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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |9273 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 12, 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 - Dec 15, 2023Hindi
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Hello Sir, I am a moderate risk and high returns investor. My age is 50 yrs & I decided to start 5- SIP’s of Rs.2000.00 per month to generate CAGR 15-30% for time period of 5-10 years to build good retirement corpus of 1 Crore at least keeping in view of my daughter education & wedding as well as my retirement. Pls suggest me some good Mutual Funds that helps me achieve my financial goals. Thanks!

Ans: Given your moderate risk tolerance and goal of generating high returns, you may consider investing in a diversified portfolio of mutual funds with exposure to different market segments. Look for funds that have a track record of delivering consistent returns over the long term. Some options to consider include large-cap funds for stability, mid-cap and multi-cap funds for potential growth, and thematic or sectoral funds for higher returns (with higher risk). However, it's important to note that higher returns usually come with higher risk, so ensure that your investment choices align with your risk tolerance and investment horizon. Additionally, consult with a financial advisor to tailor a portfolio that meets your specific needs and goals.
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  |9273 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 23, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 10, 2025Hindi
Money
My age is 45. I need 15 lakh after 5 years. 70 lakh after ten year. Another 50 lakh after 15 years and 1.5 cr after 20 years. I have 10 lakh in MF. 9 lakh in NPS. 7 lakh in PPF, 5 lakh in Sukanya account, 2 lakh FD. Currently investing 38k in MF, 15k in Tata I systematic Sip ulip and 10k in RD. I can invest another 20k monthly. Kindly suggest mutual funds for different goals mentioned above.
Ans: Understanding Your Goals and Current Position

Your age is 45 now.

You need Rs 15 lakh after 5 years.

You need Rs 70 lakh after 10 years.

You need Rs 50 lakh after 15 years.

You need Rs 1.5 crore after 20 years.

This is a well-defined and clear set of goals.
You already have some investments in place.
Let us first analyse your current financial strength.

Current Investments Overview

Rs 10 lakh in mutual funds (assume equity-oriented).

Rs 9 lakh in NPS (for retirement after 60).

Rs 7 lakh in PPF (good for long-term and tax-free).

Rs 5 lakh in Sukanya (goal likely for daughter).

Rs 2 lakh in FD (low returns and taxable).

SIP in mutual fund: Rs 38,000 monthly.

SIP in Tata I systematic ULIP: Rs 15,000 monthly.

RD of Rs 10,000 monthly.

You can now add Rs 20,000 more monthly.

These are all very good habits.
Now, we need to align these properly to your life goals.

Assessing the ULIP Investment

Tata I SIP systematic plan is a ULIP.
ULIPs combine investment and insurance.
But they have high charges and low flexibility.

You should ask these questions now:

What is your fund value today?

What is the surrender value?

What is the lock-in left?

Is return matching equity mutual funds?

If your lock-in is over, please consider surrendering it.
Reinvest the maturity value into mutual funds.
ULIP return is usually less than good mutual funds.
ULIPs also have poor liquidity.

A Certified Financial Planner can assist you in fund shift.

Goal-Wise Investment Strategy

You have four major goals.
We will break your corpus and future SIPs goal-wise.

Goal 1: Rs 15 lakh in 5 years

This is a short-term goal.

Do not invest in full equity.

Use debt-oriented hybrid funds.

Use short-duration debt funds.

Start systematic transfer in 4th year.

Avoid high-risk small-cap funds.

This goal needs safety over growth.

Allocate Rs 4 lakh from existing mutual fund corpus.
Use Rs 7,000 from your current SIP towards this goal.

Goal 2: Rs 70 lakh in 10 years

Medium to long-term goal.

Equity allocation can be higher here.

Use flexi-cap and large-cap active mutual funds.

Choose funds through a Certified Financial Planner.

Avoid index funds for this goal.

Index funds may not beat inflation.

They do not protect in falling markets.

Allocate Rs 4 lakh from your existing mutual fund corpus.
Invest Rs 16,000 from your current SIP for this goal.
Add Rs 6,000 from new Rs 20,000 SIP capacity.

Goal 3: Rs 50 lakh in 15 years

Long-term goal.

Equity-oriented mutual funds work well here.

Choose actively managed mid-cap or focused funds.

Use SIPs and step-up every 2 years.

Let power of compounding work over time.

Add Rs 9,000 monthly from your new SIP capacity.
Allocate Rs 1.5 lakh from current mutual fund corpus.

Goal 4: Rs 1.5 crore in 20 years

This is a long-term retirement-like goal.

You have PPF and NPS already.

Continue both till maturity.

They offer safety and tax benefits.

Also add equity mutual funds for better growth.

Use balance Rs 5,000 of new SIP into diversified equity funds.
Allocate balance Rs 0.5 lakh from MF corpus here.
Also assign full maturity value of ULIP to this goal.

Sukanya Samriddhi Account

Keep this fund separate.

Use it only for daughter’s education or marriage.

Don’t link this fund to other life goals.

PPF Investment Strategy

Rs 7 lakh is already there.

Try to add Rs 1 lakh yearly till age 60.

Don’t withdraw before 15 years.

Use it for retirement corpus.

NPS Strategy

Rs 9 lakh corpus is good.

Continue till age 60.

