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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8459 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 05, 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
Vaman Question by Vaman on Aug 21, 2023Hindi
Money

Sir I am 78 years old. I have no liabilities. I have a house worth two corores. I am living with my daughter and son in law. They're extremely well off. Since I am living with my daughter I have no expenses. This is my background. My assets are as follows. 1) PPF RS.20lakhs. 2)PMYY SCHEME. 15Lakhs. 3) Fixed deposit 15 lakhs 4) Health insurance both 5lakhs each 5 ) Immovable property worth 5lakhs 6) Gold bond maturity value 1lakh 7) Physical gold and silver 20 lakhs 8) Shares worth 100000 rs.asof today 9) Mutual fund worth rs.18 lakhs as of today. Below l am giving details of the funds most of them purchased on issue price all regular growth. 1) Aditya Birla Sun Life focused equity fund Units 1200 2) DSP world gold fund growth regular Units 500 3) Franklin India flexi cap fund growth regular. Units 35 4) HDFC banking and financial services fund growth regular. Units 1160 5) HDFC defence fund growth regular Uni1000 6) HDFC mid cap fund growth regular Units 260 7) HDFC flexi cap fund growth regular Units 25 8) Hsbc value fund growth regular Units 430 9)Hsbc elss fund growth regular Units 490 10) Icici prudential Pharma and health care fund growth regular Units 780 11) Icici prudential India opportunities fund growth regular. Units 2200 12) Icici prudential manufacturing fund growth regular Units 3000 13) Icici prudential flexicap fund growth regular. Units5000 14) Icici prudential housing opportunities fund growth regular Units 2500 15) Icici prudential balanced advantage fund growth regular. Units. 550 16) Icici prudential psu equity fund growth regular. Units Units 2700 17) Kotak global innovation fund growth regular. Units 1200 18) Kotak international REIT fund growth regular. Units 500 19 ) Nippon india low duration fund growth regular. Units 10 20) Sbi blue chip fund growth regular Units 1000 21) Sbi infrastructure fund growth regular Units 500 22) Sundaram focused equity fund growth regular. Units 1300 23) Tata mid cap fund growth regular plan growth. Units 335 units 24)iUti nifty 500 fifty index fund growth regular. Units 18050 25)Uti flexi cap fund growth regular Units 1020 26)Uti small cap fund growth regular Units 5000 27) Uti master share units regular plan Units 210 28) Uti mid cap fund growth regular Units 700 29) Hdfc transportation fund growth regular Units 2500 Opinion required 1) I want to exit Kotak global innovation fund and Kotak international REIT fund and Dsp world gold fund. 2) I want to start 4 SIP of2500 rs. per month. a) Sbi blue chip fund b) Uti flexicap fund c) Multi asset fund of Hdfc or lclcl or Aditya Birla Sun Life d) not sure which fund Request you to suggest how to make best review of my investment. I would prefer to invest indirect growth instead of regular growth. Would it be convenient if invest inSWP or overnight fund or floater fund and give standing instruction to to invest in SIP? How to track my investments on daily basis ? Waiting eagerly for your reply. Your's sincerely PS: All nomination in the name of my wife. She is equally well invested in Bank FD PMVYYOJANA AND PPF and MF (very small amount of 5lakhs as today.

Ans: It seems you have a diversified investment portfolio, which is commendable. Here are some suggestions based on your requirements:

Exit Strategies:

Exiting funds that no longer align with your investment goals or if you wish to reduce exposure to certain sectors is a prudent move.
New SIP Allocation:

Starting SIPs in well-established funds across different categories such as large-cap, flexicap, and multi-asset funds can offer diversification and potential growth.
SWP or Systematic Withdrawal Plan:

SWP can be a suitable option if you wish to generate regular income from your investments. Consider reinvesting the redeemed amount into a liquid or floating rate fund, depending on your liquidity needs and risk tolerance.
Tracking Investments:

Utilize online platforms provided by mutual fund houses or third-party financial aggregators for tracking investments. Maintain a consolidated spreadsheet or use investment tracking apps for easy monitoring.
Nomination and Legal Aspects:

Ensure all investments and assets have proper nomination details and legal documentation. Keep your spouse informed about the investment details and maintain organized documents for easy access.
Consult a Financial Advisor:

Seek guidance from a qualified financial advisor to tailor your investment strategy according to your financial goals and risk tolerance.
Prioritize risk management and ensure your investments align with your objectives. Regularly review your portfolio's performance and make adjustments as needed to stay on track towards achieving your 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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Milind

