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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8365 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 04, 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 - Jun 03, 2024Hindi
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Hi Sir.. I am 35year, my investments as of now - Mutual fund portfolio -11.4lakh PF - 11lakh PPF - 3.5lakh - 2.5k/month from last 9years Stocks - 3.5lakh I have been investing in 3mutual funds since last 9years & planned to continue next 10-15 years. 1. Nippon India multi cap growth - 1k 2. Nippon India vision growth - 1k 3. ICICI Prudential multi asset fund growth - started investing 1k pm with 500rs increament per year now investing 5k/month 4. HDFC defence fund direct growth - 2.5k from last 4months Total mutual fund portfolio value- 11.40lakh as of now. Planning to retire at 50, with corpus of 2.5cr. Kindly confirm 1. is any changes required in my current mutual fund portfolio. 2. Thinking to add 2new mutual fund to invest 5-6k per month for next 10-12years, please confirm best mutual funds. 3. Kindly suggest is any changes required to get 2.5cr corpus in next 15years.

Ans: Investment Analysis and Portfolio Review
Your current investment strategy shows consistency and foresight. Investing in mutual funds, provident funds, and stocks indicates a balanced approach. However, to ensure you achieve your goal of a Rs. 2.5 crore corpus by retirement at 50, let's dive deeper into your portfolio and suggest some refinements.

Current Mutual Fund Portfolio
Nippon India Multi Cap Growth Fund: This fund offers diversified exposure across market capitalizations. Multi-cap funds can weather market volatility by adjusting their investment across large, mid, and small-cap stocks.

Nippon India Vision Growth Fund: This is a sectoral/thematic fund. While it offers growth potential, it also carries higher risk due to sector concentration.

ICICI Prudential Multi Asset Fund Growth: Multi-asset funds diversify across equity, debt, and other asset classes. Increasing your SIP amount annually is a good strategy for growth.

HDFC Defence Fund Direct Growth: A new addition focused on the defence sector. While thematic funds can yield high returns, they are also subject to higher risks.

Assessment and Recommendations
Your current portfolio mix indicates a balanced but slightly aggressive investment approach. Considering your retirement goal, here are some recommendations:

1. Maintain Diversification:
Ensure your portfolio remains diversified across different sectors and market capitalizations. This reduces risk and enhances return potential.

2. Review Sectoral Exposure:
Sectoral and thematic funds can be volatile. Limit your exposure to these funds to a small percentage of your overall portfolio.

3. Increase SIP Amounts:
To achieve a Rs. 2.5 crore corpus in 15 years, consider increasing your SIP contributions gradually. Compounding benefits will enhance your returns over time.

Suggested New Mutual Funds
Adding two new mutual funds can help further diversify your portfolio. Here are some options to consider:

1. Diversified Equity Fund:
A diversified equity fund invests across various sectors and market caps. It offers balanced growth with moderate risk.

2. Hybrid Fund:
Hybrid funds invest in both equity and debt instruments. They provide stability with the potential for equity-like returns.

Action Plan for Rs. 2.5 Crore Corpus
To achieve your target corpus, consider the following steps:

1. Review and Adjust Annually:
Regularly review your portfolio's performance. Adjust your investments based on market conditions and your financial goals.

2. Increase Investments Gradually:
Consider increasing your SIP amounts annually. This leverages the power of compounding and helps in accumulating wealth faster.

3. Stay Disciplined:
Maintain a disciplined investment approach. Avoid withdrawing investments prematurely and stay focused on your long-term goal.

4. Consult a Certified Financial Planner:
A certified financial planner can provide personalized advice and strategies. They help optimize your portfolio based on your risk profile and financial goals.

Additional Recommendations
1. Emergency Fund:
Ensure you have an emergency fund covering at least 6-12 months of expenses. This prevents premature withdrawal of your investments during emergencies.

2. Insurance Coverage:
Adequate life and health insurance coverage protects your investments. It ensures financial stability for your family in case of unforeseen events.

3. Regular Monitoring:
Keep track of your investment portfolio. Regular monitoring helps in making informed decisions and adjusting strategies as needed.

Conclusion
Your current investment strategy is commendable, showcasing consistency and a balanced approach. With a few adjustments and additional investments, you can achieve your retirement goal of Rs. 2.5 crore.

Stay disciplined, increase your SIP amounts gradually, and maintain diversification. Consulting a certified financial planner will provide personalized guidance and optimize your portfolio further.

