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Showing posts with label Tax Planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tax Planning. Show all posts

Saturday, February 14, 2009

- Retirement Planning and Son's education

Neha Agarwal wrote :
Dear Sir,
I Just came across your blog and read few suggestions and i really want to say thank you for all your valuable advise to the investors.
I am 32 years old and I have invested in mutual fund by starting from Rs. 500/- from one fund in 2005 and increased year by year. All the funds are having growth option. My investment horizon is +15 years.
I am having 3 year old son and I am investing for retirement and son’s education.
I am the only earning member of my family having 5 members including me.
I am having a housing loan of Rs. 12 lakhs outstanding as on today. I am repaying the principal of housing loan as an when possible.
Please analyse my portfolio and give me the feedback on the funds which I am having and suggest me if I am able to meet my goal.
I am having Life Insurance of Rs. 14, 00,000/-.
I am having following SIP.
The bold ones are the core portfolio as per my views.
Reliance Equity saving – Rs.500/- from 2008
Reliance Growth – Rs.1500/- from 2008 and Rs 500/- from 2006 to 2008
Reliance Vision – Rs.1000/- from 2008 and Rs.500/- from 2006 to 2008
Reliance Diversified Power – Rs.500/- from 2007
Sundaram Select Midcap – Rs.1000/- from 2008 and Rs 500/- from 2006 to 2008
Sundaram India Leadership – Rs.500/- from 2006
Sundaram Select Focus – Rs.1000/- from 2008
Sundaram Capex – Rs.1000/- from 2008 and Rs 500/- from 2006 to 2008
SBI Contra – Rs.500/- from 2005

DSPML tax saver – Rs.1000/- from 2008 and will discontinue as I don’t require any ELSS.
DSPML top 100 – Rs.1000/- from 2008
Kotak Tax Saver – Rs.500/- from 2007 to 2008
HDFC top 200 – Rs. 1000/- from 2008
ICICI Infrastructure Rs. 1000/- from 2007.



I had also invested in following NFO

Reliance Long Term Advantage – Rs. 5000/-
Reliance Natural Resources – Rs. 5000/-
DSPML Mid and Small Cap – Rs. 5000/-
Sundaram Select thematic Energy – Rs. 5000/-
Sundaram Equity – Rs. 5000/-
Sundaram Small Cap – Rs. 5000/-
J M Contra – Rs. 5000/-
Birla Long Term Advantage Fund – Rs. 5000/-
HDFC Midcap – Rs. 5000/-
SBI Tax saver series I – Rs. 15000/-
SBI Blue Chip – Rs. 5000/-
UTI Contra – Rs. 5000/-
UTI Infrastructure Series I – Rs. 5000/-
My question is am i too much betting on Sundaram BNP Paribas</span>?The core portfolio which i indiacted in Bold is it correct ?
I am planning to shift my equity MF investment to balance fund at the age of 45. if this is correct ?
Regards
Amit & Neha





SRIKANTH SHANKAR MATRUBAI advised :

Dear Amit and Neha,

First of all, I thank you for your kind words on my blog.
It is good to see that your faith in Mutual Funds has not diminished even after the mauling the Stock Markets has received in 2008.
Before analysing and commenting on your portfolio, I take pleasure in appreciating on your foresight for creating a Buffer for your Retirement and Son's education.

ANALYSIS AND COMMENTS:
Shockingly, you have got 27 funds in your portfolio. You seem to have become a "collector" of funds. Your portfolio needs a complete overhaul. Some funds are outright sell, even at a loss.
I will go through each fund one by one.
1. Reliance Equity Saving (Sip 500 from 2008) :
Probably you mean to say Reliance Regular Savings Fund (Equity). This fund has had a terrific 2007-08 and since then like other funds, has taken a big beating. This fund focusses on Mid-caps and Samll Caps. I advise you to STOP your SIP in this fund immediately.

2. Reliance Growth :
This fund has been a Star Performer since inception. Though it faltered in 2008, looking at its portfolio, I continue to maintain a positive view on the Fund. CONTINUE.

