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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 29, 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
Sharanappa Question by Sharanappa on Nov 19, 2023Hindi
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have 36000 salary and investing 7500/month in SIP and every month 2000rs I'm purchasing stocks(I take own study), Total 9500/month Mutual funds are direct growth *SBI midcap fund 1000* *SBI consumption opportunity fund 1000* *Canara robeco tax saving fund 2000* *Quant small cap 2000* *Quant dynamic asset allocation fund 1000* *Digital gold 500/month* One year old portfolio 10-15 years time zone For long term

Ans: Building a Diversified Investment Portfolio for Long-Term Growth
It's commendable that you're taking proactive steps to invest a portion of your salary in mutual funds and stocks for long-term wealth creation. Let's analyze your investment strategy and provide recommendations to optimize your portfolio for sustained growth.

Evaluating Your Current Investment Strategy
Your current approach involves investing Rs 7,500 per month in SIPs and allocating an additional Rs 2,000 monthly for purchasing individual stocks based on your own study. This demonstrates a balanced approach towards both mutual funds and direct stock investments.

Assessing Mutual Fund Selections
Your mutual fund portfolio consists of a mix of mid-cap funds, thematic funds, tax-saving fund, small-cap fund, and dynamic asset allocation fund. This diversification reflects a thoughtful selection across various segments of the market.

Disadvantages of Direct Funds
Investing directly in stocks requires in-depth research and expertise. It's important to recognize the risks associated with individual stock selection, including volatility and potential losses. Mutual funds offer professional management and diversification, mitigating such risks.

Benefits of Regular Plans through Certified Financial Planners
Investing through regular plans with the guidance of a Certified Financial Planner ensures that you receive expert advice and personalized recommendations. Regular plans offer continuous support and portfolio management, aligning with your long-term financial goals.

Disadvantages of Investing in Gold
While gold serves as a hedge against inflation and market volatility, investing in digital gold may not offer the same benefits as physical gold. Digital gold lacks the tangibility and security associated with physical gold investments.

Benefits of Actively Managed Funds
Actively managed funds have professional fund managers making strategic investment decisions. They aim to outperform the market by selecting high-potential stocks. Actively managed funds offer the potential for higher returns compared to passive index funds.

Disadvantages of Index Funds
Index funds passively track a market index and do not aim to outperform it. They lack the strategic decision-making of actively managed funds. For investors seeking higher returns and active management, index funds may not be the best choice.

Recommendations for Portfolio Optimization
Consider consolidating your mutual fund investments into fewer funds to simplify your portfolio and reduce overlapping holdings.
Evaluate the performance of your individual stock investments regularly and consider rebalancing your portfolio if needed.
Continue investing regularly in mutual funds through SIPs to benefit from rupee cost averaging and long-term compounding.
Review your investment strategy periodically with a Certified Financial Planner to ensure alignment with your financial goals and risk tolerance.
Conclusion
Your investment strategy reflects a balanced approach towards wealth creation, combining mutual funds and direct stock investments. By optimizing your portfolio, seeking expert advice, and staying disciplined in your investment approach, you can achieve long-term financial success.

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  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 30, 2024

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I have 36000 salary and investing 7500/month in SIP and every month 2000rs I'm purchasing stocks(I take own study), Total 9500/month Mutual funds are direct growth *SBI midcap fund 1000* *SBI consumption opportunity fund 1000* *Canara robeco tax saving fund 2000* *Quant small cap 2000* *Quant dynamic asset allocation fund 1000* *Digital gold 500/month* One year old portfolio 10-15 years time zone For retirement plan
Ans: Evaluating Investment Strategy for Retirement Planning
Your investment strategy, blending systematic investment plans (SIPs) in mutual funds and direct stock purchases, showcases a proactive approach to building wealth for retirement. Let's delve deeper into each component to ensure it aligns with your long-term financial goals while addressing associated risks.

