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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10925 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 20, 2024

Ramalingam Kalirajan has over 23 years of experience in mutual funds and financial planning.
He has an MBA in finance from the University of Madras and is a certified financial planner.
He is the director and chief financial planner at Holistic Investment, a Chennai-based firm that offers financial planning and wealth management advice.... more
Asked by Anonymous - May 14, 2024Hindi
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Hi I am 28 yrs and investing in ppf 150000, nps 150000, lic jeevan anand 53000 per annum. In addition to i have hdfc bal. Adv. Fund Rs. 800000, sundaram aggressive hybrid fund 200000 and a sip of Rs. 5000/-. Should I increase my SIP or should I increase my annual NPS?

Ans: Analyzing Your Current Investments and Future Strategy
Overview of Your Investments
Your disciplined approach to investing at the age of 28 is impressive. Your current investments include:

Public Provident Fund (PPF): ?1,50,000 per annum
National Pension System (NPS): ?1,50,000 per annum
LIC Jeevan Anand: ?53,000 per annum
HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund: ?8,00,000 (lump sum)
Sundaram Aggressive Hybrid Fund: ?2,00,000 (lump sum)
SIP: ?5,000 per month
Compliments on Your Financial Discipline
Your commitment to a mix of retirement savings, insurance, and mutual funds shows strong financial planning. Investing early will help you build a significant corpus over time.

Evaluating Your Current Portfolio
PPF:

PPF is a safe and tax-efficient investment with guaranteed returns.
It offers good long-term returns but lacks liquidity.
NPS:

NPS provides market-linked returns and additional tax benefits.
It is an excellent choice for retirement planning with a mix of equity and debt exposure.
LIC Jeevan Anand:

This policy offers insurance coverage and savings benefits.
However, returns are generally lower compared to other investment options.
HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund:

Balanced Advantage Funds dynamically allocate between equity and debt.
They provide balanced risk and return, suitable for medium to long-term goals.
Sundaram Aggressive Hybrid Fund:

Aggressive hybrid funds invest predominantly in equity and the rest in debt.
They offer higher returns with moderate risk.
SIP of ?5,000:

Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) in mutual funds are great for rupee cost averaging.
Regular investments help in building wealth over time.
Recommendations for Enhancing Your Portfolio
Increase SIP Investments:

SIPs offer the benefit of regular investing and compounding.
Increasing your SIP amount can significantly boost your long-term corpus.
Consider increasing your SIP by ?5,000 or more if your financial situation allows.
NPS Contributions:

Increasing NPS contributions enhances your retirement corpus with tax benefits.
However, it has limited liquidity and is locked until retirement.
Balanced Allocation:

Ensure a balanced allocation between equity and debt to manage risk.
Higher equity exposure is suitable given your young age and long investment horizon.
Review Insurance Policies:

Evaluate if your LIC Jeevan Anand policy meets your insurance needs.
Consider term insurance for higher coverage at lower costs, and invest the savings in higher return instruments.
Diversification:

Diversify your mutual fund investments across different fund categories.
Consider adding large-cap and mid-cap funds to spread risk and capture growth.
Regular Portfolio Review:

Periodically review and rebalance your portfolio based on market conditions and goals.
This ensures your investments remain aligned with your financial objectives.
Action Plan
Increase SIP Amount:

Boost your SIP in mutual funds to enhance long-term growth.
Start with an additional ?5,000 per month and increase gradually as your income grows.
Maintain NPS Contributions:

Continue with current NPS contributions for retirement planning.
Consider increasing contributions annually if you can afford it.
Review LIC Policy:

Assess the returns and benefits of your LIC policy.
If it’s not meeting your needs, consider switching to term insurance and reinvesting the difference.
Diversify Mutual Funds:

Add funds with different risk profiles to your portfolio.
This can help balance risk and reward.
Conclusion
You have a strong foundation with diversified investments and disciplined savings. Increasing your SIPs, balancing your portfolio, and regularly reviewing your investments will help you achieve your financial goals. Your proactive approach at a young age will ensure significant wealth creation over time.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.
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Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10925 Answers  |Ask -

