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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 23, 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
M Question by M on Feb 20, 2024Hindi
Money

If you invest Kotak Fortune Maximixer for 10 years ,every year you will get paid out to your bank account 30% for your life long IE up to your 50 to 70 years of your life time. The payment term is 10 yrs. The sum assured is 11 times of your premium payment. By maturity you earn crores. the tax benefit is under 10(10D) 100 % guaranteed returns.

Ans: Building a 5 Crore Corpus: A Comprehensive Financial Strategy
Creating a substantial financial corpus requires a well-thought-out strategy and disciplined execution. Your goal of accumulating a 5 crore corpus is ambitious and commendable. At 22 years old and with an ongoing investment of Rs 50,000 per month in mutual funds, you're already taking significant steps towards financial independence. This guide will help you enhance your strategy to achieve your target efficiently.

Understanding Your Financial Goals
To reach your financial target, it's crucial to understand your goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon. These factors will guide your investment choices and strategy, ensuring they align with your long-term objectives.

The Power of Regular Investing
Investing regularly through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) harnesses the power of compounding. This approach allows your investments to grow over time, potentially yielding significant returns. Your current SIPs of Rs 50,000 per month is a strong start.

Diversifying Your Investment Portfolio
Diversification is essential to reduce risk and enhance returns. A well-diversified portfolio includes a mix of equity mutual funds, debt mutual funds, and hybrid funds. This balance ensures stability and growth.

Equity Mutual Funds for Long-Term Growth
Equity mutual funds are suitable for long-term investors seeking substantial growth. These funds invest in stocks, which can offer high returns over an extended period. Actively managed equity funds are preferable, as they have the potential to outperform the market.

Debt Mutual Funds for Stability
Debt mutual funds provide stability to your portfolio by investing in fixed-income securities. These funds are less volatile than equity funds, making them ideal for risk-averse investors or as a hedge against market downturns.

Hybrid Funds for Balanced Exposure
Hybrid funds invest in both equities and debt, offering a balanced risk-reward ratio. These funds are suitable for investors seeking moderate risk and returns, providing both growth and stability.

Advantages of Actively Managed Funds
Actively managed funds have professional fund managers who make investment decisions based on market research and trends. This active management can potentially lead to better returns compared to index funds, which merely track a market index without any strategic adjustments.

Disadvantages of Index Funds
Index funds passively follow a market index and lack flexibility. They may underperform during market volatility since they cannot capitalize on specific opportunities or avoid downturns. Actively managed funds, on the other hand, can adjust to market conditions to optimize returns.

Benefits of Regular Funds over Direct Funds
Regular funds, accessed through a Mutual Fund Distributor (MFD) with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) credential, come with expert guidance. This professional advice is invaluable, helping you navigate complex financial markets. Direct funds require you to manage investments independently, which can be challenging without expert knowledge.

Importance of a Certified Financial Planner
A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) can offer personalized financial advice tailored to your goals and risk tolerance. Their expertise helps create a customized investment strategy, ensuring you stay on track to achieve your 5 crore target.

Reviewing and Rebalancing Your Portfolio
Regularly reviewing and rebalancing your portfolio ensures it remains aligned with your financial goals and risk appetite. This process involves adjusting your investments to maintain the desired asset allocation, capitalizing on market opportunities, and mitigating risks.

Maintaining an Emergency Fund and Insurance
An emergency fund and adequate insurance coverage are essential components of a robust financial plan. An emergency fund provides a financial cushion during unforeseen circumstances, preventing you from dipping into your investments. Insurance protects your financial health from unexpected events, such as medical emergencies or loss of income.

Efficient Tax Planning
Effective tax planning can maximize your investment returns. Utilize tax-saving instruments and strategies to minimize your tax liability. For instance, investing in Equity-Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) can provide tax benefits under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.

Increasing SIP Contributions Over Time
As your income grows, consider increasing your SIP contributions. This adjustment ensures your investment growth keeps pace with inflation and your evolving financial goals. Regularly increasing your SIP amounts can significantly accelerate your corpus accumulation.

Setting Realistic Expectations
Investing is a long-term endeavour. It's essential to set realistic expectations for returns and remain patient. Market fluctuations are normal, and staying invested during volatile periods is crucial for achieving your financial goals.