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  |8365 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 05, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 02, 2024Hindi
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Hi sir I'm 47 yrs old have 2 kids. for their education and marriage i started investing in mutual fund since 2018.My portfolio is as follows &all are direct fund.1,CANARA ROBECCO SMALLCAP FUND 3000/MONTH 2,EDELWEISS MIDCAP FUND 2500/Month 3MIRAE ASSET LARGE CAP 2500/MONTH 4PGIM FLEXI CAP FUND 2000/MONTH 5PPFAS FLEXI CAP FUND 4000/MONTH 6QUANT ACTIVE FUND 2500/MONTH 7SBI SMALLCAP FUND 3000/MONTH 8SBI MAGNUM MIDCAP FUND 2500/MONTH 9SBI CONTRA FUND 2500/MONTH 10SBI TECHNOLOGY FUND 2000/MONTH 11KOTAK EMERGING EQUITY FUND 3000/MONTH 12HDFC MIDCAP OPPORTUNITY FUND 2500/MONTH SIR my question is that is my portfolio needed any changes? & how much corpus can I accumulate in last 13 years as i will retire at 60. Please reply & thanks in advance. 7 7 SBI SMALL CAP FUND 3000/MONTH
Ans: Your portfolio consists of a diverse mix of mutual funds across various market segments, including small-cap, mid-cap, large-cap, and flexi-cap funds. However, having such a large number of funds may lead to over-diversification and increase the complexity of managing your portfolio.

Consider consolidating your portfolio by focusing on high-quality funds that align with your investment objectives and risk tolerance. Review the performance of each fund relative to its benchmark and peers. If any fund consistently underperforms or deviates significantly from its investment objective, you may consider replacing it with a better-performing alternative.

As for the corpus accumulation, it would depend on various factors such as the performance of the funds, the consistency of your contributions, and market conditions. You may use online SIP calculators to estimate the potential corpus based on your ongoing SIP contributions and expected returns.

Given your retirement goal at age 60, ensure that your investment strategy is aligned with your long-term financial objectives and risk profile. Consider consulting with a financial advisor for personalized guidance tailored to your specific circumstances.

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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8365 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Oct 16, 2024

Money
Sir I have been investing in mutual funds for the last 5 years. Now the corpus is around 5.5 lakhs . I have the following funds in my portfolio. Please asses my portfolio or need switch. 1. Nippon india large cap fund 2000 2. Mirae asset large cap 3000 3.Axis elss tax saver 1000 4. Kotak elss tax saver 1000 5. Axis Blue chip fund 6. Jm flexi cap fund 2200 7. Motilal oswal mid cap 2000 8. Axis mid cap 1000 9. Icici prudential passive multi asset for regular growth one time amount 5000 . 10.Sbi contra fund 2000 Sir i need to build a corpus of 1.5 crore in next 12 years. My age is now 38. Please review .
Ans: You have built a diversified portfolio with a combination of large-cap, mid-cap, ELSS, and flexi-cap funds. Each fund serves a specific purpose, but a review will help optimize your investments to meet your goal of Rs. 1.5 crore in 12 years. Let’s assess each category.

Large-Cap Funds
Nippon India Large Cap Fund – Rs. 2,000 per month

Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund – Rs. 3,000 per month

Axis Bluechip Fund

These funds focus on large-cap companies, offering stable growth but with relatively lower risk. While having multiple large-cap funds ensures stability, it may lead to overlap in the portfolio. You can consider consolidating them into 1 or 2 funds to reduce redundancy. Mirae Asset and Axis Bluechip are solid options for continued long-term investments.

ELSS Funds
Axis ELSS Tax Saver – Rs. 1,000 per month

Kotak ELSS Tax Saver – Rs. 1,000 per month

ELSS funds offer tax benefits under Section 80C. However, having two ELSS funds for Rs. 2,000 might not be necessary. You can choose the one with consistent performance and focus your ELSS investment there. Axis ELSS has performed well historically, but assess both before making a decision.

Mid-Cap Funds
Motilal Oswal Mid Cap – Rs. 2,000 per month

Axis Mid Cap – Rs. 1,000 per month

Mid-cap funds offer higher growth potential than large-cap funds, but with more risk. Holding two mid-cap funds is a balanced strategy, but since the Axis Mid Cap has been consistently strong, you can consider increasing your SIP here. Motilal Oswal Mid Cap is a good performer but may need to be watched for volatility.

