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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 28, 2025

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
Jagdish Question by Jagdish on Apr 13, 2025
Money

pl see my mf portfolio and advise, icici bluechip fund rs 5000/- parag flexi cap rs 5000/-, hdfc flexi cap rs 5000/-,m/o large and mid cap rs 5000/- and nippon india small cap rs 5000/-(all sip monthly )

Ans: You have selected five different mutual fund schemes.

Your SIP contribution is Rs 5000 each in all five funds.

Your total monthly SIP is Rs 25000.

Your portfolio is a mix of large cap, flexi cap, large and mid cap, and small cap funds.

This shows a healthy diversification across market capitalisations.

You have chosen a good combination of growth-oriented equity categories.

Very thoughtful and appreciable planning is visible in your fund selection.

Assessment of Asset Allocation

Your portfolio has strong exposure to large caps through the bluechip fund.

Large cap funds are generally more stable and less volatile.

Flexi cap funds offer diversification across large, mid, and small companies.

Large and mid cap category bridges the gap between stability and higher growth.

Small cap exposure can give potential high returns over the long term.

Small caps are risky but rewarding if you stay invested patiently.

Your asset allocation is balanced towards growth with moderate risk.

Diversification Analysis

You are spreading investments across different market segments.

This is a smart way to balance risk and reward.

You are not overexposed to a single market capitalisation.

Flexi cap funds automatically adjust between different sizes based on opportunities.

It reduces your need to constantly track and rebalance.

Your approach reflects a strong understanding of portfolio construction.

This will help during different market cycles.

Fund Selection Quality

All selected funds belong to reputed fund houses.

Fund houses with a strong track record are always preferable.

The selected schemes are managed by experienced fund managers.

Experienced fund managers can navigate market volatility better.

Your selection of actively managed funds is excellent.

Actively managed funds outperform index funds in India due to inefficiencies.

Index funds often just mirror the market and do not beat it.

Active funds can take advantage of opportunities and protect against downturns.

Hence your preference towards active management is well appreciated.

SIP Strategy Evaluation

You are investing Rs 25000 monthly, which is Rs 3 lakh annually.

SIP method is highly beneficial as it averages cost across market ups and downs.

SIPs encourage disciplined investing without timing the market.

Your regular SIPs will help you build substantial wealth over the years.

Continuation of SIP during market corrections will add great advantage.

You are on the right track with your consistent approach.

Risk Assessment

Small cap funds bring higher risk but also higher potential returns.

Small caps are volatile in the short term but rewarding over 7 to 10 years.

Your portfolio has limited exposure to small caps, which is prudent.

Majority of your investments are in large and flexi cap categories.

This keeps your portfolio volatility under control.

Your risk appetite seems suitable for the portfolio you have built.

Gaps or Missing Elements

One point to highlight is sector diversification within funds.

Most flexi caps and large-mid caps internally manage sector exposure.

You need not add more sector-specific funds to this portfolio.

You have rightly avoided thematic or sectoral funds which are risky.

Global diversification is missing but optional depending on your goals.

For now, it is acceptable to focus on Indian growth story.

Taxation Impact

Equity mutual fund taxation needs careful understanding.

Short-term capital gains within one year are taxed at 20%.

Long-term capital gains above Rs 1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%.

If you redeem after one year, you benefit from long-term tax rates.

Keep this taxation aspect in mind while planning redemptions.

SIP units are treated separately for tax based on their holding period.

Sustainability and Future Readiness

Your SIP amount of Rs 25000 monthly is good but review it yearly.

As your income or savings increase, step-up your SIP amount.

Step-up SIPs ensure that your investments match inflation and life goals.

Monitor fund performance once a year but do not churn frequently.

Give your funds enough time to perform over complete market cycles.

Importance of Investing Through Certified Financial Planner

Regular plans through MFDs with CFPs add tremendous value.

Direct plans require you to do all research, monitoring, and rebalancing.

Regular plans offer expert advice, portfolio reviews, and emotional counselling.

Investors often make mistakes like selling during market falls without guidance.

CFPs ensure discipline, goal mapping, risk profiling, and tax efficiency.

The additional cost of regular plans is very minimal compared to the benefits.

You have made the right decision to invest through an expert channel.

Additional Recommendations for Better Portfolio Health

Maintain an emergency fund separately in liquid funds or savings account.

Emergency fund should be at least six months of monthly expenses.

This ensures that SIPs are not interrupted due to cash flow issues.

Continue SIPs even during market downturns without stopping.

Avoid booking profits too early from equity funds.

Rebalancing can be done once a year to maintain original allocation.

Review your financial goals annually and align investments accordingly.

Insure yourself adequately with pure term insurance, if not already done.

Avoid mixing insurance and investments like ULIPs or endowment plans.

Final Insights

Your mutual fund portfolio is well designed with a good mix.

You have selected quality funds across different market capitalisations.

SIP mode is the right approach for steady wealth creation.

Active fund selection gives you better potential than passive index investing.

Your risk profile matches your current portfolio.

Regular monitoring with the help of a Certified Financial Planner is key.

Stay invested with patience and discipline for long-term success.

Avoid unnecessary changes based on short-term market movements.

Increase SIP amount gradually in line with income growth.

Keep separate provisions for emergencies, insurance, and short-term needs.

