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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 03, 2025

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 27, 2025Hindi
Money

I am 58 years old, have corpus of 50. Lac in diversified mutual-funds. Need to generate around 6.lac per year minimum to run house.post 60 age. 30 lac in hdfc balanced advantage.fund. monthly return 21000

Ans: You are 58 years old with a diversified mutual fund corpus of Rs?50?lakh.
You need to generate Rs?6?lakh per year (roughly Rs?50?000 per month) post age?60.
Let’s structure a detailed 360?degree plan tailored to your needs.

Evaluating Your Current Income Needs
You seek Rs?6?lakh yearly for living expenses.

That is around Rs?50?000 per month.

You have Rs?30?lakh in a balanced advantage fund earning Rs?21?000 monthly.

This gives Rs?2.52?lakh annually.

You need Rs?3.48?lakh more every year.

Your remaining corpus is Rs?20?lakh in other diversified funds.

Importance of Diversification and Asset Allocation
Your current income is limited to balanced advantage returns.

You need to balance growth and income properly.

Equity gives capital appreciation and partial dividends.

Debt gives stable income but lower growth.

A mix of equity and debt helps reach your income goal without depleting capital.

Balanced funds reduce volatility but may not pay dividends constantly.

You must adopt a flexible approach to generate Rs?6?lakh per year.

Generating Monthly Income via Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP)
SWP offers regular monthly cash flows from mutual funds.

Use SWP from debt funds and balanced funds for predictable income.

Transfer a portion of your diversified corpus into debt and hybrid funds.

Run SWP to withdraw Rs?50?000 every month.

This gives Rs?6?lakh annually, aligned with your goal.

The remaining corpus stays invested for growth.

SWP also offers tax efficiency if long?term funds are used.

Proposed Corpus Reallocation
Current Corpus: Rs?50?lakh

Rs?30?lakh in balanced advantage fund

Rs?20?lakh in diversified equity funds

Suggested Shift:

Keep Rs?20?lakh in equity mutual funds (for long?term growth).

Move Rs?20?lakh into high-quality debt mutual funds suitable for SWP.

Keep Rs?10?lakh in balanced advantage or hybrid funds for cushion.

This mix balances growth and income generation.

Structuring Your Monthly Withdrawal Plan
Start SWP from debt funds: Rs?25?000 monthly.

Start SWP from balanced/hybrid funds: Rs?25?000 monthly.

Combined SWP: Rs?50?000 per month (Rs?6?lakh annually).

Equity corpus can remain untouched, allowing compounding.

Review SWP yearly to adjust with market performance and inflation.

Benefits of this Reallocation
Debt funds offer stability and regular income.

Balanced funds help bridge income shortfall.

Equity funds remain for capital growth even post-retirement.

Corpus remains largely intact, sustaining income for years.

SWP is flexible—you can increase, pause, or stop anytime.

Tax Considerations of SWP Withdrawals
Debt fund withdrawals: taxed as per your income slab.

If held over three years, only LTCG is taxed.

Balanced advantage dividends are tax?free if no DDT is paid.

Equity income through SWP from equity funds is LTCG?safe if held long term.

A Certified Financial Planner can optimise fund selection and withdrawal schedules for tax efficiency.

Maintaining a Safe Equity Buffer
Keeping Rs?20?lakh in equity funds offers cushion against inflation.

This helps maintain the real value of your income over time.

Equity exposure ensures growth to protect against rising costs.

We propose a 40% equity allocation for long-term stability.

Use actively managed equity funds, not index funds.

Actively managed funds offer downside protection and thematic flexibility.

Role of Balanced Advantage Fund in Your Strategy
Balanced advantage fund already yields Rs?21?000 monthly.

This forms reliable income basis every month.

Continue this investment and draw additional SWP from it.

It acts as a buffer between equity and debt.

In volatile markets, it offers flexibility in dynamic asset allocation.

Review its performance annually to ensure it still fits your objectives.

Continuing Equity Fund Growth
Maintain Rs?20?lakh in equity fund corpus.

Do not withdraw from equity unless extremely necessary.

