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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10871 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
Shaik Question by Shaik on Jan 19, 2024Hindi
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I am 42 years old, my annual income is 10Lakhs and i want to make corpus of 3cr within 18 years. Presently my investments in SIP's are: HDFC mid cap opportunities fund Rs. 3000; ABSL Equity advantage fund Rs. 3000; UTI Nifty 50 Index fund Rs.5000; Nippon Small Cap Fund Rs.2000; Parag Parikh flexi cap fund Rs. 2000; Quant multi asset fund Rs.2000; Kotak emerging equity fund Rs.1500; Tata Digital India Fund Rs. 1500. Requesting your recommendations on these and advice on furher investment if any....Thank You

Ans: You've built a diversified portfolio with a mix of large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap, flexi-cap, and sectoral funds, which is a good start towards your ambitious goal. Here are some considerations and recommendations:

Asset Allocation: Given your goal and age, you might want to tilt your portfolio towards more equity-oriented funds. While equities carry higher risk, they also offer potential for higher returns over the long term.
Review & Rebalance: Periodically review your portfolio to ensure it aligns with your goals and risk tolerance. Rebalance if necessary to maintain your desired asset allocation.
Increase SIP Amounts: With a target corpus of 3 crores in 18 years, you might need to consider increasing your SIP amounts annually to account for inflation and potentially higher returns.
Diversification: Ensure you're not overly concentrated in a single asset class or sector. Diversification across asset classes and market caps can help spread the risk.
Consult a Financial Advisor: Given the complexity of financial planning, it might be beneficial to consult a financial advisor who can provide personalized advice based on your financial situation, goals, and risk tolerance.
Remember, investing is a journey, not a destination. Consistency, discipline, and periodic reviews are key to achieving your financial goals.
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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I am 47 yrs old & have currently 3 SIP's of 10K each. 1) Parag Parekh Flexicap- ?5K 2) Kotak Emerging Equity Fund-?2500 3) Axis Small Cap Fund- ?2500 I wanted to have a Corpus of atleast 3-5 Crore in next 13 yrs till my age of 60 yrs. Should I continue with d above 3 schemes & how much SIP amt do I need to invest inorder to acheive the Corpus.
Ans: That's great you're already investing through SIPs (Systematic Investment Plans)! It shows you're on the right track to building your retirement corpus. Let's analyze your current portfolio and discuss how to reach your goals:

1. Good Start with SIPs!

Three SIPs Running! Your current SIPs of Rs. 10,000 each in a Flexi Cap, Emerging Equity, and Small Cap Fund provide some diversification across market capitalizations. This is a good starting point.

Goal in Mind! You aim for a corpus of Rs. 3-5 crore in 13 years. This requires careful planning and potentially increasing your investment amount.

2. Reaching Your Target:

Planning is Key! Accurately calculating the exact SIP amount needed is difficult without considering factors like your current corpus, expected return rate, and inflation. However, we can discuss strategies.

Review and Increase? A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) can analyze your situation and suggest if you need to increase your SIP amounts to reach your target corpus. They can also consider adding other asset classes for a more balanced approach.

3. Review and Rebalance:

Market Changes! The market keeps changing, and what looks good today might not be suitable tomorrow. It's important to periodically review your portfolio with a CFP.

Stay on Track! Regularly rebalancing your portfolio helps you maintain your target asset allocation and manage risk. A CFP can guide you on how often to review and rebalance.

4. Actively Managed Funds:

Pick Winners! Your chosen funds are actively managed, meaning fund managers try to outperform the market by picking stocks they believe will grow. Actively managed funds can outperform the market, but there's no guarantee.

Consider Your Risk: Actively managed funds tend to have higher fees than passively managed Index Funds. A CFP can help you assess your risk tolerance and choose funds that align with your goals.

