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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8311 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 23, 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
Vivek Question by Vivek on Apr 22, 2024Hindi
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I am 32 years old male, working in a government organisation (institute). Where i get free health check-up, medicines and consultation in our institute dispensary. If anything they cannot cure then dispensary will give referral to other hospitals in the city (expenses borne by our organisation) for health related issues and get treatment at CGHS rates for all health issues. After retirement i will get a CGHS card if we go to other hospitals without referral still I will get reimbursement at CGHS rates. Now please suggest me whether I should buy a health insurance apart from this? I already have a HDFC ergo optima restore for 5 lakh sum assured to cover my family (wife, child and myself) which i did not use so far in 4 years and feel it's waste. Yearly I pay 24k for this hdfc health insurance. Please clarify. It's premium is increasing @10% every year.

Ans: Given your existing health benefits from your government organisation and the HDFC Ergo health insurance you already hold, adding another health insurance might seem redundant at this point. The CGHS benefits you'll receive post-retirement also offer substantial coverage. However, consider these factors:

Cost Analysis: Evaluate the total premium paid for the HDFC Ergo policy against the benefits received. If you find it's not cost-effective, reconsider its value.
Future Needs: As you age, healthcare costs tend to rise. With the HDFC Ergo premium increasing at 10% annually, assess if it remains affordable in the long run.
Coverage Gaps: Identify any specific healthcare needs or treatments not covered by your current policies. If there are significant gaps, you might consider supplemental insurance.
Savings Alternative: Instead of buying another policy, you could divert the premium amount to a separate health savings account or invest it for future medical expenses.
In conclusion, while your current coverage seems comprehensive, review its cost-effectiveness and your future healthcare needs. Balancing affordability with adequate coverage is key to making an informed decision.
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  |8311 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 08, 2024

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Hi Sir, Hope you finding this message well and healthy. Thankyou so much for the response on my last question. I want your help or recommendations in choosing a health insurance for me and wife and 2 kid. I am looking a for best plan not cheap for at least 15 lac cover. I have shortlisted HDFC ergo optima secure. However I need your expert advice and recommendations.
Ans: Choosing the right health insurance plan for your family is crucial. A good plan ensures that you are financially protected in case of medical emergencies. You have shortlisted HDFC Ergo Optima Secure, which is a great start. Let’s discuss the factors you should consider when choosing the best health insurance plan for your family, covering you, your wife, and your two kids with at least a Rs 15 lakh cover.

Coverage and Benefits
Sum Insured
Adequate Coverage: Ensure the plan offers a minimum cover of Rs 15 lakh. Higher coverage provides better financial protection.
Hospital Network
Cashless Treatment: Look for a plan with a wide network of hospitals offering cashless treatment. This ensures ease during emergencies.
Room Rent Limits
Room Rent Capping: Choose a plan with higher room rent limits or no capping. This prevents out-of-pocket expenses during hospitalization.
Pre and Post-Hospitalization
Extended Coverage: Ensure the plan covers pre and post-hospitalization expenses. This covers expenses incurred before and after hospitalization.
Daycare Procedures
Comprehensive Cover: The plan should cover various daycare procedures. Many treatments don’t require 24-hour hospitalization.
No Claim Bonus (NCB)
Incremental Benefits: Look for plans offering a No Claim Bonus. This increases your sum insured for every claim-free year.
Inclusions and Exclusions
Maternity and Newborn Cover
Family Planning: If you are planning for more children, ensure maternity and newborn cover is included.
Critical Illness Cover
Serious Conditions: Consider a plan that covers critical illnesses. This ensures coverage for life-threatening conditions.
Disease Waiting Period
Waiting Period: Check the waiting period for pre-existing diseases. A shorter waiting period is preferable.
Specific Exclusions
Understand Exclusions: Read the policy document to understand specific exclusions. This helps avoid surprises during claim time.
Additional Benefits
Annual Health Check-Up
Preventive Care: Plans offering annual health check-ups help in early detection of health issues.
Wellness Programs
Healthy Lifestyle: Some plans offer wellness programs and discounts for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Ambulance Cover
Emergency Services: Ensure the plan covers ambulance charges. This is crucial during medical emergencies.
Restore Benefits
Reinstatement of Sum Insured: Look for plans that offer restore benefits. This reinstates your sum insured if exhausted within a policy year.
Premiums and Co-Payments
Affordable Premiums
Cost-Effectiveness: Ensure the premium is affordable for the benefits offered. Compare different plans for cost-effectiveness.
Co-Payment Clause
Co-Payment: Be aware of the co-payment clause. Lower co-payment means less out-of-pocket expenses.
Claim Process and Customer Service
Easy Claim Process
Smooth Claims: Choose a plan with a hassle-free claim process. Online claim settlement options are preferable.
Customer Support
Support System: Good customer service is essential. Ensure the insurer has a robust support system for queries and claims.
Claim Settlement Ratio
Reliability: Check the insurer’s claim settlement ratio. A higher ratio indicates reliability and trustworthiness.
Recommendations
Balanced Plan
Comprehensive Coverage: Choose a plan that balances coverage, benefits, and premiums. Ensure it meets your family’s healthcare needs.
Customizable Plans
Tailored Options: Opt for plans that allow customization. Add-ons and riders enhance the basic plan as per your requirements.
Renewability
Lifelong Renewability: Ensure the plan offers lifelong renewability. This is crucial for continuous coverage in old age.
Portability
Switching Plans: Check if the plan allows portability. This helps in switching insurers without losing benefits.
Final Insights
Choosing the right health insurance involves evaluating coverage, benefits, and costs. Ensure the plan meets your family’s healthcare needs and offers adequate financial protection. Regularly review your policy and update it as per changing requirements.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8311 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 29, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 29, 2025
Money
Hi Sir, I have a property in Mumbai suburb (approx 40L) and its location is perfect near station, bus stop, heart of the city etc. It's very old around 36 years old. I have just inherited it and I am finishing the legal procedure of it. The monthly maintenance is increasing every year and we are still waiting for redevelopment to happen. I am housewife and require monthly income. We also have loans around 25 L. My husband is int IT field and I am German language expert. We have a son 3 years. Some are saying to give it on rent and some are saying to sell it off for repaying loans. Even if I sell it I would like to reinvest it somewhere for getting monthly income, preferably a property. I want a secure investment for meeting the requirements for my son's education as my husband's field is very volatile due to regular layoffs and stuff. Kindly guide
Ans: You have inherited a 36-year-old property worth around Rs 40 lakh.
You have Rs 25 lakh loans to repay.
You are a housewife but a German language expert, and your husband is in IT.
You want monthly income and secure future planning, especially for your son.

