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Sanjeev

Sanjeev Govila  | Answer  |Ask -

Financial Planner - Answered on Sep 20, 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
sumanta Question by sumanta on Sep 06, 2023Hindi
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Dear Sir I am a daily reader of your posts. You are requested to please give your valuable opinion as many times i sent you e-mail. Please find the details of my monthly SIP investment continuing since 2019. And I want to do long term investment. PARAG PARIKH FLEXI CAP FUND – GROWTH - 10000 SBI FOCUSED EQUITY FUND REGULAR GROWTH -10000 Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund - Regular Plan Growth Option- 10000 Canara Robeco Bluechip Equity Fund Regular Growth- 10000 Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund Growth Plan -10000 AXIS MIDCAP FUND – GROWTH- 10000 Any modification/changes required in terms of portfolio, please suggest. Below Tax Planning amounts want to withdraw, so where to park or save these same money please guide.. Present value is about double i.e 2lakh each MOTILAL OSWAL LONG TERM EQUITY FUND – GROWTH – 1lakh HDFC HYBRID EQUITY FUND - REGULAR PLAN – GROWTH- 1lakh Also, Suggest for a long term investment for baby girl child. Is it required separate investment of my wife (house wife) with the SIP . Regards Sumanta

Ans: As per your queries, we have given our recommendations below:

1. Overall, your investment portfolio is well-diversified and includes a mix of large-cap, mid-cap, and flexi-cap funds and also the funds you have in your portfolio, they all are fundamentally good and have been stable performers in their categories which is a good approach for long-term investment. You can continue to invest in these funds without any changes suggested.

2. Now if we talk about the tax planning and if you are not going to choose the old regime of tax, then we would suggest you to park this amount in mix of some equity and more in hybrid funds as you have already taken the position in pure equity-oriented funds. Also,in current scenario, Motilal Oswal Long-Term equity Fund is not performing up to the mark.

3. For long-term investment for your baby girl child, you can start a SIP in a well - diversified portfolio including some large cap, mid cap, hybrid funds (which invest in a mix of equity and debt) and small cap funds also for long term wealth building considering the long term horizon.

Also you can invest in specially designed product in mutual fund for children like Children gift funds etc which come with the lock-in of 5 years.

Apart from this you can also go with some government promoted schemes like PPF or Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana etc.

4. Yes, you can have separate investments (through monthly SIPs, not with enlarged amount otherwise clubbing of income is applicable) in the name of your wife for tax planning purpose.
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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Sanjeev

Sanjeev Govila  | Answer  |Ask -

Financial Planner - Answered on Dec 25, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 20, 2023Hindi
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Hello Sir. I'm Ravinder Rao, 47 years old. I'm very interested in investing in stocks, shares, and SIPs. Sir, I don't have knowledge about these investments. Kindly suggest me. Accordingly, I will do so, sir. And I want to learn knowledge about SIP and stocks; kindly suggest me. Sir, every month my present savings of Rs 30000. Present me with Rs 500000 lakhs. And I'm very confused about this amount. With this amount, can I invest in RD, FD, and real estate in Sip or purchase shares? Sir, I request that you kindly advise me. Sip funds names and details
Ans: Investing in financial securities involves balancing potential gains with potential losses. These risks and rewards are two sides of the same coin. To recommend the best investment options, we need to understand your risk tolerance. It is suggested that you should analyze your risk appetite, investment time horizon, and goals before investing.

If you do not have much knowledge about the financial markets, we would advise you to consult a financial planner before investing in mutual funds, stocks or other assets class. We recommend that you do a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) with your monthly savings. A SIP is a method of investing a fixed amount regularly in a mutual fund scheme.

The choice of a particular fund depends on the individual needs. Your requirements & goals should be carefully assessed before selecting the asset class for investments. Some other asset classes are equity, debt, gold, real estate, etc. which can be considered in your case.

