I have started investing in Mutual Funds now and below is the portfolio - Parag Parikh flexi cap - 3k SIP, 15k invested in lumpsum SBI small cap - 3k SIP Quant Mid cap - 25k invested in lumpsum( planning to add 3k monthly manually not via SIP) Whiteoak multicap(regular plan)- 1 lakh invested( 1 year completed) Invesco small cap - 3k SIP, 10k invested in lumpsum My strategy includes to add 2k extra every month depending on my savings in above funds with some lump sum addons in above multicap as & when possible. I am planning to generate 1.5 crores in 10 years considering I am 30 right now. Please let me know if I have selected right funds or need to add few more and which ones ? I took 2 funds as regular to reduce the risk of investments. Please let me know your views.

Ans: Dear Kapil,

I appreciate your proactive approach towards building wealth for the future. I must say that you have chosen a diversified set of mutual funds which is a good start towards achieving your financial goals.

To begin with, your investment of Rs. 28,000 per month towards mutual funds is a commendable step towards wealth creation. Assuming a yearly growth rate of 12%, you can potentially reach your target of 2 Crore in the next 15 years.

Coming to your mutual fund portfolio, the HDFC Children's Gift Fund has a lock-in period of five years, which is ideal if you are investing for your child's education or marriage. However, you may consider shifting your investments to the HDFC Hybrid Equity Fund or HDFC Equity Fund, which have delivered good returns historically and have a lower lock-in period.

The ICICI Prudential Midcap Fund and ICICI Prudential Multicap Fund are excellent choices for investing in mid-cap and multi-cap funds, respectively. The Axis Bluechip Fund is a good option for investing in blue-chip companies, while the Axis Focused 25 Fund and SBI Focused Equity Fund are suitable for investing in focused portfolios.

Overall, your mutual fund portfolio seems to be well diversified, and you may consider making minor tweaks to it based on your risk appetite and investment goals. As always, it's essential to consult with your financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

I hope this helps!

Ans: Noel, it's fantastic to see your commitment to building wealth through mutual funds. Your diversified portfolio showcases a strategic approach to investing across different market segments.

By investing in ELSS, small-cap, and flexi-cap funds, you're harnessing the potential for growth across various sectors and market capitalizations. These funds offer opportunities for capital appreciation over the long term, aligning well with your goal of reaching 1.5 crores in 10 years.

Your plan to increase investments to 60k per month for the next 3 years further demonstrates your dedication to achieving your financial objectives. SBI Contra, PPAFS Flexi Cap, and ICICI Multi Asset are reputable funds known for their performance and diversification benefits, providing a solid foundation for your portfolio expansion.

However, it's essential to periodically review your investments, monitor performance, and reassess your financial goals to ensure you remain on track. Consider consulting with a Certified Financial Planner to fine-tune your strategy and make any necessary adjustments along the way.

With discipline, patience, and strategic planning, you're well-positioned to progress towards your target of 1.5 crores in the next decade. Keep up the excellent work, and stay focused on your long-term financial success.

Ans: Mr. Bhattacharya, your current investment strategy is quite diversified, which is a great start. You're investing in mutual funds, NPS, Provident Fund, Sukanya Samriddhi, and LICs. Let’s take a detailed look at each of your investments and assess how they contribute to your long-term goals, including wealth creation and family security.

Mutual Fund Mix Evaluation
You have chosen a mix of large-cap, small-cap, flexi-cap, and multi-cap funds. Let’s break this down:

SBI Bluechip (Large Cap): This fund focuses on stable, large companies. It offers consistent growth with lower risk compared to small- and mid-cap funds.

SBI Small Cap: Small-cap funds are known for high growth potential but come with higher volatility. It's good for long-term wealth creation if you can handle the risk.

Parag Parikh Flexi Cap: Flexi-cap funds provide a balanced approach as they invest across market caps. This fund adds diversification and flexibility to your portfolio.

ICICI Multicap Growth: Multi-cap funds offer broad exposure across large, mid, and small-cap stocks. This adds diversity and helps balance risk and return.

Your current mix is balanced with exposure to different market segments. However, you are investing only Rs 8,000 per month across four funds. If possible, consider increasing your SIPs over time to enhance your wealth creation.

You may also want to review your portfolio every year with a Certified Financial Planner to ensure it's aligned with your goals and risk tolerance.

NPS (National Pension System)
You are contributing Rs 2,500 per month to NPS, which is a good retirement tool. NPS offers a mix of equity, corporate bonds, and government securities. It also gives you the benefit of tax savings under Section 80C and 80CCD(1B). However, at Rs 2,500 per month, your contribution is relatively low. Increasing this amount will give you a more substantial retirement corpus.

