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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 20, 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 - May 20, 2024Hindi
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Hi sir, I am Aman Sharma 24 years old non-iT employee.. I have been investing sip of 3k per month as of now since a year but .. I want to increase 10% in every year, kindly Suggest me good mutual fund to build good corpus after 15 years

Ans: Nurturing Your Investment Journey: A Certified Financial Planner's Perspective
Aman, your commitment to building wealth through systematic investment planning is admirable and sets a solid foundation for your financial future. Let's explore how we can further enhance your investment strategy to achieve your long-term goals effectively.

Acknowledging Your Dedication:
First and foremost, I want to acknowledge your proactive approach towards financial planning at a young age. Your commitment to increasing your SIP contribution by 10% annually reflects a commendable level of dedication and foresight.

Understanding Your Objectives:
To guide you towards selecting the right mutual funds for building a substantial corpus over the next 15 years, it's essential to understand your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon.

Crafting a Tailored Investment Strategy:
Based on your preferences and goals, here's a structured approach to selecting suitable mutual funds:

Diversified Equity Funds: Consider allocating a significant portion of your SIP investments to diversified equity funds. These funds offer exposure to a broad range of sectors and companies, providing the potential for substantial capital appreciation over the long term.

Mid and Small Cap Funds: Given your relatively young age and longer investment horizon, you may consider allocating a portion of your portfolio to mid and small-cap funds. These funds have the potential to deliver higher returns but come with higher volatility. However, over a 15-year period, they can significantly boost your overall portfolio returns.

Balanced Advantage Funds: To mitigate risk and enhance stability in your portfolio, you may also explore balanced advantage funds. These funds dynamically manage their equity and debt allocations based on market conditions, offering downside protection during market downturns while participating in equity market upswings.

Embracing Growth Opportunities:
As you continue your journey towards financial independence, remember to monitor your investments regularly and make adjustments as needed. Stay informed about market trends and economic developments to make informed decisions and seize growth opportunities.

Conclusion: Empowering Your Financial Future
In conclusion, by gradually increasing your SIP contributions and investing in a well-diversified portfolio of mutual funds, you're taking proactive steps towards achieving your financial goals. Stay disciplined, stay focused, and let your investments work diligently towards creating the wealth and abundance you envision.

Warm Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
Asked on - May 20, 2024 | Answered on May 20, 2024
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Thank you so much sir
Ans: Welcome :)
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 May 20, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - May 08, 2024Hindi
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Hi sir, Iam 27year old non-iT employee.. I want start sip of 4k per month as of now.. I will increase amount later on.. Suggest me good mutual fund to build good corpus after 20years
Ans: Crafting a Strategic SIP Plan for Long-Term Wealth Creation
Firstly, congratulations on taking the initiative to start investing at such a young age. It's a commendable step towards securing your financial future.

Understanding Your Investment Objective
Your goal of building a substantial corpus over the next 20 years reflects prudent financial planning and a long-term wealth creation mindset. Let's explore suitable mutual fund options to help you achieve this objective.

Selecting Mutual Funds for Long-Term Growth
Considering your investment horizon and risk tolerance, it's essential to opt for funds that offer the potential for significant growth over the long term. Here's a suggested approach:

Equity Mutual Funds: Given your age and long-term investment horizon, equity mutual funds are well-suited to harness the power of compounding and generate substantial wealth over time.

Diversified Funds: Choose diversified equity funds that invest across various sectors and market capitalizations, providing ample opportunities for growth while mitigating concentration risk.

Mid and Small Cap Funds: Funds focusing on mid and small-cap segments have historically delivered higher returns over the long term, albeit with higher volatility. They can significantly boost your corpus over 20 years.

Benefits of Actively Managed Funds Over Direct Funds
While direct funds offer the advantage of lower expense ratios, actively managed funds provide several benefits that can enhance long-term wealth creation:

Expert Fund Management: Actively managed funds are overseen by skilled fund managers who actively research and select stocks with the aim of outperforming the market, potentially leading to higher returns over time.

Dynamic Portfolio Allocation: Fund managers have the flexibility to adjust asset allocation based on market conditions, economic outlook, and investment opportunities, optimizing returns and managing risks effectively.

Diversification and Risk Management: Actively managed funds often have diversified portfolios across sectors and market caps, reducing concentration risk and enhancing overall portfolio resilience.

Conclusion: Building a Foundation for Financial Success
In conclusion, initiating a SIP of 4k per month in carefully selected equity mutual funds lays the groundwork for building a substantial corpus over the next 20 years. By focusing on diversified funds with a track record of consistent performance, you're well-positioned to achieve your long-term financial goals.

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 Feb 18, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Feb 17, 2025Hindi
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Hi Sanjeev sir,I am 37 years old.I am an aggressive investor.I want to invest in mutual fund sip 35k ever month with 10% step up every year. I have 10 k PPF evey month. I need corpus of 20crore after 25 years . Please advise me what funds should be in my portfolio to achieve my goal? What fund should I take and what amount? Thanking you
Ans: Investment Plan for a Rs 20 Crore Corpus in 25 Years
Your goal is clear, and your approach is strong. You are already investing Rs 35,000 in SIPs with a 10% step-up, along with Rs 10,000 in PPF. Achieving Rs 20 crore in 25 years requires discipline, strategic fund selection, and regular review.

Your current approach of systematic investments, step-up, and long-term horizon works in your favour. However, the choice of funds and asset allocation will be crucial.

Equity Allocation for Aggressive Growth
Since you have a long horizon and an aggressive mindset, equity should dominate your portfolio. A well-diversified portfolio across different equity categories is needed.

Large-Cap Funds (30%)

These funds provide stability and consistent returns.
They invest in India’s top companies, reducing volatility.
Suggested allocation: Rs 10,500 per month.
Mid-Cap Funds (25%)

These funds offer a balance of growth and risk.
They can deliver high returns over the long term.
Suggested allocation: Rs 8,750 per month.
Small-Cap Funds (20%)

These funds have the highest potential for growth.
They are volatile but can generate superior returns.
Suggested allocation: Rs 7,000 per month.
Flexi-Cap Funds (15%)

These funds dynamically allocate across large, mid, and small caps.
They offer flexibility based on market conditions.
Suggested allocation: Rs 5,250 per month.
Value or Contra Funds (10%)

These funds invest in undervalued companies.
They are good for long-term wealth creation.
Suggested allocation: Rs 3,500 per month.
Role of PPF in Your Portfolio
You are investing Rs 10,000 per month in PPF, which provides a stable, tax-free return.

Advantages:

Provides safety and tax benefits.
Acts as a diversification tool.
Limitations:

Returns are lower compared to equities.
Lock-in period restricts liquidity.
Keeping PPF is fine for stability, but don’t rely on it for aggressive wealth creation.

Importance of Step-Up SIP Strategy
Your 10% annual SIP increase is excellent. It ensures:

Your investments grow in line with inflation.
Higher compounding benefits over time.
Lesser burden in later years.
Stick to this plan to maximise your corpus.

Asset Rebalancing & Portfolio Review
Review your portfolio every year.
Rebalance if allocation drifts significantly.
Continue investing in quality funds with strong track records.
Avoid switching funds frequently. Long-term compounding is key.

Final Insights
You are on the right track with SIPs and step-up strategy.
A well-diversified portfolio across large, mid, small, flexi, and value funds is ideal.
PPF adds safety but is not a high-return vehicle.
Stick to long-term investing and review annually.
With discipline and patience, Rs 20 crore in 25 years is achievable.

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

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'.

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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
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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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