Remember, reaching your target corpus requires a disciplined approach, potentially increasing your SIP amounts, and regular review with a CFP. Consulting a CFP can help you create a personalized plan and increase your chances of success.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10871 Answers  |Ask -

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

Money
Dear Sir , i am 46 years old .. Apart from properties i don't have any market investment. My aim is to have build a corpus of 2 crores in 5 years with SIP . Kindly advice on how much monthly i should be investing and what kind of funds or areas should i be investing ?
Ans: Building a corpus of Rs. 2 crores in 5 years through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) is a goal that can be achieved with disciplined and strategic investments. At 46, you have a clear target and a relatively short time frame, so an aggressive investment approach is necessary. Let’s explore how you can approach this:

1. Setting Realistic Expectations
With a 5-year investment horizon, aiming for Rs. 2 crores means your investments need to grow at a significant rate. Considering the time frame, equity mutual funds are your best option to achieve high returns, but you must also balance the risk.

Equity mutual funds have historically given annual returns between 10-15% over the long term.

In a 5-year period, you need to invest in funds that have the potential for higher returns, like mid-cap or small-cap funds. However, be prepared for volatility.

2. Required Monthly SIP Investment
To achieve Rs. 2 crores in 5 years, your SIP contributions will need to be substantial. Without going into complex formulas, we can estimate the monthly investment needed based on a 12-15% return assumption.

At 12% return: You would need to invest approximately Rs. 2.7 lakh per month.

At 15% return: You would need to invest approximately Rs. 2.5 lakh per month.

These are broad estimates and can vary based on market conditions. If you start with a lower SIP amount, consider increasing it over time with step-up SIPs, where you gradually increase your SIP amount each year.

3. Investment Strategy: Diversified and Balanced
Since your time frame is short, it’s important to balance risk and returns. Here’s how you can allocate your investments:

3.1 Equity Mutual Funds
Equity mutual funds are the most suitable for achieving your goal. Within this category, you can focus on:

Large-Cap Funds: These funds invest in well-established companies, providing relatively stable growth with lower risk than small-cap funds. These funds should form about 30-40% of your portfolio to provide stability.

Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Funds: These funds invest in medium and smaller companies. While they are riskier, they have the potential to deliver higher returns. Allocate around 30-40% to these funds to boost your returns. Be aware that small-cap funds can be volatile, especially in the short term, but they can significantly contribute to your goal over 5 years.

3.2 Aggressive Hybrid Funds
These funds invest in a mix of equity (around 65-80%) and debt (20-35%). They provide a balance between risk and return. This is ideal for someone nearing retirement but still looking for aggressive growth. You can allocate around 20-30% of your investment to such funds.

3.3 Sectoral and Thematic Funds
If you are willing to take additional risk, you could consider investing in sectoral or thematic funds. These funds focus on specific sectors like technology, healthcare, or banking. These funds are risky but can provide high returns if the sector performs well. Limit this to 10-15% of your portfolio, as these funds can be volatile.

4. Avoid Index Funds
You may come across suggestions for index funds, but they are not suitable for your goal. Index funds aim to replicate the performance of the stock market index, like Nifty or Sensex. While they are passive and have lower management costs, their returns are often moderate compared to actively managed funds. Your goal of Rs. 2 crores in 5 years requires higher returns, which can be achieved through active management.

5. Avoid Direct Funds
While direct funds are cheaper since they don’t involve distributor commissions, they lack the guidance and expertise of an experienced Certified Financial Planner (CFP). You will benefit more from regular funds, where an expert can help you navigate market fluctuations, adjust your portfolio, and rebalance based on your goals.

6. Review and Adjust Portfolio Regularly
Since the market can be volatile, especially in the short term, you must review your portfolio every 6 months. A Certified Financial Planner can help you with this by adjusting your investments based on performance. Regular reviews also ensure that you’re on track to reach your Rs. 2 crore goal.

Rebalance your portfolio if certain funds are underperforming.

Increase your SIP amount if necessary.

Switch between funds as market conditions change, focusing on areas of higher growth potential.