Milind Vadjikar  |1236 Answers  |Ask -

Insurance, Stocks, MF, PF Expert - Answered on Oct 08, 2024

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Hi Sir, iam 54 years old investor, recently resigned and active in shares trading and investing last 20 years. liquid assets approx. 3.75 cr. Rental income 33k and Gold another 1cr. Immovable property home and vacant shop 2 cr each. wife 51 yr old-home maker. Medical Policy 20 Lacs. household expenses 1.75 lacs inclusive of 45k of SIPs as per table. SCHEMES UNITS SIP VALUE AXIS LONG TERM - D 8247 240000 ADITYA BIRLA SL TAX RELIEF 96 D 759 150000 AXIS BLUE CHIP G 5702 375000 MIRAE ASSET LARGE CAP G 1151 130000 HDFC BALANCE ADVANTAGE D 6905 5000 285000 HDFC MID-CAP OPPORTUNITIES D 5616 5000 335000 ICICI PRU LIFE BLUE CHIP FUND G 6652 5000 750000 PARAG PARIKH LONG TERM G 6087 5000 500000 KOTAK FLEXI CAP FUND GROWTH 1694 145000 SBI BLUE CHIP GROWTH FUND 5814 550000 AXIS MIDCAP FUND DIVIDEND 2165 100000 SBI SMALL CAP REGULAR GROWTH 895 5000 170000 KOTAK EMERGING EQUITY FUND 1306 5000 180000 SBI LARGE AND MIDCAP FUND 261 5000 155000 MOTILAL NIFTY DEFENCE INDEX G 5000 45000 NPS 12000 10000 1700000 45000 5810000 Goals / Requirements : *Need following funds next year - daughter marriage 30 lacs and son education 50 lacs and my retirement corpus plus 15 lacs for car. *mutual fund portfolio re-alignment. Queries : *should i sell commercial shop and invest in FDs / MFs / Shares. Rental value is 50k which is less as compared to invest 2 cr in FDs also will fetch me 1.25 lacs per month. will be able meet next year requirement also without selling my liquid portfolio. *also should i go for SWPs for all inactive MFs upto to the extent of 45k to fund my SIP and NPS from allocation and can also increase the SIPs, if suggested. * should i increase NPS allocation by another 5k for better retirement prospects or any other suggestion related to retirement as to how much more money needed to meet ends.
Ans: Hello;

Query1:

Yes it is better to sell low rent yielding commercial property now, utilise the sell proceeds to fund you goals next year i.e. daughter's marriage, son's education and car purchase while the balance should be invested in mutual funds(equity savings type mutual fund)

Query 2:

Exit all inactive mutual funds and invest corpus(16.9 L) in Mirae Asset equity savings fund (low to moderate risk profile).

You should then start an SWP at 3.6% so as to generate income of 5 K for additional monthly allocation to NPS.

You should do SIP only in following 3 funds:
SBI hybrid equity fund(15 K)
HDFC balanced advantage fund (15 K)
ICICI Pru Multi asset allocation fund (15 K)

The taxation of these funds is like equity funds but they have exposure to alternate asset classes to impart some stability to corpus during extreme market fluctuations which is also suited for your age category.

Liquid assets+ gold+ NPS corpus will add up to approx 6.51 Cr which if annuitized will yield post tax monthly income of 2.15 L.

MF corpus may still grow to build up your inflation war chest.

Health care cover for family needs enhancement upto 50 L minimum as a safe precaution.

Reduce exposure to direct equity as you near retirement. You may continue trading as a hobby with a minimum risk capital with adequate knowhow, setup and temperament.

Happy Investing!!

You may follow us on X at @mars_invest for updates.

*Investments in mutual funds are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme related documents carefully before investing.

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ashwini

Ashwini Dasgupta  |107 Answers  |Ask -

Personality Development Expert, Career Coach - Answered on May 16, 2025

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8459 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 16, 2025

Money
I have a Home Loan of Rs. 75 lakh outstanding and being a banker I get the Home Loan at concessional rate of 6% on simple interest basis. I have certain disposable income every month. Is it advisable to prepay the loans on monthly basis or utilize the disposable income towards other investment options?
Ans: You have a Rs. 75 lakh home loan.
You pay only 6% simple interest as a banker.
You also have disposable income each month.
Let’s now assess your situation from all angles.

Understanding the Advantage of Low Interest

Your loan is at just 6% simple interest.

