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Mihir Tanna  |1090 Answers  |Ask -

Tax Expert - Answered on Oct 20, 2023

Mihir Ashok Tanna, who works with a well-known chartered accountancy firm in Mumbai, has more than 15 years of experience in direct taxation.
He handles various kinds of matters related to direct tax such as PAN/ TAN application; compliance including ITR, TDS return filing; issuance/ filing of statutory forms like Form 15CB, Form 61A, etc; application u/s 10(46); application for condonation of delay; application for lower/ nil TDS certificate; transfer pricing and study report; advisory/ opinion on direct tax matters; handling various income-tax notices; compounding application on show cause for TDS default; verification of books for TDS/ TCS/ equalisation levy compliance; application for pending income-tax demand and refund; charitable trust taxation and compliance; income-tax scrutiny and CIT(A) for all types of taxpayers including individuals, firms, LLPs, corporates, trusts, non-resident individuals and companies.
He regularly represents clients before the income tax authorities including the commissioner of income tax (appeal).... more
Asked by Anonymous - Oct 10, 2023Hindi
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I am soon realising Rs 55 Lakhs of LTCG on sale of my property. I intend to utilise this LTCG amount in construction of a residential property,whose payments will start in next 45 days and staggered over next 20 months. How do I invest this LTCG amount of Rs 55 Lakhs

Ans: Person who are unable to reinvest their capital gains in a new property before the prescribed time restriction; must deposit the unutilized capital gains into the capital gains account (specific account opened with Bank). This must be done before the income tax returns are filed/due date of ITR (whichever is earlier)
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 Jul 04, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 29, 2025Hindi
Money
I am getting an amount of 20lakhs post ltcg tax from sale of my house. How best to invest this to generate a 1.5 or 2 lakh monthly income? I am 52 years old and have no other financial obligations.
Ans: You are 52 years old, free from financial obligations, and receiving Rs. 20 lakhs after paying long-term capital gains tax from the sale of your house.

Your goal is to generate a monthly income of Rs. 1.5 to 2 lakhs. This means you are expecting Rs. 18 to 24 lakhs annually from a corpus of Rs. 20 lakhs.

Let us now do a complete 360-degree professional assessment of this situation.

Assessing Your Income Expectation
You have a corpus of Rs. 20 lakhs.

You want Rs. 1.5 to 2 lakhs every month

This equals 90% to 120% withdrawal rate annually

That means Rs. 18 lakhs to 24 lakhs yearly

This is extremely unrealistic from a Rs. 20 lakh fund

It would exhaust the money in 1 to 2 years

No legal investment plan can generate that much return

You need to either lower income target

Or arrange additional capital from other sources

Let’s now look at practical solutions.

Resetting Your Income Expectation
Your current capital is Rs. 20 lakhs. Let’s assume realistic income range:

Conservative debt funds can offer 6% returns

Balanced funds can offer 8% in long term

Equity funds may offer 10% or more over long term

But these returns are not guaranteed

Also, principal should not be fully withdrawn in short term

Best to aim for 6% to 7% withdrawal per year

Rs. 20 lakhs at 7% withdrawal = Rs. 1.4 lakhs per year
That gives you Rs. 11,000 per month approx

This is the maximum safe income from Rs. 20 lakhs.

Combining Growth and Income
You need to plan for both monthly income and capital protection.

Follow this structure:

Keep 2 years’ income in safe funds

Invest balance in growth-focused mutual funds

Use SWP (Systematic Withdrawal Plan) monthly

This avoids panic and ensures tax-efficient flow

Avoid taking full amount from capital

Let some part grow and replenish withdrawn amount

Suggested Buckets:

Emergency Bucket (Rs. 3 lakhs): Liquid funds

Income Bucket (Rs. 5 to 7 lakhs): Short-term or hybrid funds

Growth Bucket (Rs. 10 to 12 lakhs): Balanced or equity-oriented funds

Shift money from growth to income bucket every 2 years.
This keeps income flowing and capital from vanishing.

Mutual Fund Route is Best for You
Bank deposits will give fixed income, but low returns.

