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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 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
Asked by Anonymous - May 23, 2024Hindi
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Hi, I am 47 , just bought a house of 90L , with 10 Lacs loan, i have 30 L in mutual funds, i have goal of 2 crores till retirement which can take care of my regular expenses. How much should i save in SIP so that i can reach that goal.

Ans: Crafting Your Financial Journey to a ?2 Crore Retirement Corpus
Understanding Your Financial Landscape
You are 47 years old and have recently purchased a house worth ?90 lakhs, with a ?10 lakh loan. Additionally, you have ?30 lakhs invested in mutual funds. Your goal is to accumulate ?2 crores by retirement to secure your regular expenses. Achieving this requires a clear and strategic savings plan through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs).

Genuine Compliments and Understanding
Your foresight in planning for retirement and taking actionable steps shows great financial prudence. Investing in mutual funds and securing a home demonstrates a balanced approach to building wealth and stability.

Evaluating Your Current Situation
Current Investments and Assets
Home Value: ?90 lakhs
Outstanding Loan: ?10 lakhs
Mutual Funds: ?30 lakhs
With a solid foundation in mutual funds and real estate, your next focus should be increasing your investments to meet your retirement goal.

Setting a Realistic SIP Target
Calculating the SIP Amount
To reach ?2 crores by retirement, you need to consider several factors:

Current Mutual Fund Value: ?30 lakhs
Time to Retirement: Assuming you plan to retire at 60, you have 13 years.
Required Corpus: ?2 crores
Existing Assets: ?30 lakhs in mutual funds
The remaining amount to be accumulated is ?1.7 crores. To determine the exact SIP amount, consult with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) who can consider market conditions, expected returns, and your risk tolerance.

Creating a Diversified Investment Strategy
Choosing the Right Mutual Funds
Equity Mutual Funds: Allocate a significant portion to equity mutual funds for high growth potential. Diversify across large-cap, mid-cap, and multi-cap funds to spread risk.
Debt Funds: Include debt funds to balance risk and provide stability. Short-term and medium-term debt funds can offer steady returns with lower risk.
Balanced Funds: Consider balanced funds that invest in both equities and debt instruments. These funds provide a mix of growth and stability.
Benefits of Actively Managed Funds
Actively managed funds are preferable over index funds for achieving specific financial goals. These funds benefit from expert fund managers who adjust the portfolio based on market conditions. Investing through a CFP ensures that you receive professional advice and a tailored investment strategy.

Regular Monitoring and Adjustment
Performance Review
Regularly review your investment portfolio’s performance. This ensures that your investments are aligned with your goals and allows for timely adjustments based on market trends and personal circumstances.

Rebalancing Portfolio
Periodic rebalancing of your portfolio is essential. This process involves adjusting the allocation between equities and debt to maintain the desired risk-return balance. Rebalancing helps in optimizing returns and managing risks effectively.

Importance of Professional Guidance
Role of a Certified Financial Planner
A CFP can provide personalized advice tailored to your financial situation and goals. They help in creating a strategic investment plan, selecting the right funds, and making necessary adjustments over time. Working with a CFP ensures that your investment journey is well-guided and on track.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Disadvantages of New Fund Offers (NFOs) and Sectoral Funds
New Fund Offers (NFOs) often lack a performance track record, making them riskier compared to established funds. Sectoral funds, which focus on specific industries, can be highly volatile. Diversified mutual funds offer a balanced risk-return profile and are generally safer for long-term goals.

Risks of Direct Funds
Investing in direct funds might save on commission fees but often lacks professional guidance. Regular funds, managed by experienced professionals and recommended by CFPs, can provide better risk management and potentially higher returns.

Conclusion
To achieve your goal of accumulating ?2 crores by retirement, start with a well-planned SIP strategy. Invest in a mix of equity, debt, and balanced funds, and seek guidance from a certified financial planner. Regularly review and adjust your portfolio to stay aligned with your financial objectives.

Your proactive approach to securing your retirement and providing for your future expenses is commendable. With a strategic investment plan and professional guidance, you are well on your way to achieving your financial goals.

