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Reetika

Reetika Sharma  |417 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF and Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 19, 2025

Reetika Sharma is a certified financial planner and CEO of F-Secure Solutions.
She advises clients about investments, insurance, tax and estate planning and manages high net-worth individual’s portfolios.
Reetika has an MBA in finance from the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI) and an engineer degree from NIT, Jalandhar.
She also holds certifications from the Financial Planning Standards Board India (FPSB), Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).... more
Asked by Anonymous - Sep 15, 2025Hindi
Money

Hello, i am 33 years old, i have in hand salary of about 85K per month and i dont pay any rent from pocket as it has been taken care of. I have NPS savings and monthly contribution going on since beging of my job and it has been 11L so far and 10+10/ month going into it on auto mode. 1 LIC taken right from my first salary which i pay 44k per year. And will mature after 25 years giving back 27L and also has 20L coverage till then. 3.60L in MF, i has bigger portfolio but had to liquidate it, due to some life and death situation of my child. Since then i have increased my group policy to 20L per year i have increased my monthly SIP to 20K This month onwards 1) flexi cap fund- 8000k 2) small cap fund- 3000K 3) index fund- 9000K . I have gold worth 15L which is kind of dead investment but keeps my lady happy so.. I have purchased a house worth 65L which is now worth 72L but i have moratorium period of 24 months to go till i havent paid anything and ROI on that is only 6% (Staff) I will be getting a passive income of about 30K in next 2 months onwards for next 30 years which i will he investigating in FD and MF through and through. I also have term cover of 1Cr for which i pay 37K per year, more 14 yrs to be paid for. What are the changes i should be making or is this path sustainable enough for my family till i retire at 60 or may be by 50?

Ans: Hi,

It is good for you to start but things do seem out of place for you. LEts take a closer look:
- NPS - on-track. Continue till retirement
- LIC - no use. It usually give only 4-5% - way less than FD. If possible surrender now and redirect the whole amount into good large cap MFs. Surrendering now will give you less loss than a bigger one after so many years.
- MF portfolio - doesn't seem too good. 9k in index fund is out of place. Connect with a professional to choose better regular funds. Direct funds might have lower expense ratio but also comes with lower returns than the guided regular funds.
- Gold - good to go
- House - good
- Passive Income - distribute equally into FD and MF
- Term Insurance - good
- Health Insurance - Minimum 20 lakhs for family
- Emergency fund - 5 lakhs in FD or liquid funds should be there

If you start investing 25000 per month into good equity MFs for 25 years with annual 10% step-up; you will get more than 10 crores at age 58 which will easily fund you forever.

Kindly 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.

