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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Sep 25, 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
Sunil Question by Sunil on Sep 25, 2025Hindi
Money

At the age of 44,I have created a corpus of around 1.5 Crore INR by holding ONGC, SBI, M&M, Phoenix Mills, ICICI, Varroc Engineering and L&T which I bought in 2020. At the moment I am sitting on a hefty profit but have no intention to sell. Would you recommend I keep them or would you suggest selling any of these ? I want to give myself the best chance to build a big corpus with no pressure on time. What would you suggest please ? I am also invested in Mutual funds SIP and LIC.

Ans: Accumulating Rs 1.5 crore by age 44 is a remarkable achievement. Holding quality stocks like ONGC, SBI, M&M, ICICI, and L&T for over 3 years reflects patience. Such a portfolio suggests disciplined investing. Your commitment deserves recognition, and it puts you in a strong position for wealth building.

» Evaluating your decision to hold without selling

Holding stocks long-term helps you benefit from compounding and market recovery. Selling too early may miss future growth potential. Given your no-pressure timeline, holding blue-chip stocks can be wise. These companies often weather market cycles better. Your current profits show that the investments had good returns.

» Assessing the stocks for fresh review

Stock performance and business fundamentals can change over time. Periodic review is key to assess if stocks still meet your goals. Key points to check include earning consistency, sector outlook, and management quality. Companies like ONGC and ICICI have steady earnings and growth prospects. Some others might require a fresh look depending on market conditions.

» Importance of portfolio diversification and rebalancing

Having a mix of sectors like energy, banking, and engineering is good diversification. However, checking if portfolio weightings align with your risk appetite matters. Rebalancing to maintain balance can reduce risks and improve returns. If one stock grows too big, selling some might protect gains. Even without needing money, this shifts risk and keeps your portfolio healthy.

» Combining direct equity with mutual fund SIPs

Your mutual fund SIPs provide professional management and diversification. They balance the risks of directly holding individual stocks. Unlike direct funds, regular funds through Certified Financial Planners offer disciplined investing and ongoing advice. This hybrid approach reduces portfolio volatility and helps build wealth steadily.

» Evaluating LIC investment and possible changes

LIC often has insurance-cum-investment policies with lower returns. If your LIC policies mainly serve investment purposes, review if better returns are achievable elsewhere. Surrendering such policies and reallocating funds to mutual funds under CFP guidance can improve financial growth. Keep insurance coverage intact while optimizing investments.

» Considering tax implications and timing

Selling stocks triggers long-term capital gains tax on profits above Rs 1.25 lakh at 12.5%. If you plan to sell, doing so strategically can reduce tax burden. You may stagger selling over multiple years or use losses to offset gains. Tax planning along with investing keeps more money working for you.

» Avoiding disadvantages of index funds

Since you avoid index funds, it is good to understand why. Index funds track entire markets and cannot beat market returns. They hold all stocks regardless of quality or valuation. This can drag returns when some stocks underperform. Actively managed funds, guided by research, can pick better stocks and react to market changes, improving chances to build a bigger corpus.

» Advantages of actively managed funds over direct investing alone

Active funds have a team monitoring markets regularly. They rebalance portfolios based on risk and reward. With Certified Financial Planners, you get personalized advice matching your life goals. This differs from holding individual stocks passively. In your case, combining active fund SIPs with selective direct stocks provides balance.

» Building a long-term strategy without timing pressure

Your focus on no time pressure is wise. Markets fluctuate but good companies grow over years. Continue holding fundamentally strong stocks, review annually, and stay invested in SIPs. This disciplined approach maximizes compound growth with less stress.

» Final insights

Congratulations on your 1.5 crore corpus; it shows strong financial discipline.

Holding blue-chip stocks without urgency suits your goal of slow, steady wealth.

Regularly review company fundamentals and sector trends to stay informed.

Rebalance your portfolio to maintain risk control and capture gains safely.

Continue mutual fund SIPs via Certified Financial Planners for professional management.

Evaluate LIC investments; consider replacing them with mutual funds if they lower returns.

Plan your stock selling considering tax rules to optimise gains.

Avoid index funds; prefer actively managed funds for better selection and timing.

Stay consistent with a long-term view; time and discipline build strong corpus.

Your approach shows maturity and patience. Aligning strategy with expert advice ensures your corpus grows well with peace of mind.

