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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 04, 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 - Apr 10, 2024Hindi
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Hello Experts, I am 35 year old planning to have a corpus of ?5cr in next 20 years. I have 20lacs fixed deposit and invest in below mutual funds via SIPs and also planning to increase it by 5k per month Sukanya Samriddhi : 1.5 Lacs VPF : 1.2 Lacs NPS: 1.5 Lacs (Tier 1 - 75% equity) Monthly SIPs: Parag Parekh flexi cap - 5k UTI Index fund- 2k Kotak Emerging equity : 2k Mirae asset emerging bluechip: 1k SBI Blue chip: 1k Nippon India tax saver :0.5k Axis long term equity :1.5k Axis mid cap: 1k HDFC Mid cap opportunities: 1k Axis small cap fund: 5k

Ans: Given your age and goal of accumulating 5 crores in 20 years, your current investment strategy appears well-diversified. Here are some suggestions to optimize your portfolio:

Review Asset Allocation: Ensure your asset allocation aligns with your risk tolerance and long-term goals. Consider increasing exposure to equity for higher growth potential.
Increase Equity Allocation: Given your long investment horizon, consider gradually increasing your equity allocation to capitalize on potential market growth.
Regularly Monitor Performance: Periodically review the performance of your mutual funds and make adjustments if necessary to ensure they continue to meet your investment objectives.
Consider Tax Planning: Explore tax-efficient investment options such as ELSS funds and NPS Tier 1 for additional tax benefits.
Continue Systematic Investing: Maintain discipline in your SIP investments and consider increasing your SIP amounts over time to accelerate wealth accumulation.
Emergency Fund: Ensure you have an adequate emergency fund in place to cover unexpected expenses, typically equivalent to 3-6 months of living expenses.
By implementing these strategies and staying committed to your long-term financial goals, you can work towards achieving your target corpus of 5 crores in 20 years. Always seek professional advice from a Certified Financial Planner to tailor your investment strategy to your specific needs and circumstances.
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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Hardik

Hardik Parikh  | Answer  |Ask -

Tax, Mutual Fund Expert - Answered on Apr 11, 2023

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Dear Sir, Iam 51 and I have been investing in diversified mutual funds since last 10 years and accumulated around Rs 1.28 Crores and continuing SIP's in following funds. Quant Large cap - Rs 9000, SBI Health care fund - Rs 5000, UTI Flexi cap fund - Rs 5000, Kotak Flexi cap fund - Rs 13000, Mirae asset hybrid equity fund - Rs 8000. I have also accumulated corpus of Rs 13 lakhs in NPS tier 1 and doing SIP of Rs 5000 every months. Further i have combine corpus of Rs 43 Lakhs in EPF and PPF accounts. I have invested Rs 4.72 Lakhs in 20 Year bonds of HUDCO, PFC tax free bonds in 2013 and receiving Rs 42000 every year as interest. I want to have Rs 50000 every month from the above from next year. I will try to continue SIP's till next 2-3 years from other expected incomes from parents.Iam also getting Rs 15000 per month as rent and do not have nay debt.
Ans: Dear Srinivasa,

First of all, congratulations on your disciplined investment approach over the past decade. You have built a considerable corpus that should serve you well in the coming years.

Based on the information you provided, you currently have:

Mutual Funds: Rs 1.28 Crores
NPS (Tier 1): Rs 13 Lakhs
EPF and PPF: Rs 43 Lakhs
HUDCO and PFC Bonds: Rs 4.72 Lakhs (Rs 42,000 annual interest)
Rental Income: Rs 15,000 per month
Your goal is to generate Rs 50,000 per month starting next year.

Here's a suggested plan:

Continue your SIPs in mutual funds for the next 2-3 years, as you mentioned. This will help your corpus grow even further.
Utilize the interest income from the HUDCO and PFC bonds (Rs 42,000 per year) as a part of your desired Rs 50,000 per month. You can reinvest the interest income in a liquid fund or a short-term debt fund to ensure its availability when needed.
You can consider allocating a portion of your mutual fund corpus to a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) in order to generate the remaining monthly income needed. Assuming you require Rs 50,000 per month (Rs 6 Lakhs per year), you can use a small portion of your Rs 1.28 Crores corpus to fund this. Start the SWP next year to meet your monthly income requirement.
Your rental income of Rs 15,000 per month will serve as an additional source of income, which can be used to cover any unforeseen expenses or to reinvest in your portfolio.
It's advisable to keep your EPF and PPF investments intact until maturity, as they provide a safe and tax-efficient option for long-term wealth creation.
Please remember that the above plan is only a suggestion, and you should consult with a certified financial planner to create a personalized plan based on your specific financial situation and goals.

