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

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 11, 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 - May 11, 2024Hindi
Listen
Money

I intend to quit job very shortly and will have a Corpus of 1.25 crores and regular monthly pension of Rs.75k form work. Should I put invest in conservative Fd or MF. I am 51 years old without any liability or responsibility.

Ans: Congratulations on nearing your retirement! It's fantastic that you've diligently saved up a significant corpus and have a steady pension lined up. You're in a commendable position to make informed financial decisions.

Given your circumstances, a conservative approach to investing seems prudent. Fixed Deposits (FDs) offer stability and are a safe haven for your funds. They guarantee returns, albeit modest ones, shielding your corpus from market volatility.

Mutual Funds (MFs), on the other hand, can potentially offer higher returns but come with market risks. Actively managed funds, in particular, can be tailored to suit your risk tolerance and financial goals.

However, considering your imminent retirement and the need for stability, a mix of both FDs and carefully chosen mutual funds could be beneficial. You could allocate a portion of your corpus to FDs for stability and liquidity while investing the rest in MFs for potential growth.

Moreover, as a Certified Financial Planner, I'd recommend diversifying across different MF categories to spread risk. Equity-oriented balanced funds or debt funds with a track record of consistent returns could be suitable options.

Regular reviews of your portfolio with a professional can ensure it stays aligned with your financial goals and risk tolerance. Additionally, consider factors like taxation and inflation while making investment decisions.

Remember, transitioning into retirement is a significant life change, both financially and emotionally. Ensure you have a solid financial plan in place to support your lifestyle and aspirations during this phase.

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

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 18, 2024

Listen
Money
Hello Hemant, Greetings. Request a serious suggestion on my investment planning. Have majority of my savings into FDs due to my earlier conservative approach and even now am having the tax benefit as the FDs are on my wife's name where we do get the tax benefit. Also started significant portion into MFs which is a portfolio by itself of nearly 50 lac INR. My question is, I want to plan for my younger son's future and our retirement which almost have the same time duration of about 12-13 years. How can I go for my investment if am looking for around 5-7 crore of corpus by then ? What options could you provide me assuming I do have good risk apettite now as I have seen a good 5 year cycle in the MFs now. I want you suggest 2 options, 1 - With a fresh investment now and the products which I should go around and 2 - If you advise to use the fixed deposits also to contribute to the wealth creation ( I have a total of around 60-70 lac as FDs). So please suggest a good portfolio with the above 2 scenarios.
Ans: Given your risk appetite and investment horizon of 12-13 years, here are two investment strategies to achieve a corpus of 5-7 crore:

Option 1: Fresh Investment

Equity Mutual Funds: Allocate 60% of the portfolio (30 lac) to diversified equity mutual funds with a proven track record.
Direct Equity: Invest 20% (10 lac) directly in blue-chip stocks or through a well-researched stock portfolio.
Debt Mutual Funds: Allocate 10% (5 lac) to debt funds for stability and to balance the portfolio.
Gold or Gold ETFs: Allocate 10% (5 lac) to gold as a hedge against market volatility and inflation.
Option 2: Utilizing FDs

Equity Mutual Funds: Transfer 50% of the FDs (30-35 lac) into diversified equity mutual funds.
Debt Mutual Funds: Transfer 30% (20-25 lac) to debt funds for stability.
Direct Equity: Invest 10% (5-7 lac) directly in blue-chip stocks or a stock portfolio.
Gold or Gold ETFs: Allocate 10% (5-7 lac) to gold.
Regularly review and rebalance the portfolio to maintain the desired asset allocation. Consider SIPs for equity investments to take advantage of rupee-cost averaging. Consult with a Certified Financial Planner to tailor the investment strategy to your specific needs and objectives.

