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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8880 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 20, 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
Vikas Question by Vikas on May 15, 2024Hindi
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Hello sir, I’m going to start SIP investment from next month and my age is 35 now, having less knowledge about the field and ready to invest 25k every month. Primary goal is to need 1crore in 15years. Please guide me to solve this.

Ans: Starting Your SIP Investment Journey
Congratulations on deciding to start a SIP investment at age 35. This step shows your commitment to securing your financial future. With a goal of ?1 crore in 15 years, you are on the right track by planning early.

Understanding SIP Investments
What is SIP?
A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) allows you to invest a fixed amount in mutual funds regularly. This method helps in averaging the purchase cost and mitigating market volatility over time.

Benefits of SIP
SIPs are beneficial for disciplined savings and taking advantage of compounding. Investing regularly ensures that you do not need to time the market, which can be risky.

Creating a Diversified Portfolio
Equity Mutual Funds
Investing in equity mutual funds is essential for long-term growth. They offer high returns but come with higher volatility. Given your 15-year horizon, equities should form a significant part of your portfolio.

Diversified Equity Funds
Actively managed diversified equity funds can provide balanced exposure across various sectors. These funds are managed by professionals who aim to outperform the market.

Balanced or Hybrid Funds
For a moderate risk appetite, consider balanced or hybrid funds. These funds invest in both equities and debt, offering a balance of growth and stability.

Debt Funds
Including some debt funds in your portfolio can provide stability and reduce overall risk. Debt funds offer lower but more stable returns compared to equity funds.

Recommended Allocation Strategy
High-Growth Investments
Allocate around 60-70% of your monthly investment to equity mutual funds. This includes diversified equity funds and sector-specific funds for high growth potential.

Balanced Investments
Allocate about 20-30% to balanced or hybrid funds. These funds provide a mix of equity and debt, balancing risk and reward.

Low-Risk Investments
Allocate 10-20% to debt funds. These funds offer stability and ensure your portfolio is not overly exposed to market volatility.

Regular Review and Adjustments
Periodic Review
Review your investment portfolio regularly, at least once a year. This ensures that your investments align with your goals and market conditions.

Rebalancing
Rebalance your portfolio periodically to maintain the desired asset allocation. This involves adjusting your investments to bring your portfolio back in line with your target allocation.

Staying Informed
Keep yourself informed about market trends and investment options. Continuous learning helps in making informed decisions and optimizing returns.

Professional Guidance
Consulting a Certified Financial Planner
Consider consulting a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). A CFP can provide personalized advice, helping you choose the right funds and strategies to achieve your financial goals.

Benefits of Regular Funds
Investing through regular funds with the help of a Mutual Fund Distributor (MFD) can be beneficial. MFDs provide valuable insights and regular updates on your investments, ensuring you stay on track.

Avoid Direct Funds
Direct funds may save on commission costs but lack professional guidance. Investing through MFDs with CFP credentials ensures expert management of your portfolio.

Achieving Your Goal
Consistent Investment
Investing ?25,000 every month consistently is crucial. This disciplined approach, combined with the power of compounding, will help you reach your ?1 crore target.

Expected Returns
Assuming an average annual return of 12%, you can achieve your goal in 15 years. Actively managed funds aim to provide higher returns, making your goal more achievable.

Conclusion
Starting your SIP investment journey with a goal of ?1 crore in 15 years is commendable. By diversifying your portfolio, staying informed, and seeking professional guidance, you can optimize your investments and achieve your financial goals.