You have inherited a valuable property in Mumbai suburb.

You are completing the legal formalities rightly, which is very important.

You are thinking ahead for monthly income, child education, and loan repayment.

Very few people show this kind of foresight. You deserve appreciation.

Challenges You Are Facing Now

Property is old, around 36 years, and needs maintenance.

Maintenance charges are rising every year, increasing burden.

Redevelopment is uncertain and unpredictable.

You have Rs 25 lakh loans creating stress.

Husband's IT field is unstable due to layoffs.

You want a secure monthly income and financial stability.

Option 1: Giving Property on Rent

You can earn monthly rental income by renting it out.

Typical rent may be around Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000 per month.

Rental yield will be hardly 2%-3% on Rs 40 lakh value.

This is very low compared to your needs and loan burden.

Maintenance charges, property tax, repairs will further reduce your income.

Vacancy risk is also there if tenants leave.

Overall, rental income may not fully support your financial goals.

Option 2: Selling the Property

Selling can give you around Rs 40 lakh.

You can immediately clear Rs 25 lakh loans.

After repaying loans, you will still have around Rs 15 lakh.

Loan closure will bring huge mental peace and cash flow freedom.

No more EMI burden means husband's salary can be saved better.

You can use balance Rs 15 lakh wisely to generate monthly income.

Important Insights on Redevelopment

Redevelopment can take 5-10 years easily.

Many projects get delayed due to disputes and permissions.

Till redevelopment happens, maintenance and repair costs rise.

You may have to stay invested without any income for long.

Your immediate needs for income and loan closure will not be solved.

Depending on redevelopment alone is very risky at this stage.

What You Should Ideally Do

Prefer selling the property now while market is still decent.

Clear all Rs 25 lakh loans fully and become completely debt-free.

Debt-free life is the biggest financial freedom you can gift your family.

With balance money, create a secure income plan.

Stay light without property burdens and maintenance worries.

Focus on building an education corpus for your son and retirement corpus.

Where to Invest After Selling

Do not buy another property immediately for investment.

Property rental yields are low, and liquidity is very poor.

Instead, create a mix of debt mutual funds and hybrid mutual funds.

These can give you monthly income using Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP).

This method protects your capital and gives you flexible monthly payouts.

Debt mutual funds can provide 6%-7% returns safely with low risk.

Balanced advantage funds can give 8%-10% returns over 3-5 years.

Always choose regular mutual fund plans through a MFD who is also a Certified Financial Planner.

Why Not Property for Reinvestment?

Property is illiquid; selling it again takes months or years.

Property has heavy costs like stamp duty, registration, brokerage, repairs.

Rentals are taxed fully as income, eating away returns.

If tenant defaults or property is vacant, you get zero income.

Maintaining property is a headache, especially in old buildings.

Mutual funds offer better flexibility, better tax-efficiency, and better liquidity.

