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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11056 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 05, 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 - Jan 02, 2024Hindi
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Hi sir I'm 47 yrs old have 2 kids. for their education and marriage i started investing in mutual fund since 2018.My portfolio is as follows &all are direct fund.1,CANARA ROBECCO SMALLCAP FUND 3000/MONTH 2,EDELWEISS MIDCAP FUND 2500/Month 3MIRAE ASSET LARGE CAP 2500/MONTH 4PGIM FLEXI CAP FUND 2000/MONTH 5PPFAS FLEXI CAP FUND 4000/MONTH 6QUANT ACTIVE FUND 2500/MONTH 7SBI SMALLCAP FUND 3000/MONTH 8SBI MAGNUM MIDCAP FUND 2500/MONTH 9SBI CONTRA FUND 2500/MONTH 10SBI TECHNOLOGY FUND 2000/MONTH 11KOTAK EMERGING EQUITY FUND 3000/MONTH 12HDFC MIDCAP OPPORTUNITY FUND 2500/MONTH SIR my question is that is my portfolio needed any changes? & how much corpus can I accumulate in last 13 years as i will retire at 60. Please reply & thanks in advance. 7 7 SBI SMALL CAP FUND 3000/MONTH

Ans: Your portfolio consists of a diverse mix of mutual funds across various market segments, including small-cap, mid-cap, large-cap, and flexi-cap funds. However, having such a large number of funds may lead to over-diversification and increase the complexity of managing your portfolio.

Consider consolidating your portfolio by focusing on high-quality funds that align with your investment objectives and risk tolerance. Review the performance of each fund relative to its benchmark and peers. If any fund consistently underperforms or deviates significantly from its investment objective, you may consider replacing it with a better-performing alternative.

As for the corpus accumulation, it would depend on various factors such as the performance of the funds, the consistency of your contributions, and market conditions. You may use online SIP calculators to estimate the potential corpus based on your ongoing SIP contributions and expected returns.

Given your retirement goal at age 60, ensure that your investment strategy is aligned with your long-term financial objectives and risk profile. Consider consulting with a financial advisor for personalized guidance tailored to your specific circumstances.
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  |11056 Answers  |Ask -

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

Money
Sir I have been investing in mutual funds for the last 5 years. Now the corpus is around 5.5 lakhs . I have the following funds in my portfolio. Please asses my portfolio or need switch. 1. Nippon india large cap fund 2000 2. Mirae asset large cap 3000 3.Axis elss tax saver 1000 4. Kotak elss tax saver 1000 5. Axis Blue chip fund 6. Jm flexi cap fund 2200 7. Motilal oswal mid cap 2000 8. Axis mid cap 1000 9. Icici prudential passive multi asset for regular growth one time amount 5000 . 10.Sbi contra fund 2000 Sir i need to build a corpus of 1.5 crore in next 12 years. My age is now 38. Please review .
Ans: You have built a diversified portfolio with a combination of large-cap, mid-cap, ELSS, and flexi-cap funds. Each fund serves a specific purpose, but a review will help optimize your investments to meet your goal of Rs. 1.5 crore in 12 years. Let’s assess each category.

Large-Cap Funds
Nippon India Large Cap Fund – Rs. 2,000 per month

Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund – Rs. 3,000 per month

Axis Bluechip Fund

These funds focus on large-cap companies, offering stable growth but with relatively lower risk. While having multiple large-cap funds ensures stability, it may lead to overlap in the portfolio. You can consider consolidating them into 1 or 2 funds to reduce redundancy. Mirae Asset and Axis Bluechip are solid options for continued long-term investments.

ELSS Funds
Axis ELSS Tax Saver – Rs. 1,000 per month

Kotak ELSS Tax Saver – Rs. 1,000 per month

ELSS funds offer tax benefits under Section 80C. However, having two ELSS funds for Rs. 2,000 might not be necessary. You can choose the one with consistent performance and focus your ELSS investment there. Axis ELSS has performed well historically, but assess both before making a decision.

Mid-Cap Funds
Motilal Oswal Mid Cap – Rs. 2,000 per month

Axis Mid Cap – Rs. 1,000 per month

Mid-cap funds offer higher growth potential than large-cap funds, but with more risk. Holding two mid-cap funds is a balanced strategy, but since the Axis Mid Cap has been consistently strong, you can consider increasing your SIP here. Motilal Oswal Mid Cap is a good performer but may need to be watched for volatility.

Flexi-Cap Funds
JM Flexi Cap Fund – Rs. 2,200 per month
Flexi-cap funds give fund managers the flexibility to invest across market capitalizations, reducing concentration risk. This fund provides good diversification. Review its performance regularly, as flexi-cap funds can vary in returns based on market conditions.