Best Regards,
Reetika Sharma, Certified Financial Planner
https://www.instagram.com/cfpreetika/
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 Jan 30, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 30, 2025Hindi
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Money
Hi, I am 41 years old and Married. I have 2 kids one daughter 15 years and son 7 years old. I am drawing annually 24 Lakhs salary. Having 3 houses one self occupied and two give letout with annual 4.2 lakhs rental income. All houses worth together 3 Crores. Housing loans principle outstanding of 85 lakhs with interest rate of 8.6% with monthly EMI of 1.13 lakhs per month for next 9 years. As of today I have SIP worth 90 lakhs with an IRR of 20%, Bank FD 30 lakhs – 7%, PPF 47 lakhs and PF 26 lakhs. I have term insurance of 1 CR and my wife term insurance of 50 Lakhs. For these for next 5 years, I have to pay premium of 1 lakh per annum. Medical insurance from company 5 lakh per annum for my family of 4 members. I am continuing my SIP of 86K per month – flexi cap 24L, small cap 29K, large cap 19K, Mid cap 14K. Any shortage of funds, I am moving from FD to SIP gradually. (SIP started 7 years back - started with 15K and now SIP at 86K) My annual expenses comes to 15 Lakhs including everything. I would like to take retirement at 50 years. Please check my details and suggest for any modifications for better returns. Also, please let me know how I can meet with liquid assets of 20 crores (in addition to my current properties) Thanks!
Ans: You have a strong financial foundation.
Your salary and rental income total Rs. 28.2 lakhs per year.
Your housing loan EMI is Rs. 1.13 lakh per month, which is manageable.
Your investments are well-diversified across mutual funds, FDs, PPF, and PF.
Your SIP portfolio has delivered an excellent IRR of 20%.
You have term insurance for yourself and your wife.
Your annual expenses are Rs. 15 lakhs, which is reasonable.
You have medical insurance of Rs. 5 lakh from your employer.
You gradually move funds from FD to SIP, which is a good strategy.
Your goal is to accumulate Rs. 20 crores in liquid assets within the next 9 years.
Retirement Readiness Assessment
You have 9 years left until your target retirement age of 50.
Your current investments are significant, but reaching Rs. 20 crores requires strategic planning.
Your housing loan is a major commitment, but it will end in 9 years.
Your SIP contributions are already strong and should continue.
Your rental income is a bonus but not reliable for long-term financial security.
Modifications for Better Returns
Increase SIP Gradually
Your SIP of Rs. 86K per month is excellent.
As your salary increases, try to increase SIP by at least 10-15% annually.
Move more funds from FD to SIP, as FD returns are low.
Reallocate Fixed-Income Investments
Your PPF and PF are too conservative.
You can stop fresh PPF contributions and allocate that amount to equity.
Maintain some FD for emergency funds but move excess FD to high-return investments.
Prepay Housing Loan or Invest More?
Your housing loan has an 8.6% interest rate.
Your SIP IRR is 20%, which is higher than your loan rate.
Instead of prepaying, continue investing in equity for wealth creation.
Additional Insurance Coverage
Your company’s medical insurance of Rs. 5 lakh is insufficient.
Consider a separate family floater health insurance of Rs. 15-20 lakh.
Your term insurance coverage is reasonable. No changes are needed.
Achieving Rs. 20 Crores in Liquid Assets
Step 1: Projected Investment Growth
Your SIP portfolio of Rs. 90 lakhs at 20% IRR can grow significantly in 9 years.
If you continue SIPs aggressively, you can accumulate a substantial corpus.
Additional investments from FD and PPF reallocations will further boost growth.
Step 2: Boosting Investment Contributions
As you get salary hikes, increase your monthly SIPs.
Reduce unnecessary expenses to redirect more funds into investments.
Consider lump sum investments when you receive bonuses or windfalls.
Step 3: Maintaining Investment Discipline
Stick to actively managed mutual funds through a Certified Financial Planner.
Stay invested during market fluctuations and avoid emotional decision-making.
Continue tracking and rebalancing your portfolio annually.
Finally
Your financial plan is strong, but small modifications can make a huge difference.
Increasing SIPs, reallocating low-yield investments, and maintaining discipline are key.
You are on track to build Rs. 20 crores in liquid assets if you execute this plan well.
Best Regards,

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

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 28, 2025

Money
Hi Sir, Thanks for the guidance. It has been a year, I want to review with you again about how I am going on track to achieve my financial goals. I Am 36 yrs old, working in a product-based semiconductor company. Housewife and One daughter 8 yrs old. My current salary is 3.5L after deduction take home is around 2.5L(without PF and NPS deductions). Home and housing plot worth 1cr (No EMIs). Having only one liability loan (28k per month for the next 4yrs). My current portfolio MF 12.2L, Indian shares 8.5L, US Shares 25L, SSY 5.5L, NPS 3.5L, PF 14.5L. 3.5cr personal term policy, 1cr term policy from company. Ancient properties ~1Cr. 22L health insurance (personal+company) Present my monthly savings Corporate NPS: -16.3k PF: -39k ESPP: -49K SSY: -4k Gold saving scheme for ornaments: -20k Edelweiss small cap: -11k Parag parikh Felix cap: -8k Quant Active fund: -8k Kotak equity opportunities: -4k ICICI pro blue-chip fund: -5K ICICI pro manufacturing fund: -3k ICICI pro Nifty next 50: -2k ICICI pro value discovery: -4k Apart from Salary I will get RSUs of 12-15L worth company shares at every AR cycle (25L worth US shares I mentioned are RSU+ESPP) I purchased the plot and a house by selling my last 5 years accumulated company shares. I am planning to purchase one more house in my native place, which yields 4-5% rental income, is it good or should I diversify money in MFs? My aim is to accumulate 6cr retirement carpus (excluding real estate), 2cr for my kid higher studies and marriage. In the next 14 years I want to make this corpus and retire at the age of 50. Please review my current portfolio and suggest if any changes are needed. Also I need one more suggestion, 5 years back my father passed away, we have got 20L insurance amount. Me and my brother discussed and opened a savings account on my mother’s name (60yrs old now) to have liquid cash flow for her personal expenses, in IDFC, giving 7% interest and crediting interest in monthly basis. Also, we are getting 20K rent from ancient property that amount also funding to my mother account. Should we continue in the same way, or we have any investment options with low risk? my mother’s medical expenses will be covered in my and my brother’s insurance policy.
Ans: For your mother’s ?20L corpus currently earning 7% in a savings account, you may consider the following low-risk alternatives to enhance returns without compromising liquidity:

