Home > Money > Question
Need Expert Advice?Our Gurus Can Help
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10870 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 17, 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 19, 2024Hindi
Listen
Money

Hello Sir, I need some financial advice and modification if needed. I am 32 yo and I am investing below funds since 2 years - 1)Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund Direct Growth 5K 2)Axis Midcap Fund - Growth 2K 3)SBI Contra Direct Plan Growth 10K 4)Nippon India Small Cap 5K 5)Canara Robaco Small Cap 5K 6)Quant Small Cap Fund Direct Plan Growth 5K 7)Tata Digital India Direct Growth 10K Please suggest if i should continue this or change this. I am planning to invest for next 15-20 yrs.My goal is to create a corpus for my kids education and retariment.

Ans: Diversified Investment Strategy
You have a well-diversified portfolio, which is crucial for mitigating risks and achieving long-term growth.

Diversifying across various market capitalizations can balance risk and reward effectively.

Your portfolio covers flexi-cap, mid-cap, contra, small-cap, and sector-specific funds.

Evaluating Current Funds
Flexi-cap funds provide flexibility to invest across market capitalizations, adapting to market conditions.

Mid-cap funds can offer higher growth potential compared to large-cap funds but come with higher risks.

Contra funds invest in undervalued stocks, potentially offering high returns when the market corrects.

Small-cap funds have high growth potential but are also highly volatile.

Sector-specific funds, like digital funds, can benefit from sectoral growth but carry higher risk if the sector underperforms.

Suggested Modifications
Consider reducing exposure to small-cap funds to mitigate volatility.

Reallocate some investment to more stable, less volatile funds for better balance.

Evaluate the performance and expense ratios of your current funds regularly.

Benefits of Actively Managed Funds
Actively managed funds offer professional management and can outperform the market.

These funds can adapt to market changes, making strategic decisions to maximize returns.

Considerations for Long-Term Goals
Aligning your investments with your long-term goals, like children's education and retirement, is crucial.

Evaluate the risk tolerance and time horizon for each goal.

Higher-risk investments are suitable for long-term goals but ensure you balance with lower-risk options.

Direct vs Regular Funds
Direct funds have lower expense ratios but require more effort in fund selection and monitoring.

Regular funds, through a Mutual Fund Distributor (MFD) with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), provide professional guidance.

Regular funds can help you make informed decisions, balancing risks and returns effectively.

Rebalancing Your Portfolio
Periodic rebalancing ensures your portfolio aligns with your goals and risk tolerance.

Review your investments at least annually or when significant market changes occur.

Rebalancing helps in capturing profits and reinvesting in underperforming assets, maintaining your desired asset allocation.


Your commitment to investing for your family's future is commendable.

You have made informed choices in diversifying your investments, which is excellent.

Long-term investing requires patience and discipline, and you are on the right track.

Conclusion
Your diversified portfolio is a good foundation for long-term goals.

Consider reducing small-cap exposure and reallocating to more stable funds.

Regular review and rebalancing are essential for continued success.

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.
Money

You may like to see similar questions and answers below

Sunil

Sunil Lala  | Answer  |Ask -

Financial Planner - Answered on Jan 09, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 31, 2023Hindi
Listen
Money
I have a corpus of 1 cr in mf with an ongoing monthly sip of 85k..have invested 6 lacs in stocks..I am investing 1.5 lacs each In both ppf and sukanya samridhi scheme for the past 5 years.. I also have invested in hdfc sanchay annuity plan around 5.5 lacs annually for the past 4 years which will give me a monthly income from the 12th years of 50 k.. I have FDs of around 3 cr which is giving me a return of 7% annually.. I have 2 kids and I am 43 yrs old. I am looking at building a corpus of 40 cr plus on my retirement.. I have been investing in mf since 2017.. The funds that I am investing in are 1) axis.mid cap 2) canara robeco emerging equities 3) Nippon small cap 4) Parag Parikh flexi cap 5) quant flexi cap 6) Mirae asset mid and larg cap 7) icici nifty 50 index 8) SBI focussed equity 9) hdfc balanced advantage fund 10) SBI equity hybrid fund Plz suggest if these funds are fine to reach a target of 40 cr plus in the next 17 years... My kids are 10 and 4 yrs old respectively and I want to keep 1.5 cr plus for their education. When they attain the age of 18 years respectively. Kindly suggest do I need to change the investment plan and mutual funds or should I continue with the same strategy to achieve my goal.
Ans: You can not reach to your target of 40 crores plus education corpus of 1.5 cr for 2 children as most of your money is getting invested in fixed income type of instruments, since your goal is still 17 years away you can convert theses fixed income in mutual funds.

