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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 11, 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 10, 2024Hindi
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Hi sir, I am 29 year old, IT professional. My in-hand salary is around 3.2 lakhs per month. I invest around 1.7L through SIP in mutual funds (large cap, mid cap and 20k per month in small cap). My mutual fund corpus is at 33L. I also have foreign stocks of 2 Crores in a single company. My monthly expenses include, EMI for an apartment of 35k, and a top up loan EMI on that for 19k, and rest 30k for other expenses. Totally, I have 60L in home loan. I'm currently married and living in that apartment. I also have another land worth 1.2 Crore (I used the top up loan here). Apart from all these, I have an emergency fund of 6L. I want to retire by having a corpus of 10 Crore. How do you recommend I go about doing that? And at what age can i retire by? Do you any suggestions on my portfolio?

Ans: It's impressive to see your dedication to financial planning at such a young age. Let's assess your current situation and chart a path towards your retirement goal.

Firstly, congratulations on building a substantial mutual fund corpus and investing in foreign stocks. Diversification is key to managing risk, and your investments reflect a balanced approach towards wealth creation.

Considering your monthly expenses and liabilities, including EMIs for your apartment and land, it's essential to ensure that your investment strategy aligns with your long-term financial goals.

To retire with a corpus of 10 Crore, we'll need to calculate the required monthly savings and investment returns. Based on your current investments and expenses, we can estimate a suitable savings target to achieve your retirement goal.

Given your age and income level, you have a significant advantage in accumulating wealth over time. By continuing to invest diligently and maximizing your savings, you can accelerate the growth of your investment portfolio.

As a Certified Financial Planner, I recommend reviewing your investment portfolio periodically to ensure it remains aligned with your risk tolerance and financial objectives. Consider diversifying your investments further to mitigate risk and optimize returns.

Moreover, explore options for tax-efficient investments like Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) and National Pension System (NPS) to enhance your savings potential and tax benefits.

Retirement planning is a long-term journey, and the age at which you can retire will depend on various factors, including your desired lifestyle, investment returns, and inflation rates. By working closely with a Certified Financial Planner, you can develop a personalized retirement plan and track your progress towards your goal.

In conclusion, with disciplined saving, prudent investing, and expert guidance, you can retire comfortably and achieve financial independence at a relatively young age.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
Asked on - May 12, 2024 | Answered on May 12, 2024
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Hi sir, Thank you for detailed reply. Would you recommend me to close out the loan or ilet it stay invested in either the foreign RSU stock or in Mutual Funds? Currently I'm paying around 8.5% interest on my loan of 60L. Also do you recommend a financial planner/advisor for me?
Ans: onsidering your situation, it's vital to weigh the options thoughtfully. Your loan bears a substantial interest rate of 8.5%, a considerable expense.

One option is to close out the loan using your investments. This would eliminate the debt burden, freeing up your finances for other purposes. However, it's essential to assess the potential returns on your investments against the interest you're paying on the loan.

Alternatively, you could retain your investments and continue servicing the loan. This strategy hinges on the performance of your investments outpacing the loan interest rate. It's a calculated risk that demands a thorough evaluation of your investment portfolio and its potential growth.

For a CFP, you can reach out to us using the below website.

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

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 19, 2024

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Hello Team, I am 39 yrs old and currently have 40 lakhs in mutual fund and doing a SIP of 1lakh 10 k monthly, i have shares around 15 lakhs and around 22 lakhs in crypto and 14 lakhs in PF. Currently i have 13 lakhs home loan, 4.5 lakhs car loan and also bought a new house where 1.9 cr loan will be taken. My plan is to sell the current house which will fetch me 1 cr so ideally 90 lakhs loan will remain in future. Please advise me how can i retire at 45 with corpus of 5 to 6 cr.
Ans: Frst, congratulations on building a substantial investment portfolio and planning for your financial future. Managing diverse investments and loans can be challenging, but with strategic planning, your goals are achievable.

Current Assets and Liabilities
Let's summarise your financial standing:

Mutual Funds: ?40 lakhs
SIPs: ?1.10 lakhs monthly
Shares: ?15 lakhs
Cryptocurrency: ?22 lakhs
Provident Fund (PF): ?14 lakhs
Home Loan (Existing): ?13 lakhs
Car Loan: ?4.5 lakhs
New Home Loan: ?1.9 crores (expected to reduce to ?90 lakhs after selling the current house)
Evaluating Your Retirement Goal
You aim to retire at 45 with a corpus of ?5 to ?6 crores. Given your current age of 39, you have six years to build this corpus.