7. Surrender LIC Policies and Focus on Mutual Funds
If you hold traditional insurance products like LIC or ULIP plans, their returns typically range around 6-8%, which won’t help you achieve your aggressive goal of Rs. 2 crores in 5 years. It’s advisable to surrender such policies and redirect the funds towards high-growth mutual funds. Pure insurance plans such as term insurance are a better option for covering risk.

8. Tax Planning
As you invest in equity mutual funds, be aware of the new capital gains tax rules:

LTCG (Long-term capital gains) above Rs. 1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%.

STCG (Short-term capital gains) are taxed at 20%.

For debt mutual funds, both short-term and long-term capital gains are taxed according to your income tax slab. Factor this into your planning when deciding when to redeem your investments. Tax-efficient strategies, such as holding your investments for over one year, can help you minimise tax.

9. Emergency Fund
Ensure you maintain an emergency fund before committing to aggressive SIPs. Since your time horizon is only 5 years, it’s crucial to have enough liquidity to handle unexpected expenses without disturbing your investments. Typically, an emergency fund should cover 6-12 months of living expenses. You could park this in low-risk debt funds or fixed deposits for easy access.

10. Insurance Cover
Before focusing on your investment goals, it is important to have adequate life and health insurance cover. A term insurance policy with adequate cover can safeguard your family's financial future. Health insurance is equally important to cover any medical emergencies. If you have existing LIC policies, evaluate if they offer sufficient cover. Otherwise, opt for a term plan.

11. Stay Disciplined and Patient
Achieving Rs. 2 crores in 5 years is possible, but it requires commitment and discipline. Avoid panic selling during market corrections and keep your long-term goals in mind. SIPs inherently provide rupee cost averaging, so market volatility works to your advantage over time.

Finally, while an aggressive approach is needed, avoid putting all your eggs in one basket. Diversification is key to mitigating risk and ensuring your money grows steadily.

Final Insights

Building a Rs. 2 crore corpus in 5 years through SIPs is a challenging yet achievable goal with a disciplined and strategic approach. You will need to make significant monthly investments in a diversified portfolio of equity mutual funds, hybrid funds, and sectoral funds. Regular portfolio reviews, combined with disciplined investing, will help you stay on track.

Work closely with a Certified Financial Planner to review your progress and make the necessary adjustments to your portfolio as market conditions change.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10871 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 06, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 06, 2025Hindi
Money
Dear Sir/Ma'am, I need some guidance and advice for continuing my mutual fund investments. I am a 36 year old male, married, no kids yet and no debts/liabilities as such. I have couple of savings in PPF, NPS, Emergency funds and long term investing in direct stocks. I recently started below mentioned SIPs for long term to grow wealth. Request you to review the same and let me know if I should continue with the SIPs or need to rationalize. Kindly also advice on how to invest a lumpsum amount of around 6lacs. invesco small cap 2000 motilal oswal midcap 2700 parag parikh flexicap 3000 HDFC flexicap 3100 ICICI prudential largecap 3100 HDFC large and midcap 3100 HDFC gold etf FOF 2000 ICICI Pru equity and debt fund 3000 HDFC balanced advantage fund 3000 nippon india silver etf FOF 2000
Ans: You already built a solid foundation. Many investors delay planning. But you started early at 36. That gives you a strong advantage. You have no liabilities. You have long term thinking. You also have diversified savings like PPF, NPS, Emergency funds and direct stocks. That shows clarity and discipline. This approach builds wealth with less stress over time.

You also started systematic investments in equity funds. That is a positive step. Your selection covers multiple categories like large cap, mid cap, small cap, flexi cap, hybrid and precious metals. So the intent is right. You are trying to create a broad portfolio. That gives balance.

» Your Portfolio Composition Understanding
Your current SIP list includes:

Small cap

Mid cap

Flexi cap

Large cap

Large and mid cap

Hybrid category

Gold and Silver FoF

Equity and Debt allocation fund

Dynamic hybrid fund

This shows you are trying to cover many segments. But too many categories can create overlap. When there is overlap, you get confusion during review. It also makes portfolio discipline difficult. You may think you are diversified. But the holdings inside may repeat. That reduces efficiency.

