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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 05, 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 - Jan 02, 2024Hindi
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Hi Sir, Currently am investing as below. Parag parekh flexi cap 10k pm Sbi bamking and financial services fund 2500 pm Quant Small cap fund 5k pm Pgim india mid cap opportunities fund 5k pm Motilal Oswal s&p 500 index fund 1k pm. Could you please advise if the above or good? If i have to stop somwthing and add anything new to balance my portfolio? Iam 35 and my investments are dor longterm

Ans: Your current investment portfolio appears to be diversified across different market segments, which is a good strategy for long-term growth. However, it's essential to consider the risk associated with each segment and ensure it aligns with your risk tolerance and investment goals. Reviewing your portfolio regularly and making adjustments as needed can help maintain a balanced approach and optimize returns over time. Consulting with a financial advisor can provide personalized guidance based on your individual circumstances and objectives.
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  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 07, 2024

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Hello Sir/Madam, I am 32 years old and just now started investing 20k per month for long term horizon with step up SIPs of 15% Below are my investment portfolio. Quant Mid Cap Fund 4000 rs. Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund 4000rs Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund 3000rs Quant Small Cap Fund 4000rs Nippon India Multi Cap Fund 5000rs Please provide your valuable suggestion, feebav
Ans: Your investment journey reflects a thoughtful approach to building wealth for the long term. Here are some insights and suggestions on your investment portfolio:
Quant Mid Cap Fund:
• Mid-cap funds like Quant Mid Cap Fund have the potential for high growth but may experience higher volatility.
• Ensure you have a long-term investment horizon to ride out market fluctuations and benefit from the growth potential of mid-cap companies.
Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund:
• Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund follows a flexible investment strategy, allowing exposure to various market segments, including equities and fixed income.
• This fund's diversified approach can provide stability to your portfolio while capturing growth opportunities across different market conditions.
Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund:
• Investing in micro-cap companies through an index fund like Motilal Oswal Nifty Microcap 250 Index Fund offers broad exposure to the micro-cap segment of the market.
• Micro-cap stocks have the potential for significant growth but may be more volatile and less liquid compared to larger-cap stocks.
Quant Small Cap Fund:
• Small-cap funds like Quant Small Cap Fund focus on smaller companies with high growth potential.
• Small-cap investments can be volatile, so ensure you have a sufficiently long investment horizon and risk tolerance to withstand market fluctuations.
Nippon India Multi Cap Fund:
• Multi-cap funds like Nippon India Multi Cap Fund offer diversification across large, mid, and small-cap stocks.
• This fund's flexible allocation allows the fund manager to adapt to changing market conditions and capitalize on opportunities across different market segments.
Suggestions:
1. Diversification: Your portfolio exhibits diversification across different market segments, which is beneficial for managing risk and capturing growth opportunities. Continue to monitor the performance of each fund regularly.
2. Review and Rebalance: Periodically review your portfolio's performance and rebalance if necessary to ensure it remains aligned with your financial goals and risk tolerance.
3. Stay Informed: Stay updated on market trends, economic developments, and fund performance to make informed investment decisions.
4. Emergency Fund and Insurance: Ensure you have an adequate emergency fund equivalent to 3-6 months of living expenses and consider purchasing health insurance and term insurance coverage to protect yourself and your loved ones.
5. Consultation: Consider consulting with a Certified Financial Planner to develop a comprehensive financial plan tailored to your goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon.
Overall, your investment portfolio shows a well-rounded approach to long-term wealth creation. By staying disciplined and adhering to your investment strategy, you're likely to achieve your financial objectives over time. Keep up the good work!

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 21, 2024

Money
Hi, I am of 36yrs age. Investing money in mutual funds. SBI balanced hybrid fund, DSP black Rock tax saver fund both 5000 each. Nippon India Multi cap fund-1000 HDFC defence fund -1000 Parag Parikh flexi cap fund-1000 And some amount in shares. I am thinking to invest more, please advise is my portfolio gud?
Ans: You’re 36 years old and have already begun investing in mutual funds and shares. This is a positive step towards securing your financial future. Let's evaluate your portfolio and provide guidance on how to enhance it for better returns.

Analysing Your Current Mutual Fund Choices
SBI Balanced Hybrid Fund: Balanced or hybrid funds provide a mix of equity and debt. They offer stability and potential growth. However, ensure that your choice aligns with your risk tolerance and goals.