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.
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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8880 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 08, 2024

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I am 33 years old earning 25k per month. I do only have life insurance investments yearly 88k. Don't have any MF investments. I would like to start investments in sip and expected to generate 50 lakh in 15 years. My monthly average expenditure is around 6k. Please guide.
Ans: It's great that you're considering starting SIP investments to build wealth for the future. Here's a tailored plan to help you achieve your goal of generating 50 lakhs in 15 years:
1. Assess Your Risk Tolerance: Determine your risk tolerance by evaluating how comfortable you are with market fluctuations. Since you're new to mutual fund investments, it's advisable to start with a balanced approach that aligns with your risk tolerance.
2. Set Clear Goals: Define your financial goals clearly. In your case, you aim to accumulate 50 lakhs in 15 years. This clarity will help you stay focused and motivated throughout your investment journey.
3. Start SIP Investments: Begin by investing in SIPs (Systematic Investment Plans) in mutual funds. Allocate a portion of your monthly income towards SIPs, keeping in mind your monthly expenditure. Choose funds that match your risk profile and have a track record of consistent performance.
4. Diversify Your Portfolio: Opt for a diversified portfolio by investing in a mix of equity, debt, and hybrid mutual funds. This diversification can help spread risk and optimize returns over the long term.
5. Regularly Review and Rebalance: Monitor your investments periodically and rebalance your portfolio if needed. As your financial situation and goals evolve, make necessary adjustments to ensure your investment strategy remains aligned with your objectives.
6. Emergency Fund: Prioritize building an emergency fund equivalent to 3-6 months' worth of living expenses. This fund will serve as a financial safety net during unforeseen circumstances and prevent the need to liquidate your investments prematurely.
7. Consult with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP): Consider seeking guidance from a Certified Financial Planner who can assess your financial situation, understand your goals, and recommend suitable investment strategies tailored to your needs.
Remember, investing is a long-term commitment, and patience is key to achieving your financial goals. Stay disciplined, stick to your investment plan, and avoid making impulsive decisions based on short-term market fluctuations.

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

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8880 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 15, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - May 08, 2024Hindi
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I am 35 years old and serve govt Job. Could you please suggest my SIP investment to start up with goal of fund accumulation after 20 years.Thanks in advance.
Ans: That's fantastic that you're thinking about your child's education so early! Starting early allows you to leverage the power of compounding to grow your savings. Let's explore some smart ways to save for your child's future.

Factors to Consider

Education Costs: Research future education costs, considering inflation.
Investment Timeframe: You have a good 8-year window, which is great for investment growth.
Investment Options for Growth

Here are some options to consider for your child's education fund:

Equity Mutual Funds: Invest in a diversified mix of equity funds for potentially higher returns over the long term.

SIP (Systematic Investment Plan): Set up a monthly SIP to invest regularly and benefit from rupee-cost averaging.

Actively Managed Expertise

Actively managed funds have experienced fund managers who make investment decisions to try and outperform the market. This approach can be beneficial compared to passively managed funds, which simply mirror an index.

Benefits of a CFP

A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professional can create a personalized plan for your child's education. They can help you:

Choose the Right Funds: Select a mix of funds that balances growth potential with risk tolerance.
Review & Rebalance: Regularly assess your portfolio and make adjustments as needed.
Goal-Based Planning: Ensure your investments are aligned with your child's education timeline.
Regular Plan vs Direct Plan

Regular plans with a CFP professional can offer some advantages over direct plans. A CFP can:

Save on Costs: Help you potentially minimize investment expenses.
Stay on Track: Guide you through market ups and downs to keep you invested for the long term.
Remember:

Investing for a child's education requires a long-term perspective. A CFP can create a strategy that considers your goals, risk tolerance, and investment timeframe.

Secure your child's future! Schedule a consultation with a CFP to discuss your specific situation and build a roadmap to fund your child's education.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8880 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Sep 30, 2024

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Hi Sir I am 33 yr and want to start investing in SIP but have no knowledge. I can invest 50k per month. Please help me
Ans: A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) allows you to invest a fixed amount regularly in mutual funds. This disciplined approach to investing helps you accumulate wealth over time while managing market volatility.

With Rs 50,000 to invest monthly, SIPs are an excellent way to get started, especially when you are 33 years old. By starting early, you give your investments enough time to grow and compound over the years. Let’s look at how you can structure your SIPs.