Flexi-Cap Funds
JM Flexi Cap Fund – Rs. 2,200 per month
Flexi-cap funds give fund managers the flexibility to invest across market capitalizations, reducing concentration risk. This fund provides good diversification. Review its performance regularly, as flexi-cap funds can vary in returns based on market conditions.

Passive Multi-Asset Fund
ICICI Prudential Passive Multi-Asset Fund (One-time investment of Rs. 5,000)
This fund combines equity, debt, and gold to balance risk. While passive funds reduce the need for active monitoring, they may not provide the same growth potential as actively managed funds. Actively managed funds tend to perform better in dynamic markets, which could better align with your long-term goal of wealth creation.

Contra Fund
SBI Contra Fund – Rs. 2,000 per month
Contra funds follow a contrarian investment strategy, buying when others are selling. While this can provide significant gains during market recovery, contra funds may experience long periods of underperformance during market booms. It's a high-risk option that may not suit every portfolio. Regularly review its performance to ensure it fits with your investment goals.

Suggestions for Improvement
Consolidate Funds: You have multiple large-cap and ELSS funds. Streamline to 1 or 2 per category to reduce overlap and improve focus. A well-performing large-cap fund and one ELSS should suffice.

Increase SIP in High-Growth Funds: Focus more on mid-cap and flexi-cap funds, as they have higher growth potential. Increase your SIP in Axis Mid Cap and JM Flexi Cap, as they can boost your returns over the long term.

Review Contra and Passive Fund: SBI Contra and ICICI Passive Multi-Asset may not align with your goal of aggressive wealth creation. Consider switching to funds with more aggressive growth profiles, like a focused equity fund or a small-cap fund, to maximize potential returns.

Building a Rs. 1.5 Crore Corpus
To achieve your goal of Rs. 1.5 crore in 12 years, you'll need to invest aggressively. Based on your current portfolio, the estimated return would range between 10-12% annually, depending on market conditions and fund performance. To reach Rs. 1.5 crore in 12 years, you may need to increase your monthly SIP amount to around Rs. 20,000-25,000, depending on the returns.

Steps to Build the Corpus:
Increase SIP Contributions: To reach your goal, gradually increase your SIP amount over time. Aim to raise your SIP to Rs. 20,000-25,000 per month.

Rebalance Annually: Revisit your portfolio at least once a year. Make sure your portfolio remains aligned with your long-term goal.

Stick to Long-Term Investment: Avoid switching funds frequently. Stay committed to your investment horizon, and let the power of compounding work for you.

Emergency Fund: Ensure that you have an emergency fund in place, covering at least 6 months of expenses. This will prevent you from withdrawing your investments during unforeseen events.

Tax Planning with ELSS
You are already investing Rs. 2,000 in ELSS funds, which qualifies for tax deductions under Section 80C. Continue this as part of your tax-saving strategy, but make sure it fits into your overall portfolio without over-diversifying.

Final Insights
Your portfolio is well-diversified but can be simplified by reducing overlapping funds.

Focus on high-growth funds like mid-cap and flexi-cap to achieve your long-term goals.

Regularly review and rebalance your portfolio based on performance and market conditions.

Increase your SIP contributions gradually to ensure you are on track for your Rs. 1.5 crore goal in the next 12 years.

Avoid frequent switching; give your investments time to grow.

Tax planning with ELSS funds is good, but one fund is enough for your tax-saving needs.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

..Read more

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Asked by Anonymous - Apr 22, 2025
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I have always taken pride for being an empathetic and approachable leader at work. Over the years, my team members have confided in me about their personal losses, burnout, even interpersonal conflicts within the team. While I am glad that they trust me, I have also noticed that my tendency to take on their emotional weight sometimes clouds my judgment when it comes to managing performance issues. In one instance, I gave extended flexibility to someone underperforming due to personal stress, and it affected the team's morale. Do you think being a compassionate leader can affect my accountability? I feel they might be taking me for granted.
Ans: Hi!!
It is extremely important to have empathy and approachability as qualities in a leader. You have them so congratulations!!

As a leader it is important for you maintain a safe distance too , so that people don't take you for granted and that your judgement is not clouded.

You need to tell people that everyone has personal problems, so the only way forward is to shut them out when they come to work and perform to the best of their abilities.