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Hello Hardik, Iam 40 Years and have started investing in SIP for the past 6 months.Below are my monthly investment 1. Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Regular Growth - 3500 2. Canara Robeco Small Cap Fund Growth - 3000 3. HDFC Retirement Savings Fund Equity Growth - 3000 4. NPS - 3500 I am planning for 18 Years of investment and aiming to slowly increase the SIP to achieve corpus of 2.5-3.0 Cr. Kindly review and advice. Regards, Ram
Ans: Hi Ram,

It's great to see that you've started investing systematically towards your long-term financial goals. Here's a review of your current SIP investments:

Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Regular Growth: This fund follows a diversified approach across various market caps and geographical regions, which can provide stability to your portfolio. It's suitable for long-term wealth creation.
Canara Robeco Small Cap Fund Growth: Small-cap funds can be volatile in the short term but have the potential to offer high returns over the long term. Ensure you're comfortable with the risk associated with small-cap investments.
HDFC Retirement Savings Fund Equity Growth: This fund is designed to provide wealth accumulation for retirement. It's aligned with your long-term investment horizon and retirement goal.
NPS: The National Pension System (NPS) is a retirement-focused investment option offering tax benefits. It's prudent to contribute to NPS alongside other investments for retirement planning.
To achieve your target corpus of 2.5-3.0 Cr over 18 years, consider periodically reviewing your SIP contributions and adjusting them based on changes in your income, expenses, and market conditions. Additionally, diversify across asset classes to manage risk effectively.

As your financial goals evolve, consider consulting with a Certified Financial Planner to ensure your investment strategy remains aligned with your objectives.

..Read more

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Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10925 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 02, 2024

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Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10925 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 25, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - May 24, 2024Hindi
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Hi I am 25 year old and have started investing in SIPs for the first time since last hear. I do 1. HDFC Index Fund Nifty 50 -5,500 2. MIRAE Asset Midcap fund - 3500 3. Axis small cap - 2500 4. JM Flexicap - (one time investment) - 20,000 5. Aditya Birla Sun Life PSU equity - (one time) - 6000 6. Quant Mid cap - 3,500 7. Quant Infrastructure- 1,000 8. ICICI Prudential retirement - 1000 9. QUANT ELSS - 1,000 10. Parag Pareikh - 1000 11. Nippon India - 1000 12. SBI PSU - 1000 Overall my monthly SIP goes around 25,000-30,000 and my plan is to retire at the age of 50 with 5 Crore. XIRR - 27.33% Please suggest if i need to make any changes
Ans: It's impressive to see a 25-year-old like you investing diligently in SIPs. Your commitment to securing your financial future early is commendable. Let's evaluate your portfolio and see if any changes are necessary to help you achieve your goal of Rs 5 crore by the age of 50.

Diversification and Allocation
You have a diverse portfolio with investments across different categories:

Large-cap Index Fund

Mid-cap Funds

Small-cap Fund

Flexi-cap Fund

Sector Funds (PSU, Infrastructure)

Retirement Fund

ELSS Fund

This diversification helps spread risk and capture growth from various market segments.

Disadvantages of Index Funds
Index funds, like your HDFC Index Fund Nifty 50, track the market and offer average returns. They cannot outperform the market. Actively managed funds, managed by experts, aim to beat the market, offering potential for higher returns. Given your long investment horizon, actively managed funds could be more beneficial.

Benefits of Actively Managed Funds
Actively managed funds are overseen by professional managers who make strategic decisions to outperform the market. These funds can provide better returns, especially in volatile markets. With the right selection, actively managed funds can significantly enhance your portfolio's performance.

Disadvantages of Direct Funds
Direct funds have lower costs but lack professional guidance. Investing through a Mutual Fund Distributor (MFD) with a CFP credential ensures you receive expert advice. This professional support helps in making informed decisions and aligning investments with your financial goals.

Assessing Your Sector Funds
Your investments in sector funds like Quant Infrastructure and SBI PSU can offer high returns but also come with high risk. Sector funds are dependent on the performance of specific sectors. Diversifying too much into sector funds can increase risk. Consider limiting exposure to sector funds to balance your portfolio.