Staying Informed About Market Trends
Staying informed about market trends and economic developments helps you make better investment decisions. Regularly educate yourself on financial markets and investment strategies. This knowledge empowers you to adapt your investment plan to changing conditions.

Seeking Professional Guidance
While self-learning is valuable, professional guidance from a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) is crucial. A CFP can provide tailored advice, ensuring your investments align with your financial goals and risk tolerance. Their expertise can help you navigate complex financial landscapes effectively.

Conclusion
Your goal of achieving a 5 crore corpus is attainable with disciplined investing, diversification, and professional guidance. By following the strategies outlined in this guide and regularly reviewing your progress, you can achieve financial independence and secure your future.

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  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

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

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Hello Sir, Please advice me I have invested 20 Lakh in Kotak Invest Maxima Single option 2 for 10 year. Is it good investment or my decision is not good.
Ans: First, let me appreciate your initiative to invest in Kotak Invest Maxima. Making investment decisions is a significant step towards financial security. However, not all investments yield the same results, and it's important to reassess periodically.

Understanding Kotak Invest Maxima Single Option 2
Kotak Invest Maxima Single Option 2 is a Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP). It combines insurance with investment. While this sounds appealing, it has some limitations.

The Drawbacks of ULIPs
High Charges
ULIPs typically come with high charges. These include premium allocation charges, policy administration charges, and fund management charges. Over time, these charges can significantly reduce your returns.

Complex Structure
The structure of ULIPs can be complex. They mix insurance and investment, making it hard to track performance. Separating your insurance and investment needs can provide more clarity and control.

Lock-In Period
ULIPs have a lock-in period of five years. This means your money is tied up, limiting flexibility. Mutual funds, on the other hand, offer more liquidity and flexibility.

Why Mutual Funds are Better
Professional Management
Mutual funds are managed by professional fund managers. These experts make informed decisions to maximize returns. Actively managed funds aim to outperform the market, providing potential for higher returns.

Lower Charges
Mutual funds generally have lower charges compared to ULIPs. This includes lower expense ratios, meaning more of your money is invested, leading to better potential growth.

Flexibility
Mutual funds offer a wide range of options to suit your risk appetite and investment goals. Whether you prefer equity, debt, or hybrid funds, there's a mutual fund for you.

The Case for Surrendering Your ULIP
Maximizing Returns
By surrendering your ULIP, you can avoid ongoing high charges. You can reinvest the proceeds into mutual funds, potentially achieving better returns.

Simplifying Your Portfolio
Surrendering the ULIP simplifies your financial portfolio. With separate insurance and investment plans, you can track performance more easily and make adjustments as needed.

Steps to Reinvest
Assess Your Goals
Before reinvesting, assess your financial goals. Are you saving for retirement, your child's education, or another purpose? Your goals will guide your investment choices.

Choose the Right Mutual Funds
Select mutual funds that align with your goals and risk tolerance. A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) can help you choose funds that suit your needs.

Diversify Your Investments
Diversification reduces risk. Spread your investments across different asset classes and sectors to achieve a balanced portfolio.

Regular Monitoring
Regularly monitor your investments. Review performance and make adjustments to stay on track with your goals.

Benefits of Investing Through a Certified Financial Planner
Expert Advice
A CFP provides expert advice tailored to your financial situation. They help you make informed decisions and achieve your financial goals.

Personalized Financial Plan
A CFP creates a personalized financial plan based on your needs and objectives. This plan includes investment, insurance, and tax planning.

Regular Reviews
A CFP conducts regular reviews of your portfolio. They provide insights and recommendations to keep your investments aligned with your goals.

Disadvantages of Direct Funds
Lack of Professional Guidance
Investing in direct funds means you miss out on professional guidance. A CFP helps you make better investment decisions.

Potential for Mistakes
Without expert advice, you might make mistakes in fund selection and portfolio management. These mistakes can impact your returns.

Advantages of Regular Funds Through a CFP
Better Returns
Investing through a CFP can lead to better returns. They help you choose the right funds and optimize your portfolio.

Peace of Mind
A CFP provides peace of mind. Knowing that your investments are managed by a professional gives you confidence.