You really can't quote one incident and draw conclusions here, you might have made a mistake as regards to this team member you are mentioning, it's ok , you are human. Forgive yourself and move on.
You need to find a balance between empathy and accountability...it's a tough job to be a leader, and a compassionate one that too. Apply the concept of "different strokes to different people at different times". Set boundaries, take care of yourself and your time. You must take care of your emotional well being too, you can't allow everyone to dump their baggage on you.

Take every experience as an experience to make you wiser, have a discerning eye and know when to put your foot down and when you need your inherent compassionate quality.

Enjoy being a leader...you really can make a difference in people's lives, but at the same time you have to take care of yourself.

All the very best...

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Career Counsellor - Answered on May 14, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - May 07, 2025
Career
Which best colleges can i get with 181080 rank in jee mains for cse which has high ROI
Ans: Here are some steps you can follow to find out which NIT, IIIT, or GFTI you will receive. ROI is dependent on your ability to build a profile, improve your skills, and conduct research on the job market environment over the next four years.

Please note, Providing precise admission chances for each student can be challenging. Some reputed educational websites offer ‘College Predictor’ tools where you can check possible college options based on your percentile, category, and preferences. However, for a more accurate understanding, here’s a simple yet effective 9-step method using JoSAA’s past-year opening and closing ranks. This approach gives you a fair estimate (though not 100% exact) of your admission chances based on the previous year’s data.

Here is, How to Predict Your Chances of Admission into NIT or IIIT or GFTI After JEE Main Results – A Step-by-Step Guide.

Step-by-Step Guide to Check Your Admission Chances Using JoSAA Data
Step 1: Collect Your Key Details
Before starting, note down the following details:

Your JEE Main percentile
Your category (General-Open, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD categories)
Preferred institute types (NIT, IIIT, GFTI)
Preferred locations (or if you're open to any location in India)
List of at least 3 preferred academic programs (branches) as backups (instead of relying on just one option)
Step 2: Access JoSAA’s Official Opening & Closing Ranks
Go to Google and type: JoSAA Opening & Closing Ranks 2024
Click on the first search result (official JoSAA website).
You will land directly on JoSAA’s portal, where you can enter your details to check past-year cutoffs.
Step 3: Select the Round Number
JoSAA conducts five rounds of counseling.
For a safer estimate, choose Round 4, as most admissions are settled by this round.
Step 4: Choose the Institute Type
Select NIT, IIIT, or GFTI, depending on your preference.
If you are open to all types of institutes, check them one by one instead of selecting all at once.
Step 5: Select the Institute Name (Based on Location)
It is recommended to check institutes one by one, based on your preferred locations.
Avoid selecting ‘ALL’ at once, as it may create confusion.
Step 6: Select Your Preferred Academic Program (Branch)
Enter the branches you are interested in, one at a time, in your preferred order.
Step 7: Submit and Analyze Results
After selecting the relevant details, click the ‘SUBMIT’ button.
The system will display Opening & Closing Ranks of the selected institute and branch for different categories both Home State (HS) i.e. State you belong to & also Other State (OS).
Step 8: Note Down the Opening & Closing Ranks
Maintain a notebook or diary to record the Opening & Closing Ranks for each institute and branch you are interested in, separately for HS & OS Categories for a quick reference.
This will serve as a quick reference during JoSAA counseling.
Step 9: Adjust Your Expectations on a Safer Side
Since Opening & Closing Ranks fluctuate slightly each year, always adjust the numbers for safety.
Example Calculation:
If the Opening & Closing Ranks for NIT Delhi | Mechanical Engineering | OPEN Category show 8622 & 26186 (for Home State), consider adjusting them to 8300 & 23000 (on a safer side).
If the Female Category rank is 34334 & 36212, adjust it to 31000 & 33000.

Follow this approach for Other State candidates and different categories.
Pro Tip: Adjust your expected rank slightly lower than the previous year's cutoffs for realistic expectations during JoSAA counseling.

Can This Method Be Used for JEE April & JEE Advanced?
Yes! You can repeat the same steps after your April JEE Main results to refine your admission possibilities.
You can also follow a similar process for JEE Advanced cutoffs when applying for IITs.

Want to Learn More About JoSAA Counseling?
If you want detailed insights on JoSAA counseling, engineering entrance exams, preparation strategies, and engineering career options, check out EduJob360’s 180+ YouTube videos on this topic!

Hope this guide helps! All the best for your admissions!

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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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