FDs currently offer 6% approx

Income will be taxed as per your slab

FD interest is not inflation protected

No capital appreciation

MF SWP is better tax-wise and return-wise

Use mutual funds in regular plans, not direct plans.

Direct funds drawbacks:

No expert reviews

No emotional guidance during volatility

You may stop SWP in panic

Mistakes during bad markets ruin long term goals

Instead, go with regular mutual funds via a Certified Financial Planner.

They will:

Suggest right funds

Review funds yearly

Help with taxation

Maintain asset allocation

Reduce behavioural mistakes

Do Not Use Index Funds
You may think of using index funds. Avoid that for this goal.

Why avoid index funds:

Index funds just copy market

They do not give downside protection

You get average return, not best return

No fund manager decision during crisis

You cannot depend on them for regular monthly income

Index funds are for passive investing, not retirement income

You need actively managed funds with income focus.

Never Invest in ULIPs or Insurance Products
Stay away from ULIP, endowment, or retirement plans from insurance companies.

Returns are low

Lock-in is high

Charges are hidden

Liquidity is poor

Not suitable for monthly income

You are not looking for insurance. You are looking for cash flow.
Hence, avoid insurance-linked investments.

Never Rely on Gold or Silver for Income
Gold and silver do not give monthly income.

They don’t pay interest

Value fluctuates

Selling regularly will reduce total corpus

Physical storage has risk

Digital gold has no liquidity for income

You can buy gold later if your income is sufficient.
Not suitable for your current need.

Tax Efficiency is Critical
Your monthly income must be tax-efficient.
Otherwise, you will lose 20% to 30% in taxes.

Salaries are fully taxable
FD interest is fully taxable
SWP from mutual funds is tax-efficient

Equity Mutual Funds Taxation (from 2024)

LTCG above Rs. 1.25 lakh per year is taxed at 12.5%

STCG is taxed at 20%

Debt fund returns are taxed as per slab

Plan SWP so that:

Gains are spread over time

Redemption is in small amounts

Tax liability is minimised

Always take advice from your CFP on fund selection and withdrawal strategy.

Health and Emergency Planning
You are 52 years. You must prepare for medical and unexpected costs.

Keep at least Rs. 3 to 5 lakhs as medical/emergency fund

Keep it in liquid mutual funds

Don’t use this fund for monthly expenses

Buy a health insurance policy if not already taken

Premiums rise after 55, so act now

Ensure hospital cashless coverage near your area

Avoid using corpus for sudden medical needs

Prepare for financial stability even during health shocks.

Future Expenses and Inflation Planning
Right now, your goal is income. But think long-term too.

In 10 years, monthly expenses will double

Income from today’s Rs. 20 lakh may not be enough later

Keep some funds growing for future

Don’t consume all corpus now

Increase monthly income slowly every year

Review income need every 3 years

If you are expecting pension or other income later, adjust accordingly.

Other Ideas to Add to Income
If Rs. 1.5 to 2 lakhs is a must, then consider:

Part-time or freelance work

Consultancy based on past experience

Teaching or online coaching

Writing or project-based contracts

Renting unused property space

This income can reduce pressure on your corpus.

Retirement should be financially stress-free. But not fully inactive.

Avoid These Common Mistakes
Don’t invest all in one product

Don’t take full amount from equity monthly

Don’t chase high-return schemes

Don’t believe in 18% return stories

Don’t trust unknown people for tips

Don’t use apps to gamble on funds

Don’t make decisions without CFP review

Safe monthly income comes from discipline. Not chance.

Finally
Rs. 20 lakhs can give Rs. 11,000 to Rs. 12,000 monthly income

You must lower your expectation of Rs. 1.5 to 2 lakhs per month

Use mutual fund SWP structure with CFP support

Avoid direct plans and index funds

Stick to regular funds through Certified MFD

Create emergency fund of Rs. 3 lakhs separately

Plan taxes and withdrawals carefully

Use some capital for growth, not full income

Add part-time income if possible

Review every year and adjust for inflation

Your current capital is good, but not enough for high monthly income.
With proper plan and discipline, you can create peace and stability.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

..Read more

Latest Questions
Anu

Anu Krishna  |1746 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Dec 08, 2025

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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

Ramalingam

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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