Financial experts recommend a diversified approach for investing ₹10 lakh for a 5-year-old daughter, emphasizing that the corpus should be treated as a portfolio rather than parked in a single product. According to reports from Mint, with approximately 13-15 years before she graduates, parents have ample time to plan for her future studies and marriage. The strategy requires strategic thinking, professional guidance, and purposeful structure to build long-term wealth for her education and future.
Rishi Mathur, Chief Distribution Officer-Alternate Channels and Chief Marketing Officer at Canara HSBC Life Insurance, explained that the first layer should protect parents' earning power through adequate term insurance. The remaining corpus should balance market-linked growth with guaranteed, long-term savings aligned to milestones such as higher education. Nikunj Saraf, CEO of Choice Wealth, suggested deploying 65-70% of the ₹10 lakh into diversified equity and index funds through systematic transfer plans (STP), while routing ₹1.5 lakh annually into Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana offering tax-free 8.2% returns.
According to Mint reports, Kapil Makhija, COO at MinEMI, provided concrete projections showing different asset classes' performance potential. A fixed deposit at 7% would grow to approximately ₹39 lakh, while gold at 9% could reach ₹56 lakh. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana at 8.2% would generate roughly ₹48 lakh, though deposits are capped at ₹1.5 lakh annually. Equity mutual funds at 12% could potentially grow to ₹96 lakh. Makhija emphasized keeping one slice in assets that provide regular income along with capital appreciation.
Adhil Shetty, CEO of BankBazaar, suggested a structured 70:30 asset split: ₹7 lakh in diversified equity mutual funds for strong compound growth over fifteen years, and ₹3 lakh in government-backed girl child savings schemes for guaranteed, tax-free safety. As reported by Mint, this balanced approach combines high-return potential with absolute capital security for the child's future education. The core theme across all expert views emphasizes equity investments for growth, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana investments for safety, and term insurance protection for parents to holistically secure the child's future.