This is a rare and low-cost loan benefit.

The interest amount does not compound yearly.

So your interest cost stays predictable and steady.

You already save more compared to normal borrowers.

Regular loans are at 9% to 11% with compound interest.

Let Your Money Work Harder Through Investing

Good mutual fund investments give 11% to 13% average return long term.

This return is higher than your 6% loan cost.

So your surplus funds can grow faster if invested.

This strategy builds your wealth efficiently over time.

Compounding in mutual funds works in your favour.

Reviewing Tax Savings from Loan Interest

Your loan interest gives you tax benefit under Section 24.

You can claim up to Rs. 2 lakh deduction yearly.

This lowers your income tax burden.

Prepaying the loan reduces future tax savings.

Investments like ELSS and PPF also save taxes separately.

Liquidity Is Key for Financial Confidence

Prepaying a loan reduces your cash flexibility.

But investments offer you liquidity when needed.

Financial emergencies need access to cash fast.

Mutual funds can be redeemed when required.

Don’t put all your surplus in loan prepayment.

Peace of Mind vs. Smart Wealth Building

Some people feel peace when loans are closed early.

It reduces psychological burden and improves sleep.

But low-interest loans are better kept and managed.

You can earn more on surplus money through investing.

Debt is not always bad when it’s manageable.

Balanced Strategy Is the Best Choice

Don’t choose only one route—balance is better.

Split your monthly surplus into two parts.

Use one part to invest in long-term growth plans.

Use the other part for partial prepayments once in a while.

This approach reduces debt and builds wealth together.

What You Should Do Now

Make sure you keep emergency savings of at least 6 months’ expenses.

Review your insurance and make sure your family is protected.

If you have LIC, ULIP or insurance-based investments, assess if they are worth holding.

If they underperform, consider surrendering and reinvesting into mutual funds.

Choose actively managed mutual funds via a Certified Financial Planner.

Avoid direct mutual funds if you are not monitoring regularly.

Regular mutual funds via a qualified CFP give you guidance and support.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Don’t rush to become loan-free if loan is cheap.

Don’t ignore inflation and real return comparisons.

Don’t ignore wealth-building just to avoid loan.

Don’t stop investing for the sake of loan closure.

Don’t go for low-return instruments only for safety.

Other Pointers to Remember

Make sure your investments match your goals.

Consider children’s education and retirement goals.

Equity mutual funds are good for goals beyond 7 years.

Hybrid mutual funds suit medium-term goals like 3 to 5 years.

For short-term use, opt for liquid or ultra short-term funds.

Track your goals and adjust asset allocation regularly.

Taxation of Mutual Fund Gains

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

Short-term gains are taxed at 20%.

For debt funds, both LTCG and STCG are taxed as per your tax slab.

These taxes are payable only when you sell the units.

So your money grows without yearly tax deductions.

Avoid Index Funds and Direct Plans

Index funds don’t give alpha or outperformance.

They follow the market but don’t beat it.

In tough markets, they fall without support.

Active funds are managed by experienced fund managers.

Direct plans lack professional support and review.

With regular plans through a CFP, you get full handholding.

Finally

Your concessional loan is a blessing. Keep using it.

Use your disposable income to create long-term wealth.

A good plan includes both investment and prepayment.

Invest for your future. Don’t just avoid loans.

Stay liquid, stay insured, and invest smartly with professional help.

Review this plan every 6 to 12 months with a Certified Financial Planner.

Build a clear plan for family goals and retirement readiness.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8459 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 16, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - May 16, 2025
Money
Hi Sir, I am 47 year old with 3 kids aged 11 yr dayghter and twin sons aged 6 years. I have around. I want to retire in 3 years due to health issues. After retirement me and wife will work part time and around monthly 1 lakh combined. I have monthly expenses if around 2 lakhs now. Please advise what corpus i should have to able to retire in 3 years
Ans: You are 47 years old. You have a daughter aged 11 and twin sons aged 6. You plan to retire in 3 years due to health issues. After retirement, you and your wife will earn around Rs. 1 lakh per month from part-time work. Your current family monthly expense is around Rs. 2 lakhs.

Your situation is serious and needs careful planning. I appreciate that you are thinking well in advance. Let us look at your situation in full detail now.

Assessing Your Retirement Timeline
You want to retire at 50. That’s 3 years from now.

That gives limited time to build a full retirement corpus.

After that, you and your wife plan to earn Rs. 1 lakh per month together.