Final Insights
Investing is a crucial part of financial planning. While Kotak Invest Maxima Single Option 2 may have seemed like a good choice, it has significant drawbacks. Surrendering your ULIP and reinvesting in mutual funds can provide better returns and greater flexibility.

A Certified Financial Planner can guide you through this process, helping you choose the right funds and create a diversified portfolio. By separating your insurance and investment needs, you can achieve financial clarity and control.

Remember, regular monitoring and adjustments are key to successful investing. With the right approach, you can achieve your financial goals and secure your future.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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Milind

Milind Vadjikar  | Answer  |Ask -

Insurance, Stocks, MF, PF Expert - Answered on Oct 08, 2024

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Hi Sir, iam 54 years old investor, recently resigned and active in shares trading and investing last 20 years. liquid assets approx. 3.75 cr. Rental income 33k and Gold another 1cr. Immovable property home and vacant shop 2 cr each. wife 51 yr old-home maker. Medical Policy 20 Lacs. household expenses 1.75 lacs inclusive of 45k of SIPs as per table. SCHEMES UNITS SIP VALUE AXIS LONG TERM - D 8247 240000 ADITYA BIRLA SL TAX RELIEF 96 D 759 150000 AXIS BLUE CHIP G 5702 375000 MIRAE ASSET LARGE CAP G 1151 130000 HDFC BALANCE ADVANTAGE D 6905 5000 285000 HDFC MID-CAP OPPORTUNITIES D 5616 5000 335000 ICICI PRU LIFE BLUE CHIP FUND G 6652 5000 750000 PARAG PARIKH LONG TERM G 6087 5000 500000 KOTAK FLEXI CAP FUND GROWTH 1694 145000 SBI BLUE CHIP GROWTH FUND 5814 550000 AXIS MIDCAP FUND DIVIDEND 2165 100000 SBI SMALL CAP REGULAR GROWTH 895 5000 170000 KOTAK EMERGING EQUITY FUND 1306 5000 180000 SBI LARGE AND MIDCAP FUND 261 5000 155000 MOTILAL NIFTY DEFENCE INDEX G 5000 45000 NPS 12000 10000 1700000 45000 5810000 Goals / Requirements : *Need following funds next year - daughter marriage 30 lacs and son education 50 lacs and my retirement corpus plus 15 lacs for car. *mutual fund portfolio re-alignment. Queries : *should i sell commercial shop and invest in FDs / MFs / Shares. Rental value is 50k which is less as compared to invest 2 cr in FDs also will fetch me 1.25 lacs per month. will be able meet next year requirement also without selling my liquid portfolio. *also should i go for SWPs for all inactive MFs upto to the extent of 45k to fund my SIP and NPS from allocation and can also increase the SIPs, if suggested. * should i increase NPS allocation by another 5k for better retirement prospects or any other suggestion related to retirement as to how much more money needed to meet ends.
Ans: Hello;

Query1:

Yes it is better to sell low rent yielding commercial property now, utilise the sell proceeds to fund you goals next year i.e. daughter's marriage, son's education and car purchase while the balance should be invested in mutual funds(equity savings type mutual fund)

Query 2:

Exit all inactive mutual funds and invest corpus(16.9 L) in Mirae Asset equity savings fund (low to moderate risk profile).

You should then start an SWP at 3.6% so as to generate income of 5 K for additional monthly allocation to NPS.

You should do SIP only in following 3 funds:
SBI hybrid equity fund(15 K)
HDFC balanced advantage fund (15 K)
ICICI Pru Multi asset allocation fund (15 K)

The taxation of these funds is like equity funds but they have exposure to alternate asset classes to impart some stability to corpus during extreme market fluctuations which is also suited for your age category.

Liquid assets+ gold+ NPS corpus will add up to approx 6.51 Cr which if annuitized will yield post tax monthly income of 2.15 L.

MF corpus may still grow to build up your inflation war chest.

Health care cover for family needs enhancement upto 50 L minimum as a safe precaution.

Reduce exposure to direct equity as you near retirement. You may continue trading as a hobby with a minimum risk capital with adequate knowhow, setup and temperament.

Happy Investing!!

You may follow us on X at @mars_invest for updates.

*Investments in mutual funds are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme related documents carefully before investing.

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10854 Answers  |Ask -

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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!

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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
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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

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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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