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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11458 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Sep 29, 2025

Ramalingam Kalirajan has over 26 years of experience in MF distribution and wealth management. He holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Madras and is a CFP (Certified Financial Planner) credentialed professional. He is the Director of Holistic Investment, a Chennai-based AMFI-registered Mutual Fund Distribution (ARN-4188) and APMI-registered PMS Distribution firm (APRN07386), helping clients build long-term wealth through mutual funds and other investment solutions.... more
Asked by Anonymous - Sep 28, 2025Hindi
Money

My Daughter is recently joined job she wanted to Do SIP for her and her Brothers monthly 5k for Both. Could you please suggest good funds.

Ans: It is very nice that your daughter has started earning and already wants to support her and her brother’s future. This early sense of responsibility shows strong values and forward-thinking. Starting SIPs early, even with smaller amounts, creates a solid foundation for long-term wealth creation. With Rs. 5,000 monthly for each goal, the plan needs proper direction and discipline.

» Current intention and strength

– She wishes to start SIP for herself.
– She also wants to invest Rs. 5,000 for her brother.
– This shows early awareness about financial independence and family support.
– Smaller SIPs at younger age grow very big over time.
– Early action builds the habit of disciplined investing.

» Importance of separating goals

– Her own SIP should be tagged to personal goals like retirement or future assets.
– Brother’s SIP should be tagged to his education or marriage.
– Keeping separate SIPs for separate goals avoids confusion later.
– Clear tagging helps track progress easily.

» Why SIP is best choice now

– SIP allows gradual investing without pressure.
– Even small Rs. 5,000 monthly grows big in long run.
– It teaches patience and consistency.
– Rupee-cost averaging helps balance market ups and downs.

» Why not index funds

– Many people talk about index funds as cheap options.
– But index funds only copy the market index.
– They do not use research or active management.
– They do not protect in down markets.
– Returns remain average and sometimes below inflation after costs.
– Actively managed funds allow expert managers to select better stocks.
– Active funds provide scope for higher returns with risk control.
– For young investors with long-term horizon, active funds are safer.

» Why not direct funds

– Direct funds look cheaper as they avoid distributor cost.
– But direct investors often lack professional guidance.
– Wrong scheme selection, panic selling in market fall, and no review harm returns.
– Regular funds through Certified Financial Planner give handholding.
– CFP ensures rebalancing, proper asset allocation, and behavioural discipline.
– Value from guidance is much bigger than small cost saving.

» Suggested SIP strategy for her

– For herself, she can keep Rs. 5,000 monthly SIP in actively managed equity funds.
– This will create long-term retirement or wealth corpus.
– At young age, equity allocation can be higher.
– She has more than 20 years, so volatility does not hurt.

– For her brother, Rs. 5,000 monthly SIP also in equity funds is better.
– If his education goal is near, equity portion must reduce 3–4 years before use.
– If the money is for marriage, she can keep equity for 15–20 years.

» Emergency and protection aspects

– Along with SIPs, she must build emergency reserve also.
– At least 3 months of salary should be kept in liquid funds.
– If she does not have term insurance or health insurance, those must be arranged.
– For her brother’s SIP, she should ensure money continues even if she cannot contribute later.

» Tax awareness for future

– Equity mutual fund gains above Rs. 1.25 lakh yearly will be taxed at 12.5%.
– Short-term equity gains are taxed at 20%.
– If she stays invested long-term, tax effect will be lower compared to FD.
– For debt mutual funds, tax will be as per income slab.
– Planning redemption properly under CFP guidance will reduce tax outgo.

» How to increase impact

– Rs. 5,000 monthly is good start, but she should increase SIP with salary hikes.
– Even Rs. 500 or Rs. 1,000 yearly increase makes big difference.
– Long-term compounding will work strongly with such step-up SIPs.

» Role of Certified Financial Planner

– She should not choose schemes randomly from apps or tips.
– A Certified Financial Planner can align her SIPs with exact goals.
– CFP can also help in reviewing yearly and switching when needed.
– This prevents mistakes like over-diversification or chasing returns.

» Behavioural discipline for her

– She should not stop SIP during market crash.
– She should not withdraw early unless goal requires.
– She should track yearly progress, not daily NAVs.
– Patience and regularity are key to success.

» Final Insights

Your daughter is showing maturity by thinking of both her and her brother’s future. Starting Rs. 5,000 SIP each in actively managed mutual funds through CFP-guided regular plan is the right step. Over years, increasing these SIPs, keeping insurance protection, and reviewing annually will help her create meaningful wealth. This habit will support both her retirement needs and her brother’s future goals.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
Asked on - Oct 04, 2025 | Answered on Oct 06, 2025
How can I count you Sir. For choosing better SIP
Ans: I appreciate your trust and willingness to connect.
Let's embark on this financial journey together.
You can reach me through my website mentioned below.
This platform has restrictions on sharing personal contact. Hope you understand.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holistic_investment_planners/
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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I wanty to invest approx. 5 lakhs in different mutual funds which will give me average XIRR of 12 to 15%. Please csuggest me name and scheme of MF
Ans: Rs.5 lakh is a good starting amount. However, 12–15% XIRR should be treated as a long-term target, not a guaranteed return.

