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Investing Rs. 60,000 a month for Rs. 1 Crore goal in 5 years: Expert advice

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Nov 28, 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
Raj Question by Raj on Nov 28, 2024Hindi
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Hello Sir, From last 1 year I have been investing 20K every month and from last 3 months I increased to 60K/month. I want to achieve 1 Crore goal in 5 years. Please advise how much should I invest every month and which MF should I select? Thank you.

Ans: Reaching Rs. 1 crore in 5 years is ambitious yet achievable. Your disciplined investment approach of Rs. 20,000 monthly for a year and increasing to Rs. 60,000 monthly is commendable. Let’s assess how much you need to invest and the ideal mutual fund categories to consider for your goal.

Factors Impacting Your Goal Achievement
1. Time Horizon of 5 Years
Five years is a short time for aggressive equity investments.
Your portfolio should balance growth with safety to reduce risk.
2. Expected Returns
Historical data suggests equity mutual funds may offer 10-12% returns annually.
Debt mutual funds typically provide 6-8% annual returns.
A blended portfolio with equity dominance can maximise growth.
3. Inflation Impact
Rs. 1 crore today will have lesser purchasing power in five years.
Your investment plan should account for inflation-adjusted growth.
Estimating Monthly Investments
Current SIP of Rs. 60,000
With consistent contributions and moderate returns, you can approach your goal.
Additional monthly investments may be required for a higher margin of safety.
Recommended Monthly Investment
Based on target returns, increase SIP by 10-15% annually.
You may need Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 80,000 monthly to confidently reach Rs. 1 crore.
Suggested Mutual Fund Allocation
A balanced and diversified portfolio is crucial for your goal.

1. Large-Cap Equity Mutual Funds
Suitable for stable growth with lower volatility.
Invest around 30-35% of your portfolio here.
2. Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Mutual Funds
Offer higher growth potential but come with increased risks.
Allocate 40-45% of your portfolio in this segment.
3. Hybrid Mutual Funds
Combine equity and debt for a balanced risk-return approach.
Invest 10-15% in hybrid funds for stability.
4. Debt Mutual Funds
Suitable for preserving capital and reducing volatility.
Allocate 10% to safeguard your portfolio against market fluctuations.
Avoid Index Funds for Your Goal
Disadvantages of Index Funds
They mirror the market and lack active management to mitigate risks.
Returns depend entirely on market performance, which may not suit short-term goals.
Benefits of Actively Managed Funds
Skilled fund managers adjust portfolios based on market conditions.
They aim for higher returns by selecting the best-performing stocks.
Regular vs Direct Mutual Funds
Disadvantages of Direct Plans
Lack of guidance can lead to poor fund selection and portfolio mismanagement.
Navigating market volatility requires expertise, which direct plans don’t provide.
Benefits of Investing Through Certified Financial Planners
Certified planners offer personalised advice based on your goals and risk profile.
They monitor and rebalance portfolios to optimise returns.
Tax Implications of Mutual Fund Investments
Equity Mutual Funds
Long-term capital gains (LTCG) above Rs. 1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%.
Short-term gains are taxed at 20%.
Debt Mutual Funds
Gains are taxed as per your income tax slab.
Plan withdrawals carefully to minimise tax liability.
Investment Strategy and Best Practices
1. Increase SIP Contributions Annually
A 10-15% increase in SIP ensures inflation-adjusted growth.
2. Diversify Across Fund Categories
Spread investments across equity, hybrid, and debt funds for balance.
3. Review Portfolio Regularly
Monitor fund performance and make necessary adjustments annually.
4. Reallocate Funds Closer to Goal
Shift investments to debt funds 12-18 months before withdrawal.
This reduces exposure to market risks near your goal’s end.
Final Insights
Your disciplined investment habit is an excellent foundation. Increase your SIP amount moderately and diversify wisely to reach your Rs. 1 crore target in five years. Actively managed funds, guided by a certified financial planner, will ensure an optimal risk-return balance. Regular reviews and adjustments will keep you on track.

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

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

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

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I need to get 5 crore in 15 years for my children higher study.. Marriage and my early retire... How much should I invest in mutual fund to achieve the target.... My current income is 2 lakh per month and monthly expenses of 1.7 lakh per month
Ans: Firstly, let me commend you on your foresight in planning for your children's higher education, marriage, and your early retirement. It's crucial to start early and set clear financial goals to ensure a secure future for yourself and your loved ones.

Understanding Your Financial Goal

Your goal of accumulating ?5 crore in 15 years for various life events requires careful financial planning and disciplined savings. It's essential to assess your current financial situation and determine the required investment amount to achieve this target.

Analyzing Income and Expenses

Your monthly income of ?2 lakh and expenses of ?1.7 lakh indicate a healthy surplus that can be utilized for investments. It's commendable that you have a comfortable margin between your income and expenses, which provides room for savings and investments.

Estimating Required Investment Amount

To estimate the required investment amount to accumulate ?5 crore in 15 years, we need to consider factors such as:

Time Horizon: With a 15-year investment horizon, you have a reasonable timeframe to achieve your goal, allowing you to benefit from the power of compounding.

Rate of Return: The expected rate of return on your investments plays a crucial role in determining the required investment amount. While past performance is not indicative of future results, historical data can provide insights into potential returns.

Systematic Investment Plan (SIP): Investing through SIPs allows you to regularly invest fixed amounts over time, leveraging the benefits of rupee cost averaging and compounding.

Calculating Required Monthly Investment

Based on the estimated rate of return and investment horizon, we can calculate the required monthly investment amount to achieve your target corpus of ?5 crore in 15 years. By factoring in the power of compounding, we can determine the optimal investment strategy to reach your financial goal.

