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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 15, 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 - Apr 11, 2024Hindi
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Please advice I can invest upto Rs.2000 only monthly, I am 28. How can I build wealth with this little investment

Ans: With Rs. 2000 monthly, start a SIP in a diversified equity mutual fund. Over time, this small investment can grow significantly due to the power of compounding. Stay invested for the long term, avoid frequent changes, and increase contributions as your income grows. Regularity and patience are key to building wealth.
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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Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 26, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Feb 20, 2024Hindi
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I want to invest for 20 years i can invest with 10000 per month..plz suggest me ..
Ans: Rs. 10,000 per month for 20 years? That's a smart plan!
Looking to invest Rs. 10,000 every month for 20 years? That's a fantastic decision! Here's why:

Long-term investing: A 20-year timeframe allows your money to grow through the power of compounding. This means your returns earn returns on themselves, snowballing your money over time.
But before we dive into specifics, let's consider this:

Financial goals: What are your goals for this investment? Retirement? Child's education? Knowing your goals helps choose the right investment path.
Risk tolerance: Are you comfortable with some ups and downs in the market, or do you prefer a more stable approach?
Here are some general investment options for a 20-year horizon:

Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) in actively managed mutual funds: Regular SIP contributions help build discipline and benefit from rupee-cost averaging. Actively managed funds, unlike index funds, have professional managers aiming to outperform the market.
Actively managed mutual funds offer:

Diversification: Spread your investment across different asset classes like equity (stocks), debt (bonds), and gold to manage risk.
Professional expertise: Fund managers actively research and invest in companies with the potential for growth.
Remember:

Investing is a journey, not a race. Stay invested for the long term to ride out market fluctuations.
Consulting a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) can be helpful. They can create a personalized plan considering your risk tolerance, goals, and overall financial situation.
Next steps:

Define your goals.
Assess your risk tolerance.
Consider consulting a CFP.
Start investing early! The power of compounding works best when you start young.
I hope this helps!

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 09, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 08, 2024Hindi
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What is the best way to invest 22.5 lakh rupees and also generate a monthly income of 20000 from the day of investing ?
Ans: Your goal of investing Rs. 22.5 lakh to generate Rs. 20,000 monthly income is achievable. It requires a balanced approach focusing on capital preservation and consistent income.

The investment strategy must offer stability and some growth to sustain withdrawals. Diversification is essential to mitigate risks and ensure steady returns.

Investment Strategy to Generate Rs. 20,000 Monthly
Use a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP)
Invest in hybrid mutual funds or debt-oriented funds with a stable performance track record.
Withdraw Rs. 20,000 monthly using an SWP. This approach ensures tax efficiency and capital growth.
Allocate for Immediate Income Needs
Invest a portion in ultra-short-term debt funds or liquid funds.
These funds can provide stable returns with minimal risk.
Portfolio Allocation for Stability and Income
1. Debt-Oriented Mutual Funds
Invest a significant portion in debt-oriented funds.
These funds provide regular returns and stability for monthly income needs.
2. Balanced Advantage Funds
Allocate a portion to balanced advantage funds.
These funds dynamically adjust equity and debt allocation to optimise returns.
3. Emergency Liquidity Reserve
Keep some amount in a liquid fund for emergencies.
This ensures uninterrupted withdrawals if markets fluctuate.
Tax Considerations
Mutual Fund Taxation
Long-term capital gains (LTCG) above Rs. 1.25 lakh in equity-oriented funds are taxed at 12.5%.
Short-term capital gains (STCG) in equity-oriented funds are taxed at 20%.
Gains from debt funds are taxed based on your income tax slab.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) Advantage
Withdrawals from SWP are taxed only on the capital gains component.
This approach reduces the overall tax burden.
Risk Management and Contingency Planning
Regular Portfolio Review
Monitor your portfolio every six months to assess performance.
Rebalance investments based on market conditions and income needs.
Emergency Fund Maintenance
Maintain 6–12 months of expenses in a liquid or ultra-short-term debt fund.
This ensures financial security during unexpected situations.
Avoid High-Risk Investments
Do not invest in speculative assets for higher returns.
Focus on stable and consistent income generation.
Alternatives to Consider
Fixed Income Instruments
Invest a portion in senior citizen savings schemes (if eligible) or fixed deposits.
These offer guaranteed returns but are less tax-efficient.
Avoidance of Index Funds
Index funds lack flexibility and cannot generate stable monthly income.
Actively managed funds provide better control and growth potential.
Why Avoid Direct Plans
Direct funds may save costs but lack expert guidance.
Investing through a Certified Financial Planner ensures professional advice and goal alignment.
Final Insights
Achieving Rs. 20,000 monthly income from Rs. 22.5 lakh is realistic with disciplined planning. Use a mix of debt-oriented and hybrid funds to balance income and capital growth. Regular reviews and adjustments will help sustain income for the long term.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

..Read more

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Nayagam P

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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!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

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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
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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

...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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