» Suitable fund categories

For a 5+ year horizon, I would consider a diversified active-fund portfolio such as:

Multi Cap Fund – 30%
Flexi Cap Fund – 25%
Large & Mid Cap Fund – 25%
Mid Cap Fund – 20%

This gives exposure to different company sizes and investment styles.

» If you want a simpler portfolio

You do not need 4–5 funds just because you have Rs.5 lakh.

A 3-fund structure can be sufficient:

Flexi Cap Fund – 40%
Large & Mid Cap Fund – 30%
Multi Cap or Mid Cap Fund – 30%

The actual scheme selection should depend on your time horizon, risk level and existing investments.

» About the 12–15% XIRR target

For equity mutual funds, 12–15% can be a reasonable long-term planning assumption over 7–10+ years.

But no mutual fund can promise this XIRR.

Short-term returns can be negative.
Even good funds can underperform for some periods.
Do not select a fund only because its recent return is 15% or more.
Fund consistency and downside management are equally important.

» How I would invest Rs.5 lakh

If you are comfortable with market fluctuations and the investment horizon is long, you can invest gradually through STP over several months if you are concerned about entering the market at one time.

If the money is needed within 3–5 years, I would not target 12–15% by taking aggressive equity risk.

» Final Insights

As an Investment professional and AMFI-Registered MFD, I would first assess your existing MF holdings before adding new schemes. This avoids unnecessary duplication and overlap.

If you share your age, investment period, whether Rs.5 lakh is lump sum or SIP, and your existing MF holdings, I can suggest a more suitable asset allocation and fund-category combination.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

AMFI-Registered MFD – ARN 4188

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramalingamcfp/

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11458 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Sep 10, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 10, 2026
Money
I have 15 lacs to Lumsum investment for my daughters higher education.I want to invest in STP in 3 funds .One hybrid Fund which has 15l value and from that STP to two fund Any multicap or Large and Midcap Fund .Please suggest ? Any other Idea will also appriciate.Thanks
Ans: Your approach of using STP for your daughters higher education goal is a good way to move a lump sum into equity gradually. The main point is to match the asset allocation with the time left for the education goal.

» Suggested structure

Keep the Rs.15 lakh initially in a suitable hybrid fund.
Use STP from the hybrid fund into two diversified equity categories.
A combination of Multi Cap and Large & Mid Cap can work well.
You need not use too many funds. Three funds are enough for this goal.

For example:

Hybrid Fund – Rs.15 lakh initially
Multi Cap Fund – STP destination
Large & Mid Cap Fund – STP destination

» How to use STP

I would prefer a systematic STP over a very short period.

If the education goal is more than 5 years away, equity allocation can be meaningful.
The Rs.15 lakh can be shifted gradually over around 12 months.
You can divide the STP between the two equity categories.
Avoid changing funds frequently based on short-term market movements.

STP is mainly useful for managing entry risk. It does not remove market risk.

» Do not ignore the education timeline

This is the most important part.

If higher education is:

More than 10 years away – higher equity allocation can be considered.
Around 5–10 years away – balanced equity and hybrid allocation may be better.
Less than 5 years away – avoid taking high equity risk with the entire corpus.

As the education date comes closer, gradually move the required amount towards safer investments. This protects the money already created.

» Multi Cap vs Large & Mid Cap

Both categories can complement each other.

Multi Cap gives exposure across large, mid and small companies.
Large & Mid Cap gives a relatively stronger focus on large and mid-sized companies.
Combining both can create some overlap, so the portfolio should be reviewed periodically.

I would not select funds only based on the latest 1-year or 3-year returns. Fund quality, portfolio consistency, risk management and long-term performance matter more.

» One alternative idea

Instead of keeping the complete Rs.15 lakh in one hybrid fund, you can also consider a two-stage approach.

Keep the amount in a suitable hybrid/debt-oriented allocation initially.
Start STP into diversified equity funds.
Once the required equity allocation is reached, stop the STP.
Continue monitoring the overall portfolio rather than continuously adding new funds.

This keeps the portfolio simple and easier to manage.

» 360-degree education planning

The Rs.15 lakh should not be viewed separately.

Also consider:

Current age of your daughter.
Expected year of higher education.
India or overseas education.
Present education cost and future cost.
Other investments already available for this goal.
Your monthly SIP capacity.
Emergency fund and adequate insurance.
A separate safe corpus as the education date gets closer.

If the goal is 8–12 years away, this Rs.15 lakh can become a strong foundation. Regular SIPs along with it can make the education corpus much stronger.

» Final Insights

Your basic STP idea is sensible. I would prefer a simple 3-fund structure rather than holding many schemes.

The exact equity allocation and STP period should depend mainly on your daughters age and when the higher education money will actually be required.

As an AMFI-Registered MFD, I would also suggest reviewing this goal at least once a year and reducing equity exposure as the goal approaches.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

AMFI-Registered MFD – ARN 4188

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramalingamcfp/

...Read more

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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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