1. Senior Citizens’ Savings Scheme (SCSS):

Interest ~8.2% (revised quarterly).

Lock-in of 5 years, extendable by 3 more.

Quarterly payouts ideal for regular income.

2. Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS):

Interest ~7.4% monthly payout.

Lock-in of 5 years.

Up to ?9L can be invested per individual.

3. Bank Fixed Deposits (Senior Citizen FD):

Many banks offer 7.25%–7.75% for seniors.

Monthly/quarterly interest payout available.

Consider laddering for liquidity.

4. Low Duration or Arbitrage Mutual Funds (Optional):

For slightly higher return with low volatility.

Can be considered for ?2–3L max if you're comfortable with mutual funds.

Recommendation:
Keep ?1–2L in the savings account for liquidity. Invest ?9L in SCSS and balance in POMIS or a senior citizen FD. Ensure nominees are registered. Continue crediting ?20K rent to the same account for monthly cash flow.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 19, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 18, 2025Hindi
Money
Hi Team, Below are my details & am seeking your expert advise on my personal finance/investments/retirement plans. Current Age:44 yrs Plan.retirement age: 55 yrs ( Balance tenure 11 yrs) Dependents: 4 (wife-37yrs, kids(3 nos)---> daughters(twins)-12 yrs/Son(6yrs)) A) Expenses: EMI-Home Loan-1: 33k(pm) /3.96L(pa)->balance tenure: 3yrs EMI-Home Loan-2: 32k(pm) /3.84L (pa)--> Balance tenure: 6 yrs Living expenses: 35K/pm (4.2L/pa) Policy-Health(SA-15L): 29K/pa Policy-Term(SA-1Cr): 28k/pa Schooling: 5L/pa (for 3 kids) B) Investments: - Stocks/Equity : 40K/pm (4.8L/pa) (LC-55%/MC-15%/SC-30%---> Total Portfolio invested:24L) - SSY: 3L(pa)-->Current value in SSY:6.5L -MFs(8): 50k(pm) (6L/pa) -->Current MF value:1L (MFs consists: 2-ETFs(LargeCap/MidCap), 4-SmallCap, 2-FlexiCap/Sectorial) C) Income sources: - Salary: 2.5L(pm) / (30L/pa) - Rental: 20k/pm (2.4L/pa) - Interests from lending: 20k/pm - Dividends: 20k/pa D) Assets: - Own house(currently staying) : 2 Crs - Flat: 1.2Cr - Plots: 2 Crs - Gold(physical): 15L E) Cash: - 20L-->Parked in 5-Ultrashort duration funds (for any investment opportunities) - 10L --> (lent out, Current Yielding 15% pa) - 5L --> (lent out, Current Yielding 18% pa) - 3L --> (Emergency fund) - 5L -->(Cash in hand for investing in dips) F)Goals: Retirement @55 yr with corpos: 10 Crs Estimated monthly need:- 3L Children education Children marriage Thanks in advance.
Ans: You are in a strong position already, and with careful planning over the next 11 years, you can achieve financial freedom by 55.

Let us assess each area of your finances and give complete insights.

? Family and Dependents Overview

– You are 44 years old with a clear retirement goal at 55.
– You have a spouse and three children (12-year-old twin daughters and a 6-year-old son).
– So, your financial planning must consider retirement, education, and marriage costs for 3 children.

This is a high responsibility phase. But, your structured investments and consistent income give a good foundation.

? Cash Flow Review – Income vs Expenses

– Total monthly income: Rs. 3.1L (salary, rent, lending interest).
– Total annual income (excluding dividends): Rs. 37.2L.
– Dividends: Rs. 20K/year.

