Should I Invest 80% in Equity and 20% in Debt, or Should I Adjust My Portfolio?

Ans:

Ans: You are most welcome!

Also you MUST review performance of your fund portfolio just to ensure that growth is moving in the right direction.
Ultimately your hard earned money is at stake.

Ans: Hello;

You need not close your investment in debt funds, in fact increase it further.

You should move away from equity(0-20%) in a big way since you are approaching retirement age.

Invest in gold funds(10-20%) and multi asset allocation/equity savings type of funds.

Happy Investing;
X: @mars_invest

Ans: You have done an excellent job in managing your finances so far. At age 38, being debt-free and already investing regularly shows great awareness and discipline. You are balancing your expenses and savings well, and your focus on financial freedom is truly inspiring. Most importantly, you are thinking ahead and seeking clarity before making major changes — that’s the sign of a mature investor.

Now, let’s evaluate your current portfolio and the suggestion given by that website advisor in a complete and balanced way.

» Assessing your present investment mix

You already hold a thoughtful mix of mutual funds — large-cap, flexi-cap, balanced advantage, midcap, small-cap, gold, and liquid. This mix covers most risk and return categories. You have exposure to growth, balance, and stability, plus an emergency fund.

Your mutual fund portfolio is diversified, and the mix is suitable for your age and goals. You also hold some traditional savings like FD, NSC, and KVP. Those offer safety and liquidity. Altogether, your structure is healthy and provides a good balance between growth and security.

Your systematic approach of investing 35k per month further strengthens your long-term compounding potential. So, your overall direction is already correct.

» Evaluating the suggestion to move into index funds

Moving everything to index funds except flexi-cap, as suggested by that website, is not suitable for your goals or stage.

Index funds simply mirror the market index. They hold all companies in the index, good or bad. There is no active research or decision-making. So, if the market falls, they fall equally. They cannot avoid poor-quality stocks or sectors.

Active funds, on the other hand, are managed by experienced fund managers who study company fundamentals, economic trends, and valuations. They can protect downside in falling markets by adjusting holdings. Over long-term, good active funds have delivered better risk-adjusted returns than index funds.

Also, index funds offer no flexibility during volatile phases. For long-term wealth creation and early financial freedom, you need actively managed funds that can adapt, not passive ones that just follow.

Hence, changing all your existing funds to index funds would be a poor decision. It may reduce your return potential and increase your risk during corrections.

» Why your present mix is better suited

Your current portfolio already includes diversified categories:
– Large-cap for stability and steady compounding.
– Balanced advantage fund for dynamic asset allocation.
– Flexi-cap for tactical equity exposure.
– Mid-cap and small-cap for high-growth potential over long term.
– Gold for protection against inflation and volatility.
– Liquid fund for emergency needs.

This type of structure gives you balance between growth, safety, and liquidity. It already follows the core principles of asset allocation. The need is not to change everything, but to hold, review, and rebalance once a year under guidance of a Certified Financial Planner.

So, your portfolio direction is correct. What you need is monitoring, not a complete shift.

» Why active management is more meaningful in India

The Indian equity market is still evolving. It is not as mature or efficient as developed markets. Many stocks are under-researched, and market prices often move emotionally. In such markets, skilled fund managers can identify undervalued stocks early and avoid poor-quality ones.

This means active funds in India have higher potential to outperform the market. Index funds, in contrast, simply follow market weight, ignoring valuations or fundamentals. That limits your wealth-building potential.

For long-term goals like your home and early retirement, this difference compounds into a big gap. That’s why, for Indian investors, actively managed funds remain more rewarding.

» Matching investments to your goals

You have three clear goals:

– Short term: Buy a car in 2 years.
– Long term: Build a house in 10 years.
– Life goal: Financial freedom by 50.

For your car goal, avoid equity exposure. You already have Axis Liquid Fund and other safe instruments like FD and NSC. Keep your car money in those. Don’t mix short-term goals with equity.

For your house goal and financial freedom, continue investing in your mutual funds through SIPs. You can review and rebalance the ratio of large-cap, flexi-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap once every year. A Certified Financial Planner can help you decide allocation based on performance and your evolving comfort.

This separation of short and long-term goals prevents panic selling and gives clarity in planning.

» Evaluating your risk profile and investment behaviour

At 38, you are young enough to handle moderate risk. You have stable income, no liabilities, and emergency reserves. This allows you to take reasonable exposure to equity for long-term goals.

Your current mix already reflects that. Large-cap, balanced advantage, and flexi-cap form your stable base. Mid and small caps bring extra growth over long horizons. Gold adds safety during market dips. This is a well-balanced structure.