Importance of Reviewing Portfolio
Regularly reviewing your portfolio is essential to ensure it aligns with your financial goals. Market conditions and personal circumstances change over time. A periodic review helps in rebalancing your portfolio and maintaining the desired risk-return profile.

Evaluating Long-Term Goals
Your goal of Rs 5 crore by the age of 50 is ambitious but achievable with a disciplined approach. Considering the power of compounding and historical market returns, maintaining a consistent investment strategy will be key to reaching your target.

Projecting Future Returns
While exact future returns are unpredictable, a diversified portfolio with a mix of actively managed funds and strategic investments can provide good growth. Historically, equity mutual funds have delivered around 12-15% annual returns. Adjusting your portfolio to optimize for this growth can help achieve your long-term goal.

Suggestions for Improvement
Increase Allocation to Actively Managed Funds: Shift some investments from index funds to actively managed funds to potentially achieve higher returns.

Reduce Sector Fund Exposure: Limit investments in sector-specific funds to manage risk better.

Regular Reviews and Rebalancing: Periodically review and rebalance your portfolio to ensure it remains aligned with your goals and market conditions.

Conclusion
Your current investment strategy is strong and diversified, setting a solid foundation for future growth. With some adjustments to focus more on actively managed funds and regular portfolio reviews, you can enhance your chances of achieving your Rs 5 crore goal by the age of 50. Consulting with a Certified Financial Planner can provide tailored advice to optimize your investment strategy.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |238 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 15, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 08, 2025Hindi
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I have monthly SIPs in following funds and investing since 2019 with increasing in SIP amount and presently SIPs are as under. SBI Small Cap: 8000 (XIRR: 20.12%). SBI Focussed Equity: 5000 ( XIRR: 17.36). SBI Large and Mid Cap: 3000 (XIRR: 17.45) SBI Contra Fund: 4000 (XIRR: 20.46) SBI ELSS Tax saver: 3000 ( XIRR: 20.50) ICICI Large Cap: 3000 ( XIRR: 19.34) Parag Parikh Flexi: 3000 ( XIRR: 18.56) Motilal Oswal Mid Cap: 3000 ( XIRR: 21.20) I am getting good returns from these funds. When I am having some additional funds I also do lumpsum. Total Present Corpus: 55 lacs. I want to continue the SIPs for next 10 years. Please inform if I should continue SIPs in these funds or should change some funds. My Average NAVs in all these funds is almost half of present NAV and I think it is helping me accumulating good wealth.
Ans: Dear sir ,
Your MF journey is already on a strong track. You started in 2019, stayed disciplined, and today you sit on ?55 lakh corpus with XIRRs in the range of 17–21% — far ahead of index average. This shows your strategy is working.

But here’s the deeper truth:

Too many funds from one AMC (SBI). It creates stock overlap. Diversify across fund houses.

Too many categories (contra, focused, mid, small, ELSS, flexi). This looks good when market is rising, but in a fall, the downside will be heavy. Better to consolidate into 5–6 high-quality funds.

Your average NAVs are half of current NAVs — that is the power of staying invested long-term. Don’t break the compounding machine.

My Straight Suggestion:

Keep SBI Small Cap, ICICI Large Cap, PPFAS Flexi, Motilal Mid Cap.

Keep one tax saver ELSS.

Choose either Contra OR Focused, not both.

Slowly, after corpus crosses ?1 Cr, shift 10–15% into debt/hybrid for safety.
If you continue ?32k SIP for next 10 years, you are staring at ?1.2–1.5 Cr corpus depending on markets. That’s wealth creation.

Rule: Don’t run after new funds, don’t panic in corrections. Let compounding do its job.

Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
https://members.networkfp.com/member/naveenkumarreddy-vadula-chennai

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Reetika

Reetika Sharma  |459 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF and Insurance Expert - Answered on Dec 24, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 22, 2025Hindi
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I am 34 years old, married, with no children yet, but we plan to start a family by the end of 2026. Our monthly household take-home income is 4.4 lakh. We have cumulative EMIs of 1.50 lakhs per month: (1) Home Loan (1 Cr Outstanding, 9 years left): 1.1 lacs per month, (2) Car Loan (8 lacs outstanding 4 years left): 25k per month (3) Personal Loan (4 years left) - 15k per month. Our investments include 50 lakh in stocks and mutual funds, and 30 lakh in PF. I have a term plan with cover till age 85, costing additional 1.3 lakh per year in premium for next 7 years. Me and my wife are covered by our employer for medical insurance, and our parents will also have PSU pension and medical cover after retirement. We spend around 1.2 lakh per month on household expenses in Gurgaon. We invest 1 lakh monthly having 20-90 split in stocks and MFs and keep 2 lakh in an emergency savings account. My long-term goal is to pay off all loans, build a financial buffer to move back to my hometown a tier 2 city and do remote work from there - this might reduce our househol income by 30-40%. Given these details, how should I plan our investments to achieve the goals and how many years are we looking to achieve this?
Ans: Hi,

You have done great investments at such age. Let us go through the details one by one:
1. You have a term cover and health insurance for yourself as well as family.
2. You should have emergency fund of 6 months' worth expenses in liquid mutual funds for uncertain times, 2 lakhs is way too less.
3. Currently 3 loans - Home, Car and Personal. All loans will be finished in 9 and 4 years respectively(total EMI - 1.5 lakhs). Overall loans are high. Try to close PErsonal loand first followed by car loan to reduce the EMI burden.
4. 50 lakhs current holdings in stocks and mutual funds.
5. 30 lakhs in PF.
6. 1.4 lakh monthly expenses.
7. Current SIP - 1 lakh permonth in stocks and mutual funds.

You have build a great wealth for yourself at your age. You are also planning to start a family. Keep your invesments like this with consistency and you will finish loans and be able to move to your home as well.

Although direct stock investment needs loads of time and research - hence not recommended. It is advisable for you to keep your investments limited to mutual funds only. And it would be great to take a professional's help as even a slightest mistake can break or make your wealth.

Before relocating after few years, try to maximize your investments at the maximum potential and let compounding do its magic. Try to invest more than 1 lakh per month in mutual funds for a secured future.

Doing and managing investments along with your job is not recommended. It is always better to go for professional advice when it comes to money.

You can connect with a professional Certified Financial Planner - a CFP who can guide you with exact funds to invest in keeping in mind your age, requirements, financial goals and risk profile. A CFP periodically reviews your portfolio and suggest any amendments to be made, if required.

Let me know if you need more help.

Best Regards,
Reetika Sharma, Certified Financial Planner
https://www.instagram.com/cfpreetika/

...Read more

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Reetika Sharma  |459 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF and Insurance Expert - Answered on Dec 24, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 16, 2025Hindi
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Hello Advait sir, I am 48 year having privet Job. I have started investment from 2017, current value of investment is 82L and having monthly 50K SIP as below. My goal to have 2.5Cr corpus at the age of 58. Please advice... 1. Nippon India small cap -Growth Rs 5,000 2. Sundaram Mid Cap fund Regular plan-Growth Rs 5,000 3. ICICI Prudential Small Cap- Growth Rs 10,000 4. ICICI Prudential Large Cap fund-Growth Rs 5,000 5. ICICI Prudential Balanced Adv. fund-Growth Rs 5,000 6. DSP Small Cap fund Regular Growth Rs 5,000 7. Nippn India Pharma Fund- Growth Rs 5,000 8. SBI focused Fund Regular plan- Growth Rs 5,000 9. SBI Dynamic Asset Allocation Active FoF-Regular-Growth Rs 5,000
Ans: Hi,

It is great that you are investing since 2017. Long investments and patience always gives results.
You can easily achieve your goal corpus by the time you turn 58, if investment done correctly.

The funds you mentioned have so much overlapping and scattered. It needs rework and complete reallocation. Maximum of 5 funds should be there. Take the help of a professional to align your portfolio with your goal and customized profile.