Passive Multi-Asset Fund
ICICI Prudential Passive Multi-Asset Fund (One-time investment of Rs. 5,000)
This fund combines equity, debt, and gold to balance risk. While passive funds reduce the need for active monitoring, they may not provide the same growth potential as actively managed funds. Actively managed funds tend to perform better in dynamic markets, which could better align with your long-term goal of wealth creation.

Contra Fund
SBI Contra Fund – Rs. 2,000 per month
Contra funds follow a contrarian investment strategy, buying when others are selling. While this can provide significant gains during market recovery, contra funds may experience long periods of underperformance during market booms. It's a high-risk option that may not suit every portfolio. Regularly review its performance to ensure it fits with your investment goals.

Suggestions for Improvement
Consolidate Funds: You have multiple large-cap and ELSS funds. Streamline to 1 or 2 per category to reduce overlap and improve focus. A well-performing large-cap fund and one ELSS should suffice.

Increase SIP in High-Growth Funds: Focus more on mid-cap and flexi-cap funds, as they have higher growth potential. Increase your SIP in Axis Mid Cap and JM Flexi Cap, as they can boost your returns over the long term.

Review Contra and Passive Fund: SBI Contra and ICICI Passive Multi-Asset may not align with your goal of aggressive wealth creation. Consider switching to funds with more aggressive growth profiles, like a focused equity fund or a small-cap fund, to maximize potential returns.

Building a Rs. 1.5 Crore Corpus
To achieve your goal of Rs. 1.5 crore in 12 years, you'll need to invest aggressively. Based on your current portfolio, the estimated return would range between 10-12% annually, depending on market conditions and fund performance. To reach Rs. 1.5 crore in 12 years, you may need to increase your monthly SIP amount to around Rs. 20,000-25,000, depending on the returns.

Steps to Build the Corpus:
Increase SIP Contributions: To reach your goal, gradually increase your SIP amount over time. Aim to raise your SIP to Rs. 20,000-25,000 per month.

Rebalance Annually: Revisit your portfolio at least once a year. Make sure your portfolio remains aligned with your long-term goal.

Stick to Long-Term Investment: Avoid switching funds frequently. Stay committed to your investment horizon, and let the power of compounding work for you.

Emergency Fund: Ensure that you have an emergency fund in place, covering at least 6 months of expenses. This will prevent you from withdrawing your investments during unforeseen events.

Tax Planning with ELSS
You are already investing Rs. 2,000 in ELSS funds, which qualifies for tax deductions under Section 80C. Continue this as part of your tax-saving strategy, but make sure it fits into your overall portfolio without over-diversifying.

Final Insights
Your portfolio is well-diversified but can be simplified by reducing overlapping funds.

Focus on high-growth funds like mid-cap and flexi-cap to achieve your long-term goals.

Regularly review and rebalance your portfolio based on performance and market conditions.

Increase your SIP contributions gradually to ensure you are on track for your Rs. 1.5 crore goal in the next 12 years.

Avoid frequent switching; give your investments time to grow.

Tax planning with ELSS funds is good, but one fund is enough for your tax-saving needs.

Best Regards,

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

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11056 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Mar 07, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Mar 07, 2026Hindi
Money
Hi Sir, Im from Bangalore, I work in IT My monthly in hand salary post deductions 1.09L, Ive a kid who is 3 years old and my wife is home maker. I would like to known if my apporach of savings/investements to be changed little bit to maximize savings and accumulate amount for my kid higher education and house purchasing. My monthly expenses and savings as below Rent: 12k House hold exp:15k My savings: SIP Mutual funds: im doing it both on my name as well as my wife name, On My name: monthly 14k( accumulated so far 3.18L) On My wife name: Monthly 6k( Accumualated sonfar 68k) Ive stocks investments of about 2.30lakhs I do RD of 20k Ive cheeti every month 20k( will be completed in 2 months and i get 4 lakhs) Sukanya samridhi yogana: 3.5k( so far accumulated 75k) Ive emergency fund of 3lakhs And everymonth I save 8k in liquid fund for my child school fees i use this accumulated amount for every next year school fees 4k every month savings for LIC Jeevan labh 936 And 6k in gold and 2k in silver I know gold and silver are voltalie considering recent returns im doing SIP of 8k both gold and silver. Ive term insurance for 1cr Health insurance company sponsored 10lakhs. My goal is to buy a house in 2 years atleast to make down payment of 15l and rest to go for loan And my child higher education after 12th to save how do i plan my investements and I wanted to make sure to continue the SIP which im doing now.
Ans: Your financial discipline is very impressive. With a monthly income of Rs 1.09 lakh, you have already built a strong system of savings. Supporting a family with a young child while still investing regularly shows very good financial maturity.

