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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11192 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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Hi. I am middle class person. Age is 32 years. I recently 2 years back i bought 1.2 cr house. Current i am fear about job loss due to AI. I am keep on thinking what if i didn't get job immediately. In this situation how to pay high EMI? I have 3 loans all are home loan related currently 7.30% interest rate for all. 1. took 89 lac already paid 10 lac remaining tenure is 160 months, emi is 77000 2. Took 10 lac already paid 6 lac remaining tenure is 48 months, emi is 10000 3. Took 1.8 lac, already paid 1.4 lac remaining tenure is 29 months emi is 2k. And from income side My salary is 2 lac, my emi comes arround 90 K, my total expenses is 40 K, i invest remaining in savings and mutual funds, even though i have 5 lac in FD, 5 lac in equity mutual fund, 2 lac in savings account , 2 lac in debt mutual fund, 2 lac in stocks. I want to know how to manage these emi during job loss. I want debt free. These emi making me sleepless.Hi. I am middle class person. I recently 2 years back i bought 1.2 cr house. Current i am fear about job loss due to AI. I am keep on thinking what if i didn't get job immediately. In this situation how to pay high EMI? I have 3 loans all are home loan related currently 7.30% interest rate for all. 1. took 89 lac already paid 10 lac remaining tenure is 160 months, emi is 77000 2. Took 10 lac already paid 6 lac remaining tenure is 48 months, emi is 10000 3. Took 1.8 lac, already paid 1.4 lac remaining tenure is 29 months emi is 2k. And from income side My salary is 2 lac, my emi comes arround 90 K, my total expenses is 40 K, i invest remaining in savings and mutual funds, even though i have 5 lac in FD, 5 lac in equity mutual fund, 2 lac in savings account , 2 lac in debt mutual fund, 2 lac in stocks. I want to know how to manage these emi during job loss. I want debt free. These emi making me sleepless.
Ans: Hi,

It is natural to fear advancement in technology but that should not turn into sleepless nights. Rather use this opportunity to learn the same and upskill yourself in that field.
However, let me try to guide you with the correct steps for you to take:

1. Your total EMIs come out to be around 90k per month and fixed monthly expenses are 40k. You are left with 70k per month to invest.
2. Try and close the smaller loans of 40,000 first followed by 4 lakhs loan once your job stabilizes.

>> You have 5 lakhs in FD, 2 lakhs in savings and 2 lakhs in debt mutual funds - total liquid is 9 lakhs.
This can be your emergency fund in case of job loss and will keep your emi's and basic requirements on track for 7 months.
7 months is a sufficient time for you to find another upskilled job.

>> Keep the 5 lakhs of equity mutual funds and 2 lakhs of stocks as is.
In the meantime, pause your SIPs for a while, start accumulating surplus of 70k per month in savings account so as to overcome any uncertain situation.

You can resume your SIPs once your job is stable, you have upskilled yourself and are no longer in dilemma of job loss.

Let me know if you need more help.

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

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Ans: Hi!!
It is nice to know that he is contributing towards the fees of his children! Have you asked him how he is managing it?
The financial responsibility is on both the partners… it doesn’t matter who is at home and who is working. You sit across and discuss how much money comes in and how much money goes out. The how and why of savings for the future is also a joint venture!!
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Check whether your husband is truly unwilling to find a job or he has gotten comfortable/ lazy sitting at home.
I am sure you have been married long enough to sit across and talk lovingly with concern and care, and come up with solutions.
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My wife doesn't like dogs. I have two dogs who are like family to me. She screams and disrespects them saying she is scared of them. I am feeling very betrayed because I had mentioned this condition while sending our proposal to her family. It was also written in my matrimonial profile that we have two dogs who stay with us. We rejected so many proposals for this very reason but the family including my wife ignored it and now it is affecting our marriage. It has only been two months and I have to keep my dogs on a leash for the first time. They are deeply hurt and affected. I respect her too but how do I explain to her that my dogs are safe? Everyone in my family is equally concerned but my in-laws feel that dogs should be treated as pets not family. I strongly disagree. If my partner cannot accept my dogs, would it be right to file for divorce? Please help.
Ans: Hi!!
I can empathise with this whole situation at your home!
Let’s start tackling each issue that you have mentioned one by one…
1. There is surely a breach of trust here bfr marriage.. you did mention that your pets are an integral part of the family… you need to sit down and discuss this… find a common ground.This discussion is between you and your wife only.
2. Ask the in- laws to stay out of the discussion about how your family treats pets.
3. Take the pets out of the scenario and check the equation between you and your wife. How much value you attach to this relationship and each other? What lengths will both of you go to ensure that this partnership works?
If it’s a win - win situation, then sit down and chalk out a plan to make it work…
5. Both of you be part of solutions….ask her what was she expecting from you knowing that you are a pet lover and this was a precondition for marriage, yet she went ahead and got married to you…
6.There is no black and white solution here… I am also thinking aloud as I write to you…
After all the heart to heart talk… tell her that tying the dogs is not an option.. they are like children to you! Ask her to come up with solutions… tell her you want the marriage to work..you also from your end try to make her comfortable slowly get her used to the dogs, show her that they are harmless. The fear of dogs can be taken away slowly… consult a psychologist/ marriage counsellor to help you out if your efforts don’t yield results!
7. It’s been just 02 months. Both of you try to make the marriage work . You are both equally responsible for this marriage!!

All the very best!

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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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