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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 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
Sanjana Question by Sanjana on Apr 19, 2024Hindi
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Hi Mr. Ramalingam. I am a 22 year old girl working as a freelance consultant earning fixed of Rs. 60000 per month and fluctuating between 15000-20000 per month. I current have a equity portfolio of Rs.79000 and SIP of Rs.10000 every month into Nifty next 50 and Midcap and smallcap funds. I want to make Rs. 1 crore by age of 30. Kindly suggest how I can reach this goal

Ans: To reach your goal of Rs. 1 crore by age 30, you'll need a disciplined approach to investing and potentially higher returns. Consider increasing your SIP amount as your income grows. Diversify your portfolio across different asset classes, including equity, debt, and possibly international funds for better growth prospects and risk management. Regularly review and rebalance your portfolio to ensure it aligns with your goal and risk tolerance. Additionally, consider other avenues like side hustles or freelance projects to boost your income, which can accelerate your investment growth towards the target amount. Start early and stay consistent with your investment strategy.
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 May 07, 2024

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I am 23 years at present.I work in pvt.bank and my in hand salary is 11k and I invested per month 6k (sip).So what should my goal towards 1 crore. Please guide
Ans: It's commendable that you're already thinking about long-term financial goals at a young age. Building wealth and achieving a target like 1 crore is definitely achievable with the right approach and discipline. Here's a guide to help you:
1. Define Your Goal:
• Specify your financial goal clearly: In this case, it's accumulating 1 crore.
• Determine the time horizon: Since you're starting early, you have the advantage of time. Let's assume you aim to achieve this goal by the time you retire, say around age 60.
2. Calculate Required Monthly Investment:
• Use a financial calculator or online SIP calculator to estimate the monthly investment required to reach 1 crore by age 60.
• Consider factors like expected rate of return, inflation, and investment duration.
• Since you're investing 6,000 per month currently, you'll need to gradually increase this amount over time to reach your goal.
3. Choose Suitable Investments:
• Opt for diversified investment options that align with your risk tolerance and investment horizon.
• Equity mutual funds, especially those with a long-term growth focus, can be ideal for wealth accumulation over the long run due to their potential for higher returns.
• Consider starting with equity mutual funds with a mix of large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap funds to spread risk and maximize growth potential.
4. Stay Disciplined and Patient:
• Consistency is key. Stick to your investment plan and continue investing regularly, even during market downturns.
• Reinvest dividends and avoid the temptation to withdraw funds prematurely.
• Monitor your investments periodically and make adjustments as needed, but avoid making impulsive decisions based on short-term market fluctuations.
5. Review and Adjust Regularly:
• Periodically review your investment portfolio and track your progress towards your goal.
• Adjust your investment strategy and monthly contribution if needed, especially as your income increases over time.
• Keep yourself updated on financial news and market trends to make informed decisions.
6. Seek Professional Advice:
• Consider consulting with a Certified Financial Planner who can help create a personalized financial plan tailored to your goals, risk tolerance, and financial situation.
• They can provide valuable guidance and support to ensure you stay on track towards achieving your goal of accumulating 1 crore.
Remember, achieving financial goals like accumulating 1 crore requires patience, discipline, and a long-term perspective. By starting early and staying committed to your investment plan, you're laying a solid foundation for a secure financial future. Keep investing and stay focused on your goal!

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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Mar 04, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 23, 2025Hindi
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I am 24, and I have around 1 lac in pf and 1.5 lac in mutual fund as I am investing around 25k per month, 70% in midcap and 30% in large cap, how to invest to have at least 1 crore before I turn 30?
Ans: You are 24 and already investing well. Your goal of Rs 1 crore before 30 is ambitious. You need the right strategy to achieve it.

Assessing Your Current Investments
You have Rs 1 lakh in PF and Rs 1.5 lakh in mutual funds.

You invest Rs 25,000 per month.

Your portfolio is 70% mid-cap and 30% large-cap.

Strengths in Your Investment Approach
You started early. This gives time for compounding.

You invest regularly. SIPs build discipline.

You have growth-focused funds. Mid-cap funds can give high returns.

Challenges to Achieving Rs 1 Crore in 6 Years
Market volatility. Mid-cap funds fluctuate more.

Time frame is short. Equity needs at least 7-10 years.

High return expectation. Achieving Rs 1 crore in 6 years is difficult.

Steps to Improve Your Strategy
Increase Investment Amount
Rs 25,000 per month may not be enough.

Try to increase it to Rs 35,000–40,000 per month.

Use yearly salary hikes to boost SIPs.

Balance Your Portfolio Better
Mid-caps are good but risky.

Reduce mid-cap exposure to 50%.

Increase large-cap allocation to 40%.

Add 10% flexi-cap funds for stability.

Use Lump Sum Investments
Invest any bonuses, increments, or extra income.

Avoid keeping too much in PF, as equity gives better returns.

Avoid Index Funds and Direct Plans
Index funds cannot outperform markets.

Active funds are managed by experts and can generate better returns.

Invest through a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) for the best selection.

Tax Considerations
LTCG above Rs 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%.

STCG is taxed at 20%.

Plan redemptions wisely to save tax.

Finally
Your goal is aggressive but possible with discipline. Increase your SIPs and maintain asset allocation. Invest wisely through Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and MFD. Stay focused, and you can reach your target.

Best Regards,

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

..Read more

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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!

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Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1841 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.

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