Assessing Your Financial Goals
Before diving into mutual fund investments, it’s crucial to have clear goals. Here are some common financial goals:

Retirement: Building a corpus for your life post-retirement.
Children’s Education: Saving for your children’s education, even if it seems far off now.
Buying a House or Major Purchase: Funds for future personal projects or major purchases.
Having clear goals will help align your investment strategy. For instance, longer-term goals, such as retirement, may allow you to take on more risk, while shorter-term goals will require more conservative investments.

Risk Profile
Knowing your risk tolerance is equally important. Since you are 33 years old, you likely have a higher risk appetite compared to someone closer to retirement. If you’re willing to take on more risk, you can allocate a larger portion to equity mutual funds, which have the potential for higher returns over time.

High Risk: You may invest more in small-cap and mid-cap equity funds. These funds can offer substantial returns but can also be volatile.

Moderate Risk: Large-cap equity funds and balanced funds would be suitable. These provide a balance of growth and stability.

Low Risk: Debt funds or liquid funds can be considered for goals with a shorter time frame or lower risk tolerance.

Diversification Strategy
Diversification is key to managing risk and maximizing returns. With Rs 50,000 to invest monthly, you should aim for a diversified portfolio across different fund categories:

Large-Cap Equity Funds: These are relatively stable and invest in large, well-established companies. They should form the core of your portfolio, offering steady returns.

Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Equity Funds: For higher growth potential, mid-cap and small-cap funds are good choices. They tend to be more volatile, but over time, they can deliver high returns.

Flexi Cap or Multicap Funds: These funds invest across market capitalizations (large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap), providing diversification within a single fund. These are good for long-term wealth creation.

Debt Funds: While equity funds are crucial for growth, you should also consider debt funds for stability. Debt funds provide relatively safer returns, especially useful for short-term financial goals or emergency funds.

Asset Allocation
Allocating your investments across different types of funds ensures that your portfolio is balanced. A suggested allocation could be:

60-70% in Equity Mutual Funds: This can be spread across large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap funds.

20-30% in Debt Funds: These offer stability and help cushion against market volatility.

5-10% in International or Sectoral Funds: If you want to explore global opportunities or specific sectors like technology, international funds can be considered.

Regular Monitoring and Review
It’s essential to review your SIP portfolio at least once a year. Financial goals or risk appetite may change over time, and your portfolio needs to reflect that. Regularly monitoring the performance of your funds ensures you are on track to meet your goals.

Why You Should Consult a Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
Before you proceed, consulting a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) can give you personalized advice based on your individual needs. A CFP can help you:

Tailor your portfolio: A professional will help you align your SIPs with your personal goals, risk profile, and future financial needs.

Avoid Common Pitfalls: Investing without proper planning can lead to poor returns or unnecessary risk. A CFP will guide you away from such mistakes.

Tax Optimization: A CFP can also assist in structuring your investments to be more tax-efficient, helping you maximize returns.

Final Insights
Start with Your Goals: Identify your short-term and long-term goals before selecting funds.

Diversify Smartly: Spread your Rs 50,000 monthly investment across large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap funds, and don’t forget to include debt funds for stability.

Review Annually: Keep track of how your funds perform and adjust your portfolio as needed.

Seek Expert Guidance: Working with a CFP can help you stay on the right track and achieve your financial objectives efficiently.

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

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8880 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 09, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 09, 2025
Money
Hello Sir, I am 43 years, I have around 2 cr in stock market, 1cr in government bonds and mutual funds, a flat in Bangalore worth 70 lakhs and recently I sold around 1.6 cr worth stocks and savings to purchase a house in the outskirts of a two tier city where I am currently residing. Was it worth investing in this property? I have taken a break from my job
Ans: You have made many financial moves with clarity and purpose. Your asset base is strong.

You sold Rs.?1.6 crore worth of financial assets to buy a house. Let us now assess this decision. We’ll look at all angles to guide you.

This detailed review will help you make smart, balanced, long-term decisions.

Was Buying the Property a Good Decision?

Owning a house offers emotional comfort and stability.

It also lowers rent cost and gives more space.

But property is not a flexible investment.

It is hard to sell fast when money is needed.

Property needs repairs, tax payments and legal care.