..Read more

Sanjeev

Sanjeev Govila  | Answer  |Ask -

Financial Planner - Answered on Sep 20, 2023

Listen
Money
Hello Sanjeev, Good afternoon. Request a serious suggestion on my investment planning. Have majority of my savings into FDs due to my earlier conservative approach and even now am having the tax benefit as the FDs are on my wife's name where we do get the tax benefit. Also started significant portion into MFs which is a portfolio by itself of nearly 50 lac INR. My question is, I want to plan for my younger son's future and our retirement which almost have the same time duration of about 12-13 years. How can I go for my investment if am looking for around 5-7 crore of corpus by then ? What options could you provide me assuming I do have good risk apettite now as I have seen a good 5 year cycle in the MFs now. I want you suggest 2 options, 1 - With a fresh investment now and the products which I should go around and 2 - If you advise to use the fixed deposits also to contribute to the wealth creation ( I have a total of around 60-70 lac as FDs). So please suggest a good portfolio with the above 2 scenarios.
Ans: Based on your query, we understand that you are looking for investment options to plan for your younger son’s future (Education and Marriage) and your retirement life. You have mentioned that both goals have a similar time duration of about 12-13 years. You also mentioned that you have a good risk appetite now and have seen a good 5-year cycle in mutual funds (MFs).

To achieve a corpus of around Rs 5Cr by then, we have evaluated both the options:-

Option 1: Fresh Investment: This is the most recommended option from our end as considering your investment horizon and knowledge, we suggest you to rebalance your current fixed income oriented investments to equity orient funds with 20-25% allocation towards mid and small caps.
Benefits on shifting:
• Lower tax liability on returns generated.
• Tax deferment and compounding (higher returns) in long run.

Option 2: Continuing with Fixed Deposits (FDs) (Not suggested by us)
As you know, FDs are very safe asset class and yielding higher returns due to current interest rate scenario. Although, we all know sooner and later rates will came down to support the economy so does the FD rates.
Also, FDs as investment are not considered good for horizon of more than 5 years because:
a) Yearly taxation reduce the compounding and returns.
b) Equity generally outperform in terms of returns over the same horizon.

Final Recommendation:
We suggest you to shift 30-40 Lakhs from FDs and reinvest the same in a well-diversified portfolio of Equity and hybrid funds. Also, considering your goal of reaching a corpus of 5cr with current mutual fund investments it will require whopping returns of 20%+ on annual basis for a period of 12-13 years which is not very likely to achieve.

As a summary, allocate a total of Rs 80-90 Lakhs towards diversified equity-oriented funds and keep invested Rs 20-30 Lakhs in FDs in your wife’s name for taxation benefit.

..Read more

Kirtan

Kirtan A Shah  | Answer  |Ask -

MF Expert, Financial Planner - Answered on Aug 30, 2023

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 16, 2024

Listen
Money
Dear Sir/Madam i have an savings of 1.22CR i have invested in MF and some amount in FD also, want to ask you is it better to invest in FD as i am retiring next year by April thanks.
Ans: Evaluation of Current Investments

Your current savings of Rs 1.22 crore is commendable. Having investments in mutual funds and fixed deposits shows a balanced approach.

However, evaluating the need for fixed deposits is crucial. Fixed deposits offer safety but low returns compared to mutual funds. Since you are retiring soon, it is essential to assess the balance between safety and growth.

Fixed Deposits: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Fixed deposits provide guaranteed returns.

They are safe and secure investments.

Liquidity is available but may come with penalties.

Cons:

Returns are lower compared to mutual funds.

Interest earned is taxable.

Inflation can erode the real value of returns.

Mutual Funds: Pros and Cons

Pros:

Potential for higher returns compared to fixed deposits.

Diversified investments reduce risk.

Flexibility to choose funds based on risk appetite and goals.

Cons:

Returns are market-linked and can fluctuate.

Requires regular monitoring.

May involve higher costs if not chosen wisely.

Assessing Your Needs

Given your retirement plan next year, stability and income generation become essential. Fixed deposits provide stability, but mutual funds can offer growth. A mix of both can provide balance.

Strategy for Retirement

Consider maintaining a portion in fixed deposits for safety. This portion can cover short-term needs. The rest can remain in mutual funds for growth. This strategy ensures a balance between safety and potential returns.

Final Insights

Your proactive approach is commendable. Maintaining safety with fixed deposits and growth with mutual funds can serve you well. Regular reviews with a Certified Financial Planner can ensure alignment with your goals.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..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'.

...Read more

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.

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