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

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 18, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Aug 09, 2025Hindi
Money
At the age of 36,I have created a corpus of around 1.5 Crore INR by holding 46000 jsw infrastructure shares,mutual funds and PPF. I am Targeting 370-80rs per share for exit. My annual income is currently 12 LAKHS CTC and married with 1 kid.Also I want to create a housing property and plan to invest the balance lumpsum for retirement. Please advise.
Ans: You have built a very strong base already at 36.
A corpus of Rs. 1.5 crore with diversified sources is a great achievement. Your focus on shares, mutual funds, and PPF shows commitment to wealth creation. You also earn Rs. 12 lakhs annually, which supports future growth. Your family responsibility is clear with marriage and one child. Now, let us assess your plan from all angles.

» Equity stock concentration risk

– You hold 46,000 shares in one company.
– This creates heavy concentration risk.
– Targeting Rs. 370–380 exit price is fine. But market can move differently.
– Do not base entire financial future on single stock movement.
– Gradual exit in parts is safer than waiting for one fixed price.
– Redeploying into diversified funds after exit reduces risk.

Stocks can create big wealth. But depending too much on one stock can harm. Balanced diversification matters more than chasing price targets.

» Mutual fund portfolio role

– Your mutual funds give better diversification compared to single stock.
– They cover different market segments with professional management.
– Continue SIPs or lumpsum investments through mutual funds.
– Mutual funds offer steady compounding and reduce risk compared to individual stocks.
– Keep mix of large cap, flexi cap, and select mid caps.
– Reduce sector funds or narrow strategies.

Avoid index funds because they only follow the market average. In India, actively managed funds often deliver superior growth. They allow fund managers to exit weak companies and enter future leaders. Index funds cannot do this.

Also, avoid direct funds. Direct funds may save small costs but you lose expert review. With regular funds through MFD and Certified Financial Planner, you get monitoring and corrections. This adds more value than expense savings.

» PPF role and limitations

– You already hold PPF.
– It adds safety and guaranteed growth.
– But growth is slow compared to equity.
– Also, it locks money for long periods.
– Use PPF for fixed safe portion only. Do not add more.
– For retirement, equity mutual funds will play a larger role.

PPF is good for discipline. But wealth acceleration will come from equity mutual funds, not from PPF.

» Housing property goal

– You plan to create a housing property.
– First ask: is it for staying or for investment?
– If for staying, it is fine. Owning house gives security to family.
– If for investment, then avoid. Property investment is illiquid, taxed, and needs high cost. Mutual funds will create better wealth with flexibility.

When you buy house, avoid stretching loan too much. Keep EMI below 25% of your monthly income. Balance must continue in investments.

» Retirement planning with lump sum

– After your house plan, balance lumpsum can go for retirement.
– Retirement horizon is long. You have 20+ years ahead.
– For such horizon, equity mutual funds are best choice.
– Mix funds across large cap, flexi cap, and mid cap.
– Avoid overdependence on small cap and sector funds.
– Invest in phased manner if market is volatile.

Lumpsum should be invested gradually. This reduces timing risk. Then hold for long term with discipline.

» Insurance and protection

– You did not mention insurance.
– At your age, with wife and child, term insurance is must.
– Cover should be at least 15–20 times your annual income.
– This protects family if anything happens.
– Health insurance for family is also must. Employer cover alone is not enough.

Without insurance, your financial plan remains incomplete. Protection is foundation before growth.

» Child education planning

– You have one child. Education cost will rise sharply.
– Start a dedicated SIP for child education.
– This ensures money is available at right time.
– Do not mix this with retirement corpus. Keep separate.
– Use equity mutual funds with 10–12 year horizon.

Child education is a clear goal. If not planned early, it may force breaking retirement savings later.

» Emergency fund

– Keep 6 to 9 months of household expense in liquid fund or bank.
– This avoids breaking long-term investments during crisis.
– Emergency fund should not be in PPF or shares. It must stay liquid.

This simple step saves portfolio during emergencies.

» Tax planning and new rules

– Be aware of new mutual fund capital gain rules.
– Long-term equity gains above Rs. 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%.
– Short-term equity gains taxed at 20%.
– Debt funds gains taxed at your slab.

So, keep equity funds for long horizon. This reduces short-term taxation. Also, plan SWP in future keeping this tax rule in mind.

» Behaviour and discipline

– Do not chase stock price targets blindly.
– Do not stop SIPs during market fall.
– Review portfolio yearly with Certified Financial Planner.
– Rebalance when one asset grows too much compared to others.
– Increase SIP whenever income rises.

Discipline matters more than product selection. Regular habits build real wealth.