3. Reliance Vision :
This Fund has been living on Past Glory. STOP YOUR SIP.

4. Reliance Diversified Power :
I am never in favour of Theme/Sector Funds. STOP YOUR SIP.

5. Sundaram Select Midcap :
A Great Performer which has gone off-track of late. AVOID. STOP YOUR SIP.

6. Sundaram India Leadership :
CONTINUE.


7. Sundaram Select Focus Fund :
A Truly Quality Performer and Must Have in everyone's portfolio. CONTINUE.

8. Sundaram Capex Fund :
Could struggle going forward. Best to Avoid and STOP YOUR SIP.

9. SBI Contra :
Not a Contra Fund in True Sense. More of a Diversified Fund with a Large Cap Bias. CONTINUE YOUR SIP.

10. DSPBR TAX SAVER :
As you do not require any ELSS, it is good that you are discontinuing.

11. DSPBR TOP 100 :
Excellent Performer in Both Bull and Bear Markets. CONTINUE.

12. KOTAK TAX SAVER :
Has been an average performer. Switch to K30 fund on completion of Lock-in period.

13. HDFC TOP 200 Fund :
One of my favourites. Has been a very very consistent performer. CONTINUE YOUR SIP AND ADD MORE IF POSSIBLE.

14. ICICI INFRASTURCTURE :
One of the best Infra Funds. But does not deserve to be a part of Core Holdings, especially since you are the sole earner. STOP YOUR SIP and switch to other funds suggested below. Under the Same Fund House, you can switch to ICICI Growth fund.

NFO :

Reliance Long Term Advantage – Rs. 5000/- (After Lock-in Period is over, switch to Reliance Growth)
Reliance Natural Resources – Rs. 5000/- (Retain your holdings. The fund should start delivering as it still holds significant cash and has invested in Quality Stocks)
DSPML Mid and Small Cap – Rs. 5000/- (Even at a loss switch to DSPBR Top 100 Fund)
Sundaram Select thematic Energy – Rs. 5000/- (Take a decision when the Lock-in Period ends.. which is still 2 years away)
Sundaram Equity – Rs. 5000/- (Continue to hold as the Fund has performed better than its Benchmark and has good holdings in Large Cap Blue Chips)
Sundaram Small Cap – Rs. 5000/- (Holds nearly 93% in Small and Mid Caps which do not promise a bright future. Better to switch even at a loss to SUNDARAM SELECT FOCUS).
J M Contra – Rs. 5000/- (Has a taken a huge beating. No Other option but to wait and pray for better times. )
Birla Long Term Advantage Fund – Rs. 5000/- (Close-ended. Take a call when the Fund becomes Open ended).
HDFC Midcap – Rs. 5000/- (Close-ended. Take a call when the Fund becomes Open ended).
SBI Tax saver series I – Rs. 15000/- (Close-ended. No other option to stay invested)
SBI Blue Chip – Rs. 5000/- (Even though invests in Blue Chip, has not had a great run. But its holdings do inspire some confidence. Continue to hold and take a call after a year)
UTI Contra – Rs. 5000/- (Even at a loss switch to UTI Dividend Yield Fund)

UTI Infrastructure Series I – Rs. 5000/-(Even at a loss switch to UTI Dividend Yield Fund)

Out of your existing ongoing SIP of Rs.11500, I have suggested you to stop Rs.5000 and Rs.1000 will be stopped from DSPBR Tax Saver.

For this 6000, I suggest you to invest in the following funds
HDFC PRUDENCE FUND (1000 * 2 sips at different dates)
FIDELITY EQUITY FUND (500 * 4 sips at different dates)
BIRLA SUNLIFE EQUITY FUND (1000 * 2 sips at different dates)

so, ultimately your CORE portfolio will look like this....


RELIANCE GROWTH FUND
SUNDARAM SELECT FOCUS FUND
SUNDARAM INDIA LEADERSHIP FUND
SBI CONTRA
DSPBR TOP 100 FUND
HDFC TOP 200
HDFC PRUDENCE FUND
FIDELITY EQUITY FUND
BIRLA SUNLIFE EQUITY FUND


If you observe, I have added a Balanced Fund HDFC Prudence Fund to your Core portfolio and your portfolio now looks tilted towards Large Caps, which is how it should be.

