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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 07, 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 - Apr 12, 2024Hindi
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I'm 53 yrs how to to become rich. Where to invest except shares or mutual funds

Ans: ecoming financially secure and building wealth is a journey that requires patience, discipline, and strategic planning, especially at 53 years old. Here are some steps you can take to work towards achieving financial prosperity:

Set Clear Goals: Define your financial goals and aspirations. Whether it's retiring comfortably, funding your children's education, or traveling the world, having clear objectives will guide your investment decisions and keep you motivated.
Create a Financial Plan: Develop a comprehensive financial plan that outlines your current financial situation, future goals, and strategies to achieve them. Consider factors such as income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and risk tolerance when crafting your plan.
Diversify Your Investments: While you've mentioned excluding shares or mutual funds, diversification remains key to managing risk and maximizing returns. Explore alternative investment options such as real estate, bonds, commodities, or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to build a well-rounded investment portfolio.
Real Estate Investments: Real estate can be a valuable asset class for wealth creation and passive income generation. Consider investing in rental properties, commercial real estate, or real estate investment trusts (REITs) to diversify your investment portfolio and benefit from potential appreciation and rental income.
Entrepreneurship: If you have a passion or skill that can be monetized, consider starting your own business or pursuing entrepreneurial ventures. Building a successful business can provide significant financial rewards and fulfillment, albeit with inherent risks.
Retirement Accounts: Maximize contributions to retirement accounts such as Employee Provident Fund (EPF), Public Provident Fund (PPF), or National Pension System (NPS) to secure your financial future during retirement. Take advantage of tax benefits and employer matching contributions to boost your retirement savings.
Continuous Learning and Upskilling: Invest in yourself by acquiring new skills, pursuing higher education, or attending workshops and seminars relevant to your profession or interests. Continuous learning enhances your earning potential and opens up opportunities for career advancement or entrepreneurial endeavors.
Estate Planning: Develop an estate plan to safeguard your assets and ensure they're distributed according to your wishes. Consider creating a will, establishing trusts, and reviewing beneficiary designations to protect your wealth and provide for your loved ones.
Seek Professional Advice: Consider consulting with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or financial advisor who can offer personalized guidance and expertise tailored to your financial situation and goals. A professional can help you navigate complex financial decisions and optimize your investment strategy for long-term wealth accumulation.
Remember, building wealth takes time, discipline, and prudent decision-making. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes or speculative investments that promise unrealistic returns. Instead, focus on creating a diversified investment portfolio, adhering to your financial plan, and staying committed to your long-term goals. With diligence and perseverance, you can work towards achieving financial prosperity and security.
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 Nov 04, 2024

Money
My age is 40 years. I want to invest in share market @ mutual funds. Is there any otherways to invest. Please suggest me.
Ans: at age 40, you have a valuable opportunity to build wealth with a diversified investment plan. With careful selection, there are various investment avenues beyond stocks and mutual funds to help you reach your financial goals. Let’s explore these options with a 360-degree approach.

Benefits of Diversified Investments
Risk Reduction: Diversification spreads risk across asset classes, providing a balanced growth potential.
Growth and Stability: Different investments perform differently under various market conditions, balancing returns over time.
Meeting Multiple Goals: A mix of investment options can cater to various life goals like retirement, children’s education, and asset creation.
Actively Managed Mutual Funds for Balanced Growth
If you’re interested in mutual funds, actively managed funds offer several advantages over index funds:

Expert Management: Professional fund managers actively monitor and adjust investments, aiming for higher returns than the general market.
Adaptability: Active funds can shift investments based on market trends, maximising growth and minimising risks.
Avoiding Index Funds Limitations: Index funds merely mirror market performance, with limited growth potential. Actively managed funds, on the other hand, target opportunities for higher returns.
Investing with an MFD and CFP: Investing through a Mutual Fund Distributor (MFD) with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) brings personalised advice. Regular funds through an MFD and CFP ensure guidance in fund selection, performance reviews, and tax planning, all contributing to more effective wealth-building.
Bonds for Stable Income
Bonds provide stability, making them a reliable option in your portfolio:

Government and Corporate Bonds: These offer fixed interest rates, making them ideal for low-risk, predictable returns.
Diversified Bond Funds: Bond funds allow exposure to multiple bond types, balancing risk while delivering stable income.
Tax Treatment: Interest on bonds is taxed based on your income tax slab. However, long-term capital gains on debt-oriented mutual funds are also taxed per your income slab.
National Pension System (NPS) for Retirement Security
The National Pension System (NPS) is a useful tool for retirement savings, with tax benefits:

Equity and Debt Mix: NPS offers both equity and debt investments, customisable based on your risk appetite and age.
Tax Benefits: NPS provides tax deductions under Section 80C and 80CCD, helping save on taxes while investing for retirement.
Retirement Income: NPS allows you to withdraw up to 60% at retirement, while the rest is converted to a pension, providing a steady income post-retirement.
Public Provident Fund (PPF) for Tax-Free Savings
PPF offers a stable, tax-free return, suitable for low-risk, long-term growth:

Government-Backed Safety: PPF provides assured returns, with interest rates set by the government, and no market risk.
Tax Exemption: PPF falls under the EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) category, meaning investment, returns, and maturity are all tax-free, making it a tax-efficient choice.
15-Year Lock-In: While PPF has a long lock-in period, partial withdrawals are allowed after a few years, giving flexibility in case of urgent financial needs.
Fixed Deposits (FDs) as Safe Reserves
Fixed Deposits (FDs) provide low-risk, guaranteed returns and are easy to manage:

Certainty of Returns: FDs offer fixed interest, with no risk of capital loss, suitable as a safe reserve in a portfolio.
Flexible Tenure: You can choose FDs with a tenure ranging from 1 to 10 years, based on your need for liquidity.
Tax on Interest: Interest earned on FDs is taxable as per your income slab, but they can still be useful for parking funds needed in the short term.
Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) in Equity Mutual Funds
A monthly SIP helps build wealth through regular investment in equity mutual funds:

Disciplined Approach: SIPs encourage consistent investing, ideal for long-term goals like retirement or children’s education.
Cost Averaging: SIPs spread the investment across market cycles, reducing the impact of market volatility.
Flexible Options: SIPs allow you to invest small amounts monthly, making it a convenient way to grow wealth over time.
Gold Investments for Wealth Preservation
Gold has historically been a good hedge against inflation:

Gold ETFs and Sovereign Gold Bonds: These are convenient, providing the security of gold without physical storage.
Tax Efficiency: Sovereign Gold Bonds offer tax-free maturity proceeds if held till maturity, making them a tax-efficient choice.
Portfolio Hedge: Gold often performs well during market downturns, providing stability to your portfolio.
Diversified Equity and Debt Portfolio for Balanced Returns
Creating a mix of equity and debt in your portfolio offers balance:

Equity for Growth: Equity mutual funds, when actively managed, can offer high growth potential, which is crucial for long-term goals.
Debt for Stability: Debt funds or bonds provide stability, making your portfolio resilient to market fluctuations.
Risk Management: A balanced approach in equity and debt reduces risk while aiming for steady returns over time.
Final Insights
At age 40, investing in a mix of equity, bonds, and safe instruments is a balanced approach. Mutual funds offer growth, while bonds and FDs provide stability. Diversifying helps you achieve financial security and peace of mind, knowing that your wealth is built on a strong foundation.

With each choice, careful monitoring and periodic review will keep your portfolio aligned with your goals. A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) can guide you through this process, helping you adjust investments as needed. With their expertise, you can make informed choices that align with your risk appetite and financial aspirations.

