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

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 30, 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
Venkatesh Question by Venkatesh on Dec 19, 2023Hindi
Listen
Money

Hello Sir, myself Venkatesh aged 35 working in PSU current monthly takehome salary is Rs.1.20lac investing Rs.1,50,000/- in PPF per annum, havings corpus in fixed deposits around Rs.30lacs, investing in Mutual funds through monthly SIP of Rs.8000/- in three funds from past 3years 1.Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund-Reg(G)- 3K 2. Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund-Reg(G)- 3K 3. Axis Focused 25 Fund-Reg(G)- 2K. Now i want to invest another Rs.15,000/- per month for 18-20years and also advise by what amount i can stepup my existing portfolio for better returns.

Ans: Venkatesh! It's great to see your disciplined approach towards saving and investing. With your stable income and existing investments, adding Rs. 15,000 per month for 18-20 years can significantly boost your long-term wealth accumulation.

Considering your current portfolio, you may diversify further by adding funds from different categories to spread risk. Consider allocating the additional investment across different types of mutual funds such as mid-cap funds, small-cap funds, or international funds to enhance diversification.

As for stepping up your existing portfolio, you can consider increasing your SIP amounts gradually over time. Analyze the performance of your current funds and the potential for growth. Based on your risk tolerance and financial goals, you may consider increasing the SIP amounts in funds that have shown consistent performance and align with your investment objectives.

Consulting with a Certified Financial Planner can provide personalized guidance tailored to your specific financial situation and goals. Together, you can create a comprehensive investment plan to maximize returns and achieve your long-term financial objectives. Keep up the excellent work with your savings and investments!
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

Omkeshwar

Omkeshwar Singh  | Answer  |Ask -

Head, Rank MF - Answered on May 26, 2021

Money
I have below investment in MFs and I want to accumulate 3 crore by 2030, I want to invest 50K monthly (currently 27500 SIP and rest lump sum invest in other funds based on condition). Please suggest if to continue or shift to other options. Also any new funds to add to have aggressively diversified portfolio. MF Name Avg. NAV Amount Invested No. of Units Current Value Invest mode Nippon India Gilt Securities Fund (Growth) 29,81 25000,00 838,711 25018,08 Lump sum Nippon India Income Fund (Growth) 67,54 95000,00 1406,554 98488,46 5000 SIP (monthly) Axis Bluechip Fund - Growth 31,18 160000,00 5130,554 198603,74 10000 SIP (monthly) Axis Multicap Fund - GROWTH 12,44 95000,00 7633,650 118550,58 Lump Sum Kotak Gold fund growth 20,58 17500,00 850,325 15735,18 Lump sum Kotak NASDAQ 100 Fund of Fund- Growth 9,88 25000,00 2529,782 23889,74 Lump sum Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund - Growth Plan 56,91 107500,00 1888,862 147234,90 2500 SIP (monthly) it was 10K SIP, but reduced later by MF house Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund- Growth Plan 52,24 75000,00 1435,544 93987,94 5000 SIP (monthly) NIPPON INDIA MULTI ASSET FUND-GROWTH PLAN 10,51 50000,00 4758,436 53394,41 Lump Sum     650000,00   774903,03  
Ans: Rs 1,20,000 investment in equity oriented funds per month is required to create a corpus of Rs 3 cr in 10 years.

Both schemes of Axis and Mirae along with Kotak Nasdaq are good schemes to be continued

Debt funds will not be able to generate the kind of returns required to achieve the corpus

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 12, 2024

Listen
Money
Hello Sir, myself Venkatesh aged 35 working in PSU current monthly takehome salary is Rs.1.20lac investing Rs.1,50,000/- in PPF per annum, havings corpus in fixed deposits around Rs.30lacs, investing in Mutual funds through monthly SIP of Rs.8000/- in three funds from past 3years 1.Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund-Reg(G)- 3K 2. Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund-Reg(G)- 3K 3. Axis Focused 25 Fund-Reg(G)- 2K. Now i want to invest another Rs.15,000/- per month for 18-20years and also advise by what amount i can stepup my existing portfolio for better returns.
Ans: Dear Venkatesh,

Thank you for sharing your financial details and investment strategy. Your disciplined approach towards saving and investing is commendable, and it's great to see your proactive efforts towards planning for the future.