Managing Existing Loans
Current Home Loan
You plan to sell your current house for ?1 crore, which will help reduce your new home loan to ?90 lakhs. This is a sound strategy to lower your debt.

Car Loan
The car loan of ?4.5 lakhs is relatively small. Consider paying it off early if possible, as this will reduce your monthly outflows and save on interest.

Investment Strategy
Mutual Funds and SIPs
You have ?40 lakhs in mutual funds and a monthly SIP of ?1.10 lakhs. This disciplined approach will significantly contribute to your retirement corpus.

Continue Your SIPs: Maintaining your SIPs is crucial. Consider increasing the SIP amount if your income allows, as this will accelerate your corpus growth.

Actively Managed Funds: Focus on actively managed funds with a consistent performance record. These funds aim to outperform the market and can help achieve your target returns.

Equity Investments
You have ?15 lakhs in shares. Equities can provide high returns over the long term, but they are volatile.

Diversification: Ensure your equity portfolio is diversified across sectors to manage risk.

Regular Review: Monitor your equity investments and rebalance your portfolio as needed to align with market conditions.

Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency investments worth ?22 lakhs are high-risk. While they can offer substantial returns, the volatility is significant.

Limit Exposure: Consider limiting your exposure to cryptocurrencies to avoid excessive risk.

Reallocate Gains: If there are substantial gains, consider reallocating some of these funds to more stable investments.

Retirement Corpus Calculation
Estimating Required Returns
To achieve a corpus of ?5 to ?6 crores in six years, you need to focus on high-growth investments while managing risks.

Compound Growth
Your existing investments and monthly SIPs will grow significantly due to compounding. Here’s a simplified approach:

Mutual Funds and SIPs: With aggressive and balanced mutual funds, aim for an annualised return of 12-15%.

Equities and Crypto: While high-risk, these can offer returns above 15%, but exposure should be managed carefully.

Debt Management
Reducing Loan Burden
Pay Off Small Loans: Clear the car loan and any other small debts to reduce financial stress.

New Home Loan: Focus on prepaying the new home loan. Reducing this loan early will significantly lower your interest burden and increase disposable income for investments.

Professional Guidance
Consulting a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) can help tailor your investment strategy. A CFP can provide personalised advice, monitor your portfolio, and make necessary adjustments.

Regular Monitoring and Rebalancing
Review Portfolio: Regularly review your investment portfolio to ensure alignment with your retirement goals.

Rebalance Investments: Periodically rebalance your investments to manage risk and optimise returns.

Conclusion
With disciplined investing, strategic debt management, and professional guidance, retiring at 45 with a corpus of ?5 to ?6 crores is achievable. Focus on high-growth investments, manage risks, and regularly review your portfolio to stay on track.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 09, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 08, 2024Hindi
Money
My Current age in 2024 is 36 Years old. Currently I'm earning 90000 ruppes in hand salary monthly and I'm having 1 Kid of 5 Years old and we 3 Live in rented house. I'm also earning averagely 50000 rupees per month from trading and all those income investing it into 5 Small caps Mutual funds as SIP. No plan to buy house till retirement, I'll buy house after my retirement. Salary Income 90000 - All Finish. Trading Income 50000 - Invested all SIP. Now could you please suggest me how to achieve retirement corpus of 25 Crore at age of 60. My Monthly Expenses: (All 90000 Finish every month). 13500 Per month rent lifetime with increase in 10% Per year. 32500 per month Fixed - Personal Loan for next 5.5 Years. 7500 per month Fixed - Car loan for dad for next 5 Years. 12500 per month fixed - Car Loan for self for next 2.5 Years. 24000 for household expenditure for lifetime with increase in 2-3K monthly each year. My Total Assets: Mutual Fund : 14 Lakhs ETF : 13 lakhs Gold : 22 Lakhs EPF + Pension : 2.5 Lakhs FD : 1.25 Lakhs Saving : 2 Lakhs Trading Lumsum : 5 Lakhs
Ans: At 36 years, you have 24 years until your planned retirement at 60.

Your primary income is Rs. 90,000 per month, with an additional Rs. 50,000 from trading.

All salary income is used for living expenses, loans, and household costs.

Your assets include mutual funds (Rs. 14 lakhs), ETFs (Rs. 13 lakhs), gold (Rs. 22 lakhs), EPF (Rs. 2.5 lakhs), FD (Rs. 1.25 lakhs), and savings (Rs. 2 lakhs).

