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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |7097 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 18, 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
doreswamy Question by doreswamy on May 17, 2024Hindi
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Am 34 yr old, I hav 60k income monthly & EPF 4k monthly. Am investing in PPF 2k, maxlife insurance Savings plan - 5k, UTI flexi cap fund - 2k, SBI contra- 0.5k & nippan India small cap- 0.5k since from year. Pls suggest any changes are required or else can i continue

Ans: You are on the right track by investing regularly and diversifying your portfolio. Your disciplined approach to saving and investing is commendable. Let’s assess your current investments and suggest any necessary changes.

Evaluating Your Current Investments
PPF Contribution: Investing ?2,000 monthly in PPF is a good choice for stable, tax-free returns. PPF is a safe investment with government backing.

EPF Contribution: Your EPF contribution of ?4,000 per month is a secure and tax-efficient way to build a retirement corpus.

Max Life Insurance Savings Plan: The ?5,000 investment in a savings plan combines insurance and savings. However, the returns on such plans are often lower compared to pure investment products. Ensure you have adequate life cover through term insurance.

UTI Flexi Cap Fund: Investing ?2,000 in a flexi cap fund offers good diversification across large, mid, and small-cap stocks, providing a balanced risk-reward ratio.

SBI Contra Fund: The ?500 investment in a contra fund can be beneficial as it follows a contrarian investment strategy, buying stocks that are currently out of favour but have growth potential.

Nippon India Small Cap Fund: Small cap funds, though risky, can offer high returns over the long term. Your ?500 investment here adds to your growth potential.

Suggested Changes for Optimal Growth
Review Insurance Plan: Consider whether the Max Life Savings Plan meets your financial goals. Pure term insurance combined with higher returns from mutual funds might be more efficient. Term plans offer high coverage at a lower premium.

Increase SIP in Diversified Funds: You might consider increasing your SIP amount in diversified funds like the UTI Flexi Cap Fund. This fund balances risk and return by investing across different market capitalisations.

Balanced Asset Allocation: Ensure your portfolio has a good mix of equity and debt. You may consider investing in a balanced or hybrid fund, which provides exposure to both equities and debt, offering growth with reduced risk.

Regular Monitoring: Review your portfolio periodically to ensure it aligns with your financial goals. Market conditions and personal circumstances can change, necessitating adjustments.

Emergency Fund: Ensure you have an emergency fund covering 6-12 months of expenses. This fund should be easily accessible and can be kept in a savings account or liquid fund.

Additional Recommendations
Health Insurance: Ensure you have adequate health insurance coverage. This protects your savings from unforeseen medical expenses.

Retirement Planning: Given your age, consider long-term retirement planning. Increase contributions to retirement-specific investments like PPF and EPF. You could also look at the National Pension System (NPS) for additional retirement savings.

Tax Planning: Maximise your tax-saving investments under Section 80C and other relevant sections. This optimises your tax liabilities and increases your disposable income.

Final Thoughts
Your current investment strategy shows a good start, but a few adjustments can optimise your portfolio for better returns and reduced risk. Consider reviewing your insurance plans, increasing SIPs in diversified funds, and maintaining a balanced asset allocation. Regularly monitor your investments and seek professional advice to stay on track with your financial goals. Your disciplined approach will help you achieve financial stability and growth.

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  |7097 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 11, 2024

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Am 35 yr old, investing maxlife insurance Savings plan - 3k, UTI flexi cap fund - 2k, SBI contra- 0.5k & nippan small cap- 0.5k since from year. Pls suggest any changes required or else can I continue
Ans: At 35 years old, it's commendable that you're actively investing in various financial instruments to secure your financial future. Let's review your current investment portfolio and assess if any changes are needed.

Maxlife Insurance Savings Plan:
Insurance savings plans typically offer a combination of insurance coverage and investment opportunities. While they provide life cover, they may not always offer optimal returns compared to pure investment options. It's essential to review the returns, charges, and benefits of your insurance plan regularly to ensure it aligns with your financial goals.

