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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6266 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 05, 2024Hindi
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Hi, I am 35 old with having private sector job. I had savings about 2L from RD, but during job seeking it is uitlized fully. Now again started job 6 months back with in hand 55K. I have savings of SIP (inclusive profits ) upto 5.8L, and RD of 56K, NPS around 2.9L (inclusiv profits). having NO FD. RD, SIP & NPS is stopped from 1.5 years back. I am planning to invest in land for home which cost around 33L for 9Months period. So, here will have to pay 25% amount for first month to land owner, and will need to pay continue from salary about 40K for remaining 9 months. Have some gold during marriage. so it may give upto 1.5L. After 9 months completed, will take property/land loan with monthly EMI of 40K to 50K. Request some suggestion for financial management and new savings idea.

Ans: It sounds like you're navigating a significant transition period with your job and housing plans. Let's outline some steps for your financial management and explore new savings ideas.

Evaluate Current Finances: Firstly, assess your current financial situation, including your savings, investments, and liabilities. Understand your cash flow and expenses to make informed decisions.

Budgeting: Develop a monthly budget considering your income, expenses, and savings goals. Allocate funds for essential expenses, loan EMIs, and savings for your future goals, including the land purchase and eventual home loan EMIs.

Emergency Fund: Prioritize building an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies. Aim to set aside at least three to six months' worth of living expenses in a liquid savings account.

Resume SIPs and NPS Contributions: Consider restarting your SIPs and NPS contributions to continue building your investment portfolio for long-term financial security. These systematic investments can help you accumulate wealth over time.

Land Purchase: Since you're planning to invest in land for a home, ensure thorough due diligence before proceeding. Evaluate factors like location, legal clearances, and future development prospects. Negotiate payment terms that align with your financial capabilities.

Loan Planning: When taking a property/land loan after nine months, ensure you're comfortable with the EMI payments and factor them into your budget. Compare loan options from different lenders to secure the best terms and interest rates.

Gold Assets: While gold can provide liquidity, consider diversifying your investments into other asset classes for long-term growth potential. Review your gold holdings periodically and decide whether to continue holding or liquidate based on your financial goals.

New Savings Ideas: Explore additional avenues for savings and investments, such as:

Tax-saving investments like Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) or Public Provident Fund (PPF).
Regular contributions to a retirement corpus through schemes like the National Pension System (NPS) or Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF).
Building a diversified investment portfolio with a mix of equity mutual funds, debt instruments, and possibly real estate investment trusts (REITs) for added diversification.
Remember to consult with a financial advisor to tailor a plan that aligns with your specific financial goals and risk tolerance. Stay disciplined in your savings and investment approach to achieve long-term financial stability and security.

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 Kalirajan  |6266 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 06, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - May 02, 2024Hindi
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Hi Sir, I am 36, in hand salary is 2.4 lakhs per month(including rental) I have 2 properties 1st current market value 2.2cr outstanding loan 40 lakhs 2nd. 60 lakh outstanding loan of 28 lakhs(taking tax benefit on this). Apart from this I personally have 0 savings in cash. My wife is housewife. At current market value we will have roughly 60 lakhs of gold. Recently bought a car on loan with emi of 35k. My monthly emi outflow is 1.1 lakh with roughly 1 lakh as additional monthly expense. Whatever I am able to save currently I am using it to pay of my Housing loan no.1. Need your suggestion on financial planning & decision that I should take in future
Ans: Given your financial situation, it's important to prioritize debt management, savings, and investment planning to achieve your long-term financial goals. Here are some tailored suggestions:

Debt Management:
Continue prioritizing the repayment of your housing loans. Focus on clearing high-interest debt first, such as the outstanding loan on Property 1.
Explore options to accelerate debt repayment, such as allocating any surplus income towards loan prepayments.
Review the terms of your car loan and consider refinancing if possible to reduce the monthly EMI burden.

Emergency Fund:
Establish an emergency fund equivalent to at least 6-12 months of your household expenses. This fund will provide a financial buffer in case of unexpected events like job loss or medical emergencies.
Set aside a portion of your monthly income towards building this fund gradually, even while repaying loans.

Savings and Investments:
Once you have built an emergency fund, allocate a portion of your income towards systematic savings and investments.
Consider investing in tax-efficient instruments like Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) to optimize tax benefits while generating potential long-term returns.

Diversify your investment portfolio across asset classes such as equity, debt, and gold to mitigate risk and enhance overall returns.