Continue to retain your existing holdings in the Funds where I have suggested to STOP YOUR SIP. Do try to reduce/sell out when the situation improves and shift to Quality Funds as suggested.

Your Life Insurance Coverage of 14Lakhs looks inadequate to me, especially when seen in the backdrop of you being the only earning member in a Family of 5.

Try to get a Term Insurance, as this is the Cheapest Form of Insurance.

Also while investing in Reliance Growth and Birla Funds, there is Free Life Insurance available, get the details about the same from your Mutual Fund Advisor and invest through them, which will also increase your Life cover.

Rebalance your portfolio periodically, ideally, every two years. Make a gradual shift from Equity Heavy to Balanced and then to Debt Heavy, without compromising on returns/risks.

Do consult your Financial Advisor before taking action on my suggestions.
Best of luck,
Srikanth Shankar Matrubai




Visit http://goodfundsadvisor.blogspot.com for Mutual funds
visit http://equityadvise.blogspot.com for Stocks and Shares

SUGGEST BEST TAX SAVING FUNDS

Mr.Sumit Gupta wrote :
Hi,

I am looking to invest around 35-40k in MF to avail the tax saving as well.
searching the option around about now, i got SBI Magnum Tax Gain (Dividend), i can go with now.
could you please suggest some good investment now, looking the market scenario




Thanks & Regards
Sumit Gupta

SRIKANTH SHANKAR MATRUBAI replied :
Dear Sumit,
Mutual Funds are the best avenue for Tax Savings.
The Best ELSS/Tax Saving Fund is that which is not Baised towards any Sector or Theme and my Pick would be :
1. Birla Sunlife Tax Relief 96 Fund
2. DWS Tax Saving Fund
3. Fidelity Tax Advantage Fund
4. Franklin Tax Shield fund
5. Principal Personal Tax Saver
6. Sundaram Tax Saver
I am not in favour of SBI Magnum Tax Gain 93, which is everyone's favourite, mainly because of its bloated fund size.
My favourite in recent past has been DWS Tax Saving Fund, not only because of good performance since its inception but also because it offers Free Life Insurance upto 5 times your investment.

HDFC Tax Saver is also a good choice but keep in mind that it is a Mid-Cap Oriented Fund.
Franklin Tax Shield has not been performing very well since the last 2-3 years but due to its Focus on Large Caps, it should be a Good Performer going forward.

Best of luck,
Srikanth shankar matrubai,




Visit my blog
http://goodfundsadvisor.blogspot.com



Visit http://goodfundsadvisor.blogspot.com for Mutual funds
visit http://equityadvise.blogspot.com for Stocks and Shares

Saturday, February 7, 2009

SUGGEST ME GOOD TAX SAVING FUNDS

Mr.Naveen Ekbote Wrote :
Hi Srikanth,

Nice to know you work on mutual fund investments.

I have made two SIP investments of Rs.1000 each in HDFC Tax saver and Franklin templeton Tax saver from last 1 1/2 year. Unfortunately I have lost heavily due to fall in the stock market. Almost to the tune of 50%. Do you suggest to hold on for lock in period of 3 years? What is your suggestion.

I also want to take one Mutual fund SIP in my wifes name which gives tax benefit. Pls suggest.

Thanks

Naveen

SRIKANTH SHANKAR MATRUBAI replied :
Dear Naveen Ekbote,
Thank you for you nice words.