Considering your current financial situation and goals, here's a suggested plan for investing an additional ?15,000 per month and optimizing your existing portfolio:

New Investment of ?15,000 per Month:

Given your investment horizon of 18-20 years, you have the opportunity to invest in equity-oriented mutual funds to potentially achieve long-term growth.
Since you already have exposure to flexi-cap, large-cap, and focused equity funds, you can consider diversifying further by investing in mid-cap or multi-cap funds to capture opportunities across different market segments.
Allocate the additional ?15,000 per month across 2-3 mutual funds to ensure proper diversification and mitigate risk.
Portfolio Step-Up:

Evaluate the performance of your existing SIPs in Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund, Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund, and Axis Focused 25 Fund.
Consider increasing your SIP contributions gradually over time to capitalize on the power of compounding and accelerate wealth accumulation.
Utilize the step-up SIP feature offered by mutual fund platforms to automatically increase your SIP amounts by a predefined percentage or fixed amount annually.
Review your portfolio periodically and adjust your SIP contributions as needed to stay aligned with your investment goals and risk tolerance.
Regular Review and Rebalancing:

Periodically review your investment portfolio and asset allocation to ensure that it remains aligned with your financial goals and risk tolerance.
Rebalance your portfolio as needed to maintain your desired asset allocation and optimize returns. This involves selling overperforming assets and reinvesting the proceeds into underperforming or undervalued assets.
Consultation:

Consider consulting with a qualified financial advisor who can provide personalized guidance tailored to your financial objectives and risk profile.
An advisor can help you assess your current portfolio, identify any gaps or areas for improvement, and recommend suitable investment options to achieve your long-term financial goals.
By following these steps and staying disciplined with your investment strategy, you can work towards building a strong financial foundation and achieving your financial aspirations.

Best regards,

Ramalingam, MBA, CFP
Chief Financial Planner

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Sep 17, 2025

Money
Hi Sir, I will be 26 in January, and investing ~14900 monthly across - ParagParikhFlexi 6K, Motilal Midcap -3.9K, HDFC Small cap-3.5 K, SBI Contra, 1.5K and Quarterly add 7.5K in Nippon indiaPower&Infra fund. Current XIRR is 12.80%. and total value is 3L. Apart from this i just do 1500 per month in PPF (which i plan to continue and increase amount) I need guidance on addition of 2 more funds so I make my monthly investment close to 18/19000 and/Or any replacement in current MF's as I see SBI contra and HDFC are slow performing. Your previous guidance helped me much I am determined to step up on total monthly investing value every year by 15-20%.
Ans: Your commitment to increasing monthly investments by 15–20% yearly is excellent.
It shows strong financial planning discipline.
Your current mutual fund (MF) strategy reflects good intent to grow wealth over time.
Now, let us examine your portfolio carefully from a 360-degree perspective.

» Current Mutual Fund Portfolio Overview
– You are investing Rs 14,900 monthly across five funds.
– You focus on diversified, mid-cap, small-cap, contra, and power & infrastructure funds.
– Current XIRR is 12.80%, which is decent.
– Your total value is Rs 3 lakh.
– You also contribute Rs 1,500 monthly to PPF.
– PPF is a good safe investment for tax-saving and long-term stability.
– Continuously increasing PPF contribution is a smart plan.

» Mid-cap and Small-cap Fund Analysis
– Mid-cap and small-cap funds offer higher return potential.
– But they come with higher risk and volatility.
– HDFC Small Cap and Motilal Midcap are long-term growth-focused.
– However, you rightly observed SBI Contra and HDFC Small Cap underperformance.
– Markets fluctuate, but long-term performance matters.
– Avoid hasty exits due to short-term underperformance.
– But active monitoring is essential.

» SBI Contra and HDFC Small Cap Underperformance
– SBI Contra has been sluggish recently.
– Small-cap funds also faced downturn due to market corrections.
– Actively managed mutual funds help adapt to changing market conditions.
– Direct funds require deep market knowledge and are harder to manage alone.
– Regular funds through MFD offer professional portfolio balancing.
– Certified Financial Planner helps maintain proper asset allocation.

» Recommendation to Replace or Add New Funds
– Replace SBI Contra with a well-performing diversified equity fund.
– Look for large & mid-cap funds with stable track records.
– Adding a balanced or hybrid fund reduces overall volatility.
– Hybrid funds invest in both equity and debt.
– This provides steady returns and lowers risk.
– Adding a high-quality large-cap focused equity fund is wise.
– Large-cap funds are less volatile and provide stable growth.

» Suggested Fund Categories to Add
– Large & Mid-cap Fund:

Provides stability with good growth.

