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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 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 - Jun 05, 2024Hindi
Money

Hi dev, i earn 1,44 000 per month. I am 33 years old, Around 18000 per month my money goes into LIC jeevan labh yojana. Remaining i give around 40k to my parents as a help monthly. If i cut 10000 as monthly expenditure, how should i invest around 70k per month to get maximum returns.How should be the split.Please suggests SIPs to invest in.

Ans: Earning Rs. 1,44,000 per month is commendable. Your monthly commitments include Rs. 18,000 for LIC Jeevan Labh Yojana, Rs. 40,000 to help your parents, and Rs. 10,000 for personal expenses. After these, you have Rs. 70,000 left for investments. It's great that you’re focusing on maximizing returns. Your commitment to family is admirable and reflects a responsible mindset. Let's discuss a suitable investment strategy for you.

Understanding the Investment Landscape
Investing Rs. 70,000 monthly is substantial. We need to allocate it across various instruments to balance risk and return. Mutual funds are excellent for this purpose due to their diverse options, liquidity, and potential for high returns. Mutual funds pool money from various investors to invest in diversified portfolios. This diversification reduces risk and allows professional management.

Categorizing Mutual Funds
Mutual funds can be categorized based on the underlying assets. Here are some categories to consider:

1. Equity Funds
Equity funds invest in stocks. They can be further classified into large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap funds based on the companies' market capitalization they invest in.

Large-Cap Funds: Invest in large, well-established companies. They are less volatile and offer steady growth.
Mid-Cap Funds: Invest in mid-sized companies with potential for high growth. They are riskier than large-cap funds but can provide higher returns.
Small-Cap Funds: Invest in smaller companies. They are the most volatile but offer the highest growth potential.
2. Debt Funds
Debt funds invest in fixed income instruments like bonds and treasury bills. They are less risky than equity funds and provide steady returns.

3. Hybrid Funds
Hybrid funds invest in a mix of equity and debt. They offer a balanced approach, providing growth potential and stability.

Splitting Your Investment
To achieve maximum returns while managing risk, a balanced allocation across different mutual fund categories is advisable. Here’s a suggested split for your Rs. 70,000 monthly investment:

Equity Funds (50% - Rs. 35,000)
Equity funds should form the bulk of your portfolio, given their high return potential. Within equity funds, diversify across large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap funds.

Large-Cap Funds (20% - Rs. 14,000): These funds are relatively stable and provide moderate returns.
Mid-Cap Funds (15% - Rs. 10,500): These funds have a higher growth potential with moderate risk.
Small-Cap Funds (15% - Rs. 10,500): These funds are high-risk but can offer significant returns.
Debt Funds (30% - Rs. 21,000)
Debt funds provide stability and reduce overall portfolio risk. Allocate around 30% of your investment here.

Short-Term Debt Funds (15% - Rs. 10,500): These funds are less affected by interest rate changes.
Long-Term Debt Funds (15% - Rs. 10,500): These funds offer higher returns but come with interest rate risk.
Hybrid Funds (20% - Rs. 14,000)
Hybrid funds offer a balanced mix of equity and debt. They are suitable for medium-term goals and provide a cushion against market volatility.

Aggressive Hybrid Funds (10% - Rs. 7,000): These funds invest primarily in equity but have a significant debt component.
Conservative Hybrid Funds (10% - Rs. 7,000): These funds have a higher debt component, offering more stability.
Advantages of Mutual Funds
Professional Management
Mutual funds are managed by professional fund managers. They make informed decisions based on research and market analysis. This expertise can significantly enhance your returns.

Diversification
Investing in mutual funds offers diversification, spreading your investment across various assets. This reduces risk, as poor performance in one asset is balanced by better performance in another.

Liquidity
Mutual funds are highly liquid. You can buy and sell mutual fund units on any business day, providing flexibility to access your money when needed.

Compounding
Mutual funds benefit from the power of compounding. Reinvesting your returns allows your investment to grow exponentially over time.