Wishing you the best in your financial journey.

Warm regards,

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 14, 2024

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hello sir, I am 35 yrs and planning to retire after 10yrs with 3 cr corpus currently I am investigating 35k/mo in sips Navy nifty50 index fund: 12k Mirai asset large cap: 500rs Edelweiss mid cap fund: 2k Navy nifty150 midcap fund: 7k Motilal oswal nifty small cap 250 index: 5k parag parekh flexi cap: 3k tata dogital india fund: 1k mirai aset large and mid cap: 2.5k pgim india mid cap: 2k 1L /yr in ssy(2014), 50k /yr NPS (2022), 50k ppf (2004), SGB 40gm till now current corpus is 20L+ can you plz suggest if anything needs to change here
Ans: It's fantastic to see your proactive approach to retirement planning at such a young age. With a clear goal in mind and a diversified investment portfolio, you're on the right track to achieving financial independence in the next decade.

Assessing Your Investment Strategy
Let's take a closer look at your current investment allocation and evaluate if any adjustments are necessary to optimize your portfolio for long-term growth and stability.

Equity Investments
You've made a wise choice by investing in a mix of equity mutual funds covering different market segments. However, it's essential to ensure that your portfolio remains balanced and aligned with your risk tolerance and investment horizon.

Nifty 50 Index Fund: This provides broad exposure to the top 50 companies in the Indian market, offering stability and growth potential over the long term.

Active vs. Passive Management:
While you've included both actively managed mutual funds and index funds (ETFs) in your portfolio, it's important to understand the differences between the two. Actively managed funds aim to outperform the market through active stock selection and portfolio management, while index funds passively track a specific index's performance.
Benefits of Actively Managed Funds:
Actively managed funds offer the potential for higher returns compared to index funds, especially during market inefficiencies or when skilled fund managers can identify lucrative investment opportunities. Additionally, active management allows for flexibility in portfolio construction and adjustments based on market conditions.
Potential Disadvantages of Index Funds:
While index funds offer low expense ratios and broad market exposure, they may lack the potential for outperformance compared to actively managed funds. Additionally, they're subject to tracking error, which occurs when the fund's performance deviates from the index it's designed to replicate.


Large Cap Funds: Mirae Asset and Mirai Asset Large & Mid Cap Fund provide exposure to established companies with strong fundamentals, suitable for investors seeking stability and steady growth.

Mid and Small Cap Funds: Edelweiss Mid Cap Fund, Navy Nifty 150 Midcap Fund, Motilal Oswal Nifty Small Cap 250 Index, and PGIM India Mid Cap Fund offer higher growth potential but come with increased volatility. Ensure that the allocation to these funds aligns with your risk appetite.

Flexi Cap Funds: Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund provides flexibility to invest across market caps and sectors, offering diversification and potential for capital appreciation.

Sectoral Funds: Tata Digital India Fund focuses on the digital sector, which has significant growth prospects. However, sectoral funds can be volatile and may require careful monitoring.

Debt and Other Investments
Your allocation to debt instruments and government schemes provides stability and tax benefits, complementing your equity investments.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY): Investing in SSY for your daughter's future is a prudent decision, offering tax-free returns and financial security.

National Pension System (NPS): NPS provides an additional avenue for retirement savings, with tax benefits and the option to choose between equity, corporate bonds, and government securities.

Public Provident Fund (PPF): PPF offers tax-free returns and long-term wealth accumulation, making it a suitable option for retirement planning.

Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB): Investing in SGBs diversifies your portfolio and hedges against inflation, providing stability during uncertain times.

