Starting a new chapter after a significant life event like divorce and re-marriage can bring both excitement and financial challenges. Many find themselves in a situation similar to our reader, a 42-year-old individual navigating a new family structure with a child, a monthly expense of ₹25,000 for their child, and a total income of ₹78,000 per month. Living in a paternal home means no rent, but significant past savings were used for divorce settlements. With current savings in an FD (₹12 lakh) and shares (approx. ₹11 lakh), the desire to start afresh with SIPs is strong. The goal is to receive portfolio advice with a moderate risk appetite, given 18 years until normal retirement. This new section aims to address such financial dilemmas, offering expert advice and crucial solutions to the public’s finance-related problems. Surajit Das, CEO of Vivek Financial Services, is our first guest expert, ready to shed light on these complex financial situations and provide actionable insights.

Just like a house needs a strong foundation (base structure) to support a grand superstructure (the part above ground), good financial planning also follows this principle. Here, the “superstructure” is your wealth creation plan (investment plan), and the “base structure” is your wealth protection plan (insurance plan). It’s challenging to create a solid investment plan without a proper insurance plan, which includes adequate term life insurance and health insurance. Our reader, unfortunately, did not provide details about their wealth protection plan or specific investment goals, such as when the funds would be needed. Assuming appropriate insurance plans are in place and the investment is for a long-term goal 18 years from now, Mr. Das suggests investing the remaining income after monthly expenses into a moderate risk profile model portfolio. This portfolio could consist of 20% large cap, 20% large & midcap, 20% flexicap, 20% aggressive hybrid, and 20% multi-asset funds. This diversified approach is expected to help the individual achieve their long-term financial goals effectively.