Less risky than small or mid-cap only.
– Hybrid Conservative Fund:

Mixes debt and equity.

Helps manage volatility during market downturns.

Useful for emergency liquidity and moderate growth.

» Avoid Index Funds or ETFs
– Index funds passively follow market indices.
– They do not actively manage risk.
– They mirror market ups and downs directly.
– In volatile markets, index funds may fall sharply.
– Active mutual funds adapt portfolios to market changes.
– Active funds can shift sectors based on opportunity.
– Professional fund managers monitor and adjust investments.
– For a young investor, actively managed funds are better.

» Incremental Monthly Investment Strategy
– You aim to step up investment by 15–20% annually.
– This is good to keep pace with inflation.
– Small increases compound over long periods.
– Set a fixed increment every year.
– For example, Rs 14,900 becomes Rs 17,135 next year.
– This ensures systematic wealth accumulation.

» Power & Infrastructure Fund Position
– Infrastructure funds are sector-specific.
– Good for long-term growth when economic growth picks up.
– But very volatile in short term.
– Continue quarterly investment, not monthly, to balance exposure.
– Maintain it as a small portion of the total corpus.
– Do not overweight sector funds in your portfolio.

» Importance of Asset Allocation
– At your age, equity-heavy allocation is fine.
– But diversification is essential to reduce risk.
– Allocate around 70–80% in equity, 20–30% in debt and hybrid funds.
– PPF provides safe, tax-free returns.
– A good cushion against market volatility.

» Avoid LIC, ULIP, Investment Cum Insurance Policies
– If you hold any LIC or ULIP policies, consider surrendering them.
– These policies offer poor returns with high charges.
– They are often marketed as dual-purpose products.
– Better to invest in mutual funds for wealth creation.
– Insurance should be term insurance for life cover only.

» Emergency Fund Must Be Separate
– Always maintain an emergency fund of 6–12 months of expenses.
– Keep it in liquid assets like fixed deposits or liquid mutual funds.
– Do not dip into PPF or equity mutual funds during emergencies.

» Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) Growth Mindset
– Continue disciplined SIP investing every month.
– Increase your SIP amount annually as planned.
– Inflation rises every year by around 6%.
– Increasing SIP keeps your investment power intact.
– Even small increments add up due to compounding.

» Taxation Implications
– Equity mutual fund LTCG above Rs 1.25 lakh is taxed at 12.5%.
– Short-term gains are taxed at 20%.
– Debt mutual fund gains follow income tax slab.
– Regular monitoring of capital gains helps in efficient planning.
– Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) helps manage tax during retirement.

» Retirement Corpus Consideration
– At 26, focus should be on wealth creation.
– Maintain aggressive equity exposure for next 20–30 years.
– Your goal is Rs 5–10 crore corpus by age 55.
– Systematic increases, disciplined investing, and proper allocation help.
– Avoid last-minute portfolio shifts based on market news.

» Role of Certified Financial Planner
– A CFP provides objective, professional guidance.
– Helps avoid emotional decisions during market ups and downs.
– Monitors portfolio yearly and recommends rebalancing.
– Keeps track of changing goals and risk appetite.

» Avoid Direct Fund Investing Alone
– Investing directly in mutual funds means no expert advice.
– You may not know when to switch or adjust allocations.
– Regular fund investment via MFD provides professional management.
– CFP credential ensures informed decision-making.
– This avoids common investor mistakes like panic selling or wrong timing.

» Periodic Review Importance
– Review your portfolio every year.
– Check fund performances against benchmarks.
– Rebalance allocation if required.
– Avoid adding too many funds.
– Keep 6–8 quality funds in the portfolio.
– Too many funds dilute focus and returns.

» Psychological Preparedness
– Markets will rise and fall over time.
– Don’t panic in downturns.
– Stay invested with discipline.
– Emotional decisions lead to loss.
– Systematic and patient investing pays in long term.

» Final Insights
– Your current investment habits are commendable.
– Adding a large-cap and hybrid conservative fund is advisable.
– Reduce exposure to underperforming SBI Contra and HDFC Small Cap.
– Maintain PPF and increase it yearly.
– Continue power & infra fund as a small exposure.
– Avoid index funds or direct investments alone.
– Maintain a separate emergency fund.
– Increase SIP systematically each year.
– Certified Financial Planner will guide proper allocation and rebalancing.
– You are on a good path for wealth creation and financial freedom.

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

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

..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.

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