– Monthly committed expenses: Around Rs. 1.55L including EMIs, school, health, term policies, and living.
– This results in a good monthly surplus of approx. Rs. 1.55L.

This surplus gives flexibility for investments and goal planning.

? Loans and Liabilities

– Home Loan 1: Rs. 33K/month for 3 more years.
– Home Loan 2: Rs. 32K/month for 6 more years.

– Loans are manageable and getting closed well before retirement.
– No action needed now, since the interest is likely offset by the rental income and tax benefits.

You’re handling debt wisely. Once EMIs end, you can redirect those amounts to wealth building.

? Insurance and Risk Cover

– Term insurance: Rs. 1 Cr, annual premium Rs. 28K.
– Health insurance: Rs. 15L cover for Rs. 29K/year.

– These are basic protections. But, Rs. 1 Cr life cover may not be enough.
– With 4 dependents and long-term goals, your ideal cover should be around Rs. 2.5 to 3 Cr.

Please consider enhancing your term cover now, before age and health affect premium costs.

Also, check if the health cover is family floater. If not, upgrade it. Inflation in medical costs is steep.

? Children's Education and Marriage Planning

– Current schooling cost: Rs. 5L/year for 3 kids.
– Higher education and marriage are big-ticket goals.

– Your daughters will reach college in 5–6 years.
– Your son has around 10–12 years.

– You should aim for an education corpus of Rs. 60–80L over 10 years.
– Marriage corpus can be targeted separately, say Rs. 40–50L for all 3 children.

You have time for these. But you need a focused fund allocation for each goal.

? Investment Portfolio Review

Your investment discipline is commendable. Let us evaluate each area.

Equity Stocks
– Rs. 40K/month in direct equity. Portfolio worth Rs. 24L.
– Asset allocation is healthy (Large cap – 55%, Mid – 15%, Small – 30%).

Please ensure you have exit strategies defined. Also, regularly book partial profits in frothy markets.

SSY (Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana)
– Rs. 3L/year with current value Rs. 6.5L.
– This is a great long-term, tax-free, fixed interest instrument.

Continue this till your twin daughters reach 15 years of age. It fits your goals well.

Mutual Funds (Rs. 6L/year, current value Rs. 1L)
– This is where you need better strategy.
– 4 Small-cap MFs make your portfolio aggressive.
– ETFs (2 funds) are passively managed.

Please note, index funds and ETFs have major limitations:
– No active management, so cannot outperform the market.
– They do not protect capital during downturns.
– During sideways markets, they show weak performance.
– Index funds don't suit retirement or child planning goals.

Also, avoid direct mutual funds. They come without advisor support.
– No one reviews your risk alignment.
– Mistakes go uncorrected, often leading to goal delays.

Regular plans via a Mutual Fund Distributor who is also a CFP bring value.
– You get periodic portfolio reviews.
– Goal-based fund selection happens.
– Behavioural mistakes are prevented.

Going forward, shift from ETFs and excess small-cap exposure.
– Prioritise actively managed diversified and flexi-cap MFs.
– Allocate goal-specific buckets – education, retirement, marriage, etc.

? Asset Allocation Overview

Your total asset base (excluding self-occupied house):
– Flat: Rs. 1.2 Cr
– Plots: Rs. 2 Cr
– Gold: Rs. 15L
– Stocks + MFs + SSY: Approx. Rs. 31.5L
– Lending + cash + emergency: Rs. 43L

This is a net worth of over Rs. 3.8 Cr already. With 11 more years, you are on track for Rs. 10 Cr target.

However, real estate is illiquid and should not be counted for retirement needs.
– Rental yield is low.
– Exit is slow and not aligned with inflation.

So, we recommend planning only with your financial and liquid assets.

? Emergency Fund and Liquidity

– You hold Rs. 3L as emergency corpus.
– This is slightly low for your profile.

You should keep at least 6 months’ expense = Rs. 9–10L.

Please move Rs. 6L from your ultra-short fund or fresh lending recoveries into this emergency buffer.

Also, keep Rs. 1–2L cash at bank level to manage any instant medical or school expenses.

? Lending Activity Review

– Rs. 15L is lent out at good yields (15%–18%).
– If borrowers are trustworthy, continue. But keep an agreement in place.

