I am 37 years and work in the information technology industry. I have two dependents, my wife and an eight-year-old daughter. My monthly take-home salary is Rs 98,000. My monthly household expense is Rs 20,000. I have taken a home loan for which I pay an EMI of Rs 35,000 per month. It will continue for eight more years. I have a surplus of Rs 40,000 per month, which I would like to invest in mutual funds.
Other than mutual fund investments, I have shares worth Rs 40,000 and employee provident fund (EPF) of Rs 2 lakh. I have a term plan from my employer, whose sum assured is Rs 25 lakh. I have a medical policy of Rs 9.5 lakh that covers my family. I also have an endowment policy and the sum assured is Rs 5 lakh. This policy will mature in 2027. I plan to retire 10 years from now. I want to accumulate at least Rs 2 crore for retirement. I also want to accumulate money for my daughter’s education and wedding, which will be due in 10 and 15 years, respectively. Please suggest modifications to my portfolio and funds for my monthly investments.
-Rajkumar
You are among those investors who try to time the market. You started investing in mutual funds in 2007, continued in 2008, and when the market saw a downturn, you stopped investing and waited for the market to bounce back. Thereafter, when the market rally started, you sold off a few schemes in 2009 just to recover your losses. Here are your mistakes:
- Timing the market is a futile exercise.
- You have not inculcated the habit of investing regularly. The right way to accumulate wealth through equities is to invest regularly via a systematic investment plan (SIP).
- The eight funds you have is too large for a portfolio of Rs 70,000.
- The only debt exposure you have is via EPF. This accounts for 65 per cent of your entire investment, which is too high.
GOALS
Retirement kitty: At present you are 37 and want to retire at 47. To accumulate a retirement corpus of Rs 2 crore, you need to invest Rs 55,000 per month now and keep increasing this amount by 10 per cent every year. We have assumed returns of 10 per cent. However, this monthly investment will only let you meet your retirement need.
Other aims: While you have mentioned the time frame for your other goals such as daughter’s education and marriage, you haven't quantified these. So, we cannot suggest on this part.
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Nonetheless, we feel it is going to be difficult for you to accumulate the additional amount required for the two above-mentioned goals, when you already have to scale up your planned monthly investment by Rs 15,000 to meet your retirement goal. So, you need to rationalise goals.
PORTFOLIO RESTRUCTURING
Your present funds give you a good exposure to equity stocks. However, there is an insignificant debt exposure in your portfolio (0.54 per cent). Your large-cap exposure is 40.65 per cent, which is too low. Increase it to at least 70 per cent. Similarly, bring down your mid-cap exposure from the current 55.5 per cent to 30 per cent.
Maintain a small portfolio by investing in any five funds from the list. Three quality funds have been retained from your existing portfolio. Exit the remaining ones and invest the sales proceeds among the suggested funds. Your core funds should comprise at least 70 per cent of your mutual funds investments. Keep 10 per cent in a debt fund and limit your exposure to supporting funds to the extent of 20 per cent.
INSURANCE
It is good that your medical insurance covers you and your dependants. However, you only have term plan that employer has provided. This is risky. One, the sum assured is insufficient. Two, what if you quit your current job and move to another? Therefore, we suggest you buy a term cover that is adequate and is paid for by yourself. Consult a planner to find how much cover you need.
POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Invest consistently each month via SIP without trying to time the market
- When you get closer to your goals, gradually shift money from equities to debt to avoid losses
- Rebalance your mutual fund portfolio at least once a year
- Invest in stocks only if you have the inclination, time and understanding to research companies by yourself. If not, leave the job to mutual fund managers
SUGGESTED FUNDS
Core funds (two multi-cap and any one large-cap)
Multi-cap: ICICI Prudential Dynamic and Templeton India Equity Income
Large-cap: IDFC Imperial Equity Plan A/DSPBR Top 100 Equity
Supporting funds (one)
Mid- & Small-cap: Sundaram BNP Paribas Select Midcap Reg
Debt fund (one): Fortis Flexi debt