Your portfolio now looks like:

Equity dominant

Hybrid for stability

Metals for hedge

So the broad direction is fine. But simplifying helps in long-term habit building.

» Fund Category Duplication
You hold:

Two flexi cap funds

One large and mid cap fund

One pure large cap fund

One mid cap fund

One small cap fund

Flexi cap funds already invest across large, mid, small. Then large and mid also overlaps. So the large cap exposure gets repeated. That may not add extra benefit. But it increases monitoring complexity.

So I suggest rationalising. Keep one fund per category in core. Keep satellite space for only high conviction.

» Core and Satellite Strategy
A structured portfolio follows core and satellite method.

Core portfolio should be:

Simple

Long term

Stable

Satellite portfolio can be:

High growth

Concentrated

Based on your thinking level, you can structure like this:

Core funds:

One large cap

One flexi cap

One hybrid equity and debt fund

One balanced advantage type fund

Satellite funds:

One mid cap

One small cap

One metal allocation if needed

This division gives clarity. You can continue SIPs with review every year. No need to stop and restart often. That reduces behavioural mistakes.

» Your Current SIP List Review with Suggested Streamlining

You can consider continuing:

One flexi cap

One large cap

One mid cap

One small cap

One balanced advantage

One equity and debt hybrid

You may reconsider keeping both flexi caps and both gold silver funds. One of each category is enough. Because too many funds do not increase returns. It complicates tracking.

Precious metal funds should not be more than 5 to 7 percent in your portfolio. This is because metals are hedge assets. They do not create compounding like equity. They act as protection during cycles. So keep them small.

» How to Use the Rs 6 Lakh Lump Sum
You asked about lump sum investing. This is important. Lump sum should not go fully into equity at one time. Markets move in cycles. So use a staggered method. You can invest the lump sum through STP (Systematic Transfer Plan). You can keep the amount in a liquid fund and set STP toward your chosen growth funds over 6 to 12 months.

This reduces timing risk. It also creates discipline. So your Rs 6 lakh can be deployed gradually. You may use 50% towards core equity funds and 30% toward satellite growth category. The remaining 20% can go into hybrid category. This gives balance and comfort.

» Regular Funds Over Direct Funds
One important point many investors miss. Direct funds look cheaper. But they demand deep knowledge, discipline, and behaviour control. Most investors lose more through emotional selling and wrong timing than they save on expense ratio.

With regular funds through a Mutual Fund Distributor with Certified Financial Planner qualification, you get guidance, structure and correction. The advisory discipline protects you during market extremes. That is more valuable than a small saving in expense ratio.

A personalised planner also tracks portfolio drift, rebalancing need and category shifts. So regular fund investing gives long-term benefit and behaviour coaching.

» Actively Managed Funds over Index or ETF
Some investors choose index funds or ETF thinking they are simple and cheap. But they ignore drawbacks.

Index funds or ETF will not avoid weak companies in the index. They will invest whether the company grows or struggles. There is no fund manager decision making. So when markets are at peak, index funds continue aggressive exposure. In downturns also they fall fully. There is no cushion.

Actively managed funds work with research teams. They can avoid bad sectors. They can shift allocation based on market and economy. Over long term, this gives better alpha and stability. So continuing with actively managed funds creates better wealth compounding.

» SIP Continuation Strategy
Once the rationalisation is done, continue SIPs every month without interruption. Pause and restart behaviour damages compounding power. SIP works best when you go through all market cycles. You benefit more during corrections because cost averaging works.

So continue SIP amount. You can also review SIP increase every year based on income. Increasing SIP by 10 to 15 percent every year helps you reach large corpus faster.