Don’t lend further. Recovery during crisis can be hard.

Instead, deploy any extra cash into your MF portfolio.

? Gold Holdings

– You hold Rs. 15L in physical gold.
– This is good for diversification but do not increase allocation.

Physical gold does not give regular income. Also, storage is a concern.

Going ahead, if you want exposure, prefer gold mutual funds or sovereign gold bonds.

? Retirement Planning and Rs. 10 Cr Goal

You plan to retire at 55 with a corpus target of Rs. 10 Cr.

This is a valid target considering your desired lifestyle and family size.

You’ll need about Rs. 3L/month in post-retirement income to sustain needs.

Assuming you continue investing Rs. 90–100K/month in mutual funds and equities:
– Along with existing Rs. 31.5L portfolio
– And annual surplus from EMI savings after loan closure

You are well positioned to reach this Rs. 10 Cr mark in 11 years.

However, all investments should be done with clear purpose and monitored quarterly.

After 55, switch slowly from aggressive to stable instruments.

Avoid depending on real estate sale for income. It is not predictable.

? Key Strategy Changes to Consider

– Increase term insurance cover now to Rs. 2.5 Cr.
– Enhance emergency fund to Rs. 9–10L.
– Shift MFs from passive to actively managed funds.
– Reduce excess small-cap fund exposure.
– Don’t add new lending commitments.
– Align MF investments towards goals – retirement, kids’ education, marriage.
– Get regular portfolio reviews every quarter from a CFP professional.

? Taxation and New Rules

Remember the new capital gains tax rule for equity MFs:
– LTCG above Rs. 1.25L is taxed at 12.5%.
– STCG is taxed at 20%.

Plan your MF redemptions wisely to avoid unnecessary tax outgo.

Also, interest from lending is taxed as per your slab. So plan your declarations accordingly.

? Finally

You have built a strong base already. Your income and discipline are your biggest strengths.

Now it is all about direction and clarity. Fine-tuning your portfolio is key.

Avoid over-dependence on real estate and passive products.

Take support from a certified financial planner who offers regular fund reviews.

Stick to your 11-year goal. Stay invested. And keep tracking every 6 months.

With these focused steps, your Rs. 10 Cr goal is absolutely achievable.

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

..Read more

Reetika

Reetika Sharma  |417 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF and Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 25, 2025

Money
Hello..currently I am 25 yrs old..married with a kid.. My family has generational wealth.majorly in property We run a business which covers our family expenses and saving we have mediclaim for all our family member We save around 3.5 to 4 lakh a month. For renting our property and buisness saving. Since last 9 month I have started sip in nifty 50 index fund for 10,000 and a 2000 sip in quant small cap fund . I have plan to buy 1bhk flats mumbai every 5 yrs. And allocated each in different category like in 2030 for my child education,2035 for sip in stock,2040 for emergency,2045 gold, 2050 vacation..if in between i purchase any property I want to keep it as buffer property so I don't want count it and also plan to Go pms. I prefer to countinue the sip till I pass away and tell my family to countinue it as generational wealth and a hedge I do want to retire by 45 and i on correct path I invest in index fund for safe bet I have a lic for myself I save approx 40 lakhs a year so it also helps as emergency fund Plus when I have purchase a 1 bhk flat in mumbai it is around 1 cr so I save 1 cr every 5 yrs which I can use to buy buffer property Plus each yrs my saving increase as it's from rental income.
Ans: Hi Maaz,

You are doing amazing with your planning. But in today's time it is better for you to diversify between different investment instruments.
If you want, you can alter your plan to buy property every 5 years to every 10 years and invest extra 50,000 per month into equity mutual funds.
SIP of 10k in Nifty 50 index fund will not do justice to your goal. Increase this to the maximum that you can invest.

A monthly SIP of 1 lakhs will give you 87 lakhs after 5 years; 2.7 crores after 10 years; 6.5 crores after 15 years. This is how this investment works. But you should work with an advisor to start this as any wrong fund will do the opposite to these numbers.

Also LIC policy is not good. It is a mix of investment and insurance product. And you have both differently. So refrain from taking any LIC policy in future.

I would like to suggest you to get in touch with 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.

Best Regards,
Reetika Sharma, Certified Financial Planner
https://www.instagram.com/cfpreetika/

..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
Money
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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