Keep this for inflation protection and long?term capital gains.

On certain years, you may consider withdrawal if funds are high.

Otherwise, allow compounding to continue post?60.

You may shift part of it to debt funds in your late 60s as needed.

Future-proofing Your Widened Strategy
Annually review SWP amount with Certified Financial Planner.

Adjust with inflation, investment returns, and expenses.

Ensure withdrawals don’t exceed sustainable rate (e.g. 5%–6%).

Maintain at least 40% in equity for growth and safety.

Rebalance annually between equity, balanced, and debt funds.

Revisit goal needs if medical expenses or surprises arise.

Ensuring Protection and Emergency Readiness
You have no mention of health insurance; this is critical.

Employer cover may stop at retirement.

Buy personal family floater of at least Rs?10–15?lakh now.

Also consider a term life cover if dependents are present.

Emergency fund of at least 6 months’ expenses should be kept separately.

Keep this in liquid fund or bank FD for easy access.

Monitoring and Professional Guidance
Work with a Certified Financial Planner for annual reviews.

CFPs help adjust SWP schedules, rebalance portfolio, and track expenses.

They guide in shifting corpus as your goals evolve.

Professionally managed gradual withdrawal strategy avoids impulsive moves.

Your comfort and peace of mind will be enhanced by proactive support.

Does Equity Growth Matter Post-Retirement?
Yes. Equity returns ensure corpus grows over time.

Debt alone may not beat inflation in the long run.

Balanced and modest equity exposure matters even in retirement.

This allows family legacy and buffer against financial shocks.

As you age, shift gradually from equity to debt based on need.

Common Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t withdraw lump sums—SWP is safer.

Don’t convert all corpus to debt—growth is vital.

Avoid direct funds; you need CFP guidance for portfolio.

Don’t rely solely on past dividend yield.

Avoid index funds—they cannot adapt in falling markets.

Don’t ignore tax implications of your withdrawals.

10-Year Outlook Roadmap
Year 1:

Reallocate as suggested, start SWP of Rs?50?000 monthly.

Buy health and life insurance.

Establish emergency buffer in liquid funds.

Years 2–5:

Review and rebalance portfolio annually.

Adjust SWP amount in line with inflation.

Maintain equity allocation above 40%.

Years 6–10:

Continue withdrawals, review corpus growth.

Shift equity slowly to debt if income need rises.

CFP helps with transfer of holdings and cash flow plan.

Final Insights
You are well poised to generate secure income post 60.
SWP from debt and balanced funds ensures Rs?6?lakh yearly income.
Equity corpus remains intact, growing with inflation.
Health and term insurance safeguard your household.
Annual review with a Certified Financial Planner will keep you on track.
This balanced, sustainable, and tax?aware plan helps meet your retirement goals with confidence.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
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  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

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

Asked by Anonymous - May 05, 2024Hindi
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Hello, I am 34 earning 3 lacs per month. I have been investing in Mutual funds from past 7 years and from pass 3 years I have reached and investing 1.6 lacs per month in Mutual funds. In next 10 years I want to have an automatic income of about 3 lacs per month. Can you advise how is it possible. I am investing in Mirae emerging asset, DSP, axis long term quity, parag pariek flexi cap, HDFC mic cap, HDFC Top 100, Nippon, SBi (small cap) Please advise the mutual fund I should invest and the amount to get an income of 3 lacs per month in next 7-10 years Also, i have bought a house for 1.5 cr. Have paid about 25 lacs from my investments already. Planning to pay about 70% as down payment in the next 3-4 years and 30 % loan. Is that a wise decision. Please advise
Ans: It's impressive to see your commitment to investing and your ambitious goal of generating a passive income of 3 lakhs per month in the next decade. With your current investment capacity and timeframe, achieving this target is feasible, but it requires careful planning and strategic allocation of your resources.

Given your investment horizon, you might consider a combination of growth-oriented and income-oriented mutual funds. Growth-oriented funds can provide capital appreciation over time, while income-oriented funds can generate regular dividends or interest payments.