You aim to accumulate Rs. 25 crores for retirement, requiring focused financial planning.

Detailed Analysis of Monthly Commitments

Rent Expense

Rs. 13,500 per month, increasing by 10% annually.
Rent will grow significantly over 24 years, impacting savings potential.
Loan Repayments

Rs. 32,500 for personal loan (5.5 years).
Rs. 7,500 for car loan (5 years for your father).
Rs. 12,500 for car loan (2.5 years for yourself).
Loans will limit savings until they are fully repaid.
Household Expenditures

Current spending is Rs. 24,000 monthly.
Incremental increases will challenge future budgeting.
Investment Goals and Challenges

You aim to create a retirement corpus of Rs. 25 crores by age 60.
Current savings and investments may not suffice without significant growth.
Loan repayments and rising expenses reduce surplus cash flow.
Recommendations to Build a Rs. 25 Crore Corpus

Increase Monthly SIP Contributions

Allocate Rs. 40,000 from trading income to SIPs once loans are cleared.

Focus on equity funds with diversified large-cap, mid-cap, and flexi-cap exposure.

Small-cap funds are good for high growth but add large-cap funds for stability.

Use actively managed funds for better performance over index funds.

Optimise Your Debt Management

Focus on prepaying high-cost personal and car loans with trading profits.

Clearing loans faster will free up Rs. 52,500 monthly for investments.

Avoid unnecessary new loans until existing liabilities are cleared.

Invest Trading Profits Strategically

Allocate Rs. 10-15 lakhs from trading profits to high-growth equity funds.

Use the remaining trading income to gradually prepay loans.

Build a disciplined strategy for trading profits to avoid overexposure to risk.

Gold as a Portfolio Hedge

Retain gold holdings (Rs. 22 lakhs) as a hedge against inflation.
Do not increase gold allocation; focus on equity for higher returns.
Enhance EPF Contributions

Ensure regular EPF contributions continue from your salary.
EPF provides stable and tax-free growth for retirement.
Create an Emergency Fund

Keep Rs. 3-6 months of expenses in liquid funds or savings for emergencies.
Use part of your Rs. 1.25 lakhs in FD and Rs. 2 lakhs in savings for this purpose.
Achieving the Rs. 25 Crore Corpus

Leverage Compounding Benefits

Compounding requires time and consistent investments.
With 24 years, equity funds can generate substantial long-term returns.
Asset Allocation Strategy

Invest 70% in equity funds for high growth.
Allocate 20% to debt mutual funds for stability.
Retain 10% in gold and EPF for inflation protection.
Use Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs)

SIPs ensure disciplined investing, regardless of market fluctuations.
Gradually increase SIP amounts as loans are repaid and income rises.
Tax Efficiency in Investments

Invest in tax-saving ELSS funds within the Rs. 1.5 lakh Section 80C limit.
Plan redemptions from equity and debt funds to minimise capital gains tax.
Final Insights

Focus on prepaying loans and increasing SIP contributions after loan closures.
Diversify investments across equity, debt, and gold for long-term stability.
Use trading income and surplus cash flow strategically for prepayments and investments.
Review your portfolio annually with a Certified Financial Planner for alignment.
By following these steps, achieving a Rs. 25 crore corpus by 60 is feasible.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