Insurance Coverage:
Review your existing insurance coverage, including life, health, and property insurance, to ensure adequate protection for your family and assets.
Consider purchasing term insurance policies to provide financial security to your dependents in the event of any unforeseen circumstances.

Financial Planning:
Engage the services of a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) to develop a comprehensive financial plan tailored to your specific goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.
Work with your financial planner to set clear objectives, such as retirement planning, children's education, and wealth accumulation, and devise a strategy to achieve them systematically.

Budgeting and Expense Management:
Track your monthly expenses diligently to identify areas where you can optimize spending and redirect savings towards debt repayment and investments.
Create a realistic budget that accounts for all essential expenses, loan repayments, savings, and discretionary spending.

Future Financial Goals:
Define your long-term financial goals, such as retirement planning, children's education, and wealth creation, and allocate resources accordingly.
Regularly review your financial plan with your spouse and adjust strategies as needed based on changing circumstances and priorities.

By adopting a disciplined approach to debt management, savings, and investment planning, you can gradually improve your financial health and work towards achieving your long-term financial objectives. Consulting with a qualified financial advisor or planner can provide valuable guidance and support in navigating complex financial decisions and optimizing your overall financial well-being.

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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6266 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 03, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - May 02, 2024Hindi
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Hello Sir, Myself and my wife are 38years and our son is 11years. Our annual income is 35 lacs including PF, taxes etc. My PF account has around 12 lacs and wife's pf account around 4 lacs.We have 2 FD's with 1 lac and 2.35 lacs for 10 years in the name of our son. Also an RD of 15000 per month, maturing(10.5lacs) May'24 which we have planned to keep as our emergency fund. Also one PPF account, but not able to invest regularly, balance would be 60K opened 4 years back. Our housing loan is of 45 lacs, now balance at 35lacs. Monthly EMi is 40K.Monthly income of around 1.95 lacs. (after taxes and pf contribution and car clv debit) Could you please suggest a plan to invest to gain wealth/kids education as well as to close the liability of housing loan faster. Not yet invested in sip or NPS or any term insurance.
Ans: IIt's heartening to see your dedication to securing your family's future amidst life's responsibilities. Your diligence in saving and investing is truly commendable.

Considering your current financial landscape, there are avenues that could potentially align with your aspirations. Have you pondered the benefits of SIPs or National Pension System (NPS) contributions? These options offer avenues for wealth accumulation and retirement planning, providing a structured approach towards your financial goals.

Additionally, exploring term insurance could offer a protective shield for your family's future, ensuring financial stability in unforeseen circumstances. As for your housing loan, have you contemplated redirecting a portion of your monthly surplus towards prepayments? This could help expedite closing the liability, offering you greater financial freedom sooner.

Remember, every step towards financial security is a step towards liberating your dreams. By embracing a holistic approach and seeking guidance from a Certified Financial Planner, you're nurturing the seeds of prosperity for your loved ones. Keep treading this path with resilience, for the journey towards abundance is as enriching as the destination itself.

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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6266 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 17, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - May 04, 2024Hindi
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I have taken home loan of 42L in the year 2017 (EMI 33000/Month) for 25Years (300 Months). Due to the continuous increase in the Interest rate, the remaining tenure is keep on increasing and maintaining in 300+ months even after paying the EMI for more than 7 years and Home Loan Principal only 4.5 Lakh is reduced. I am a private company employee of 35 years earning nearly 1Lakh per month and able to save around 15,000 rupees monthly. And with the 15000 monthly savings, i started the following investment/plans from this month 1. I am investing 5000 for Suganya Samriddhi Scheme for my daughter (5years Old). 2. I am contributing 5000 to VPF (My age 35). My existing EPF balance is 5.5Lakh and monthly PF is 4900 deducted. 3. I am making prepayment of 5000 to Home loan principal in addition to monthly EMI. Also i have a Fixed Deposit of 5Lakhs maturing in this year end. I am looking for a expert advise whether the above investment plan is good enough to get benefit in the longer run or any other better safe investment option is available. Please note my year on year annual increment is very less approximately 5000 only.
Ans: Optimizing Your Financial Strategy for Long-Term Benefits
Understanding Your Current Financial Situation
As a 35-year-old private company employee, you're navigating the challenges of a home loan and striving to secure your family's financial future. Despite constraints like rising interest rates and limited annual increments, your prudent savings habits and investment efforts reflect a commitment to financial stability.