» Finally

At 36, you are in a strong position. Corpus of Rs. 1.5 crore, good income, family stability. With proper diversification, controlled debt, insurance cover, and systematic investments, you can achieve financial independence.

Use your shares wisely by exiting in parts. Build house only if for living. Allocate balance lumpsum into diversified equity mutual funds for retirement. Keep child education goal separate. Protect family with term and health insurance. Maintain emergency fund.

Then your journey towards financial freedom and retirement security will stay on track with confidence.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

..Read more

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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

Kanchan

Kanchan Rai  |646 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Dec 12, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 07, 2025Hindi
Relationship
Dear Madam, I was a bright student during my school days and my plan was to become a civil servant but that did not succeed even after several attempts. With the advise of my brother i went ahead and pursued Masters at a normal university in Sydney. I did internship and continued staying with my job though it wasn't my field of study. After that what came as a shock was my brother's divorce. We don't know what is the actual issue till date but I tried a lot to fix the gap by talking to his ex-wife but they were very orthodox. I couldn't see my brother suffer because he had planned and arranged so much for her. I had no choice then so i try to harm his ex-wife by spoiling her reputation thinking she will come back for him. In the mean time i got married to a girl who was her relative too thinking my wife can help us in some case but she turned out to be completely in the opposite direction. She was probably convinced by my brother's ex-wife or their relatives that she is not coming back. Even then my brother tried to go meet his ex-wife through many channels. My wife did not help him at all in any aspect. Finally the divorced happened and everything ended. Now we have sought several proposals but nothing seem to be a good fit for him. Most of the girls whom we met on matrimonial sites are fake profiles with something hidden or falsely represented. I would say my brother escaped all this. But we are worried about his life now as he is already in his 40's and he seem to be struggling for a good job and finance. He is very picky probably but doesn't talk much to all of us. Sometimes he even says the game is over so no point looking at a second marriage. My wife and he fought once when he visited us because she didn't want him in our house and she created a fight putting me in the front. After that he stopped coming to our house or see us or talk to us. Things even gets worse sometimes when her brother comes and visits us and stays at our house which my parents don't like. My parents argue that your brother was not allowed to stay for few months then how come her brother is allowed for several months. What kind of partiality is that? I feel i could not do anything for him despite the fact that he is my only brother. He is good at heart and looked after me when i went abroad financially and even came to meet me few times. I tried to send him money, gifts but he is still the same. He communicates with our parents but not with me nor my wife anymore. Kindly give us a good advise.
Ans: Your brother’s distance is not a rejection of you. It is his way of protecting himself. He went through a difficult marriage, an emotional collapse, and then watched people around him — including you — react out of desperation to fix things for him. Even though your intentions came from love, he may have associated those actions with more pain and pressure. When a person has been wounded, silence feels safer than conversation. His withdrawal simply means he is tired, not that he dislikes you.
You also need to understand that the guilt you are carrying is heavier than it needs to be. You tried to intervene in his marriage because you wanted to protect him, not because you wanted to cause harm. Looking back now, with more maturity and clarity, you see the mistakes, but at that time, you were acting out of fear and love. This is why it’s important to forgive yourself instead of punishing yourself over and over.
The conflict between your wife and your brother only added another layer of stress, because it forced you into choosing sides. Your wife reacted emotionally, your brother pulled away, your parents questioned the imbalance — and in the middle of all this, you lost your sense of peace. But their disagreements are not failures on your part. They are the natural result of people operating from insecurity, fear, and past hurt.
What needs to happen now is a shift in your role. You cannot continue trying to solve everything for everyone. You cannot carry your brother’s marriage, your wife’s fears, and your parents’ judgments all at once. It’s time to step out of the role of rescuer and step into the role of a grounded, calm brother who offers presence, not solutions.
Rebuilding your bond with your brother will not come from pushing proposals, sending gifts, or trying to fix his life. It will come from offering him emotional safety. A simple message, expressing that you are sorry for any hurt, that you care for him, and that you are available whenever he feels ready, will speak louder than any effort to arrange his future. Once you send such a message, the healthiest thing you can do is give him space. Sometimes relationships repair themselves in silence, when pressure is removed.
And for yourself, healing begins when you stop believing that every problem in the family rests on your shoulders. You have given more than enough over the years. Now you deserve emotional rest. You deserve peace. You deserve to feel like a brother, not a crisis manager.
Your brother may take time, but distance does not erase love. When he feels safe, he will come closer again. Your responsibility is not to force that moment, but to make sure you are emotionally steady and ready when it happens.

...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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