..Read more

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10854 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Dec 14, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025Hindi
Career
Hello, I am currently in Class 12 and preparing for JEE. I have not yet completed even 50% of the syllabus properly, but I aim to score around '110' marks. Could you suggest an effective strategy to achieve this? I know the target is relatively low, but I have category reservation, so it should be sufficient.
Ans: With category reservation (SC/ST/OBC), a score of 110 marks is absolutely achievable and realistic. Based on 2025 data, SC candidates qualified with approximately 60-65 percentile, and ST candidates with 45-55 percentile. Your target requires scoring just 37-40% marks, which is significantly lower than general category standards. This gives you a genuine advantage. Immediate Action Plan (December 2025 - January 2026): 4-5 Weeks. Week 1-2: High-Weightage Chapter Focus. Stop trying to complete the entire syllabus. Instead, focus exclusively on high-scoring chapters that carry maximum weightage: Physics (Modern Physics, Current Electricity, Work-Power-Energy, Rotation, Magnetism), Chemistry (Chemical Bonding, Thermodynamics, Coordination Compounds, Electrochemistry), and Maths (Integration, Differentiation, Vectors, 3D Geometry, Probability). These chapters alone can yield 80-100+ marks if practiced properly. Ignore topics you haven't studied yet. Week 2-3: Previous Year Questions (PYQs). Solve JEE Main PYQs from the last 10 years (2015-2025) for chapters you're studying. PYQs reveal question patterns and difficulty levels. Focus on understanding why answers are correct, not memorizing solutions. Week 3-4: Mock Tests & Error Analysis. Take 2-3 full-length mock tests weekly under timed conditions. This is crucial because mock tests build exam confidence, reveal time management weaknesses, and error analysis prevents repeated mistakes. Maintain an error notebook documenting every mistake—this becomes your revision guide. Week 4-5: Revision & Formula Consolidation. Create concise formula sheets for each subject. Spend 30 minutes daily reviewing formulas and key concepts. Avoid learning new topics entirely at this stage. Study Schedule (Daily): 7-8 Hours. Morning (5:00-7:30 AM): Physics concepts + 30 PYQs. Break (7:30-8:30 AM): Breakfast & rest. Mid-morning (8:30-11:00): Chemistry concepts + 20 PYQs. Lunch (11:00-1:00 PM): Full break. Afternoon (1:00-3:30 PM): Maths concepts + 30 PYQs. Evening (3:30-5:00 PM): Mock test or error review. Night (7:00-9:00 PM): Formula revision & weak area focus. Strategic Approach for 110 Marks: Attempt only confident questions and avoid negative marking by skipping difficult questions. Do easy questions first—in the exam, attempt all basic-level questions before attempting medium or hard ones. Focus on quality over quantity as 30 well-practiced questions beat 100 random questions. Master NCERT concepts as most JEE questions test NCERT concepts applied smartly. April 2026 Session Advantage. If January doesn't deliver desired results, April gives you a second chance with 3+ months to prepare. Use January as a practice attempt to identify weak areas, then focus intensively on those in February-March. Realistic Timeline: January 2026 target is 95-110 marks (achievable with focused 50% syllabus), while April 2026 target is 120-130 marks (with complete syllabus + experience). Your reservation benefit means you need only approximately 90-105 marks to qualify and secure admission to quality engineering colleges. Stop comparing yourself to general category cutoffs. Most Importantly: Consistency beats perfection. Study 6 focused hours daily rather than 12 distracted hours. Your 110-mark target is realistic—execute this plan with discipline. All the BEST for Your JEE 2026!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

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Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1841 Answers  |Ask -

Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Dec 13, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025
Career
Dear Sir/Madam, I am currently a 1st year UG student studying engineering in Sairam Engineering College, But there the lack of exposure and strict academics feels so rigid and I don't like it that. It's like they don't gaf about skills but just wants us to memorize things and score a good CGPA, the only skill they want is you to memorize things and pass, there's even special class for students who don't perform well in academics and it is compulsory for them to attend or else the student and his/her parents needs to face authorities who lashes out. My question is when did engineering became something that requires good academics instead of actual learning and skill set. In sairam they provides us a coding platform in which we need to gain the required points for each semester which is ridiculous cuz most of the students here just look at the solution to code instead of actual debugging. I am passionate about engineering so I want to learn and experiment things instead of just memorizing, so I actually consider dropping out and I want to give jee a try and maybe viteee , srmjeee But i heard some people say SRM may provide exposure but not that good in placements. I may not be excellent at studies but my marks are decent. So gimme some insights about SRM and recommend me other colleges/universities which are good at exposure
Ans: First — your frustration is valid

What you are experiencing at Sairam is not engineering, it is rote-based credential production.

“When did engineering become memorizing instead of learning?”

Sadly, this shift happened decades ago in most Tier-3 private colleges in India.

About “coding platforms & points” – your observation is sharp

You are absolutely right:

Mandatory coding points → students copy solutions

Copying ≠ learning

Debugging & thinking are missing

This is pseudo-skill education — it looks modern but produces shallow engineers.

The fact that you noticed this in 1st year already puts you ahead of 80% students.

Should you DROP OUT and prepare for JEE / VITEEE / SRMJEEE?

Although VIT/SRM is better than Sairam Engineering College, but you may face the same problem. You will not face this type of problem only in some top IITs, but getting seat in those IITs will be difficult.
Instead of dropping immediately, consider:

???? Strategy:

Stay enrolled (degree security)

Reduce emotional investment in college rules

Use:

GitHub

Open-source projects

Hackathons

Internships (remote)

Hardware / software self-projects

This way:

College = formality

Learning = self-driven

Risk = minimal

...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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