Rs. 1.25 lakh is taxed at 12.5%.
– Short-term capital gains (STCG) are taxed at 20%.
– For debt mutual funds, gains are taxed as per your income slab.
– This makes equity MFs more tax-efficient than FDs.
– FDs are taxed yearly on interest at slab rate.
– This reduces real returns from FDs.

» Goal-Based SIP Segregation

– Keep education and retirement SIPs in separate folios.
– Tag each fund clearly to a specific goal.
– Don’t mix them with emergency or short-term use.
– Monitor SIPs once every 6 months.
– Review fund performance and rebalance when needed.
– Avoid frequent changes.
– Stay consistent.

» Behavioural Discipline Is More Important Than Selection

– Success in investing depends on discipline.
– Behavioural errors cause more damage than market falls.
– Avoid stopping SIPs when markets fall.
– Don’t chase recent high performers.
– Stick to plan. Review yearly.
– MFD with CFP helps you stay disciplined.
– Emotional decisions kill long-term wealth.

» What to Do Over Next 5 Years

– Increase SIP from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 40,000/month.
– Reduce FD portion gradually.
– Set SIPs for education and retirement separately.
– Review insurance once every 2 years.
– Don’t buy any insurance-linked investment.
– Add top-up health insurance before age 45.
– Avoid loans and large lifestyle inflation.
– Keep tracking progress on goals yearly.
– Consult your MFD-CFP for regular planning.

» Finally

– You already have a strong foundation.
– With consistent SIPs, your wealth will grow steadily.
– Avoid dependency on IPO and short-term sources.
– Use mutual funds as your core investment vehicle.
– Don’t fall for high-return temptations.
– Stick to planned asset allocation.
– Your son’s future and your retirement will be secured.
– Stay focused and disciplined.

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

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

..Read more

Purshotam

Purshotam Lal  | Answer  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF and Insurance Expert - Answered on Oct 16, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 30, 2025Hindi
Money
I'm 39 years old. I've two kids(Elder son & younger daughter), 11yrs and 8yrs. My yearly take home salary is 24lacs. I've a home loan of 26k EMI and still 24.5lacs pending. Current property value is 70lacs. I'm getting rent of 12k from it. I have another property loan (Commercial building loan), EMI of 44lacs pending with EMI of 52.5k. I'm getting rental income of Rs 60k from this. Apart from this I have 10lacs local loan, for which I'm paying 27k everymonth. This local 10lac loan will be over in another 2yrs. I've just started a SIP few months ago for 16k (8k in ICICI thematic FOF & 8k in ICICI multi asset). I'm planning to start another SIP for 19k every month. I plan to afford 20lacs max for each kid for thier education. Also I guess I may need 75lacs for my daughters wedding and 25lacs for my son's wedding. I wish to retire at the age of 50. I also have Term insurance for 1.5crores. Can you please tell whether the SIP of 35k is enough or do I need to invest more every month?. Also can you please suggest category of fund which I have to invest based upon my need and time of requirement. I also have PF balance of around 16lacs and I contribute around 20k everymonth (EePF+ErPF). I have NPS for 5000/- pension.
Ans: As per the given information, per month available fund for investment is estimated to be Rs 42000 approx., considering household expenses of 40% (Rs 1.088 L) of your gross monthly earnings. Further the marriage cost may rise @ 8% inflation to Rs 277.50 L after 17 Years for daughter and Rs 73.43L for your son after 14 years. Since you wish to retire by age 50, your investments will stop at that age. To provide for that monthly Equity MF SIP of Rs 66K shall be required and 50K Equity MF SIP for Education is required for your daughter & son till your age 50. You currently has an MF SIP of 16K, which is much short of the target per month investment. Your PF balance is likely to accumulate at current interest rate of 8.25% pa with monthly contribution of 20K, to Rs 81 Lakh. Which is also too less for your comfortable retirement. Available options are to think of retirement age of 58 Years and also reduce your monthly household expenses, reduce provision for child marriages and also to increase monthly SIP every year by say 10% as your income rises. It is also suggested to take a good family floater health insurance policy. Good Luck.

Purshotam, CFP®, MBA, CAIIB, FIII
Certified Financial Planner
Insurance advisor
www.finphoenixinvest.com

..Read more

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Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 08, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 08, 2025Hindi
Money
Hi i am 40M. would request your help to understand what should be the corpus required for retirement as i want to get retired in next 3-5yrs. currently my take home is 2.3L monthly & my wife also works but leaving the job in next 2-3 months. we have a daughter 10yrs, currently i stay on rent and total monthly expense is 1.1L month. once i will retire we will shift in our own parental flat, where hopefully there will be no rent. current Investments 1. 50L in REC bonds getting matured in 2029 2. 42L in stocks 3. 17L in MF 4. 16L FD 5. 15L in PPF 6. 1.3L SIP monthly i do My Wife Investments 1. 30L corpus 2. flat with current value 40L and we get rental of 10K monthly. Please guide what should be the retirement corpus required combined to retire, assuming i need 75L for my daughter post grad and marriage and we would be requiring 75K monthly for our expenses after retiring
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

...Read more

Samraat

Samraat Jadhav  |2499 Answers  |Ask -

Stock Market Expert - Answered on Dec 08, 2025

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Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 08, 2025

Money
Hello my name is saket, I monthly salary is 43k and my saving is zero. My Rent is 15 k and 10 k i send to my parents. How can i save money and investments.
Ans: 1. Your Current Monthly Numbers

Salary: Rs 43,000

Rent: Rs 15,000

Support to parents: Rs 10,000

Left with: Rs 18,000 for food, travel, bills, and savings

You have very little room, but saving is still possible if done smartly.

2. First Step: Build a Small Emergency Buffer

You must build Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 emergency money.
This protects you from taking loans for small issues.

How to build it:

Save Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 every month in a simple bank savings account

Do this for the next few months

Don’t touch it unless truly needed

3. Create a Mini Budget (Very Simple One)

Try this split from the remaining Rs 18,000:

Daily living (food + transport): Rs 10,000 – 11,000

Personal expenses (phone, internet, basics): Rs 3,000 – 4,000

Savings + investments: Rs 3,000 – 5,000

If this feels difficult, reduce food/transport costs by small adjustments.

4. Where to Invest Once You Have Emergency Money

(For minors: This is general education. For actual investing, get guidance from a trusted adult or family member.)

After you build emergency money, start small monthly investing.

You can begin with:

Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 SIP in a simple, diversified equity fund

Increase the SIP whenever salary increases or expenses reduce

Avoid complicated products.
Keep it simple.
Focus on consistency.

5. Easy Practical Ways to Increase Saving

These small moves help a lot:

Avoid food delivery

Use public transport as much as possible

Reduce subscriptions you don’t use

Fix a daily expense limit

Keep a separate bank account only for savings

Even Rs 200 saved daily = Rs 6,000 monthly.

6. Increase Income Slowly

Try small income boosters:

Weekend tutoring

Freelancing

Part-time projects

Selling old gadgets

Learning new skills for future salary growth

Even Rs 3,000 extra income changes your savings life.

7. Build the Habit First

The amount doesn’t matter in the beginning.
The habit matters more.

Even saving Rs 500 every month is better than zero.
Once salary grows, you will already know how to save.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

...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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