A random portfolio like yours can create an opposite impact and generate negative to zero returns.

And try to increase the monthly SIP by 10% each year. This will take care of inflation power.

Hence do consult a professional Certified Financial Planner - a CFP who can guide you with exact funds to invest in keeping in mind your age, requirements, financial goals and risk profile. A CFP periodically reviews your portfolio and suggest any amendments to be made, if required.

Let me know if you need more help.

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Reetika Sharma  |459 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF and Insurance Expert - Answered on Dec 24, 2025

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Hello and namaskar.. I am 36 years old. Need your guidance in the following funds- (a) parag parekh flexi cap - 7500/- per month (B) GROWW nifty midcap 150 index fund -2500/- per month (C) mirae asset ELLS tax saver -5000/- (D) pGIM india mid cap opp. Fund -5000/- (E) quant small cap fund-4000/- (F) ICICI prudential equity and debt fund - 3000 (G) HDFC FLEXI CAP FUND - 4000 (H) Uti nifty 50 index fund - 5000 Additionally I want to invest 1lakh annually. Tell me where to invest this additional amount. These funds are ok or I should exit from any fund and invest in any other fund. I want to get 2 crore till the end of 2035. Am I going on the right track.
Ans: Hi Rajesh,

Appreciate your dedication in investing in mutual funds for long term. The funds selected by you are very random and not recommended for your goal. Overall investments are also not in alignment, this portfolio is a very random one.
Currently you are investing 36000 per month - keep your investments simple in largecap, midcap, smallcap and mutlicap fund. Keep additional 1 lakh as well in these funds.

You should consider exiting funds like quant and shift to more stable ones.

Your current funds are direct, but direct funds are over-rated. A random portfolio like this can instead give less returns than a professionally designed one. It is always better to go for a regular portfolio suggested by a professional. Proper funds with a designed dedicated plan will help you reach your goal of 2 crores in 10 years in an efficient way.

Hence do consult a professional Certified Financial Planner - a CFP who can guide you with exact funds to invest in keeping in mind your age, requirements, financial goals and risk profile. A CFP periodically reviews your portfolio and suggest any amendments to be made, if required.

Let me know if you need more help.

Best Regards,
Reetika Sharma, Certified Financial Planner
https://www.instagram.com/cfpreetika/

...Read more

Reetika

Reetika Sharma  |459 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF and Insurance Expert - Answered on Dec 24, 2025

Money
I am 62 years old and I forgot to apply for a monthly pension from EPFO, even though I worked for my previous company for 13 years. I am currently working for another company, but when I try to apply online, I don't see Form 10D; only Form 31 is showing, even though I have left my previous company. pls confirm me what is a issue.
Ans: Hi,

The issue is that you are still employed and online application for monthly pension i.e. Form 10D is available only after you have left service and updated your date of exit on the EPFO portal.
But as you are currently active with a new employer, the system only permits Form 31 for partial withdrawals.

Since you meet the requirements for a superannuation pension (age 62 with 13 years of service), please follow these steps to proceed:

1. Verify Your Service History - Check the "Service History" section of your UAN portal. Ensure your previous employer has officially updated your Date of Exit. The online system cannot process a pension claim without this status update.
2. Use the Offline Application Method - If the online portal remains restricted or encounters technical errors, you must submit a physical application.
* Download Form 10D: Obtain the hard copy from the official EPFO website.
* Employer Attestation: Complete the form and have it signed by your previous employer.
* Alternative Attestation: If your previous employer is unavailable or the company has closed, you may have the form attested by a Gazetted Officer, a Magistrate, or your Bank Manager.
3. Submission Details - Submit the signed form to your regional EPFO office along with the following:
* Three passport-sized photographs.
* A cancelled cheque (for the account where you wish to receive the pension).
* Valid proof of age.

For real-time status updates or specific account queries, you can reach the **EPFO helpline at 14470.

Let me know if you need more help.

Best Regards,
Reetika Sharma, Certified Financial Planner
https://www.instagram.com/cfpreetika/

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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