To meet your income goal, you'll need to accumulate a significant corpus that can generate a sustainable monthly income. Based on your current investments and savings rate, you may need to increase your monthly investment amount and consider higher-returning investment avenues.

Regarding your mutual fund portfolio, it's essential to ensure diversification and align your investments with your risk tolerance and financial goals. Consider consulting with a Certified Financial Planner to tailor your portfolio to meet your income objectives while managing risk effectively.

Regarding your property investment, using a combination of your savings and a home loan for the down payment seems like a prudent approach, as it reduces your debt burden while leveraging your existing assets. However, assess your cash flow and future income prospects to ensure you can comfortably manage the loan obligations.

Overall, achieving your financial goals requires a holistic approach, considering both investment strategies and asset allocation. Stay focused on your long-term objectives, and seek professional guidance to optimize your investment plan and real estate decisions. With discipline and careful planning, you can work towards building a robust financial future.

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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 23, 2024

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My current age is 49 Years. I have my own house worth Rs. 90 lakhs, one Flat worth Rs, 50 L, two small Bungalows at Bolpur worth Rs. 25 L, and 12 kothas of Land worth Rs. 40 L. Having no loan in the market. Through mutual funds, I have invested Rs. 50 L.. Presently Its market value is 1.25 Cr. Presently I am running (1) SIP of Rs. 4,80, 000 p.a., (2) PPF of Rs. 1,50,000 /- p.a. (3) LIC (Market Linked) Rs. 2.25,000/- p.a. and (4) SBI Life Rs. 6,00,000 p.a. LICs are going to be matured by 2027. Would like to make a total fund og 5 Cr by 2030. So that after retirement at my age of 55, I can earn at least Rs. 3 L p.m. SIPs are : (1) SBI Blue Chip Fund Regular Plan Growth Rs. 60,000 p.a. (2) SBI Focussed Equity Fund Regular Growth Rs. 60,000 p.a. (3) SBI Magnum Global Fund Regular Plan Growth Rs. 60,000 p.a. (4) SBI Magnum Midcap Fund Regular Plan Growth Rs. 60,000 p.a. (5) SBI Nifty 50 Equal Weight Index Fund Regular Plan Growth Rs. 1,00,000 p.a.
Ans: Current Financial Status and Investment Goals

Your financial position is commendable. At 49, owning a house, a flat, two bungalows, and land showcases a solid real estate portfolio. Additionally, having Rs. 50 lakhs invested in mutual funds, now worth Rs. 1.25 crores, is impressive. The absence of loans further strengthens your financial health.

Ongoing Investments

You have a diversified investment approach. Your SIPs, PPF, and insurance policies show a well-thought-out strategy. These ongoing investments are critical for achieving your financial goals.

Assessing SIP Investments

Your SIP portfolio includes various funds. Actively managed funds can outperform index funds, especially in volatile markets. Certified Financial Planners can guide you in choosing funds that align with your risk tolerance and financial goals. Regular funds offer professional management, which can be beneficial.

Advantages of Actively Managed Funds

Actively managed funds aim to outperform the market. Fund managers adjust the portfolio based on market conditions. This can lead to better returns compared to index funds, which only mimic market performance.

Evaluating Insurance Policies

Your insurance policies, both LIC and SBI Life, provide a safety net. The market-linked LIC policy maturing in 2027 will add to your corpus. Ensure these policies align with your long-term financial goals.

Public Provident Fund (PPF)

Your PPF investment is a safe and tax-efficient option. It provides steady, risk-free returns and is a good addition to your retirement portfolio.

Targeting a Rs. 5 Crore Corpus by 2030

To reach Rs. 5 crore by 2030, reassess your investment strategy periodically. With your current assets and investments, this goal seems achievable. Keep track of market trends and adjust your investments accordingly.

Post-Retirement Income Plan

You aim for a monthly income of Rs. 3 lakhs post-retirement. Diversifying income sources, including investments, rental income, and interest from safe instruments, can help achieve this target.

Avoiding Index Funds

Index funds merely replicate market performance and might not provide superior returns. Actively managed funds, with expert fund management, can potentially deliver better returns and align with your financial goals.