Evaluating Your Investment Portfolio
Your current investment strategy, including contributions to the Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme for your daughter, VPF for retirement, and prepayments towards your home loan, demonstrates a balanced approach to wealth accumulation and debt reduction. However, let's assess if there are opportunities for optimization.

Analyzing the Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme
Investing in the Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme for your daughter's future education and marriage expenses is a commendable decision. The scheme offers tax benefits and competitive interest rates, providing a secure investment avenue for her long-term financial needs.

Assessing VPF Contributions for Retirement
Contributing to the Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) alongside your EPF is a wise move to bolster your retirement savings. Given your limited annual increments, VPF offers a disciplined way to accumulate a substantial corpus for your retirement years, leveraging the power of compounding.

Reviewing Home Loan Prepayments
Making additional prepayments towards your home loan principal accelerates debt reduction and can lead to substantial interest savings over the loan tenure. However, given the low interest rates on home loans compared to potential investment returns, it's essential to strike a balance between debt repayment and wealth creation.

Leveraging Fixed Deposit Maturity
Upon maturity of your Fixed Deposit of 5 lakhs, consider reinvesting the proceeds strategically. Evaluate investment options that offer a balance of safety, liquidity, and growth potential to optimize returns and diversify your portfolio.

Exploring Investment Opportunities
Given your risk appetite and financial goals, explore avenues such as mutual funds, systematic investment plans (SIPs), or diversified equity portfolios for long-term wealth creation. Consult with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) to devise a customized investment strategy aligned with your objectives and risk tolerance.

Conclusion
Your proactive approach to savings and investments demonstrates a sound financial mindset. By optimizing your investment portfolio, exploring growth-oriented opportunities, and seeking professional guidance, you can enhance your financial well-being and secure a brighter future for yourself and your family.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6266 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 13, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - May 09, 2024Hindi
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Hi! I am a 23 year old female. I earn 1.12 lakhs/month before taxes as salary. I am only earning individual at my home. We have a house loan of 38 lakhs of 18 years that almost started 5 years ago. We used to pay 29k EMI on a loan of 28 lakhs initially but after my father's business faced huge losses, we took additional 10 lakhs loan and after defaulting on EMIs and taking a 9 month break in between, we finally pay 45k EMI on 38 lakhs loan. I have different SIPs of 9k amount that after 3-5 years would mature. For example, in one SIP I pay 5k/month. So after 5 years I would get (300000 + 60000 bonus) on it. I have to pay monthly expense of 10k/month and I pay back a few more lenders amounting to 15k/month. After all the expenses I save almost 25-30k/month. I have around 2.5 lakhs in savings. I want to save a minimum of 10-15 lakhs in 2-3 years for my marriage and family. Can you suggest how should I start my financial planning/what investments can I do to have good returns (I'm a medium risk-taker) in next 2-3 years so I can start building my family's future and have a plan for paying off the loans?
Ans: Assessing Your Current Financial Situation

Before diving into financial planning, let's assess your current financial situation. You're 23, earning a substantial monthly salary of 1.12 lakhs before taxes. However, it seems you're facing some financial challenges, primarily due to your family's housing loan and previous business losses. Your EMI for the housing loan has increased to 45k/month after additional borrowing and a break in payments.

You've also mentioned various SIPs, monthly expenses of 10k, and repayment of other lenders amounting to 15k/month. Despite these commitments, you manage to save around 25-30k/month, which is commendable.

Setting Financial Goals

Your primary financial goal is to save 10-15 lakhs in the next 2-3 years for your marriage and family. Additionally, addressing the housing loan and building a secure financial future for your family are crucial objectives.

Creating a Financial Plan

Emergency Fund:
Start by building an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses. Aim to save at least 6-12 months' worth of living expenses, considering your family's financial situation. Keep this fund in a liquid and accessible account.

Repaying High-Interest Debt:
Prioritize paying off high-interest debt, such as personal loans or credit card debt, to reduce financial burden and interest expenses. Since you're saving a significant portion of your income, allocate a portion towards accelerating debt repayment.

Optimizing Investments:
Given your medium risk tolerance, consider a balanced investment approach. Diversify your portfolio across various asset classes, including equity, debt, and possibly real estate.

Equity Investments: Since you have a relatively short investment horizon of 2-3 years, consider equity mutual funds with a blend of large-cap, mid-cap, and balanced funds. These can potentially offer higher returns while managing risk.

Debt Investments: Given the stability they offer, consider investing in debt mutual funds or fixed-income securities. These can provide steady returns and help balance the overall risk in your investment portfolio.