Invest Rs 50,000 extra yearly for tax benefit.

This is locked but tax-efficient.

NPS is ideal for post-retirement security.

Recurring Deposit Review

Rs 10,000 in RD gives fixed return.

This return is taxable.

Shift to short-term debt funds for better returns.

Or assign RD value to short-term goal fund.

Fund Selection Tips

Use regular plans only.

Don’t go for direct funds.

Direct funds have no support.

Regular funds give you planner guidance.

Planner gives goal match and portfolio balancing.

Regular mutual fund via MFD + CFP gives:

Emotional coaching in volatile markets

Regular rebalancing

Tax planning support

Risk adjusted fund suggestion

Ongoing goal alignment

Disadvantages of Index Funds

Index funds are unmanaged.

They cannot protect during market crash.

No dynamic asset allocation.

No guidance support.

You miss sector shifts.

Index funds may lag active funds in India.

Better to choose actively managed equity funds.

MF Capital Gains Tax Rules (New)

LTCG above Rs 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%.

STCG on equity taxed at 20%.

Debt funds taxed as per income slab.

Use tax harvesting with planner to reduce tax outgo.

Investment Execution Plan

Step 1 – Fund Realignment

Check ULIP lock-in status.

If free, surrender and reinvest in equity fund.

Shift RD money into debt fund.

Keep FD for emergency buffer only.

Step 2 – Systematic Investments

Create 4 different SIPs for 4 goals.

Use mix of hybrid, flexi-cap, and mid-cap funds.

Review SIP allocation yearly with your Certified Financial Planner.

Step 3 – Tracking and Rebalancing

Review portfolio every 6 months.

Rebalance if goal off-track.

Shift money to safer funds near goal maturity.

Don’t touch long-term investments for short needs.

Step 4 – Increasing SIP Annually

Increase SIP amount every year.

Even 5% hike in SIP gives huge impact.

Use bonus or hike money.

Keep life cover and health cover intact.

Step 5 – Emergency Planning

Keep Rs 3 lakh liquid in FD or liquid fund.

Use this only during job loss or emergency.

Finally
You already have good financial habits.
Your goals are defined and time-based.
You are investing well in MF, PPF, NPS and Sukanya.
ULIP and RD need review and change.
Avoid index funds and direct funds.
They lack advice and flexibility.
Stick with regular mutual funds through Certified Financial Planner.
Map each SIP to a goal separately.
Track progress every year with your planner.
Avoid panic during market correction.
Stay invested. Stay consistent.

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

..Read more

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Sir my daughter get seat in iit bhu varanasi mechanical branch is this branch is good for her
Ans: Vijalaxmi Madam, IIT BHU Varanasi's Mechanical Engineering branch is excellent for your daughter and represents one of India's premier mechanical engineering programs with outstanding academic credentials, placement opportunities, and institutional support. IIT BHU ranks #10 in NIRF Engineering 2024 and holds the 566th position globally in QS World University Rankings 2026, demonstrating strong international recognition and academic excellence. Essential institutional quality aspects include highly qualified faculty with advanced degrees and extensive research expertise across Machine Design, Thermal & Fluid Engineering, Production Engineering, and Industrial Management specializations, state-of-the-art infrastructure featuring modern laboratories, Design & Innovation Hub, Tinkering Labs, and Central Instrumentation Facility with sophisticated equipment for cutting-edge research, strong industry partnerships and placement ecosystem achieving 85% placement rates for Mechanical Engineering with core companies including DRDO, TATA Motors, L&T, Maruti, Reliance, and non-core opportunities with Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Goldman Sachs, comprehensive curriculum combining theoretical depth with practical application through 7-9 elective courses, interdisciplinary options, MBA courses, and Human Values education ensuring holistic development, and robust alumni network spanning 105 years with active engagement through Alumni Association facilitating mentorship and career guidance. The Mechanical Engineering department established in 1919 represents the largest department at IIT BHU with 148 student intake annually, providing specialized streams in Machine Design, Thermal Engineering, Production Engineering, and Industrial Management. Placement statistics show 85% students placed with average packages ranging 18-24 LPA and highest packages reaching 92 LPA, with recruitment from both core engineering companies for roles like Automotive Engineer, Powertrain Engineer, and Senior Design Engineer, alongside non-core opportunities in consulting, analytics, and software development.

Recommendation: Accept the IIT BHU Varanasi Mechanical Engineering seat for your daughter as it offers exceptional educational quality through established institutional ranking #10 NIRF, proven 85% placement consistency with diverse career opportunities across core and non-core sectors, comprehensive curriculum with specialized streams and interdisciplinary flexibility, strong research facilities supporting innovation and practical learning, and prestigious IIT brand recognition ensuring lifelong career advantages despite mechanical engineering being traditionally male-dominated, as IIT BHU provides excellent support systems and growing opportunities for women engineers in emerging technology sectors. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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My Daughter got Mtech integrated Course Software Engineering in VIT Vellore & Amrita Chennai CSE, WHICH ONE' IS BETTER FOR FUTURE
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My EWS rent is 34768 and CRL rank is 2.4 lakh something can I get any seat in dosa in the NIT or it CSC ECE or IT branch I am from Uttar Pradesh please suggest best colleges for me
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DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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