Your expenses are Rs. 2 lakh per month now. This will rise with inflation.

So, you need to fill the gap of at least Rs. 1 lakh per month post-retirement.

That gap will also grow each year due to inflation.

You also have three children. Their education and future needs must be planned.

With three young kids, your financial responsibility will last for the next 15 to 20 years.

Understanding the Expense Gap
Your expenses are Rs. 2 lakh monthly now. This is Rs. 24 lakh annually.

After retirement, part-time income will cover Rs. 1 lakh monthly.

You need Rs. 1 lakh more every month from your savings.

That’s Rs. 12 lakh per year. But this amount will grow with inflation.

In 10 years, this could easily be around Rs. 20 lakh a year or more.

In 20 years, it can be around Rs. 35 lakh or more annually.

So, your retirement corpus must be big enough to cover this rising gap.

It should also last at least 30 years, as both you and your wife may live till 80 or more.

What Should Be Your Retirement Corpus
To cover Rs. 1 lakh monthly shortfall, you need a strong investment base.

That base should grow and generate income for 30 years.

You also need to plan for children’s schooling, college, and marriage.

So, your total retirement corpus should be built with multiple goals in mind.

You may need at least Rs. 6 crore to Rs. 7 crore total corpus by age 50.

This will help you cover your lifestyle gap and also children’s future needs.

The final amount will depend on inflation, market returns, and disciplined investing.

Breaking Down Your Future Expenses
1. Lifestyle Needs

You need Rs. 2 lakh monthly today. This will rise.

After retirement, inflation will push this to Rs. 3.5 lakh to Rs. 4 lakh in 15 years.

That means higher withdrawals every year.

2. Children’s Education

Your daughter will go to college in 6 years.

Your twin sons will go to college in 11 to 12 years.

Education inflation is very high, around 8% to 10% yearly.

Private college and higher studies can cost Rs. 50 lakh to Rs. 1 crore in future.

3. Health and Medical Needs

Health issues are already a concern. Medical costs rise fast.

A single hospitalisation in the future can cost Rs. 15 lakh or more.

You must keep a separate medical emergency fund.

4. Travel, Leisure, and Emergencies

Retirement is not just about needs. It should also include wants.

You may want to travel or support family in emergencies.

Keep a buffer for these lifestyle goals.

Creating a 3-Bucket Investment Strategy
Bucket 1: Emergency and Medical Fund

Keep 12 to 18 months of expenses in this bucket.

That means Rs. 25 lakh to Rs. 30 lakh in liquid funds.

This bucket should not be touched for regular income.

Use it for medical, health, and sudden family needs.

Bucket 2: Income and Safety Bucket

This gives regular income after retirement.

Invest here in low-risk and balanced funds.

This bucket must cover 8 to 10 years of shortfall.

It must be reviewed every year and rebalanced.

Withdraw monthly through SWP (Systematic Withdrawal Plan).

Bucket 3: Growth Bucket

This is for long-term income.

It must stay invested for the next 10 to 15 years.

Use only actively managed equity mutual funds.

Don’t invest in index funds. They follow the market and offer no safety in a fall.

Actively managed funds are better for retirement. They reduce risk and give better return with guidance.

This bucket will support your income in the later years of retirement.

Additional Planning Tips for a Complete Strategy
1. Insurance Review

Check your health insurance. Buy a super top-up if possible.

If you have any traditional policies like LIC endowments or ULIPs, evaluate surrendering them.

Reinvest that money in mutual funds via Certified Financial Planner.

2. Avoid Index and Direct Funds

Index funds are unmanaged. They don’t protect you in a downturn.

Direct funds have no advisor support. You may exit at the wrong time.

Invest through regular mutual funds with Certified Financial Planner.

You get discipline, emotional support, and regular reviews.

3. Tax Planning

After retirement, plan all withdrawals smartly.

Equity mutual fund LTCG above Rs. 1.25 lakh is taxed at 12.5%.

STCG is taxed at 20%.

Debt mutual fund gains are taxed as per your income tax slab.

Plan withdrawals in phases to manage tax.

Use SWP instead of lump sum withdrawal.

4. Estate Planning

Write a clear Will. Register it if possible.

Add nominations to all financial accounts and investments.

Discuss with your wife about all assets and accounts.

Educate your children slowly about financial basics.

5. Spending Discipline

After retirement, control lifestyle inflation.

Avoid overspending in early years.

Keep budgets for kids' education, personal care, and travel.