Real Estate: While you haven't mentioned real estate as an investment option, it's worth considering for long-term wealth accumulation. However, ensure thorough research and due diligence before investing in property.

Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs):
Continue with your existing SIPs, as they provide a disciplined approach to investing. However, reassess the funds you're investing in to ensure they align with your financial goals and risk tolerance. Aim for a diversified portfolio of SIPs to mitigate risk.

Budgeting and Expense Management:
Review your monthly expenses and look for areas where you can potentially reduce costs. Redirect the saved amount towards your savings and investment goals. Additionally, consider discussing financial responsibilities and budgeting with your family to collectively manage expenses.

Seeking Professional Guidance:
Consider consulting with a Certified Financial Planner to tailor a financial plan that aligns with your goals and risk profile. They can provide personalized advice and guidance to optimize your financial journey.

Conclusion

In summary, building a solid financial plan requires a systematic approach, goal setting, and disciplined execution. By focusing on building an emergency fund, repaying high-interest debt, optimizing investments, and managing expenses, you can work towards achieving your short-term and long-term financial goals. Remember, consistency and patience are key virtues in the journey towards financial security.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Latest Questions
Nitin

Nitin Narkhede  |4 Answers  |Ask -

MF, PF Guru - Answered on Sep 10, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 06, 2024Hindi
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I am 16 and I want to invest in mutual funds. I get pocket money of Rs 3000 per month. After cutting costs, I save about Rs 1200-1500 per month. Can I invest this in SIPs? My goal is to buy a Yamaha bike In December 2025 for my 18th birthday which costs Rs 1.5 lakh. I have already saved Rs 40,000. Where can I invest so that I can double my savings by next year? Please advice
Ans: Dear
It’s awesome that you’re thinking about investing at such a young age! Your goal of buying a Yamaha bike for your 18th birthday is achievable with the right investment strategy. Let’s break it down:
1. SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) for Your Monthly Savings you can absolutely invest your savings in SIPs. With Rs 1200-1500 available per month, SIPs are a great way to start investing in mutual funds. They allow you to invest small amounts regularly, and over time, you can benefit from compounding and rupee-cost averaging, which means your money can grow steadily. However, since your goal is just over a year away (December 2025), you’ll need to invest in something that balances growth with moderate risk, because mutual funds, especially equity ones, can be volatile in the short term.
2. How Much You Need to Save - Your target is Rs 1.5 lakh, and you’ve already saved Rs 40,000.- So, you need Rs 1.1 lakh more by December 2025. - You have roughly 15 months left, meaning you need to save or grow your savings by about Rs 7333 per month to meet your goal.
3. Investment Options - Given your short time frame, here are a few options to consider: - Hybrid or Balanced Mutual Funds: These funds invest in both stocks (equity) and bonds (debt), providing moderate growth with relatively lower risk than pure equity funds. While they might not double your savings in a year, they can give you better returns than a bank savings account. On average, you could expect returns of 8-10% per year. - Debt Mutual Funds: These are safer compared to equity mutual funds but offer lower returns, typically 6-8% per year. Debt funds might be a good option if you want to minimize risk, though they won't give huge returns in a short time. - Recurring Deposits (RDs): If you’re looking for safety and guaranteed returns, an RD in a bank might be a safer option, though the returns will be around 5-6%. This won’t help double your money, but it’s secure.
4. Doubling Your Money in a Year- While it’s tempting to look for ways to double your money quickly, it’s important to understand that high returns usually come with high risk. Investing in high-risk options like **stock trading** or **cryptocurrencies** could lead to losses, especially over such a short period.
Unfortunately, doubling your money in just over a year is not realistic without taking on significant risk. A better approach is to aim for stable growth and possibly adjust your bike budget or timeframe if necessary.
5. Action Plan - Start a SIP in a **balanced or hybrid mutual fund** with your monthly savings of Rs 1200-1500.
- Continue saving as much as possible to reach your target.
- Be cautious of high-risk investments, as they could hurt your savings in the short term.
So the Conclusion that by investing in SIPs and sticking to a disciplined savings plan, you should be able to get close to your goal. While doubling your money may not happen within a year, steady growth will help you build towards your dream bike.
If you need more personalized advice, consider speaking to a financial advisor to find the best funds for your situation.

Best regards,
Nitin Narkhede
Founder & MD, Prosperity Lifestyle Hub https://Nitinnarkhede.com
Free Webinar https://bit.ly/PLH-Webinar

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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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