Let us review and fine tune your structure so your goals become easier to achieve.

» Understanding Your Current Financial Structure

Your current monthly pattern roughly shows:

– Household expenses around Rs 27k
– Mutual fund SIP around Rs 20k
– Recurring deposit Rs 20k
– Chit fund Rs 20k (ending soon)
– Gold and silver SIP Rs 8k
– LIC premium Rs 4k
– Sukanya Samriddhi Rs 3.5k
– School fee saving Rs 8k

You are saving a very healthy portion of your income. This is a very strong foundation.

But your money is spread across too many instruments.

Simplifying your structure will improve growth.

» Emergency Fund Review

You already have Rs 3 lakhs emergency fund.

This is a good cushion.

– Maintain this in safe liquid instruments
– Do not use it for investments or house purchase
– This protects your family during job or health uncertainty

This part is already well managed.

» House Down Payment Goal (Next 2 Years)

You want to arrange Rs 15 lakhs in 2 years.

Equity mutual funds are not suitable for such a short goal because market volatility can disturb the amount.

So the correct approach is:

– Use the Rs 4 lakh chit amount when received
– Continue the recurring deposit
– Add part of monthly savings into safe short-term instruments

This will help you accumulate the down payment safely.

Avoid depending on stock market returns for a 2-year goal.

» Child Higher Education Planning

Your child is 3 years old. You still have 14 to 15 years.

This is a very good long-term horizon.

Your mutual fund SIP strategy is correct.

Continue investing in actively managed diversified equity funds.

Benefits of actively managed funds:

– Professional fund managers select strong companies
– Portfolio can adjust during market changes
– Aim to generate higher return than the market

For long goals like education, equity funds are powerful due to compounding.

Continue SIPs in both your name and your wife's name.

Gradually increase SIP whenever your salary increases.

» Review of Gold and Silver Investments

You are currently investing Rs 8k monthly in gold and silver.

Precious metals are useful for diversification but they should not dominate the portfolio.

– Keep allocation around 5% to 10% of total investments
– Do not increase beyond this level

Too much allocation in metals can reduce long-term wealth creation.

Gradually redirect part of this amount to equity funds.

» LIC Policy Review

You mentioned a policy with premium around Rs 4k per month.

Many investment-cum-insurance policies give limited return compared to mutual funds.

If this policy is mainly for investment purpose and not protection:

– Review surrender value
– Consider stopping and redirecting future money to mutual funds

Pure term insurance already protects your family.

Your Rs 1 crore term cover is a good decision.

» Health Insurance Planning

Currently you have company health cover of Rs 10 lakhs.

This is good but it is linked to your job.

So consider an additional personal family health insurance.

This ensures protection even if you change jobs.

Medical inflation in India is rising quickly.

» Managing Too Many Investment Buckets

Right now you have:

– Mutual funds
– Stocks
– RD
– Chit fund
– Gold and silver
– LIC
– Sukanya Samriddhi

Too many small buckets reduce clarity.

A simpler structure is better:

– Equity mutual funds for long-term goals
– Debt instruments for short-term goals
– Small allocation to gold

Simplicity improves tracking and discipline.

» Tax Awareness

When you redeem equity mutual funds for long-term goals:

– Long term capital gains above Rs 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%
– Short term gains taxed at 20%

Planning withdrawals properly helps reduce tax burden.

» Finally

You are already doing many things right.

Small improvements can make your financial life even stronger.

Focus on these actions:

– Continue mutual fund SIPs for long-term goals
– Use RD and chit amount for house down payment
– Reduce excess allocation to gold and silver
– Review LIC policy usefulness
– Add personal health insurance cover
– Increase SIP every year with salary growth

With this disciplined structure, you can comfortably achieve your child's education goal and build financial stability for your family.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

...Read more

Radheshyam

Radheshyam Zanwar  |6832 Answers  |Ask -

MHT-CET, IIT-JEE, NEET-UG Expert - Answered on Mar 06, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Mar 06, 2026Hindi
Career
The NEET is 2 months away. I have completed my syllabus but was sick for 1.5 months now. I am getting 348 marks. I feel like I have forgotten everything. How can I score 650+?
Ans: You still have about 8 weeks, which is enough time to make a big jump if you focus on revision + question practice. First, don’t panic about “forgetting everything”; after illness, it’s normal for recall to feel weak, but concepts usually come back quickly with practice. Start by revising Biology daily (2–3 chapters/day) because it gives the fastest score increase. For Physics and Chemistry, revise formulas, key reactions, and then solve topic-wise MCQs the same day to rebuild recall. Take a Full Mock Test every 3–4 days, analyze mistakes carefully, and make a small “error notebook” so you don’t repeat them. Try to solve 120–150 questions daily and spend more time on Biology accuracy, since it’s the easiest way to push your score up quickly. Also, maintain sleep, light exercise, and proper meals so your energy fully returns after being sick. If you stay consistent with revision, mocks, and error analysis for the next two months, jumping from 350 to 600+ is realistic, and 650+ becomes possible with high accuracy.