Financial investments do not have such burdens.

Your earlier financial assets were more liquid.

You had Rs.?2 crore in stocks and Rs.?1 crore in bonds and mutual funds.

After this new property, your real estate share is now very high.

This can impact long-term growth and flexibility.

Financial assets like mutual funds often grow faster.

Properties in outskirts grow slowly and depend on area development.

This growth is not guaranteed.

You must check if the area has good infrastructure plans.

Is Real Estate the Best Wealth-Building Tool?

Property is not the fastest wealth builder.

Equity mutual funds grow faster over time.

Property needs high capital, low returns and long holding periods.

You may also face legal or title issues.

Rent income is also not guaranteed.

Real estate is hard to sell when you need cash.

Stocks and bonds are easier to exit.

Real estate gives pride, but less profit.

You must not depend only on property for wealth.

How Your Asset Mix Looks Now

Your assets are now heavy in real estate.

Rs.?70 lakhs flat in Bangalore plus Rs.?1.6 crore new house.

That’s over Rs.?2.3 crore in property.

Stock and mutual fund holding is now Rs.?2 crore approx.

This makes the ratio about 55% in real estate.

For financial growth, this is very high.

Financial assets give compounding and flexibility.

Too much in real estate may hurt long-term goals.

You may face difficulty accessing funds in emergencies.

Liquidity is now lower than before.

You are on a job break, so liquidity is more important now.

During Career Break, Liquidity is Vital

When you are not earning, liquidity is your protection.

Property cannot give you quick funds in emergencies.

But mutual funds and stocks can be sold in 1-3 days.

You must protect cash flow till income resumes.

Emergency fund should be 12 months’ living cost.

Ensure you are not over-relying on property.

What You Could Have Considered Instead

You could rent in outskirts instead of buying.

Renting keeps your money invested in mutual funds.

You could have earned higher returns with flexibility.

Money in mutual funds can help meet multiple goals.

Renting avoids repair, tax and legal costs.

Ownership is not always necessary.

Emotional satisfaction from a house is valid.

But it must not reduce your long-term growth.

Why Mutual Funds Are a Better Tool for Growth

Mutual funds give professional fund management.

They offer better diversification than any property.

Regular mutual fund plans offer expert support.

A Certified Financial Planner can help choose better funds.

Actively managed funds adjust to market changes.

Index funds just copy the market.

Index funds don’t protect against sharp market falls.

They do not beat the market in tough times.

Direct mutual funds also have no personal help.

If you invest directly, you get no strategy or advice.

Regular plans give human support and help in planning.

Investment without expert help is like driving without direction.

Choose mutual funds through MFD with CFP support.

What You Should Do Next

Review if the new house is for self-use or investment.

If self-use, then it meets emotional comfort, not wealth goals.

If investment, then rethink its growth and returns.

Keep some funds in high-quality mutual funds.

Avoid putting more into real estate.

Resume SIPs once cash flow starts again.

Avoid index funds and direct funds going forward.

Focus on active funds with proper advice.

Set goals for retirement, health, and other needs.

Adjust asset mix to support those goals.

Keep financial assets above 50% for better future growth.

Plan your tax-saving investments every year.

Don’t depend only on property or insurance-based plans.

If you hold any LIC, ULIP, or combo plans, review them.

If returns are poor, consider surrendering and investing in mutual funds.

Property must be need-based, not return-based.

Let financial products drive long-term growth.

Take insurance for risk protection, not investment.

Continue asset review every 6 months.

Choose Certified Financial Planner to keep you on track.

Finally

Your decision to buy the house brings peace, but lowers growth.

It’s fine if emotional security is your key goal now.

But make sure you don’t lose financial strength.

Property is hard to manage, and slow to grow.

Your asset allocation needs rebalancing toward financial investments.

Start investing again when income resumes.

Reduce dependence on physical assets.

Trust actively managed mutual funds via regular plans.

Seek professional guidance to ensure your long-term success.

You’ve done well so far. With a few changes, you can go further.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

...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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