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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 18, 2025

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 18, 2025
Money

I am 30 years old recently i married ine year. I bought house of 1.3 cr including in Bangalore. And emi is 90k with some top up loans. My monthly income is 2 lac. And the loan is 20 years. Because of AI. I feeling tensed what if job loss, how i need to repay the loan.And also i have 2 lacs of FD, 3 lacs in savings, 5 lacs in ELSS mutual fund which lockin period end in 2027 since i done sip.1 lac worth of equities.

Ans: You are 30. You are married recently. Congratulations.
You bought a house in Bangalore. Good move if you plan to stay long.
Home cost is Rs. 1.3 crore. Loan is for 20 years. EMI is Rs. 90,000.
Your monthly income is Rs. 2 lakhs.

You also hold Rs. 2 lakhs in FD.
Rs. 3 lakhs in savings account.
Rs. 5 lakhs in ELSS mutual funds (lock-in till 2027).
Rs. 1 lakh in direct equities.

You are worried about job loss due to AI.
That fear is real. But can be handled with proper plan.
Let us now review your finances fully.

A full 360-degree assessment is given below.

Understand Your Cash Flow First

Your EMI is Rs. 90,000 per month.

This is 45% of your salary.

Ideally, EMI should be below 40%.

Slightly on higher side, but still manageable.

You are saving nearly Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000.

That saving can increase with planning.

Avoid lifestyle inflation to stay safe.

You need to build buffers now.

Build an Emergency Fund Immediately

You have Rs. 5 lakhs in liquid savings.

Combine FD and savings bank for this.

Keep this untouched for emergencies.

This gives you mental peace during job risks.

Ideally, have 6 to 9 months EMI saved.

Rs. 8 lakhs to Rs. 10 lakhs must be your goal.

Do not use this fund for expenses or investments.

Review Job Risk and Plan Career Safety

AI impact is serious across industries.

Upskill yourself to stay relevant.

Take online courses related to your job.

Upgrade your profile every year.

Stay aware of changes in your field.

Job loss fear reduces when you keep learning.

A better skilled employee stays ahead.

Prepare a Backup Plan for Income

Look for secondary income sources.

Small freelance or consulting roles help.

Use weekend time productively.

Even Rs. 5,000 per month is useful.

Passive income is key for loan safety.

Your spouse can also contribute if possible.

Family income gives more stability.

Do Not Depend on Direct Equities Now

Direct stocks are very risky now.

Markets are volatile.

You already have house loan burden.

Rs. 1 lakh in stocks is okay. But don’t increase.

Do not invest fresh money in equities directly.

Keep equity allocation within ELSS only.

ELSS Mutual Fund Is Good for Tax Saving

ELSS lock-in ends in 2027.

Don’t redeem before that.

Let it grow peacefully till lock-in ends.

Do not stop SIP unless you really must.

After lock-in, shift to regular equity funds.

Invest through a Certified Financial Planner only.

Avoid Direct Fund Investing Later

Direct funds do not give guidance.

No one reviews or supports your portfolio.

You need professional advice.

Invest through regular plans with CFP only.

Certified Financial Planner offers full support.

MFD linked with CFP guides you long-term.

Advice, monitoring and correction are valuable.

Avoid Index Funds in Future

Index funds just copy the market.

They do not protect during downfall.

They have no fund manager strategy.

You cannot beat inflation by copying index.

Actively managed funds work better.

Good managers manage risk and returns.

They adjust portfolio based on economy.

Don’t Take Any Top-up Loans Now

You already have a home loan.

Additional loans increase your stress.

Avoid personal loan or car loan for 3 years.

Focus on stability, not consumption.

Top-up loans may look easy now.

But later, they become pressure.

Keep Your Insurance Protection in Place

Health insurance must be active.

Rs. 5 to 10 lakhs family floater is enough.

Check if your job offers it.

If not, buy outside immediately.

Buy term insurance if you don’t have.

Sum assured should be at least Rs. 1 crore.

Avoid ULIP, endowment, or money-back plans.

If You Hold LIC or ULIP Plans

If you have any LIC or ULIP or mixed plans, surrender them.

Take only pure term insurance.

Rest of money should be in mutual funds.

Investment and insurance should not mix.

Keep them separate always.

Track Your EMI and Home Loan Closely

Keep EMI on auto debit from bank.

Never miss EMI even for one month.

If job risk increases, inform bank early.

You can ask for restructuring in hard times.

But don’t wait till it’s too late.

Home loan default affects your CIBIL badly.

Plan to Part-Prepay Loan Every Year

Use bonuses or variable pay to prepay.

Even Rs. 50,000 per year helps.

It reduces interest in long term.

But don’t use emergency fund for this.

Plan separate prepayment fund.

Avoid Real Estate for Investment Now

Real estate is illiquid.

Not suitable for salaried person with big loan.

You already bought one house.

Don’t invest in another house or plot.

Focus should be financial instruments only.

Avoid Annuity Products or Locked Plans

Annuity returns are low.

They lock your money for years.

They are taxable too.

You are too young for annuities.

Stay flexible and growth-oriented.

Your Asset Allocation Looks Balanced Now

Rs. 5 lakh in ELSS – good for long term.

Rs. 2 lakh FD + Rs. 3 lakh savings – good cushion.

Rs. 1 lakh in equity – avoid further increase.

No high-risk moves needed now.

Keep asset mix 60% safe, 40% growth-based.

Track Mutual Fund Taxation for Future

ELSS is equity-based. Taxed accordingly.