Review expenses every quarter.

Talk to your wife and plan joint financial goals.

How to Reach Rs. 6–7 Crore in 3 Years
This is a very short time.

You must save aggressively now.

Cut all unwanted expenses.

Increase monthly investments to the maximum.

Invest only in actively managed equity mutual funds through regular route.

Don’t keep too much in savings or FDs.

Avoid real estate as it is illiquid and low-return.

Rebalance investments every year with the help of Certified Financial Planner.

Finally
You have only 3 years to build your corpus.

You also have a big responsibility of three children.

You will work part time after retirement, which gives some cash flow.

But you must plan very carefully and very thoroughly.

Create three investment buckets to manage needs properly.

Use only actively managed mutual funds, not index or direct funds.

Avoid risky shortcuts and always review plans every year.

With health concerns and young kids, long-term planning is critical.

Your retirement is not the end of income. It is the beginning of financial wisdom.

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

...Read more

Milind

Milind Vadjikar  |1236 Answers  |Ask -

Insurance, Stocks, MF, PF Expert - Answered on May 16, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - May 15, 2025
Money
Sir , i am 29 year old male currently earning 1.4 lakh per month in hand salary and 60 thousands per month (side income which is temporary for few more years may be 2 years). I have 31.5 lakhs home loan with 9.5 % floating interest for 18 years. Personal loan of 1.4 lakh with 11% interest 7 months remaining. Gold loan of 2 lakh with due date in 10 months. Every month i am paying emis of 31000 home loan 21000 personal loan (7 more months) 23000 chit fund(6 more months) I have 4.5 lakh mutual/stocks investments. Gold worth 1 lakh and no Fixed deposits. I have Chit fund ( with friends ) which expires in 6 months with 5 lakhs amount. I have an Term policy of 1 crore for which i pay premium of 35k annually for 5 more years. I had planned a wedding in one year with 10 lakh expenditure. I have zero emergency fund like fd or any other savings Please guide me best option for better investment ,emergency fund and to have a comfortable corpus till i retire by the year 2040. Till now i have no savings in whatever form it is Iam unmarried
Ans: Hello;

You need to put aside amount worth 6-8 months regular expense coverage and keep it aside in a liquid fund or a savings account.

Do invest in NPS for your retirement planning. It is the best tool available from cost, returns, tax point of view.

Only thing to be borne in mind is NPS allows very restricted withdrawals over its entire span, subject to T&C, because it's a product meant for retirement.

Except home loan all your loans are getting settled in less than a year so it's okay but never ever use loan as source of funds for personal needs.

Also avoid investing in chit funds because they have a high risk and hence promise of higher returns.

Also start systematic investments in mutual funds through monthly sip's as per your goals and risk appetite.

The MF/stock holding and chit fund money return(5 L) will take care of your marital expenses.

Happy Investing;

...Read more

Ashwini

Ashwini Dasgupta  |107 Answers  |Ask -

Personality Development Expert, Career Coach - Answered on May 16, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - May 16, 2025
Career
Hi Ashwini, I am a 29 yr old marketing executive, and I tend to take negative feedback very personally, even when it's constructive. For example, last month, my manager said my presentation was all over the place and lacked clarity. Though she meant it to help me improve, I kept replaying it in my mind for days and started doubting my abilities.
Ans: Dear Sir/ Madam,

As humans we bound to overthink and question back and self-doubt. It's important to process the emotions then accumulating.

Try this the next time you feel negative-

Firstly, negativity or any feeling is just an emotion and every emotion is giving you feedback so that you can take can action. So, it works like a feedback mechanism.
Now, in the above situation where your manager said the presentation was all over the place or lacked clarity- it meant you should present the same from his perspective or from the audience’s perspective. As the person who is going to see the presentation should be able to understand and be in the same alignment as you are.

Have a discussion with your manager and ask where all did, he/she feels the presentation lacked clarity, ask what else you should have looked at to make it more valuable etc.

Once you get the feedback go back to the presentation and relook from his/ her perspective now then possibly that would make sense to you.

Idea is to process the information and see how you can make it better. Self-doubt is ok to have as it will help you relook but if you are sulking in that emotion, it will spiral down which is what happens most often. So, the next time when you get negative feedback look at from a perspective of working on yourself to be even better.

If you were not good then you wouldn't be in that job in first place. Remember that.

Thanks
Ashwini
Maverick Minds
www.ashwinidasgupta.com

...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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