Assuming a conservative rate of return on your investments, we can use financial planning tools to calculate the monthly SIP amount needed to accumulate ?5 crore in 15 years. By inputting variables such as the expected rate of return, investment duration, and target corpus, we can arrive at the required monthly investment amount.

Benefits of Actively Managed Funds

Actively managed mutual funds offer several advantages over passive index funds or ETFs:

Professional Management: Skilled fund managers actively monitor market trends and adjust portfolio allocations to capitalize on growth opportunities, potentially leading to higher returns.

Customized Strategies: Actively managed funds employ dynamic investment strategies tailored to market conditions and investment objectives, providing investors with a personalized approach to wealth accumulation.

Disadvantages of Direct Funds

Direct funds require investors to research and select funds independently, which can be time-consuming and challenging for those with limited financial knowledge. Additionally, the absence of professional advice may result in suboptimal investment decisions and higher risks.

Benefits of Regular Funds Investing through MFD with CFP Credential

Investing in regular funds through a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) credentialled Mutual Fund Distributor (MFD) offers several benefits:

Professional Guidance: A CFP-certified MFD provides personalized investment advice tailored to your financial goals and risk profile, helping you make informed decisions.

Access to a Wide Range of Funds: MFDs offer access to a diverse range of mutual funds, including both actively managed and index funds, enabling you to build a well-rounded investment portfolio.

Final Words

Achieving a target corpus of ?5 crore in 15 years requires a disciplined savings approach and strategic investment planning. By investing regularly in mutual funds through SIPs and leveraging the benefits of compounding, you can work towards realizing your financial aspirations.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

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Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1840 Answers  |Ask -

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

...Read more

Kanchan

Kanchan Rai  |646 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Dec 12, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 07, 2025Hindi
Relationship
Dear Madam, I was a bright student during my school days and my plan was to become a civil servant but that did not succeed even after several attempts. With the advise of my brother i went ahead and pursued Masters at a normal university in Sydney. I did internship and continued staying with my job though it wasn't my field of study. After that what came as a shock was my brother's divorce. We don't know what is the actual issue till date but I tried a lot to fix the gap by talking to his ex-wife but they were very orthodox. I couldn't see my brother suffer because he had planned and arranged so much for her. I had no choice then so i try to harm his ex-wife by spoiling her reputation thinking she will come back for him. In the mean time i got married to a girl who was her relative too thinking my wife can help us in some case but she turned out to be completely in the opposite direction. She was probably convinced by my brother's ex-wife or their relatives that she is not coming back. Even then my brother tried to go meet his ex-wife through many channels. My wife did not help him at all in any aspect. Finally the divorced happened and everything ended. Now we have sought several proposals but nothing seem to be a good fit for him. Most of the girls whom we met on matrimonial sites are fake profiles with something hidden or falsely represented. I would say my brother escaped all this. But we are worried about his life now as he is already in his 40's and he seem to be struggling for a good job and finance. He is very picky probably but doesn't talk much to all of us. Sometimes he even says the game is over so no point looking at a second marriage. My wife and he fought once when he visited us because she didn't want him in our house and she created a fight putting me in the front. After that he stopped coming to our house or see us or talk to us. Things even gets worse sometimes when her brother comes and visits us and stays at our house which my parents don't like. My parents argue that your brother was not allowed to stay for few months then how come her brother is allowed for several months. What kind of partiality is that? I feel i could not do anything for him despite the fact that he is my only brother. He is good at heart and looked after me when i went abroad financially and even came to meet me few times. I tried to send him money, gifts but he is still the same. He communicates with our parents but not with me nor my wife anymore. Kindly give us a good advise.
Ans: Your brother’s distance is not a rejection of you. It is his way of protecting himself. He went through a difficult marriage, an emotional collapse, and then watched people around him — including you — react out of desperation to fix things for him. Even though your intentions came from love, he may have associated those actions with more pain and pressure. When a person has been wounded, silence feels safer than conversation. His withdrawal simply means he is tired, not that he dislikes you.
You also need to understand that the guilt you are carrying is heavier than it needs to be. You tried to intervene in his marriage because you wanted to protect him, not because you wanted to cause harm. Looking back now, with more maturity and clarity, you see the mistakes, but at that time, you were acting out of fear and love. This is why it’s important to forgive yourself instead of punishing yourself over and over.
The conflict between your wife and your brother only added another layer of stress, because it forced you into choosing sides. Your wife reacted emotionally, your brother pulled away, your parents questioned the imbalance — and in the middle of all this, you lost your sense of peace. But their disagreements are not failures on your part. They are the natural result of people operating from insecurity, fear, and past hurt.
What needs to happen now is a shift in your role. You cannot continue trying to solve everything for everyone. You cannot carry your brother’s marriage, your wife’s fears, and your parents’ judgments all at once. It’s time to step out of the role of rescuer and step into the role of a grounded, calm brother who offers presence, not solutions.
Rebuilding your bond with your brother will not come from pushing proposals, sending gifts, or trying to fix his life. It will come from offering him emotional safety. A simple message, expressing that you are sorry for any hurt, that you care for him, and that you are available whenever he feels ready, will speak louder than any effort to arrange his future. Once you send such a message, the healthiest thing you can do is give him space. Sometimes relationships repair themselves in silence, when pressure is removed.
And for yourself, healing begins when you stop believing that every problem in the family rests on your shoulders. You have given more than enough over the years. Now you deserve emotional rest. You deserve peace. You deserve to feel like a brother, not a crisis manager.
Your brother may take time, but distance does not erase love. When he feels safe, he will come closer again. Your responsibility is not to force that moment, but to make sure you are emotionally steady and ready when it happens.

...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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