SIP Investments:

Diversified Portfolio: Your allocation across various mutual funds, including mid-cap, tax-saving, small-cap, and dynamic asset allocation, offers diversification benefits, spreading risk across different asset classes and market segments.
Consistent Investing: Regular monthly investments through SIPs demonstrate discipline and harness the power of compounding over the long term, contributing significantly to wealth accumulation.
Professional Management: Mutual funds are managed by seasoned fund managers who conduct in-depth research and analysis, potentially delivering superior returns compared to individual stock picking.
Direct Stock Purchases:

Hands-on Approach: Actively purchasing stocks based on personal study reflects an engaged investment approach, potentially leading to enhanced returns through astute stock selection and market insights.
Risks of Individual Stock Selection: Direct stock investing entails specific risks, including company-specific risks such as poor management decisions, industry risks, and market volatility, which can adversely impact portfolio performance.
Lack of Diversification: Concentrating investments in a few individual stocks exposes the portfolio to higher idiosyncratic risk compared to diversified mutual funds, where risk is spread across multiple securities.
Risks of Direct Stock Investing Over Mutual Funds:

Higher Volatility: Individual stocks tend to be more volatile than diversified mutual funds, as their prices are influenced by company-specific news and events, leading to larger price fluctuations.
Lack of Professional Management: Direct stock investors bear the responsibility of conducting thorough research, monitoring stock performance, and making timely decisions, which may not always match the expertise and resources of professional fund managers.
Higher Transaction Costs: Direct stock investing often incurs higher transaction costs, including brokerage fees, taxes, and bid-ask spreads, which can erode returns, especially for small investors.
Risks of Direct Funds Over Regular Mutual Fund Distributors (MFDs):

Limited Access to Advice: Investing directly in mutual funds may limit access to personalized financial advice and guidance provided by certified financial planners or experienced mutual fund distributors, potentially leading to suboptimal investment decisions.
Lack of Portfolio Monitoring: Direct investors are responsible for monitoring their portfolios, tracking fund performance, and rebalancing asset allocations, which requires time, knowledge, and expertise.
Potential for Missed Opportunities: Without the assistance of a regular mutual fund distributor, investors may miss out on new fund offerings, market insights, and investment opportunities that could enhance portfolio returns and diversification.
Recommendations:
Review Portfolio Composition: Periodically review your portfolio to ensure it remains aligned with your risk tolerance, investment objectives, and time horizon, considering the risks associated with direct stock investing.
Risk Management: Continuously monitor individual stock performance and mutual fund returns to identify underperforming assets and take necessary actions to mitigate risks.
Asset Allocation: Rebalance your portfolio periodically to maintain an optimal asset allocation based on your risk profile and investment goals, considering the risks inherent in both direct stock investing and direct mutual fund investments.
Consult a Certified Financial Planner: Seek professional advice from a Certified Financial Planner to reassess your retirement goals, risk tolerance, and investment strategy, ensuring it remains conducive to achieving your long-term financial objectives while mitigating associated risks.
Your proactive approach towards retirement planning is commendable. By remaining disciplined, diversifying your investments, and periodically reviewing your portfolio, you're on track to build a robust financial foundation for retirement.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Latest Questions
Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10854 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Dec 14, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025Hindi
Career
Hello, I am currently in Class 12 and preparing for JEE. I have not yet completed even 50% of the syllabus properly, but I aim to score around '110' marks. Could you suggest an effective strategy to achieve this? I know the target is relatively low, but I have category reservation, so it should be sufficient.
Ans: With category reservation (SC/ST/OBC), a score of 110 marks is absolutely achievable and realistic. Based on 2025 data, SC candidates qualified with approximately 60-65 percentile, and ST candidates with 45-55 percentile. Your target requires scoring just 37-40% marks, which is significantly lower than general category standards. This gives you a genuine advantage. Immediate Action Plan (December 2025 - January 2026): 4-5 Weeks. Week 1-2: High-Weightage Chapter Focus. Stop trying to complete the entire syllabus. Instead, focus exclusively on high-scoring chapters that carry maximum weightage: Physics (Modern Physics, Current Electricity, Work-Power-Energy, Rotation, Magnetism), Chemistry (Chemical Bonding, Thermodynamics, Coordination Compounds, Electrochemistry), and Maths (Integration, Differentiation, Vectors, 3D Geometry, Probability). These chapters alone can yield 80-100+ marks if practiced properly. Ignore topics you haven't studied yet. Week 2-3: Previous Year Questions (PYQs). Solve JEE Main PYQs from the last 10 years (2015-2025) for chapters you're studying. PYQs reveal question patterns and difficulty levels. Focus on understanding why answers are correct, not memorizing solutions. Week 3-4: Mock Tests & Error Analysis. Take 2-3 full-length mock tests weekly under timed conditions. This is crucial because mock tests build exam confidence, reveal time management weaknesses, and error analysis prevents repeated mistakes. Maintain an error notebook documenting every mistake—this becomes your revision guide. Week 4-5: Revision & Formula Consolidation. Create concise formula sheets for each subject. Spend 30 minutes daily reviewing formulas and key concepts. Avoid learning new topics entirely at this stage. Study Schedule (Daily): 7-8 Hours. Morning (5:00-7:30 AM): Physics concepts + 30 PYQs. Break (7:30-8:30 AM): Breakfast & rest. Mid-morning (8:30-11:00): Chemistry concepts + 20 PYQs. Lunch (11:00-1:00 PM): Full break. Afternoon (1:00-3:30 PM): Maths concepts + 30 PYQs. Evening (3:30-5:00 PM): Mock test or error review. Night (7:00-9:00 PM): Formula revision & weak area focus. Strategic Approach for 110 Marks: Attempt only confident questions and avoid negative marking by skipping difficult questions. Do easy questions first—in the exam, attempt all basic-level questions before attempting medium or hard ones. Focus on quality over quantity as 30 well-practiced questions beat 100 random questions. Master NCERT concepts as most JEE questions test NCERT concepts applied smartly. April 2026 Session Advantage. If January doesn't deliver desired results, April gives you a second chance with 3+ months to prepare. Use January as a practice attempt to identify weak areas, then focus intensively on those in February-March. Realistic Timeline: January 2026 target is 95-110 marks (achievable with focused 50% syllabus), while April 2026 target is 120-130 marks (with complete syllabus + experience). Your reservation benefit means you need only approximately 90-105 marks to qualify and secure admission to quality engineering colleges. Stop comparing yourself to general category cutoffs. Most Importantly: Consistency beats perfection. Study 6 focused hours daily rather than 12 distracted hours. Your 110-mark target is realistic—execute this plan with discipline. All the BEST for Your JEE 2026!