» Asset Allocation Based Approach
One key point in wealth creation is having the right asset mix. Equity gives growth. Hybrid gives balance. Metals give hedge. Debt gives safety. Your asset allocation should stay aligned to your risk profile and time horizon.

Since you are young and have long term horizon, higher equity allocation is fine. But as time moves, rebalancing is important. Rebalancing protects gains and restores allocation.

So review your asset allocation every year or during major life events like child birth, home buying or retirement planning.

» Behaviour Management
Many portfolios fail not due to bad funds. They fail due to bad decisions. Selling during correction. Stopping SIP when market falls. Chasing past return performance. These mistakes reduce wealth.

Your discipline so far is good. Continue to stay patient during volatility. Equity rewards patience and time.

» Financial Goals Clarity
Since you have no children now, you can decide your long-term goals. Typical goals may include:

Retirement

Future child education

Dream lifestyle purchase

Health care reserves

When goals are clear, investment purpose becomes stronger. So you can map each fund category to goal horizon. Short-term goals should not use equity. Long-term goals should use equity with hybrid support.

» Role of Review and Monitoring
Review once in a year is enough. Frequent review can create anxiety. Annual review helps check:

Fund performance

Expense drift

Category relevance

Allocation balance

Then adjust only if needed. This progress helps you stay confident and aligned.

» Taxation Awareness
Equity mutual funds taxation rules are:

Short term (below one year holding) taxable at 20 percent

Long term (above one year holding) gains above Rs 1.25 lakh taxable at 12.5 percent

Debt mutual funds are taxed as per your income slab.

So always hold equity funds for long term. That reduces tax impact and gives better growth.

» SIP Increase Plan
You can create a simple plan to increase SIP over time. For example:

Increase SIP at every salary increment

Increase SIP during bonus time

Use rewards or extra income for investing

This habit accelerates wealth. So by the time you reach 45 to 50 years, your investments could reach a strong level.

» Insurance and Protection
Before investing large, ensure you have term insurance and health insurance. If not already done, it is important. Insurance protects wealth. Without insurance, even a small medical event can impact investment plan. So review this part also. Since you are married, cover both.

» Wealth Behaviour Mindset
You are already disciplined. Just keep these simple principles:

Invest without stopping

Review once a year

Avoid funds overlap

Follow asset allocation

Avoid reacting to media noise

This helps you reach long term milestones.

» Finally
You are on the right track. Only fine tuning and simplification is needed. Your discipline is visible. Your portfolio will grow well with structure, patience and periodic review. Use the Rs 6 lakh with STP approach. And continue SIP with rationalised categories.

With time and consistency, wealth creation becomes effortless and peaceful. You just need to stay committed and avoid overthinking during market movements.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

...Read more

Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1837 Answers  |Ask -

Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Dec 05, 2025

Career
Dear Sir, I did my BTech from a normal engineering college not very famous. The teaching was not great and hence i did not study well. I tried my best to learn coding including all the technologies like html,css,javascript,react js,dba,php because i wanted to be a web developer But nothing seem to enter my head except html and css. I don't understand a language which has more complexities. Is it because of my lack of experience or not devoting enough time. I am not sure. I did many courses online and tried to do diplomas also abroad which i passed somehow. I recently joined android development course because i like apps but the teaching was so fast that i could not memorize anything. There was no time to even take notes down. During the course i did assignments and understood the code because i have to pass but after the course is over i tend to forget everything. I attempted a lot of interviews. Some of them i even got but could not perform well so they let me go. Now due to the AI booming and job markets in a bad shape i am re-thinking whether to keep studying or whether its just time waste. Since 3 years i am doing labour type of jobs which does not yield anything to me for survival and to pay my expenses. I have the quest to learn everything but as soon as i sit in front of the computer i listen to music or read something else. What should i do to stay more focused? What should i do to make myself believe confident. Is there still scope of IT in todays world? Kindly advise.
Ans: Your story does not show failure.
It shows persistence, effort, and desire to improve.

Most people give up.
You didn’t.
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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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