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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 21, 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
Kamlesh Question by Kamlesh on Jun 01, 2025Hindi
Money

Want to create 2 cr corpus at retirement through sip

Ans: Planning early gives you more power.

A clear goal builds financial discipline.

Rs 2 crore is realistic if you stay committed.

Start With Goal Understanding

Retirement goal is long term.

Assume retirement age near 60.

You have time if age below 35.

Corpus of Rs 2 crore needs structured approach.

SIP is right tool for this journey.

Monthly Investment Estimation

Do not use exact formula here.

Higher SIP gives quicker target.

Smaller SIP takes longer time.

The longer the time, the smaller the monthly need.

Decide how many years till retirement first.

Then check how much you can save monthly.

Also keep room for yearly SIP increases.

Power Of Step-Up SIP

Don’t keep SIP fixed forever.

Increase SIP by 10% yearly if possible.

Income grows yearly, SIP should grow too.

Even Rs 1,000 monthly rise adds up.

Discipline matters more than amount.

Why SIP Is Powerful

SIP removes timing pressure.

You invest monthly at different market levels.

Volatility becomes your friend long term.

Small money grows big with time.

It builds habit along with wealth.

Choose Right Type Of Mutual Funds

Stick with actively managed equity mutual funds.

These funds select best companies.

They change portfolio when needed.

Indian market rewards stock picking.

Index funds copy market blindly.

Index funds hold bad stocks until replacement.

Active funds remove poor stocks faster.

This protects you in down years.

You also get better downside control.

Avoid Index Funds For This Goal

Index funds do not suit retirement building.

They offer no human research advantage.

Same stocks get overweight in bull run.

No risk management during correction.

They can drag your long-term return.

Active funds give higher return potential.

That makes them better for wealth creation.

Regular Plan Over Direct Plan

Do not invest through direct mutual fund plans.

Direct funds lack expert help and review.

Many investors panic and stop SIPs.

That spoils long term compounding.

Regular plans come with support system.

You get guidance from Certified Financial Planner.

They track performance, rebalance if needed.

Also they offer goal mapping.

Charges are slightly higher but worth it.

Portfolio Diversification Strategy

Don’t invest in only one fund.

Use 3 to 4 equity funds.

Pick different fund styles and fund houses.

This spreads risk properly.

Avoid fund overlap while choosing schemes.

Keep large cap, flexi cap, mid cap mix.

Add international equity later if goal permits.

Track With Discipline

SIPs need patience and tracking.

Don’t change funds every year.

Review portfolio once each year.

Check performance with 3-year and 5-year return.

Compare with category average, not just index.

Don't exit fund after one bad year.

Funds need time to show true value.

How To Handle Market Volatility

Markets go up and down always.

Don't stop SIP when markets fall.

Instead, increase SIP when markets fall.

That improves average purchase price.

Panic exits destroy compounding magic.

Mutual Fund Capital Gains Tax Rule

Know taxation to avoid surprises.

Equity fund gains above Rs 1.25 lakh taxed.

Tax rate is 12.5% on gains.

Short term gains taxed at 20%.

Debt fund gains taxed as per slab.

Track gains yearly and harvest smartly.

Emergency Fund First

Before SIP, build emergency buffer.

Keep 3 to 6 months of expenses ready.

Park that in liquid mutual funds.

Emergency money protects SIP during job loss.

Health And Life Insurance Next

Buy term life insurance before SIP.

Cover should be 10 to 15 times salary.

Also take family health insurance.

Don’t mix insurance with investment.

Avoid ULIPs or traditional LIC plans.

Only pure term and separate mutual fund.

If Holding LIC, ULIP Or Mix Plans

Check past return and surrender value.

If return is below inflation, exit.

Redirect funds to equity SIP.

Term insurance is better than bundled plans.

Monthly Budget For SIP

Save minimum 30% of income monthly.

Part of that goes into SIP.

Start with Rs 10,000 if possible.

Increase by Rs 1,000 every year.

If salary increases, raise SIP faster.

Other Smart Habits

Automate SIP from salary account.

Set SIP date 2 days after salary day.

Avoid skipping SIP for shopping or travel.

Don’t pause SIP unless true emergency.

Role Of Certified Financial Planner

CFP understands goals and risks.

They create plan based on real numbers.

They review funds each year for you.

Also help adjust SIPs based on life stage.

They act as guide during market fall.

You stay calm with their support.

Steps To Start

Pick Certified Financial Planner.

Share income, goals, and expenses.

Get personalised SIP roadmap.

Link goals to each SIP folio.

Avoid doing everything alone without plan.

What To Avoid

Don’t invest in NFOs or trendy products.

Don’t chase highest return fund every year.

Don’t rely on relatives for fund tips.

Don’t check NAV daily.

Don’t invest lumpsum without strategy.

Avoid ULIP, endowment or moneyback plans.

How To Track Goal

Use simple Excel or mobile app.

Track corpus built vs target.

Update values every 3 months.

