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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 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
Rahul Question by Rahul on Jan 02, 2024Hindi
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Money

Sir i have Parag Parikh Flexicap, Sbi Mid cap & Axis Small cap fund each with 5k total 15k per month sip for 25 year's and 10 percent step up every year I want 10 crores for my retirement, is this portfolio Good..? I am 33 year's old ????

Ans: Your portfolio seems well-diversified across different market segments, which is a good approach for long-term wealth accumulation. The Parag Parikh Flexicap Fund offers exposure to a mix of large, mid, and small-cap stocks, providing flexibility and stability. SBI Midcap Fund and Axis Small Cap Fund focus on mid and small-cap companies, respectively, aiming for higher growth potential. With a 25-year investment horizon and a 10% annual step-up, your disciplined approach can potentially help you achieve your ambitious retirement goal of 10 crores. However, ensure to regularly review and adjust your investments based on performance and changing market conditions.
Asked on - Apr 08, 2024 | Answered on Apr 08, 2024
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Thank you sir, do I need more funds to add in my portfolio if yes then which fund I should add to my portfolio..?
Ans: Adding more funds to your portfolio can further diversify your investments and potentially enhance returns. Consider adding the following funds to complement your existing portfolio:

Large-cap Fund: Since your current portfolio lacks exposure to large-cap stocks, consider adding a reputable large-cap fund to balance your allocation. Look for funds with a consistent track record of delivering stable returns over the long term.

International Fund: Adding an international fund can provide exposure to global markets and further diversify your portfolio geographically. Look for funds that invest in leading international companies across various sectors and regions.

Debt Fund: Including a debt fund can add stability to your portfolio and mitigate overall risk, especially during market downturns. Opt for high-quality debt funds with a focus on safety and liquidity.

Before adding any new funds, ensure they align with your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and overall asset allocation strategy. Additionally, regularly review your portfolio's performance and make adjustments as needed to stay on track towards your retirement goal.
Asked on - Apr 09, 2024 | Answered on Apr 09, 2024
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Thank you sir
Ans: Welcome
Asked on - Apr 11, 2024 | Answered on Apr 12, 2024
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Can you suggest me some funds to invest sir..?
Ans: I'd be happy to help guide you through the process of selecting investment funds, but I must emphasize the importance of considering your individual financial situation, goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon before making any investment decisions. Without knowing your complete financial picture, including factors like your income, expenses, existing investments, and long-term goals, it's challenging to provide personalized recommendations that suit your needs.

Investing is not one-size-fits-all, and what works well for one person may not be suitable for another. Factors such as your age, financial goals (e.g., retirement, buying a house, education funding), risk tolerance, and investment timeframe all play a crucial role in determining the most appropriate investment strategy.

It's always wise to consult with a financial advisor who can assess your individual circumstances and provide personalized recommendations tailored to your specific needs and goals. A financial advisor can help you create a well-diversified investment portfolio that aligns with your risk tolerance and long-term objectives while taking into account various investment options such as mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stocks, bonds, and other asset classes.

By working with a financial advisor and taking the time to understand your investment options thoroughly, you can make informed decisions that are best suited to your financial situation and objectives, ultimately helping you to achieve your long-term financial goals.
Ramalingam, MBA, CFP
Chief Financial Planner at Holisticinvestment.in
Asked on - Apr 13, 2024 | Answered on Apr 15, 2024
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Thank you so much sir
Ans: Welcome Rahul :)
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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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  |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

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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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