Disadvantages of Direct Plans (Important for You to Know)

If you invest in direct mutual fund plans yourself, you miss expert guidance.

Wrong fund selection, wrong withdrawal rate can destroy your capital.

Regular plans through a CFP-backed MFD give proper fund selection and review.

Charges in regular plan are justified because it protects your long-term wealth.

Getting professional hand-holding is very important for your peace of mind.

Additional Steps You Must Take

Keep a separate emergency fund of Rs 3 lakh in liquid mutual funds.

Buy a good term insurance cover for husband (at least Rs 1 crore).

Ensure you have a good health insurance for the whole family.

Start a small SIP for your son’s education goal systematically.

Slowly explore freelancing as a German language expert to earn extra income.

Future Planning for Your Son

Education costs are rising 10%-12% every year in India.

For good education after 15 years, you will need a large corpus.

Start small SIPs in good mutual funds focused on child education.

Stay committed for long-term without withdrawals.

Education planning must be top priority after loan closure.

Final Insights

Renting out the old property will not solve your loan and income issues properly.

Selling the property now and clearing the loans is the better, safer step.

Remaining money should be invested wisely for monthly income generation.

Avoid buying new properties now. Focus on mutual fund income plans.

Build emergency reserves, insurance covers, and an education fund for your son.

Stay light, stay debt-free, and keep life flexible financially.

Your thinking is already mature. With correct action, your future will be very secure.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8311 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 29, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 28, 2025
Money
Could you tell me the ideal stock quantity for me as I am investing 10k in each stock and I get minimum 30 percent return so I am not happy with reward. FYI my portfolio is of 5 Lacks investing since 2017.
Ans: You have a Rs 5 lakh stock portfolio.
You are investing Rs 10,000 in each stock.
You are getting around 30% returns, but you are not fully happy.

Let me help you with detailed insights.

Appreciating Your Journey So Far

You started investing in 2017, which shows good discipline.

Growing the portfolio with regular Rs 10,000 investments is a smart habit.

Earning 30% returns is not bad, especially in Indian stock markets.

Many investors struggle even to beat inflation in long-term investing.

You deserve appreciation for steady progress and patience.

Understanding Your Concern

You want even better returns than 30%.

You feel Rs 10,000 in each stock is limiting your potential.

You are looking for an ideal number of stocks for higher growth.

Ideal Number of Stocks to Hold

If portfolio is Rs 5 lakh, then having 15 to 20 stocks is healthy.

Less than 10 stocks can make portfolio risky and unstable.

More than 25 stocks will dilute returns and weaken performance.

Around 18 stocks can give you good balance of safety and growth.

Each stock can ideally carry 4% to 7% weight in your portfolio.

Problems of Over-Diversification

Holding too many stocks reduces focus.

Monitoring all stocks becomes difficult.

Even if some stocks do well, overall portfolio may not reflect it.

Returns get pulled down when poor stocks dilute the strong ones.

Problems of Under-Diversification

Too few stocks increase risks sharply.

Bad performance of one stock hits portfolio badly.

Emotional decision making becomes harder.

Volatility can become scary during market falls.

Fine-Tuning Your Approach

Increase your per stock investment slightly to Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000.

Focus on holding 15 to 20 strong companies across sectors.

Prioritise companies with strong balance sheet and consistent profits.

Look for companies with leadership in their industries.

Reduce churning of stocks; stay invested patiently.

Sector Allocation Guidance

Allocate across banking, FMCG, pharma, IT, auto, and energy sectors.

Avoid over-investing in one sector or theme.

Always maintain sector diversification for stability.

Reviewing Your Return Expectations

Expecting more than 30% return consistently can be risky.

Stock market returns move in cycles.

In good years, 40%-60% returns may happen.

In bad years, even negative returns can occur.

Long-term average return expectation should be around 12%-18%.

Identifying the Real Issue

30% growth is a strong outcome compared to bank FDs and debt funds.

If you feel unhappy, maybe it is because of high expectations.

Managing emotions is key to wealth creation.

Recommended Action Plan

Stick to around 18 focused high-quality stocks.

Increase amount slightly if you find very strong companies.

Focus on strong fundamentals, not just price movements.

Rebalance portfolio once in a year to maintain sector weight.

Invest fresh money slowly when good opportunities arise.

Additional Important Points

Don't take high risks to chase higher returns.

Wealth building is a marathon, not a sprint.

Stay disciplined and trust your process.

Consistency will reward you richly in next 5-10 years.

Final Insights

Holding around 15-20 carefully selected stocks is ideal for you.

Focus more on quality stocks than chasing return numbers.

Growing wealth steadily is more important than chasing quick profits.

Stay invested with a cool mind, and you will achieve great success.

Celebrate your discipline till now and keep improving step-by-step.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

...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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