If gap appears, top-up SIP.

Keep goal deadline visible on wall.

Final Insights

Rs 2 crore corpus is fully possible.

You need time, SIP and discipline.

Use active equity mutual funds only.

Invest via regular plan with MFD and CFP.

Avoid index funds and direct plans.

Keep emergency fund and insurance in place.

Review your plan every year.

Stay focused. Stay regular. Stay long.

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 Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 06, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 06, 2025Hindi
Money
Dear Sir/Ma'am, I need some guidance and advice for continuing my mutual fund investments. I am a 36 year old male, married, no kids yet and no debts/liabilities as such. I have couple of savings in PPF, NPS, Emergency funds and long term investing in direct stocks. I recently started below mentioned SIPs for long term to grow wealth. Request you to review the same and let me know if I should continue with the SIPs or need to rationalize. Kindly also advice on how to invest a lumpsum amount of around 6lacs. invesco small cap 2000 motilal oswal midcap 2700 parag parikh flexicap 3000 HDFC flexicap 3100 ICICI prudential largecap 3100 HDFC large and midcap 3100 HDFC gold etf FOF 2000 ICICI Pru equity and debt fund 3000 HDFC balanced advantage fund 3000 nippon india silver etf FOF 2000
Ans: You already built a solid foundation. Many investors delay planning. But you started early at 36. That gives you a strong advantage. You have no liabilities. You have long term thinking. You also have diversified savings like PPF, NPS, Emergency funds and direct stocks. That shows clarity and discipline. This approach builds wealth with less stress over time.

You also started systematic investments in equity funds. That is a positive step. Your selection covers multiple categories like large cap, mid cap, small cap, flexi cap, hybrid and precious metals. So the intent is right. You are trying to create a broad portfolio. That gives balance.

» Your Portfolio Composition Understanding
Your current SIP list includes:

Small cap

Mid cap

Flexi cap

Large cap

Large and mid cap

Hybrid category

Gold and Silver FoF

Equity and Debt allocation fund

Dynamic hybrid fund

This shows you are trying to cover many segments. But too many categories can create overlap. When there is overlap, you get confusion during review. It also makes portfolio discipline difficult. You may think you are diversified. But the holdings inside may repeat. That reduces efficiency.

Your portfolio now looks like:

Equity dominant

Hybrid for stability

Metals for hedge

So the broad direction is fine. But simplifying helps in long-term habit building.

» Fund Category Duplication
You hold:

Two flexi cap funds

One large and mid cap fund

One pure large cap fund

One mid cap fund

One small cap fund

Flexi cap funds already invest across large, mid, small. Then large and mid also overlaps. So the large cap exposure gets repeated. That may not add extra benefit. But it increases monitoring complexity.

So I suggest rationalising. Keep one fund per category in core. Keep satellite space for only high conviction.

» Core and Satellite Strategy
A structured portfolio follows core and satellite method.

Core portfolio should be:

Simple

Long term

Stable

Satellite portfolio can be:

High growth

Concentrated

Based on your thinking level, you can structure like this:

Core funds:

One large cap

One flexi cap

One hybrid equity and debt fund

One balanced advantage type fund

Satellite funds:

One mid cap

One small cap

One metal allocation if needed

This division gives clarity. You can continue SIPs with review every year. No need to stop and restart often. That reduces behavioural mistakes.

» Your Current SIP List Review with Suggested Streamlining

You can consider continuing:

One flexi cap

One large cap

One mid cap

One small cap

One balanced advantage

One equity and debt hybrid

You may reconsider keeping both flexi caps and both gold silver funds. One of each category is enough. Because too many funds do not increase returns. It complicates tracking.

Precious metal funds should not be more than 5 to 7 percent in your portfolio. This is because metals are hedge assets. They do not create compounding like equity. They act as protection during cycles. So keep them small.

» How to Use the Rs 6 Lakh Lump Sum
You asked about lump sum investing. This is important. Lump sum should not go fully into equity at one time. Markets move in cycles. So use a staggered method. You can invest the lump sum through STP (Systematic Transfer Plan). You can keep the amount in a liquid fund and set STP toward your chosen growth funds over 6 to 12 months.

This reduces timing risk. It also creates discipline. So your Rs 6 lakh can be deployed gradually. You may use 50% towards core equity funds and 30% toward satellite growth category. The remaining 20% can go into hybrid category. This gives balance and comfort.

» Regular Funds Over Direct Funds
One important point many investors miss. Direct funds look cheaper. But they demand deep knowledge, discipline, and behaviour control. Most investors lose more through emotional selling and wrong timing than they save on expense ratio.

With regular funds through a Mutual Fund Distributor with Certified Financial Planner qualification, you get guidance, structure and correction. The advisory discipline protects you during market extremes. That is more valuable than a small saving in expense ratio.

A personalised planner also tracks portfolio drift, rebalancing need and category shifts. So regular fund investing gives long-term benefit and behaviour coaching.