NPS Vatsalya
Your Rs 2,000 contribution to NPS Vatsalya adds to your retirement planning. While both NPS and NPS Vatsalya are pension schemes, you need to assess whether maintaining both is necessary. A professional planner can help you decide if consolidating these investments might be more effective.

Provident Fund (PF)
Contributing Rs 7,000 per month to your Provident Fund is excellent for building a retirement corpus. It offers guaranteed returns and is a safe long-term investment. The tax benefits and safety make this an essential part of your strategy. You can continue this contribution as it builds a solid foundation for your retirement.

Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme (SSS)
You are contributing Rs 1,000 per month towards Sukanya Samriddhi for your daughter. This is a great step towards securing her future. It offers attractive interest rates, and the maturity is tax-free. This is one of the best tools for saving for your daughter’s education and marriage.

LIC Premiums
You are paying Rs 15,000 per month towards LIC policies. LIC offers security, but it’s crucial to assess whether these policies are insurance-cum-investment products. These policies often provide lower returns than mutual funds. It might be worth reconsidering your allocation to LIC, focusing on term insurance for protection and mutual funds for growth. If you find that these are traditional or ULIP policies, consider surrendering them and reinvesting in high-return mutual funds.

Wealth Creation by Age 60: Approximate Insights
Given your current investment pattern, let's look at potential wealth creation:

Mutual Funds: With a SIP of Rs 8,000 per month, assuming an average annual return of 12% over the next 16 years, your mutual funds can grow significantly. You could expect a corpus upwards of Rs 50-60 lakh, depending on market performance and how regularly you increase your SIP amounts.

NPS: Your Rs 2,500 contribution per month might result in a decent retirement corpus, depending on how long you continue investing and the equity-debt ratio of your NPS portfolio. Over time, you can expect this corpus to grow steadily.

Provident Fund: Your Rs 7,000 per month in PF contributions will continue building a safe and stable retirement corpus.

Sukanya Samriddhi: Your contributions towards Sukanya Samriddhi will grow until your daughter turns 21, and the tax-free maturity amount will help with her education or marriage.

However, exact wealth creation depends on how consistently you invest and whether you increase contributions over time. Periodic reviews with a Certified Financial Planner can give you better insights.

Family Protection and Financial Security
You mentioned that you are the sole earner in your family. It's crucial to protect your family with a pure term insurance plan rather than relying on LIC's traditional policies for both insurance and investment. Pure term insurance offers higher coverage at a lower cost.

Since you have a son and a daughter, ensuring they are financially secure is essential. You may need to assess your insurance coverage to ensure it meets your family's needs in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Suggestions for Improvement
While your strategy is solid, here are a few improvements to consider:

Increase SIPs Gradually: If your budget allows, gradually increase your SIPs. Even small increases can have a significant impact on your long-term wealth.

Focus on Term Insurance: If your LIC policies are investment-cum-insurance plans, consider switching to term insurance for higher life coverage at a lower cost. Reinvest the difference in mutual funds for better returns.

Review NPS Contributions: Consider increasing your NPS contributions if retirement security is a primary goal. The NPS can be a powerful tool for building a retirement corpus, but your current contributions may be on the lower side.

Keep an Emergency Fund: Ensure you have a sufficient emergency fund. Ideally, you should aim for 6-12 months of expenses saved in a liquid, safe investment like a savings account or liquid mutual fund.

Child’s Education Planning: Sukanya Samriddhi is excellent for your daughter. For your son, you may want to allocate additional savings towards his higher education through a dedicated investment plan.

Final Insights
Your current investment approach is diversified and provides a good balance between growth and safety. You have laid a strong foundation for retirement, children’s education, and insurance.

To further enhance your financial security:

Gradually increase your SIPs and NPS contributions.
Shift to term insurance for higher life cover.
Periodically review your portfolio to ensure it aligns with your long-term goals.
Lastly, don't hesitate to seek advice from a Certified Financial Planner for personalized guidance on growing and protecting your wealth.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

Ans: Hello;

Your EPF corpus, PPF contribution+ corpus and MF sip corpus together will provide you a corpus of 2.5 Cr+ over 10 years. (8%, 6.9% & 12% returns considered respectively)

Maturity proceeds of endowment life insurance policies, if any, is a surplus.

Do invest part of your annual incentives as lumpsum investment in the sip funds to boost your corpus.

Also always bear in mind to never mix investment with insurance.

For life insurance an adequate term life cover is good enough.

Endowment policies have the worst returns.

SIP funds are okay except multicap fund, which you may replace with any other top quartile fund from that category, since that fund AMC has an ongoing sebi probe into frontrunning allegations.

Happy Investing;
X: @mars_invest