So, rather than change the category, focus on continuing disciplined investing and annual reviews.

» On managing FDs, NSC, and KVP

You have Rs 7 lakh in FDs, Rs 4 lakh in NSC, and Rs 6 lakh in KVP. These are safe instruments, but not efficient for long-term wealth creation. Their post-tax returns are usually lower than inflation.

Continue them till maturity, but don’t renew them again. When they mature, reinvest the proceeds into suitable mutual funds through a Certified Financial Planner. This will help your money grow faster without increasing risk too much.

This approach ensures that your traditional assets are gradually moved into more productive instruments.

» On your PF and insurance

Your PF balance of Rs 8 lakh is a solid foundation for retirement. Keep contributing to it till you reach financial freedom. It’s a stable long-term corpus.

You already have term insurance of Rs 1 crore, which is excellent. It gives financial protection to your dependents. Once your investments grow and your family becomes financially independent, you can review if you still need the same cover later.

Regarding health insurance, please buy a comprehensive plan soon. A single hospitalisation can disturb even a strong portfolio. Health insurance protects both your money and your peace of mind.

» On investing additional corpus and surplus

You have Rs 6 lakh in hand now. You can invest it as lumpsum in your existing mutual fund categories after checking current market conditions and your allocation ratio. Don’t open too many new funds. Instead, top up existing ones that fit your goal duration and risk level.

Continue your SIP of Rs 35k per month. If your income rises, increase your SIP by 10% yearly. This step will accelerate your journey toward financial freedom.

Whenever you get bonus or extra income, use part of it to prepay any future liability or invest in growth assets. Avoid putting too much in FDs again.

» Taxation awareness for your mutual fund investments

Since you are investing in equity mutual funds, understand the taxation clearly:
– Long-term capital gains above Rs 1.25 lakh per year are taxed at 12.5%.
– Short-term gains are taxed at 20%.

For debt-oriented or hybrid funds, gains are taxed as per your income slab.

When you hold funds for long term, you benefit from compounding and tax efficiency. Avoid frequent switching or profit booking. It creates unnecessary short-term gains and tax burden. Stay focused on goals instead of market timing.

» Why continuing through a Certified Financial Planner is better than going direct

Many investors think direct plans save cost. But direct plans mean no monitoring, no advice, and no emotional support during volatility. You alone will have to decide when to review, switch, or rebalance.

A Certified Financial Planner-backed Mutual Fund Distributor tracks your portfolio regularly. They analyse performance, suggest corrections, and help with rebalancing. The difference in expense ratio is small, but the value of professional guidance is large.

Long-term wealth is built by right actions taken at right times. That’s why investing through a CFP ensures your plan remains disciplined, reviewed, and aligned with your goals.

» Building your emergency and contingency reserves

Your Axis Liquid Fund already serves as emergency reserve. Keep at least six months of your expenses here. Don’t withdraw from this unless a real emergency arises.

Review the fund every year to ensure it stays liquid and stable. Refill it whenever you use it. This small discipline keeps your entire plan safe from sudden shocks.

» Monitoring and reviewing performance

Your portfolio will go through ups and downs. That’s normal. Review once every year, not every month. Check each fund’s performance versus its category and your goals.

If any fund consistently underperforms for more than two years, your Certified Financial Planner can suggest switching to a better one. Otherwise, avoid unnecessary changes. Frequent changes reduce returns and increase confusion.

Patience and review discipline are the keys for wealth building.

» Behavioural control during market volatility

Markets will not move in straight lines. During correction phases, stay calm and continue SIPs. Those are the times when your future wealth gets built at cheaper prices.

Don’t panic or stop SIPs during temporary falls. Remember, long-term investors earn because they stay invested when others quit. Your goals are long term, and your funds are chosen accordingly. Trust the process.

» Creating a 360-degree financial system

To make your financial life strong, integrate all parts:
– Investment planning through mutual funds.
– Protection through term and health insurance.
– Safety through emergency fund.
– Retirement through PF and equity allocation.
– Tax planning and estate management through Will and nominations.

When all these work together, your finances become complete and worry-free. A Certified Financial Planner can help you keep these connected and reviewed regularly.

» Finally

Your portfolio is already on the right track. You don’t need to shift everything to index funds. Index funds are simple but lack flexibility, judgment, and downside protection. For your goals of house construction, financial freedom, and long-term wealth, your current actively managed mix is far better.

Continue your SIPs, hold your funds for long term, and review them once a year with a Certified Financial Planner. Avoid frequent changes and trust your discipline.

Your current habits, clarity, and consistency will lead you toward early financial freedom with confidence. Stay focused, stay patient, and let compounding work silently for you.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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