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10870 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 02, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 28, 2024Hindi
Listen
Money
Hello sir, I (33yr) and my wife(30) are earning monthly salary as 3.5L.We are paying monthly 30K EMI for home loan with outstanding of 25L. We are investing below mf's with monthly 40K as SIP and will continue these investments next 10-15 years with annual 5% increase.Currently my portfolio value is 10L with 38% return(35.65% XIRR). And i have invested some amount in real-estate as well.The current market price of that investment is 1.25Cr. 1)Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund Direct Growth-5000 2)SBI Contra Direct Plan Growth-10000 3)Nippon India Small Cap-5000 4)Canara Robaco Small Cap-5000 5)Quant Small Cap Fund Direct Plan Growth-5000 6)Tata Digital India Direct Growth-10000 And my wife is investing monthly 15% of basic salary for ESOP in her company(US listed company). The market value of current stocks price is 25L. We have 1yr kid and will plan another one later.Our goal is to create good corpus fund(appx 5-10cr) to maintain kids education and retirement. Are we in current path to reach our goal or need to make any adjustments?
Ans: Financial Situation Overview

Your combined monthly income of Rs. 3.5 lakhs is impressive.
Home loan EMI of Rs. 30,000 with Rs. 25 lakhs outstanding is manageable.
Monthly SIP of Rs. 40,000 shows good commitment to investing.
Your diverse investment portfolio is praiseworthy.

Current Investment Analysis

Your mutual fund portfolio of Rs. 10 lakhs shows good growth.
The 38% return (35.65% XIRR) is excellent. Keep monitoring it.
Real estate investment of Rs. 1.25 crores adds to your wealth.
Your wife's ESOP worth Rs. 25 lakhs is a valuable asset.

Investment Strategy Evaluation

Your mix of flexi-cap, contra, and small-cap funds is well-diversified.
The technology sector fund adds a growth element to your portfolio.
Annual 5% increase in SIP is a good strategy for long-term growth.
Consider adding some mid-cap funds for better balance.

Risk Assessment

Your portfolio seems tilted towards high-risk small-cap funds.
The technology sector fund also carries higher risk.
Consider balancing with some large-cap or multi-cap funds.
Review your risk tolerance as you approach your goals.

Goal Analysis

Your goal of Rs. 5-10 crores for education and retirement is ambitious.
With your current savings rate, you're on a good path.
Consider increasing your investments as your income grows.
Factor in inflation when planning for long-term goals.

Asset Allocation

Your investments are heavily skewed towards equity.
Consider adding some debt funds for stability.
Rebalance your portfolio annually to maintain desired asset allocation.
Don't forget to factor in your real estate investment.

Tax Planning

Ensure you're maximizing tax benefits under Section 80C.
Consider tax-efficient withdrawal strategies for the future.
Review the tax implications of your wife's ESOP regularly.

Insurance Planning

Ensure you have adequate life insurance coverage.
Review your health insurance needs, especially with a growing family.
Consider disability insurance to protect your income.

Emergency Fund

Set aside 6-12 months of expenses in an easily accessible fund.
This will help you avoid disturbing your investments during emergencies.

Child Education Planning

Start a separate fund for your children's education.
Consider education-focused mutual funds for this purpose.
Factor in potential overseas education costs.

Retirement Planning

Your current investments will contribute significantly to retirement.
Consider starting a separate retirement-focused portfolio.
Review your retirement needs and adjust investments accordingly.

Finally

Your financial planning is on the right track. Keep it up!
Regularly review and rebalance your portfolio.
Stay disciplined with your investments, even during market fluctuations.
Consider consulting a Certified Financial Planner for personalized advice.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |233 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
Ravi

Ravi Mittal  |676 Answers  |Ask -

Dating, Relationships Expert - Answered on Dec 04, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 02, 2025Hindi
Relationship
My married ex still texts me for comfort. Because of him, I am unable to move on. He makes me feel guilty by saying he got married out of family pressure. His dad is a cardiac patient and mom is being treated for cancer. He comforts me by saying he will get separated soon and we will get married because he only loves me. We have been in a relationship for 14 years and despite everything we tried, his parents refused to accept me, so he chose to get married to someone who understands our situation. I don't know when he will separate from his wife. She knows about us too but she comes from a traditional family. She also confirmed there is no physical intimacy between them. I trust him, but is it worth losing my youth for him? Honestly, I am worried and very confused.
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
I understand how difficult it is to let go of a relationship you have built from scratch, but is it really how you want to continue? It really seems to be going nowhere. His parents are already in bad health and he married someone else for their happiness. Does it seem like he will be able to leave her? So many people’s happiness and lives depend on this one decision. I think it’s about time you and your BF have a clear conversation about the same. If he can’t give a proper timeline, please try to understand his situation. But also make sure he understands yours and maybe rethink this equation. It really isn’t healthy. You deserve a love you can have wholly, and not just in pieces, and in the shadows.

Hope this helps

...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.

Close  

You haven't logged in yet. To ask a question, Please Log in below
Login

A verification OTP will be sent to this
Mobile Number / Email

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to

Resend OTP in120seconds

Dear User, You have not registered yet. Please register by filling the fields below to get expert answers from our Gurus
Sign up

By signing up, you agree to our
Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

Already have an account?

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to Mobile

Resend OTP in120seconds

x