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 Apr 23, 2024

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Hello, I have a monthly saving of approximately rs 6000 in nps, rs7000 in pf with the rate of interest of approx 6.9, rs 23000 in SBI small cap mf, rs 16000 in ICICI prudential Blue chip mf, rs 5000 in kotak gold fund mf and rs 3000 in HDFC index s&p BSE sensex mf. I am 31 years old and i would like to know how much should I increase the investment and/ if I need to reallocate my sip to ensure retirement at 50 years old with a monthly expenses of 1lc.
Ans: You're off to a good start with your investments! Given your age and the goal of retiring at 50 with a monthly expense of 1 lakh, you have approximately 19 years to achieve this goal. Here are some suggestions to align your investments with your retirement goal:

Increase SIPs: At 31, you have time on your side. You might want to consider increasing your SIP amounts annually, perhaps by 10-15% to account for inflation and salary increments.
Reallocation:
Equity Allocation: Given your long-term horizon and age, you can afford to have a higher allocation to equities. Consider reallocating more towards equity mutual funds.
Diversification: Ensure you're not overly concentrated in a single asset class. Diversify across large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap funds to spread the risk.
NPS & PF: NPS and PF are good vehicles for retirement savings, but they are more conservative. You might want to consider taking some risk by increasing your equity exposure through mutual funds to potentially earn higher returns.
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.
Emergency Fund: Ensure you have an emergency fund equivalent to 6-12 months of expenses in a liquid and safe instrument.
Consult a Financial Advisor: Given the complexity of retirement 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, retirement planning is a marathon, not a sprint. Consistency, discipline, and periodic reviews are key to achieving your retirement goals.

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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 21, 2024

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I am 53 years old working woman having SIP of 50000 per month. My retirement age is 60 years. My total corpus is 1 crore 30 lacs. How much I should save to have a corpus of around 2.25 crores at my retirement?
Ans: Assessing Your Current Financial Situation
You have done an admirable job, accumulating a corpus of ?1.30 crores and saving ?50,000 per month through SIPs. At 53 years old, you are well on your way to securing a comfortable retirement by 60.

Setting a Retirement Goal
Your goal is to have a corpus of ?2.25 crores by the time you retire at 60. To achieve this, you need to evaluate your current savings strategy and make necessary adjustments.

Calculating the Required Savings
Your existing corpus and ongoing SIPs are already substantial. However, to bridge the gap and reach ?2.25 crores, you may need to increase your monthly savings or invest in higher-yielding instruments.

Benefits of Actively Managed Funds
Consider investing in actively managed funds. These funds have professional managers who actively make investment decisions to outperform the market. This approach can potentially yield higher returns compared to index funds, which merely track the market.

Evaluating Your SIP Strategy
Your current SIPs of ?50,000 per month are a great way to build wealth systematically. Review the performance of these SIPs periodically. Ensure they are aligned with your financial goals and risk tolerance. Adjusting your SIP amount upward, if feasible, can help you reach your target faster.

Diversifying Your Investments
Diversification reduces risk and enhances potential returns. Ensure your portfolio includes a balanced mix of equity and debt funds. Equity funds offer growth, while debt funds provide stability.

Importance of Regular Reviews
Regularly reviewing your investment portfolio is essential. Financial markets and personal circumstances change over time. Annual reviews with a Certified Financial Planner can help you stay on track towards your retirement goal.

Risk Management
Assess your risk tolerance. As you approach retirement, consider gradually shifting from high-risk investments to more stable ones. This strategy protects your corpus from market volatility as you near your retirement age.

Professional Guidance
A Certified Financial Planner can provide personalized advice tailored to your situation. They can help optimize your investment strategy, ensuring it aligns with your retirement goals. Their expertise ensures your financial plan is robust and adaptable to changes.

Inflation Considerations
Inflation erodes purchasing power over time. Ensure your retirement corpus grows at a rate that outpaces inflation. Investing in growth-oriented funds can help counteract the effects of inflation.

Health and Emergency Funds
Maintain an emergency fund separate from your retirement savings. This fund should cover unexpected expenses and be easily accessible. Additionally, ensure you have adequate health insurance to cover medical costs during retirement.

Appreciating Your Progress
Your dedication to saving and planning for retirement is commendable. By staying disciplined and proactive, you are well on your way to achieving your retirement goals. Continue your efforts with confidence and regular guidance from a Certified Financial Planner.

Conclusion
To achieve a retirement corpus of ?2.25 crores by age 60, consider increasing your SIPs, diversifying your investments, and regularly reviewing your portfolio. With professional guidance and careful planning, you can secure a comfortable and fulfilling retirement.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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Sunil