Practical Advice: You can improve your score from 350 to 650 with thorough study and practice. Saying recall is very easy, but it will only be effective if it was well understood in the past. It is better to choose chapters from PCB where you feel more confident and focus on questions from these chapters in the NEET Exam.
For 650+: You Score like- BIO > 300, PHY > 150, CHE > 200.


Good luck.
Follow me if you receive this reply.
Radheshyam

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11056 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Mar 06, 2026

Money
How and where to check the change in benchmark index of a mutual fund from the date of investment.
Ans: It is good that you want to track the benchmark change of your mutual fund. Monitoring this helps you understand whether the fund performance comparison is fair and transparent.

» Why Benchmark Change Matters

– Every mutual fund is compared with a benchmark index
– The benchmark helps you judge if the fund manager is doing better than the market
– If the benchmark changes, past performance comparison may look different

So it is important to know when the benchmark was changed.

» Where to Check Benchmark Changes

You can verify benchmark changes through the following places:

– Mutual fund scheme factsheet

Fund houses publish monthly factsheets

It mentions the current benchmark and sometimes the previous benchmark

– Scheme Information Document (SID)

The SID explains the benchmark used by the fund

When the benchmark changes, the document gets updated

– Addendum or notice issued by the fund house

When a benchmark is changed, the fund house releases an official notice

This is usually available on the AMC website under “Notices” or “Updates”

– Your account statement or email communication

Fund houses normally inform investors through email when such changes happen

» Platforms That Show Benchmark History

You may also check on investment tracking platforms such as:

– Mutual fund research portals
– Registrar websites where your folio is maintained
– Portfolio tracking platforms

These sometimes mention historical benchmark details.

» Practical Tip for Investors

While tracking benchmark change, also observe:

– Whether the new benchmark is more appropriate for the fund category
– Whether the fund is consistently beating the benchmark
– Whether the fund strategy has changed along with the benchmark

If benchmark keeps changing frequently, it deserves closer review.

» Finally

The best place to confirm benchmark change from the exact date is the official communication from the fund house such as SID updates, addendum notices, and monthly factsheets. Keeping these records helps you track whether your fund is truly creating value over time.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

...Read more

Samraat

Samraat Jadhav  |2555 Answers  |Ask -

Stock Market Expert - Answered on Mar 06, 2026

Reetika

Reetika Sharma  |593 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF and Insurance Expert - Answered on Mar 06, 2026

Money
I am doing SIP for following mutual funds, should I adjust my SIP amount between these funds or start investing into new funds also (Small cap or Metal ETFs or others) to get better future returns with some stability. SIP % amount mentioned with each fund, total SIP amount is Rs. 29000 per month. I wish to increase it to Rs. 40000 per month. I have take little risk and looking for 7-10 year horizon. started investing since last 1 year. I am into late 40s. I efficiently use PPF/NPS/SSY for family members. Is it worth to start Vatsalya NPS as well? SBI Equity Hybrid Fund (14%), ICICI Prudential Equity & Debt Fund (14%), Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund (17%), HDFC Mid Cap Fund (28%), ICICI Prudential Large Cap Fund (28%)
Ans: Hi SP,

Let us go through the details one at a time.

- You are investing in PPF, NPS n SSY for family. This is good with risk free returns. Continue doing the same.
- No requirement for NPS Vatsalaya for long term.
- You are doing good and your portfolio looks quite balanced considering the amount and % mentioned. You have a good blend of equity and hybrid funds for stability.
- However can consider adding small cap as well for the long term horizon of 10 years. Start a new SIP of 4000 in Axis Small Cap.
- Increase contribution to flexicap fund and SBI Equity Hybrid fund.
- Avoid investing in sectoral funds like metal sectors as these are cyclic performers and not required for your time period.

Overall it looks good but yet you may consider consulting a professional for long term goals and aligning your investments with your goals.
Hence can consult a professional Certified Financial Planner - a CFP who can guide you with exact funds to invest in keeping in mind your age, requirements, financial goals and risk profile. A CFP periodically reviews your portfolio and suggest any amendments to be made, if required.

Let me know if you need more help.

Best Regards,
Reetika Sharma, Certified Financial Planner
https://www.instagram.com/cfpreetika/

...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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