» Actively Managed Funds over Index or ETF
Some investors choose index funds or ETF thinking they are simple and cheap. But they ignore drawbacks.

Index funds or ETF will not avoid weak companies in the index. They will invest whether the company grows or struggles. There is no fund manager decision making. So when markets are at peak, index funds continue aggressive exposure. In downturns also they fall fully. There is no cushion.

Actively managed funds work with research teams. They can avoid bad sectors. They can shift allocation based on market and economy. Over long term, this gives better alpha and stability. So continuing with actively managed funds creates better wealth compounding.

» SIP Continuation Strategy
Once the rationalisation is done, continue SIPs every month without interruption. Pause and restart behaviour damages compounding power. SIP works best when you go through all market cycles. You benefit more during corrections because cost averaging works.

So continue SIP amount. You can also review SIP increase every year based on income. Increasing SIP by 10 to 15 percent every year helps you reach large corpus faster.

» Asset Allocation Based Approach
One key point in wealth creation is having the right asset mix. Equity gives growth. Hybrid gives balance. Metals give hedge. Debt gives safety. Your asset allocation should stay aligned to your risk profile and time horizon.

Since you are young and have long term horizon, higher equity allocation is fine. But as time moves, rebalancing is important. Rebalancing protects gains and restores allocation.

So review your asset allocation every year or during major life events like child birth, home buying or retirement planning.

» Behaviour Management
Many portfolios fail not due to bad funds. They fail due to bad decisions. Selling during correction. Stopping SIP when market falls. Chasing past return performance. These mistakes reduce wealth.

Your discipline so far is good. Continue to stay patient during volatility. Equity rewards patience and time.

» Financial Goals Clarity
Since you have no children now, you can decide your long-term goals. Typical goals may include:

Retirement

Future child education

Dream lifestyle purchase

Health care reserves

When goals are clear, investment purpose becomes stronger. So you can map each fund category to goal horizon. Short-term goals should not use equity. Long-term goals should use equity with hybrid support.

» Role of Review and Monitoring
Review once in a year is enough. Frequent review can create anxiety. Annual review helps check:

Fund performance

Expense drift

Category relevance

Allocation balance

Then adjust only if needed. This progress helps you stay confident and aligned.

» Taxation Awareness
Equity mutual funds taxation rules are:

Short term (below one year holding) taxable at 20 percent

Long term (above one year holding) gains above Rs 1.25 lakh taxable at 12.5 percent

Debt mutual funds are taxed as per your income slab.

So always hold equity funds for long term. That reduces tax impact and gives better growth.

» SIP Increase Plan
You can create a simple plan to increase SIP over time. For example:

Increase SIP at every salary increment

Increase SIP during bonus time

Use rewards or extra income for investing

This habit accelerates wealth. So by the time you reach 45 to 50 years, your investments could reach a strong level.

» Insurance and Protection
Before investing large, ensure you have term insurance and health insurance. If not already done, it is important. Insurance protects wealth. Without insurance, even a small medical event can impact investment plan. So review this part also. Since you are married, cover both.

» Wealth Behaviour Mindset
You are already disciplined. Just keep these simple principles:

Invest without stopping

Review once a year

Avoid funds overlap

Follow asset allocation

Avoid reacting to media noise

This helps you reach long term milestones.

» Finally
You are on the right track. Only fine tuning and simplification is needed. Your discipline is visible. Your portfolio will grow well with structure, patience and periodic review. Use the Rs 6 lakh with STP approach. And continue SIP with rationalised categories.

With time and consistency, wealth creation becomes effortless and peaceful. You just need to stay committed and avoid overthinking during market movements.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

...Read more

Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1837 Answers  |Ask -

Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Dec 05, 2025

Career
Dear Sir, I did my BTech from a normal engineering college not very famous. The teaching was not great and hence i did not study well. I tried my best to learn coding including all the technologies like html,css,javascript,react js,dba,php because i wanted to be a web developer But nothing seem to enter my head except html and css. I don't understand a language which has more complexities. Is it because of my lack of experience or not devoting enough time. I am not sure. I did many courses online and tried to do diplomas also abroad which i passed somehow. I recently joined android development course because i like apps but the teaching was so fast that i could not memorize anything. There was no time to even take notes down. During the course i did assignments and understood the code because i have to pass but after the course is over i tend to forget everything. I attempted a lot of interviews. Some of them i even got but could not perform well so they let me go. Now due to the AI booming and job markets in a bad shape i am re-thinking whether to keep studying or whether its just time waste. Since 3 years i am doing labour type of jobs which does not yield anything to me for survival and to pay my expenses. I have the quest to learn everything but as soon as i sit in front of the computer i listen to music or read something else. What should i do to stay more focused? What should i do to make myself believe confident. Is there still scope of IT in todays world? Kindly advise.
Ans: Your story does not show failure.
It shows persistence, effort, and desire to improve.

Most people give up.
You didn’t.
That means you will succeed — but with the right method, not the old one.

...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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