Reviewing and Rebalancing
Periodically review your investment portfolio to ensure it remains aligned with your goals and risk tolerance. Consider rebalancing your portfolio if there are significant changes in market conditions or your financial situation.

Conclusion
Overall, your investment portfolio is well-diversified and structured to achieve your retirement goal. However, regular monitoring and adjustments may be necessary to adapt to changing market dynamics and personal circumstances. Keep up the excellent work, and remember that consistency and discipline are key to long-term investment success.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |235 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 04, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Aug 21, 2025Hindi
Money
Hi Sir, I’m 24 years old. Currently, my investments are as follows: * PPF – ₹2,78,931 balance, contributing ₹12,500 monthly, maturity on 1st April 2036. * SBI Recurring Deposit – ₹2,40,000 balance, contributing ₹10,000 monthly, maturity around July 2026. * HDFC Fixed Deposit – ₹1,67,891 balance, maturity on 5th May 2026, at 6.60% interest. * HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund – ₹4,500 one-time investment. * ICICI Prudential Gold ETF – SIP of ₹525/month for the last 3 months. Mutual Funds with 10% annual step-up SIPs: * Parag Parikh Flexi Cap – invested ₹9,075 till now, ₹1,575 SIP. * Edelweiss Midcap – invested ₹5,025 till now, ₹525 SIP. * Tata Small Cap – invested ₹5,025 till now, ₹1,575 SIP. * ICICI Prudential Nifty 50 Index – invested ₹1,500 till now, ₹1,500 SIP. Sir, I need your guidance regarding my investment scenario. My goal is to build a corpus of ₹2 Crore (inflation adjusted Rs.6.8 Crore) by the age of 45.
Ans: Dear Sir,

Thank you for sharing your detailed investment portfolio and goals. Considering your age (24 years) and your target of building a ?2 Crore corpus (?6.8 Cr inflation-adjusted) by age 45, here’s an assessment and guidance.

1. Current Investment Snapshot

PPF: ?2.78 L, ?12,500/month, matures 2036

Recurring Deposit (SBI): ?2.4 L, ?10,000/month, matures 2026

HDFC FD: ?1.67 L, matures 2026, 6.6% interest

Mutual Funds: Small one-time and SIP investments with step-up in Parag Parikh Flexi Cap, Edelweiss Midcap, Tata Small Cap, and ICICI Nifty 50 ETF

Observation: Your current equity allocation is relatively small compared to your long-term goal, and most of your corpus is in low-growth instruments (PPF, RD, FD).

2. Goal Analysis

Target: ?2 Cr nominal (~?6.8 Cr with 7% inflation) in 21 years

Current corpus: ~?9–10 L invested in equity and ~?7 L in debt/PPF/FDs

Estimated growth: With current SIPs and step-up, you may fall short of the goal due to low investment amounts in high-growth assets.

3. Recommended Strategy

Increase Equity Allocation:

To achieve ?2 Cr by age 45, you should increase monthly SIP contributions in equity mutual funds significantly, ideally ?25k–30k/month, with step-up aligned with salary growth.

Diversified Portfolio:

Maintain 40–50% in large-cap/flexi-cap funds,

30–40% in mid & small-cap funds for higher growth,

10–20% in balanced or debt-oriented funds for stability.

Long-Term Focus:

Equity investments should be held for the long term, minimizing withdrawals during market volatility.

Continue your PPF and RD investments as safe, debt-oriented instruments, but they alone will not meet your corpus target.

Systematic Step-Up:

Ensure annual SIP increase of 10% or more to leverage salary growth and compounding effect.

Regular Review:

Review your portfolio every 6–12 months to rebalance allocations, track progress toward your goal, and adjust SIP amounts if required.

4. Summary

Your current investment discipline is commendable, but the quantum of equity SIPs is too low for your ambitious goal.

Focus on higher equity exposure, continue safe instruments like PPF/FDs for debt portion, and implement step-up SIPs consistently.

Regular review with a QPFP professional will help you adjust your strategy and stay on track for achieving the ?2 Cr corpus.

Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
www.alenova.in
https://www.instagram.com/alenova_wealth

..Read more

Latest Questions
Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10854 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Dec 14, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025Hindi
Career
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!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

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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
Career
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

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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