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

..Read more

Latest Questions
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

Kanchan

Kanchan Rai  |646 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Dec 12, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 07, 2025Hindi
Relationship
Dear Madam, I was a bright student during my school days and my plan was to become a civil servant but that did not succeed even after several attempts. With the advise of my brother i went ahead and pursued Masters at a normal university in Sydney. I did internship and continued staying with my job though it wasn't my field of study. After that what came as a shock was my brother's divorce. We don't know what is the actual issue till date but I tried a lot to fix the gap by talking to his ex-wife but they were very orthodox. I couldn't see my brother suffer because he had planned and arranged so much for her. I had no choice then so i try to harm his ex-wife by spoiling her reputation thinking she will come back for him. In the mean time i got married to a girl who was her relative too thinking my wife can help us in some case but she turned out to be completely in the opposite direction. She was probably convinced by my brother's ex-wife or their relatives that she is not coming back. Even then my brother tried to go meet his ex-wife through many channels. My wife did not help him at all in any aspect. Finally the divorced happened and everything ended. Now we have sought several proposals but nothing seem to be a good fit for him. Most of the girls whom we met on matrimonial sites are fake profiles with something hidden or falsely represented. I would say my brother escaped all this. But we are worried about his life now as he is already in his 40's and he seem to be struggling for a good job and finance. He is very picky probably but doesn't talk much to all of us. Sometimes he even says the game is over so no point looking at a second marriage. My wife and he fought once when he visited us because she didn't want him in our house and she created a fight putting me in the front. After that he stopped coming to our house or see us or talk to us. Things even gets worse sometimes when her brother comes and visits us and stays at our house which my parents don't like. My parents argue that your brother was not allowed to stay for few months then how come her brother is allowed for several months. What kind of partiality is that? I feel i could not do anything for him despite the fact that he is my only brother. He is good at heart and looked after me when i went abroad financially and even came to meet me few times. I tried to send him money, gifts but he is still the same. He communicates with our parents but not with me nor my wife anymore. Kindly give us a good advise.
Ans: Your brother’s distance is not a rejection of you. It is his way of protecting himself. He went through a difficult marriage, an emotional collapse, and then watched people around him — including you — react out of desperation to fix things for him. Even though your intentions came from love, he may have associated those actions with more pain and pressure. When a person has been wounded, silence feels safer than conversation. His withdrawal simply means he is tired, not that he dislikes you.
You also need to understand that the guilt you are carrying is heavier than it needs to be. You tried to intervene in his marriage because you wanted to protect him, not because you wanted to cause harm. Looking back now, with more maturity and clarity, you see the mistakes, but at that time, you were acting out of fear and love. This is why it’s important to forgive yourself instead of punishing yourself over and over.
The conflict between your wife and your brother only added another layer of stress, because it forced you into choosing sides. Your wife reacted emotionally, your brother pulled away, your parents questioned the imbalance — and in the middle of all this, you lost your sense of peace. But their disagreements are not failures on your part. They are the natural result of people operating from insecurity, fear, and past hurt.
What needs to happen now is a shift in your role. You cannot continue trying to solve everything for everyone. You cannot carry your brother’s marriage, your wife’s fears, and your parents’ judgments all at once. It’s time to step out of the role of rescuer and step into the role of a grounded, calm brother who offers presence, not solutions.
Rebuilding your bond with your brother will not come from pushing proposals, sending gifts, or trying to fix his life. It will come from offering him emotional safety. A simple message, expressing that you are sorry for any hurt, that you care for him, and that you are available whenever he feels ready, will speak louder than any effort to arrange his future. Once you send such a message, the healthiest thing you can do is give him space. Sometimes relationships repair themselves in silence, when pressure is removed.
And for yourself, healing begins when you stop believing that every problem in the family rests on your shoulders. You have given more than enough over the years. Now you deserve emotional rest. You deserve peace. You deserve to feel like a brother, not a crisis manager.
Your brother may take time, but distance does not erase love. When he feels safe, he will come closer again. Your responsibility is not to force that moment, but to make sure you are emotionally steady and ready when it happens.

...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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