Home > Money > Question
Need Expert Advice?Our Gurus Can Help
Sanjeev

Sanjeev Govila  | Answer  |Ask -

Financial Planner - Answered on Oct 29, 2023

Colonel Sanjeev Govila (retd) is the founder of Hum Fauji Initiatives, a financial planning company dedicated to the armed forces personnel and their families.
He has over 12 years of experience in financial planning and is a SEBI certified registered investment advisor; he is also accredited with AMFI and IRDA.... more
Anil Question by Anil on Oct 28, 2023Hindi
Listen
Money

My Age is 43. my monthly salary is 60K. I am willing to start SIP from Jan-2024. I have a home loan of 20 Lakhs for 20 yrs and have been paying since 2021@ interest rate of 9.15. Other investments are 4 LIC perimium of 1.25 Lakhs annually. I want to invest 10K monthly in best SIP for next 15-20 yrs. Kindly suggest best SIP funds that I can invest to secure my my retirement and family in future. Thank you.

Ans: Selecting a mutual fund for your investment should depend on your financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon. Since you're 43 years old, it's crucial to consider factors like how soon you need the money and how comfortable you are with risk. Here are some suggestions for mutual funds to consider, but please consult with a financial advisor for personalized advice:


Diversified Equity Funds: Since you have a longer investment horizon (5+ years) and if you can tolerate moderate risk, consider diversified equity funds. These funds invest in a mix of large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks. Examples include SBI Bluechip Fund,Kotak Flexi Cap Fund,TATA Large & Mid Cap

Balanced Funds: These funds invest in a mix of stocks and bonds, which can provide more stability. They are suitable if you have a moderate risk tolerance and a medium-term investment horizon. HDFC Hybrid Equity Fund and ICICI Prudential Balanced Advantage Fund are some options.

Debt Funds and Fixed Rate Instruments: If you're risk-averse and need a regular income stream, debt mutual funds could be appropriate. Also, you can consider other fixed rate instruments like Corporate FDs, Private Bonds, P2P Investments, G-Sec Bonds etc as lucrative interest rate scenario prevailing in economy and its good time to lock the money in high yielding debt products.

Index Funds: If you prefer a passive approach to investing, index funds could be a good fit. They aim to replicate the performance of a specific index like the Nifty 50 or Sensex. UTI Nifty Index Fund and HDFC Index Fund - Nifty 50 Plan are examples.

Diversify your investments across a range of asset classes and different investment avenues as stated above to avoid concertation risk and putting all your eggs in one basket.
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.
Money

You may like to see similar questions and answers below

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 06, 2024

Listen
Money
Hi , im 31 years old im earning 2.5 lakhs per month, i have 65000 home loan emi, 8000 term insurance per month , 15000 per month medical insurance for my family. I want to invest 100000 to sip . Kindly advise which fund to select
Ans: Given your income and financial commitments, it's great that you're considering investing in SIPs. Here are some considerations for selecting funds:

Risk Tolerance: Determine your risk tolerance based on your investment goals, time horizon, and comfort level. Generally, equity funds offer higher returns but come with higher volatility compared to debt funds.
Investment Goals: Define your investment goals clearly. Are you investing for long-term wealth accumulation, retirement, or any specific financial goal? Your investment horizon will influence the choice of funds.
Diversification: Consider diversifying your investments across different types of funds to spread risk. This could include a mix of large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap equity funds, along with debt funds for stability.
Performance Track Record: Evaluate the historical performance of funds over different market cycles. Look for consistency in returns and fund management quality.
Expense Ratio: Pay attention to the expense ratio, as lower expenses can boost your overall returns over time. Choose funds with a reasonable expense ratio relative to their category.
Fund House Reputation: Invest in funds managed by reputable fund houses with a proven track record of managing investors' money responsibly.
Tax Efficiency: Consider the tax implications of your investments. Equity-oriented funds offer tax benefits on long-term capital gains compared to debt funds.
Given your monthly SIP investment amount of ?1,00,000, you can consider allocating it across different categories based on your risk appetite:

Large-cap Equity Funds: These funds invest in well-established, large companies with stable performance and lower volatility, making them suitable for conservative investors.
Mid-cap and Small-cap Equity Funds: These funds invest in mid-sized and small companies with higher growth potential but also higher risk. They are suitable for investors with a higher risk appetite and a longer investment horizon.
Balanced Funds: These funds invest in a mix of equity and debt instruments, offering a balanced approach to risk and return. They can be suitable for investors seeking moderate growth with lower volatility.
It's essential to review your investment portfolio periodically and make adjustments based on changes in your financial situation and market conditions. Consider consulting with a Certified Financial Planner for personalized investment advice tailored to your specific goals and risk tolerance.

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 15, 2024

Listen
Money
I am 27 years old .i want to have retirement corpus of 3 crore at age of 50. I can invest 25000 monthly. Suggest me some sip to invest in for span of 20 years with bit of low to moderate risk ? Thank u advance
Ans: Starting your retirement planning at 27 with a goal of Rs. 3 crore at 50 is fantastic! A monthly SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) of Rs. 25,000 for 23 years is a great way to grow your corpus. Let's explore some SIP options that can help you reach your target.

Low to Moderate Risk Strategy

Considering your 23-year investment horizon, a low to moderate risk strategy allows for some growth potential while managing risk. Here are some options to consider:

Diversified Equity Funds: Invest in a mix of large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks. This offers diversification and growth potential, with larger companies balancing the risk of smaller ones.
Flexi-Cap Funds: These funds can invest across market capitalizations, offering flexibility to the fund manager. This can help capture growth opportunities in different market segments.
Advantages of Investing Through a Mutual Fund Distributor (MFD):

Personalized Advice: MFDs can be helpful for beginners or those who lack investment knowledge. They can assess your risk tolerance, financial goals, and investment horizon to recommend suitable mutual funds. This personalized guidance can be valuable, especially if you're new to investing.
Convenience: MFDs handle all the paperwork and transactions on your behalf, saving you time and effort. They can help with account setup, SIP registrations, and managing your portfolio across different funds.
Investor Support: MFDs can be a point of contact for any questions or concerns you may have about your investments. They can provide ongoing support and guidance throughout your investment journey.
Benefits of a CFP Professional

A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professional can provide a personalized plan. They can help you:

Calculate Retirement Corpus: Determine the exact investment amount needed based on your desired retirement lifestyle.
Choose Right SIPs: Select a diversified portfolio of actively managed SIPs that aligns with your risk tolerance and goals.
Review & Rebalance: Regularly monitor your portfolio performance and rebalance periodically to maintain your asset allocation.
Remember:

Market fluctuations can impact your returns. However, starting early, investing regularly, and choosing a low to moderate risk strategy are all positive steps towards your Rs. 3 crore goal.

Next Steps:

Consider consulting a CFP professional for a detailed plan.
They can assess your risk profile and suggest suitable SIP options.
Be patient and disciplined with your investments.
Starting early gives your money time to grow through the power of compounding!

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Latest Questions
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!

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

...Read more

Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1841 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.

Close  

You haven't logged in yet. To ask a question, Please Log in below
Login

A verification OTP will be sent to this
Mobile Number / Email

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to

Resend OTP in120seconds

Dear User, You have not registered yet. Please register by filling the fields below to get expert answers from our Gurus
Sign up

By signing up, you agree to our
Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

Already have an account?

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to Mobile

Resend OTP in120seconds

x