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Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1840 Answers  |Ask -

Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Dec 13, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025
Career
Dear Sir/Madam, I am currently a 1st year UG student studying engineering in Sairam Engineering College, But there the lack of exposure and strict academics feels so rigid and I don't like it that. It's like they don't gaf about skills but just wants us to memorize things and score a good CGPA, the only skill they want is you to memorize things and pass, there's even special class for students who don't perform well in academics and it is compulsory for them to attend or else the student and his/her parents needs to face authorities who lashes out. My question is when did engineering became something that requires good academics instead of actual learning and skill set. In sairam they provides us a coding platform in which we need to gain the required points for each semester which is ridiculous cuz most of the students here just look at the solution to code instead of actual debugging. I am passionate about engineering so I want to learn and experiment things instead of just memorizing, so I actually consider dropping out and I want to give jee a try and maybe viteee , srmjeee But i heard some people say SRM may provide exposure but not that good in placements. I may not be excellent at studies but my marks are decent. So gimme some insights about SRM and recommend me other colleges/universities which are good at exposure
Ans: First — your frustration is valid

What you are experiencing at Sairam is not engineering, it is rote-based credential production.

“When did engineering become memorizing instead of learning?”

Sadly, this shift happened decades ago in most Tier-3 private colleges in India.

About “coding platforms & points” – your observation is sharp

You are absolutely right:

Mandatory coding points → students copy solutions

Copying ≠ learning

Debugging & thinking are missing

This is pseudo-skill education — it looks modern but produces shallow engineers.

The fact that you noticed this in 1st year already puts you ahead of 80% students.

Should you DROP OUT and prepare for JEE / VITEEE / SRMJEEE?

Although VIT/SRM is better than Sairam Engineering College, but you may face the same problem. You will not face this type of problem only in some top IITs, but getting seat in those IITs will be difficult.
Instead of dropping immediately, consider:

???? Strategy:

Stay enrolled (degree security)

Reduce emotional investment in college rules

Use:

GitHub

Open-source projects

Hackathons

Internships (remote)

Hardware / software self-projects

This way:

College = formality

Learning = self-driven

Risk = minimal

...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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