Both of your SIP investments, HDFC Tax Saver and Franklin Templeton Tax Saver are going into good funds. Though I am not so pleased with the performance of Franklin Templeton Tax Fund.
This Market Meltdown has not spared anyone and you are no exception. My sympathies are with you. You have got no other option but to stay invested till the lock-in period of 3 years. Unlike other Tax Saving Tools, Mutual Fund Equity Linked does not allow you prematural withdrawal. In a way, this is good as Equities tend to deliver better returns over longer periods of time.
Consider stopping your existing SIP in Franklin and starting a SIP in Sundaram Tax Saver which has been a very consistent performer.
To invest in your wife's name, I would have been happy if you have given your goal, term for the investment. If you wife does not have any Insurance and is under insured, start with investment in DWS Tax Saving Fund (offers Free Life Insurance 5 times your investment amount) or Birla Sunlife Tax Relief 96 (which too offers Free Life Insurance)

For details on the above schemes/offers, you visit my site http://goodfundsadvisor.blogspot.com

If Insurance is not an issue, but Returns are, then you should consider investing in Fidelity Tax Advantage Fund or Principal Personal Tax Saver or Sundaram Tax Saver Fund among others.
Best of luck,
Srikanth Shankar Matrubai,
Bangalore

Visit http://goodfundsadvisor.blogspot.com for Mutual funds
visit http://equityadvise.blogspot.com for Stocks and Shares

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Best Tax Saving Instruments

This letter by me was published in Financial chronicle on January 27, 2009
Tax-saving tools ¦

DHIRENDRA Kumar’s article Here’s why you should invest in tax-saving mutual funds made very interesting reading.
People tend to ignore investing in tax schemes until the last minute and then rush in to invest in whatever instruments they can without analysing the pros and cons. Equities are the best avenue to invest your hard earned money.
ELSS not only saves taxes but also give consistent returns. The icing on the cake is the very short lockin period of only three years. The biggest advantage of investing in ELSS is that mutual funds are that rare investment avenue, where not only your investment but also your returns as well as principal are all exempted from tax.

Srikanth Matrubai Bangalore


Visit http://goodfundsadvisor.blogspot.com for Mutual funds
visit http://equityadvise.blogspot.com for Stocks and Shares

Thursday, January 15, 2009

SHORT TERM TAX DOUBTS CLARIFIED

Sir,
I am aware that short term capital gains can be booked against short term capital losses. And similar action can be taken for long term capital gains and losses. I will take the liberty of putting some issues in question form, so as to be clear.
1. Is there no difference between gains/losses from debt funds and equity for the said booking of gains/losses?
2.All Short Term If I have capital loss of 2 lakh from sale of one particular stock and capital loss of 1 lakh from sale of another stock, and capital gain of 50 thousand from redemption of debt mf, is it right to carry fwd loss of 2.5 lakh.
3. All Long Term If I have capital gain of one lakh from one stock, capital loss of fifty thousand another stock, and capital of sixty thousand from debt fund, what will be the tax treatment?
4. Is Equity Arbitrage Fund to be treated just like equity for tax treatment? My doubt arose because there is no STT being charged for equity arbitrage fund.
5. Is Gold ETF to be treated just like a debt fund, for the purpose of tax on capital gains.



REPLY :

answer for ur queries 1 by 1.

First of all Plz. note in case of Eq. MFs as well as Eq., as the LTCGs r tax free, hence u can`t claim LTCL also from Eq. funds/Eq. to sat off against ur LTCG from other capital assets (debt funds, physical gold, property etc.)

1. STCL from Debt as well as Eq. funds can be set off against STCG as well as LTCG from debt funds, physical Gold, property & STCG (only) from Eq. funds.

LTCL of debt funds can be set off against LTCG of Debt funds, Physical gold & property.

2. Yes u r right, ur total STCL is 2+1=3L Rs. out of which 50K STCG `ll be sat off. Hence the final STCL for carry over `ll be 2.5L Rs. only

3. As i already stated, for Eq. funds & Eq. LTCG r tax free hence LTCL r also not available for sat off. So in this case, u can carry over ur LTCL from Debt funds of 60K (incidently u forget to posted- is it a loss or a gain, i assumed it as a loss).

4. Yes Eq. Arb. funds r to be treated as Eq. Funds for tax treatment. Plz. clarify from ur invested Eq. Arb. fund why they r not charging STT?

4. Yes GOLD ETFs r to be treated on par with other debt funds.


Visit http://goodfundsadvisor.blogspot.com for Mutual funds
visit http://equityadvise.blogspot.com for Stocks and Shares