LTCG above Rs. 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%.

STCG is taxed at 20%.

Debt fund returns taxed by income slab.

Plan redemptions with tax in mind.

Stay Calm and Follow Structured Plan

Don’t act in fear or pressure.

Take decisions based on plan.

Avoid news-based actions.

AI will change jobs. But it also creates new ones.

Be flexible and ready for change.

Work With a Certified Financial Planner

CFP helps plan your loan, taxes, savings.

He also builds your retirement and goals.

Choose a CFP who works full time.

He will guide during job change or tough periods.

Stay with one advisor long-term.

Finally

Your EMI is manageable now.

Build Rs. 10 lakh emergency fund slowly.

Prepay loan in small parts every year.

Upskill and stay relevant in job.

Avoid direct stocks and top-up loans.

Don’t fall for product sales.

Focus only on practical and liquid investments.

ELSS is fine. Direct equity should be minimum.

Mutual fund SIPs can continue if job is stable.

Do all new investments only through CFP using regular plans.

Avoid index funds, annuities, and real estate investments.

Protect health and life with right insurance.

Keep spouse informed about all money decisions.

Review your money plan once every 6 months.

Stay prepared for job changes, not scared.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jan 28, 2025

Listen
Money
Sir, I don't have savings, Personal Loan of 10L against the Loan EMI of 28K. Don't have house and living in rentals 9K. Monthly salary is 60K. Monthly expenses is 22K. What I will do Sir, I am at 36
Ans: At 36, you face challenges but also have opportunities to rebuild your finances. Your current situation requires a structured plan to clear debt, build savings, and secure your financial future. Let’s address this step by step.

Current Financial Snapshot
1. Income and Expenses:

Monthly salary: Rs. 60,000.

Loan EMI: Rs. 28,000.

Rent: Rs. 9,000.

Other monthly expenses: Rs. 22,000.

Remaining balance after expenses: Rs. 1,000 (approx.).

2. Debt:

Personal loan outstanding: Rs. 10 lakh.

EMI of Rs. 28,000 is a significant part of your income.

3. No Savings or Investments:

You currently have no emergency fund or investments.

This increases financial vulnerability.

Immediate Financial Priorities
1. Managing Debt:

Focus on reducing the personal loan as quickly as possible.

Consider negotiating a lower interest rate or refinancing.

Avoid taking any additional loans during this period.

2. Budget Optimisation:

Revisit your expenses and identify areas for savings.

Allocate more towards debt repayment from non-essential expenses.

Track expenses weekly to avoid overspending.

3. Building Emergency Fund:

Start with a small amount, even Rs. 1,000 per month.

Gradually aim for a fund covering six months of expenses.

Debt Management Plan
1. Increase Monthly Repayments:

Use any extra income or savings to pay off your loan faster.

Clearing the loan early reduces interest burden.

2. Avoid Debt Traps:

Do not use credit cards or take new loans for current expenses.

Avoid borrowing from informal sources with high interest rates.

3. Side Income Opportunities:

Explore part-time work or freelance projects for extra income.

Direct all additional income towards loan repayment.

Expense Management Plan
1. Essential vs. Non-Essential Expenses:

Categorise expenses as essential (rent, food, EMI) and non-essential.

Reduce spending on dining out, subscriptions, and other discretionary items.

2. Rental Expenses:

Rs. 9,000 rent is reasonable, but explore cost-effective options if possible.

Share accommodation to reduce rent temporarily.

3. Set Spending Limits:

Assign specific budgets for each expense category.

Use mobile apps to track and manage expenses.

Building Savings and Investments
1. Emergency Fund Creation:

Start saving in a high-liquidity account for emergencies.

Build the fund gradually while repaying the loan.

2. Begin Small Investments:

After clearing debt, start investing in mutual funds through SIPs.

Focus on actively managed funds for higher growth potential.

3. Avoid Direct Funds:

Direct funds lack professional guidance and regular monitoring.

Regular funds through a Certified Financial Planner provide better results.

Future Financial Goals
1. Securing Retirement:

Once debt is cleared, allocate a portion of income for retirement.

Increase your NPS contributions for long-term benefits.

2. Insurance:

Ensure you have adequate health insurance to manage medical emergencies.

If you have dependents, consider term life insurance for their protection.

3. Long-Term Investments:

Build a diversified portfolio with equity and debt funds.

Actively review and rebalance investments annually.

Tax Implications to Consider
1. Loan Repayment:

Personal loans do not offer tax benefits unless used for business.

Focus on clearing the loan to free up cash flow.

2. Investment Taxation:

Mutual funds offer tax efficiency but vary by type.

Equity gains above Rs. 1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%.

Debt fund gains are taxed as per your income slab.

Financial Discipline
1. Stick to the Plan:

Create a realistic financial plan and follow it diligently.

Avoid impulsive purchases or lifestyle inflation.

2. Build a Support System:

Share your financial goals with trusted friends or family.

This ensures accountability and encouragement.

3. Review Regularly:

Assess your financial progress every three months.

Make adjustments based on income, expenses, or unexpected events.

Final Insights
Your financial situation is challenging but manageable with discipline and planning. Prioritise clearing your personal loan to improve cash flow. Once the loan is repaid, focus on building savings and investing. Stick to a strict budget to reduce unnecessary expenses. Work with a Certified Financial Planner for professional guidance. Their expertise can help you achieve financial stability and long-term growth. With consistent effort, you can regain control and build a secure financial future.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

..Read more

Latest Questions
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  |1840 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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