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 17, 2024

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Feb 27, 2025

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Sir I am 37 year old ... having salary of 1.2 lacs per months and want to save money for child higher education and daughter marriage. Have 48 lakhs in fd's and PF account is having 20 lakh and will receive 20 lakhs in 2027 from LIC Please suggest how to invest in SIP currently having 50000 lumsump in Sbi energy opportunities fund, lumsump 50000 in SBI AUTO Hdfc noncyclic consumer fund Sip of 3000 Edelweiss small cap fund sip of 4000 Kotak emerging equity fund sip of. 3000 NJFlexi cap 1500, Hdfc multicap fund SIP of 1500 (50000 lumsum) Icici prudential value discovery fund sip of 1000 Total SIP per month 14500 and will increase to 30000 Please review my mutual fund portfolio as i dont have any knowledge and suggest if i have chossen correct category with mutual fund name or need to switch Waiting for your suggestion and thanks in advance My ask from you to give me fund name to start SIP of 2000 for next 10 years
Ans: Your portfolio consists of sectoral, small-cap, mid-cap, flexi-cap, and value funds. Here is a breakdown:

Lump Sum Investments:

SBI Energy Opportunities Fund – A sectoral fund focused on energy.
SBI Auto & HDFC Non-Cyclic Consumer Fund – Both are sectoral funds.
SIPs:

Small-Cap: Edelweiss Small Cap Fund (Rs 3,000)
Mid-Cap: Kotak Emerging Equity Fund (Rs 4,000)
Flexi-Cap: NJ Flexi Cap Fund (Rs 3,000)
Multi-Cap: HDFC MultiCap Fund (Rs 1,500)
Value-Oriented: ICICI Prudential Value Discovery Fund (Rs 1,000)
Total SIP Amount: Rs 14,500, with plans to increase to Rs 30,000.

Observations on Your Portfolio
High Exposure to Sectoral Funds:

Three of your funds are sector-specific. These are riskier as they depend on one sector’s performance. Sectoral funds should not exceed 10% of your portfolio.
High Small & Mid-Cap Allocation:

Small-cap and mid-cap funds have high growth potential but are volatile. You need more stability through large-cap exposure.
Lack of Large-Cap Allocation:

Large-cap funds provide stability during market downturns. Your portfolio lacks a dedicated large-cap fund.
Underutilized Multi-Cap/Flexi-Cap Funds:

You have NJ Flexi Cap and HDFC MultiCap, but their allocation is low compared to small and mid-cap funds. These funds provide diversification and stability.
Value Fund Allocation is Low:

ICICI Prudential Value Discovery Fund is a good choice but has only Rs 1,000 SIP. Increasing its allocation will help in long-term wealth creation.
Recommended Changes in Portfolio
To improve your portfolio, make the following adjustments:

Reduce Sectoral Exposure
Exit SBI Energy Opportunities Fund and SBI Auto Fund.
Invest the redeemed amount in a diversified equity fund.
Increase Large-Cap Exposure
Start a SIP in a large-cap fund with Rs 5,000 monthly.
This will provide stability and reduce overall risk.
Increase Multi-Cap/Flexi-Cap Allocation
Increase allocation to HDFC MultiCap or add another multi-cap fund.
Optimize Small & Mid-Cap Exposure
Continue Kotak Emerging Equity Fund (mid-cap) and Edelweiss Small Cap Fund.
Avoid adding more small-cap funds.
Increase Value Fund Allocation
Increase SIP in ICICI Prudential Value Discovery Fund to Rs 3,000.
Suggested SIP Plan (Rs 30,000 per month)
Large-Cap Fund – Rs 5,000
Flexi-Cap Fund – Rs 5,000
Multi-Cap Fund – Rs 5,000
Mid-Cap Fund (Kotak Emerging Equity Fund) – Rs 4,000
Small-Cap Fund (Edelweiss Small Cap Fund) – Rs 3,000
Value-Oriented Fund (ICICI Prudential Value Discovery Fund) – Rs 3,000
Balanced Advantage Fund (Hybrid for stability) – Rs 3,000
Sectoral/Thematic Fund (only if desired) – Rs 2,000
Recommended SIP for Rs 2,000 (10 Years Investment Horizon)
Since you want to invest Rs 2,000 per month for 10 years, consider:

Multi-Cap or Flexi-Cap Fund: Offers diversification and stability.
Value Fund: Focuses on long-term wealth creation.
Final Insights
Your current portfolio is aggressive, with a heavy sectoral and small/mid-cap focus.
You need more large-cap and multi-cap exposure for stability.
Reduce sectoral funds and reallocate to diversified funds.
A well-balanced portfolio will help achieve your goals of child education and daughter’s marriage.
Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

..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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