DSP Black Rock Tax Saver Fund: This tax-saving fund offers tax benefits under Section 80C. It also has a lock-in period of three years. It is a good choice for combining tax savings with wealth creation.

Nippon India Multi Cap Fund: Multi-cap funds offer diversification across large, mid, and small-cap stocks. They balance risk and reward, making them a good long-term option.

HDFC Defence Fund: Thematic funds like this one focus on specific sectors. They can be high-risk, high-reward investments. Ensure it aligns with your long-term objectives.

Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund: Flexi-cap funds provide flexibility by investing across market capitalizations. They offer balanced growth potential, making them suitable for long-term investment.

Portfolio Strengths and Areas for Improvement
Diversification: Your portfolio is well-diversified across different fund categories. This reduces risk and provides multiple avenues for growth.

Sector-Specific Investment: The HDFC Defence Fund focuses on a specific sector. While it can offer high returns, it also carries higher risk. Monitor its performance closely and be ready to adjust if needed.

Tax-Saving Component: The DSP Black Rock Tax Saver Fund is beneficial for tax planning. However, remember that the focus should be on wealth creation rather than just tax savings.

Flexibility: The inclusion of a flexi-cap fund adds flexibility to your portfolio. This allows the fund manager to adapt to market conditions, potentially enhancing returns.

Disadvantages of Direct Funds
Direct funds may have lower expense ratios, but they require you to manage them yourself. This can be challenging without the expertise and time to regularly monitor and adjust your investments.

Investing through a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) in regular funds ensures that your investments are well-managed. A CFP provides ongoing advice, rebalances your portfolio as needed, and aligns it with your financial goals.

Recommendations for Future Investments
Given your existing portfolio, consider the following recommendations to enhance your investment strategy:

Add a Large Cap Fund: Large cap funds invest in established companies with stable performance. They provide steady growth and stability, balancing the higher risk of other funds in your portfolio.

Include a Debt Fund: Adding a debt fund can reduce overall portfolio risk. Debt funds offer regular income and are less volatile than equity funds. This addition can provide stability, especially in uncertain market conditions.

Consider a Balanced or Hybrid Fund: You already have one hybrid fund, but adding another can further stabilize your portfolio. This fund type invests in both equity and debt, offering balanced growth and reduced risk.

Increase SIP Contributions: If you plan to invest more, consider increasing your SIP contributions in existing or new funds. Even small increases can significantly impact your portfolio's growth over time.

Avoid Sector-Specific Overexposure: While sector funds like the HDFC Defence Fund can offer high returns, they also carry high risk. Ensure you are not overexposed to any single sector. Diversification across sectors is crucial.

Investing in Shares
Investing in shares is a good strategy for capital growth. However, shares come with higher risk compared to mutual funds. Here are some tips to manage your share investments:

Diversify Across Sectors: Just like with mutual funds, diversification in shares is key. Invest across different sectors to spread risk.

Monitor Regularly: Share investments require regular monitoring. Market conditions can change rapidly, so stay informed and be ready to make adjustments.

Consider Blue-Chip Stocks: If you haven't already, consider investing in blue-chip stocks. These are established companies with a track record of stable performance. They offer lower risk compared to smaller companies.

Achieving Your Long-Term Financial Goals
Your portfolio is well-structured, but there’s always room for improvement to achieve your long-term financial goals. Here are some strategies:

Set Clear Financial Goals: Define your financial goals clearly, whether it’s retirement planning, purchasing a home, or children’s education. This will guide your investment strategy.

Regular Portfolio Reviews: Regularly review your portfolio with your CFP. Adjustments may be needed based on market conditions and changes in your financial situation.

Consider Increasing Investments Over Time: As your income grows, consider increasing your investment amounts. This will help you reach your financial goals faster.

Stay Focused on Long-Term Growth: Avoid making impulsive decisions based on short-term market fluctuations. Stay focused on your long-term financial goals.

Finally
Your current investment portfolio is well-diversified and aligned with your financial goals. However, there are opportunities to enhance your strategy further. Consider adding a large cap and debt fund for better balance. Increase your SIP contributions and diversify your share investments.

Working with a Certified Financial Planner will ensure that your investments are regularly reviewed and aligned with your goals. This partnership will help you achieve your long-term financial objectives with confidence.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

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

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 06, 2025Hindi
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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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