Disadvantages of Direct Funds

Direct funds lack professional guidance, which regular funds offer. Certified Financial Planners provide tailored advice, helping to optimize your investment portfolio for better returns.

Regular Review and Adjustment

Regularly review your portfolio with a Certified Financial Planner. Market conditions change, and timely adjustments ensure your investments remain aligned with your goals.

Conclusion

Your financial foundation is strong, and with strategic planning, you can achieve your Rs. 5 crore target by 2030. Keep investing wisely, seek professional guidance, and review your portfolio periodically.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |235 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 04, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Aug 21, 2025Hindi
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Hi, I am 43 years old and I have home loan of 40 lacs and car loan of 6 lacs total EMI per month is 50k, I have 23 lacs in PPF, 18lacs in EPF, 9 lacs in mutual funds and 1.5 lac invested in NPS. I have child to support for education 2 lac yearly Have monthly income of 1.6 lacs, I have 2 flats from 1 I have rental income of 12k I have monthly SIP of 7K Planning to retire by 48 and need to generate 1.5 lac per month, please advise
Ans: Dear Sir,

Thank you for sharing your detailed financial information. At 43 years old, with the goal of retiring by 48 and generating ?1.5 lakh/month, careful planning is required, as your time horizon is very short (5 years). Here’s an assessment and suggested approach:

1. Current Financial Snapshot

Income: ?1.6 L/month

Investments:

PPF: ?23 L

EPF: ?18 L

Mutual Funds: ?9 L

NPS: ?1.5 L

SIP: ?7K/month

Assets: 2 flats (rental income: ?12k/month)

Liabilities: Home Loan ?40 L + Car Loan ?6 L → EMI ?50k/month

Child Education: ?2 L/year

2. Observations

Short Retirement Horizon: Only 5 years to retire, which is very aggressive.

Debt Load: EMI of ?50k consumes significant cash flow; freeing up cash by prepaying loans will improve investment capacity.

Passive Income Goal: ?1.5 L/month requires a corpus of approximately ?3–4 crore, which is difficult to achieve in 5 years with current savings.

3. Suggested Plan
a) Debt Management

Prioritize prepaying high-interest debt, especially car loan, to reduce EMI burden.

Home loan can be partially prepaid if surplus funds are available.

b) Investment Strategy

Given the short horizon, capital preservation and steady income become more important than aggressive equity.

Allocate:

PPF & EPF: Continue contributions; these provide safe, predictable growth.

Mutual Funds: Gradually shift from small-cap/high-risk funds to balanced/flexi-cap or debt-oriented funds to protect capital.

Rental Income: Use for monthly expenses or reinvest in debt instruments to build passive income.

c) Child Education

Maintain dedicated fund for ?2 L/year education expenses → can be covered by EPF maturity or SIPs in short-term debt/balanced funds.

d) Passive Income Generation

To generate ?1.5 L/month in 5 years:

Corpus required: ~?3–4 crore (assuming 5–6% post-tax return).

With current assets (~?51.5 L + 12k/month rental + SIP), achieving this is not feasible in 5 years without additional capital or significant increase in returns/risk.

Realistic Approach: Consider retiring later (55–60) or targeting lower passive income initially, then gradually increasing corpus.

e) Insurance & Protection

Ensure adequate term insurance for family security.

Maintain health coverage / critical illness cover to protect corpus.

Consider personal accident + disability coverage.

4. Next Steps / Discussion with QPFP

To finalize a practical plan, it is important to share full details with a QPFP professional, including:

Exact loan details and interest rates

Full asset list (PPF, EPF, MFs, NPS, property value)

Expected monthly expenses & lifestyle goals

Child education plan and future contingencies

A QPFP professional can model your cash flows, debt repayment, and investment allocation, and help design a realistic retirement and income plan.

Summary:

Current goal of retiring in 5 years with ?1.5 L/month is highly ambitious.

Prioritize debt reduction, capital preservation, and increasing income sources.

Review portfolio and cash flows with a QPFP professional for a tailored strategy.

Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
www.alenova.in
https://www.instagram.com/alenova_wealth

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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

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Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025
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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

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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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