Insurance-cum-investment schemes (ULIPs, endowment plans) offer a one-stop solution for insurance and investment needs. However, they might not be the best choice for pure investment due to:

Lower Potential Returns: Guaranteed returns are usually lower than what MFs can offer through market exposure.
Higher Costs: Multiple fees in insurance plans (allocation charges, admin fees) can reduce returns compared to the expense ratio of MFs.
Limited Flexibility: Lock-in periods restrict access to your money, whereas MFs provide more flexibility.
MFs, on the other hand, focus solely on investment and offer:

Potentially Higher Returns: Investments in stocks and bonds can lead to higher growth compared to guaranteed returns.
Lower Costs: Expense ratios in MFs are generally lower than the multiple fees in insurance plans.
Greater Control: You have a wider range of investment options and control over asset allocation to suit your risk appetite.
Consider your goals!

Need life insurance? Term Insurance plans might be suitable.
Focus on growing wealth? MFs might be a better option due to their flexibility and return potential.

UTI Flexi Cap Fund:
Flexi cap funds invest across large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks, providing flexibility to capitalize on opportunities across market segments. As a diversified equity fund, it offers growth potential while spreading risk. Review the fund's performance, expense ratio, and portfolio composition periodically to ensure it remains suitable for your investment objectives.

SBI Contra Fund and Nippon Small Cap Fund:
SBI Contra Fund follows a contrarian investment approach, focusing on undervalued stocks with the potential for long-term growth. Nippon Small Cap Fund invests primarily in small-cap companies with high growth potential. Both funds carry higher risk due to their investment in mid and small-cap stocks. Review their performance, risk profile, and consistency to ensure they align with your risk tolerance and investment horizon.

Overall, your investment portfolio appears to be diversified across insurance, large-cap, flexi-cap, and small-cap funds. However, it's essential to periodically review your portfolio's performance, risk exposure, and alignment with your financial goals. Consider the following suggestions:

Regularly monitor the performance of each investment and compare it against relevant benchmarks.
Assess your risk tolerance and ensure that your portfolio allocation aligns with your risk appetite.
Review the expense ratios and charges associated with each investment to optimize your returns.

Consider rebalancing your portfolio periodically to maintain diversification and align with changing market conditions.

Consult with a Certified Financial Planner to receive personalized advice tailored to your financial situation and goals.

In conclusion, while your current investment portfolio appears diversified, it's essential to review and adjust it periodically to ensure it remains aligned with your financial objectives. Continuously educate yourself about investment options and seek professional guidance when needed to make informed decisions.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

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Radheshyam

Radheshyam Zanwar  |1054 Answers  |Ask -

MHT-CET, IIT-JEE, NEET-UG Expert - Answered on Nov 21, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Nov 21, 2024Hindi
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Hello, I am 3 yr neet dropper.in 2025 it will be my third attempt... I'm trying my best to crack neet ...i don't know what will happen will i score good marks or not ... please help me in suggesting good career options if not crack neet .....there are many options through neet marks also like bhms , veterinary...etc. i will also give entrance exam also like cuet ,gbpuat ,....but i want that what to choose which course will be best for me ...i want to make my life good and happy... having a good degree, good job ,...
Ans: Hello.
Have you analyzed your failure in 2 successive attempts in the NEET examination? If yes, then the question is what you have done for improvement and not then again the question arises why not? Here, I would like to suggest you focus now only on the NEET examination which is your 3rd attempt. Don't think about any other options right now till May 2025. After the NEET exam is over, you have ample time to explore the options available. Depending on your score in NEET 2025, we will guide you at that time. But yet, if you are confused, then looking towards your question and anxiety, you need personal counseling where you can express yourself face-to-face. Only after the NEET exam is over, you contact a counsellor for one-to-one counseling. Till then, keep mum and focus only on NEET. Take this exam as your mission and project. Work on this project, apply forces from all sides, success is there which is waiting for you eagerly.
Best of luck for your bright future.

Some tips: (1) Analyse separately Phy, Che, Bio (2) Prepare a list of hard topics (3) First focus more on the topics which are easy for you and then try to excel in hard topics (4) Appear more and more online/offline examinations (4) Prepare your short-cut file for all subjects (5) Prepare a file for each subject having only synopsis of all chapters (6) Try to solve the problems at the lightening speed and observe the period on regular basis (7) Create your time table to revise the topics on regular basis (8) Do not hesitate to ask your difficulties to your teachers, if you have joined to offline classes (9) Keep the habit of marking the answers which you know 100%. Don't guess the answers and mark them, as there is -ve marking scheme. (10) Be calm, quite, and smiling all the time to release the tension and always have a healthy chat with your friends.

If satisfied, please like and follow me.
If dissatisfied with the reply, please ask again without hesitation.
Thanks.

Radheshyam

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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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