Risk Assessment
While mutual funds offer high returns, they come with risks. Here are some key points to consider:

Market Risk
Equity funds are subject to market risk. The value of your investment can fluctuate with market conditions. However, long-term investment in equity funds usually mitigates this risk.

Interest Rate Risk
Debt funds are affected by changes in interest rates. Rising interest rates can reduce the value of existing bonds in a debt fund's portfolio. Short-term debt funds are less affected by this risk.

Credit Risk
Debt funds also face credit risk, the risk of default by issuers of the bonds they hold. Investing in high-quality debt funds can reduce this risk.

Evaluating the Disadvantages of Index Funds
While index funds are popular, they have some drawbacks compared to actively managed funds. Index funds track a specific index and cannot outperform the market. In contrast, actively managed funds aim to beat the market through strategic investments. Fund managers of actively managed funds use their expertise to select high-potential stocks, offering better returns.

Benefits of Investing Through Certified Financial Planners
Investing through a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) has advantages over direct investments. CFPs provide personalized advice based on your financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon. They help you select the right mutual funds, monitor your investments, and make adjustments as needed. Their expertise ensures your investments are aligned with your financial goals.


Your disciplined approach to financial management is commendable. Allocating funds for family support and future investments shows foresight and responsibility. Your commitment to making the most of your income is inspiring and deserves appreciation.


Balancing financial obligations while planning for the future is challenging. Your efforts to secure a strong financial foundation for yourself and your family reflect a deep sense of responsibility. It's clear you care about providing for your loved ones while also striving for personal financial growth.

Final Insights
Investing Rs. 70,000 per month in a diversified portfolio of mutual funds is a smart move. By balancing equity, debt, and hybrid funds, you can maximize returns while managing risk. Remember to review your investments regularly and adjust based on performance and changing financial goals.

Your proactive approach to financial planning sets a strong example. With careful management and the right investments, you can achieve significant financial growth and security.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
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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Reetika

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Asked by Anonymous - Sep 30, 2025Hindi
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I'm 39 years old. I've two kids(Elder son & younger daughter), 11yrs and 8yrs. My yearly take home salary is 24lacs. I've a home loan of 26k EMI and still 24.5lacs pending. Current property value is 70lacs. I'm getting rent of 12k from it. I have another property loan (Commercial building loan), EMI of 44lacs pending with EMI of 52.5k. I'm getting rental income of Rs 60k from this. Apart from this I have 10lacs local loan, for which I'm paying 27k everymonth. This local 10lac loan will be over in another 2yrs. I've just started a SIP few months ago for 16k (8k in ICICI thematic FOF & 8k in ICICI multi asset). I'm planning to start another SIP for 19k every month. I plan to afford 20lacs max for each kid for thier education. Also I guess I may need 75lacs for my daughters wedding and 25lacs for my son's wedding. I wish to retire at the age of 50. I also have Term insurance for 1.5crores. Can you please tell whether the SIP of 35k is enough or do I need to invest more every month?. Also can you please suggest category of fund which I have to invest based upon my need and time of requirement.
Ans: Hi,

You should have an emergency fund of 3-6 months worth expenses along with a health insurance as well.

SIP of 35k for 11 years will only give you 1 crore when you turn 50.

You need to invest to your full capacity to achieve an early retirement. Try to invest 50k per month with a step up of 10% to retire at 50.

For kid's marriage, start another SIP of 25000 for next 20 years. You will get 3 crores for marriage goal.

In both cases, choose equity mutual funds.
Your existing choice of 2 funds is not good. Choose large cap and multi cap fund to diversify and refrain from choosing any sectoral fund like thematic FOF. Take a professional guidance as doing it without professional's help can prove otherwise.

Hence do consult a professional Certified Financial Planner - a CFP who can guide you with exact funds to invest in keeping in mind your age, requirements, financial goals and risk profile.

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https://www.instagram.com/cfpreetika/

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Career Counsellor - Answered on Dec 14, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025Hindi
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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!

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Dr Dipankar

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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

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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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