Sunil Lala  | Answer  |Ask -

Financial Planner - Answered on Jul 22, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 19, 2025Hindi
Money
Hi, I am 37 years old, married but no kids. Plan to have a kid in next 18-24 months. My current investments include 25lakh in PPF, 45 lakh in EPF, 98 lakh in MF, 20 lakh in stocks and 50 lakh in NSC/KVP, 15 Lakh in NPS & 10 Lakh SGB. My monthly in hand is 2.5 Lakh. My SIP is 60k per month spread across 8 MFs including Index, MidCap, BlueChip & Arbitrage funds. Have a car loan with 40k EMI. My monthly expenses are approx. 75k. With a kid planned in 18-24 months and monthly expenses growing to 1.25 lakh. I have my own house and have no EMIs for it. Major future expenses shall include 1 international trip once in every 2 years (approx 3 lakh at current value each trip post retirement), kids education (20 lakh for Grad & 50 lakh for PG at current value) , marriage (approx 30-40 lakh @ current value) etc. How much savings do I need to safely retired by 48-50. Also, by how much shall I increase my SIP to achieve financial independence by 48-50 years with Life expectancy until approx. 75 yrs.
Ans: Hello, you have a lot of money parked in investments that are not liquid at all. For eg, money locked in PPF, EPF (70L) is not considered a liquid asset and may pose a problem in case need arises in near future. Also, 50L in NSC/KVP, 15L in NPS and 10L in SGB are investments that are not yielding optimum returns. You have 98L worth of MFs and I'm sure you have seen the growth rate, and even after seeing that you have decided to lock your money in low yielding assets that are barely beating the inflation. Your SIP decisions of Index funds, Bluechips and Arbitrage funds are also ineffecient since you have a lot of investible time in your hand to make generational returns over long periods of time.
I understand your financial goals w.r.t to your child and retirement, but there still seems some data that may be required on my end in order to help you with apt advice about planning for the future. But as of now, from the data you have shared, I would humbly advice you to stop investing in assets that are illiquid in nature or are not yielding optimum returns for you like investments in PPF, EPF, NPS, NSC and SGBs.
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Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |235 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 18, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 17, 2025
Money
I am 42 year old, with two kids 12 and 3. I have 4 lakhs in stock and mutual fund. I am trying to keep sip investment 25000 every month. 13 lakhs in PF. My house loan is 5600000 and EMI is 49000 for 30 years. I want to retire at age of 60. I want 2 crores at the time of retirement after the th amount required for kids education. I am expecting 20 lakhs for kids education. How much I need to invest per month.
Ans: Dear sir,

???? Your Current Snapshot

Age: 42 (Retirement target: 60 → 18 years left)

Kids: Age 12 & 3 (education goal upcoming in ~6 years & ~15 years)

Current Assets:

PF: ?13 lakhs

Stocks + MF: ?4 lakhs

SIP: ?25,000/month ongoing

Liability: Home loan ?56 lakhs, EMI ?49,000 (30 years – but practically, should be cleared before retirement).

Goals:

Kids’ education: ?20 lakhs (in today’s value)

Retirement corpus: ?2 crores at 60

???? Kids’ Education Goal

Let’s assume 8% inflation in education costs.

For 12-year-old: need in ~6 years
?20 lakhs × (1.08^6) ≈ ?31.7 lakhs

For 3-year-old: need in ~15 years
?20 lakhs × (1.08^15) ≈ ?63.4 lakhs

Total future requirement: ~?95 lakhs

???? Education needs itself are close to ?1 crore.

???? Retirement Goal

You want ?2 crores at age 60.
Let’s assume your MF equity SIP earns 11% annualized return.

Future value of existing PF (?13 lakhs @ 7% for 18 years) ≈ ?44 lakhs
Future value of current ?4 lakhs (equity @ 11%) ≈ ?22 lakhs

So without any extra investment, you already have ~?66 lakhs growing.

To reach ?2 crores, you need another ?1.34 crores in 18 years.

At 11% returns, SIP needed ≈ ?32,000/month

???? Putting Together

For Education:
To accumulate ~?95 lakhs in 6–15 years, you need separate investments:

6 years horizon (child 1) → equity + debt hybrid, SIP ≈ ?35,000/month

15 years horizon (child 2) → equity oriented, SIP ≈ ?15,000/month

For Retirement:
SIP required ≈ ?32,000/month (equity funds).

? Total SIP required = ?82,000/month

Currently you’re investing ?25,000/month. You’ll need to step up gradually (every year increase SIP by 10–12%).

???? Key Suggestions

Separate Buckets

Education funds → don’t mix with retirement SIPs.

Use debt/equity mix depending on time horizon.

Step-up SIP

If you start at ?25k now and increase by 10% yearly, by 18 years you’ll still reach close to goals.

But be disciplined to increase annually.

Loan Strategy

Try to reduce tenure of home loan. Clearing it before retirement is critical.

Any bonuses/surplus should partly go towards prepayment.

Insurance Check

Take adequate term life cover (at least ?1–1.5 crore).

???? To sum up:

Education: ~?50k/month (combined for both kids)

Retirement: ~?30–32k/month

Adjust with step-up SIPs if not possible immediately.

It is strongly recommended to consult a QPFP/Financial Planner to work on detailed cash flow budgeting, expense control, and long-term goal planning tailored to your family’s needs.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme related documents carefully before investing.

Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
https://members.networkfp.com/member/naveenkumarreddy-vadula-chennai

..Read more

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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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