You are on a solid path towards achieving your financial goals.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
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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Hello Sir , My Self Manoj ,I am 40 years old a salaried person , and investing in MFs Since 5.5 years I have below current ongoing investments Aditya Birla FlexiCap Fund -- 7000 p.m.(SIP) HDFC Midcap Opportunities fund ---4000 p.m.(SIP) HDFC Hybrid Equity Fund ----2000 p.m.(SIP) DSP mid cap fund ---2000 p.m.(SIP) DSP Select Focus Fund ---2000 p.m.(SIP) DSP Small Cap Fund 3000 p.m.(SIP) Kotak Equity Opportunities Fund ---2000 p.m.(SIP) SBI Blue Chip Fund -----64000 (lumpsome) SBI Small cap fund ----2000 p.m.(SIP) Nippon India small cap fund ----2000 p.m.(SIP) Invesco Small cap fund ---1000 p.m.(SIP) Tata Small cap fund ----1000 p.m.(SIP) Mahindra Unnati Emerginf Business yojana ----2000 p.m.(SIP) Tata Balanced Advantage Fund -----50000 Mirae Asset Mid cap Fund ---2000 p.m.(SIP) ICICI Flexicap fund -----70000 (lumpsome) DSP Equity and Bond Fund---- 32000 (lumpsome) DSP Dynamic Asset Allocation Fund ----23000 (lumpsome) Sundaram Emerging small cap series1---17000 (lumpsome) Sundaram Services Fund---500 p.m.(SIP) Tata Flexicap Fund ----17400 (lumpsome) Baroda BNP Paribas Flexicap Fund ----50000 (lumpsome) Icici Blue chip Fund ---400 p.m.(SIP) Edelweiss small cap fund ----2000 p.m.(SIP) Axis Flexicap Fund ----19000 (lumpsome) Sundaram Small cap fund ----98000 (lumpsome) ICICI mnc fund---- 6000 (lumpsome) Axis mid cap fund ---500 p.m.(SIP) Canara Robeco small cap fund -----1000 p.m.(SIP) BOI small cap fund ----1000 p.m.(SIP) Aditya birla multicap fund----50000 (lumpsome) Kotak Multicap fund -----25000 (lumpsome) HDFC world indexes fund of fund---10000 (lumpsome) SBI Multicap fund ---1000 p.m.(SIP) PGIM India mid cap oppportunities fund ---1000 p.m.(SIP) Axis small cap fund ----500 p.m.(SIP) Edelweiss focused equity fund ---21000 (lumpsome) UTI flexicap fund ---3000 p.m.(SIP) Quant Large cap fund ---25000 (lumpsome) IDFC mid cap fund ---25000 (lumpsome) White Oak mid cap fund ---20000 (lumpsome) Sundaram Flexicap fund ---700 (lumpsome) Canara Robeco mid cap fund ---2000 p.m.(SIP) Mahindra small cap fund---2000 p.m.(SIP) Total amount of SIP is roughly around 45k per month, Since December 2016 till the date now my investment corpus in Mutual Fund has been now 30.5 lakhs , also i have 30k invested in direct stocks in Indian equity Market. I have 3 LIC policies and 1 term insurance policy of 1 crore cover,I have Bank FDs in nationalised bank for about 27 lakhs , and 3 lakhs in PPF My Goals are 1) 2 crores for my children's marriage and education 2) 2 crores for buying home 3) 4 crores for retirement life (after 10 years) In total i want to generate 8 crores in next 10 years. Kindly suggest if i would be able to achieve the goals in next 10 years,and changes if required any Regards Manoj
Ans: Hello Manoj,

It's great to see that you've been disciplined with your investments and have built a sizable corpus already. To assess if your current investments will help you achieve your goals of 8 crores in the next 10 years, let's take a closer look at your financial situation and goals.

Current Investments:
Mutual Funds: ~30.5 lakhs
Direct stocks: 30k
LIC policies and term insurance: Not considered for investment purposes
Bank FDs: 27 lakhs
PPF: 3 lakhs
Total: ~60.5 lakhs
Monthly SIP investments: ~45k
Now let's analyze your goals:

Children's marriage and education: 2 crores
Buying a home: 2 crores
Retirement life (in 10 years): 4 crores
Total: 8 crores
Assuming an average annual return of 12% on your equity investments, here's a rough projection of your portfolio's growth:

Current investments (60.5 lakhs) in 10 years: ~1.87 crores
Monthly SIPs (45k) in 10 years: ~1.05 crores
Total: ~2.92 crores
Based on this calculation, you would not reach your goal of 8 crores in the next 10 years. However, you can consider making some changes to improve your chances:

Reassess your goals: Consider if your goals are realistic and if there's any flexibility in the amounts or timelines.
Increase your SIP investments: As your salary increases, try to increase your SIP investments to accelerate your portfolio's growth.
Rebalance your portfolio: Regularly review your portfolio to ensure it's aligned with your risk appetite and financial goals. This may involve reducing the number of funds or shifting the allocation between equity and debt.
Monitor fund performance: Keep an eye on the performance of your funds and consider replacing underperforming ones.
Remember that financial planning is an ongoing process, and it's essential to periodically review and adjust your strategy. It's also a good idea to consult with a professional financial advisor to get personalized advice for your specific situation. While it might be challenging to achieve 8 crores within 10 years, these suggestions may help you get closer to your goals.

Best regards,

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 24, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 14, 2024Hindi
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Sir,pls review my MF portfolio and give your review and advice. I have in my portfolio 5 L in Baroda pnd paribas multi asset,2 L sbi balanced advantage,2 HDFC manufacturing fund,2 bandhan innovation MF,1 sbi psu fund,1 sbi next 50 index fund,2 L HDFC multicap,3000sip in sbi 250small cap index fund,3000 sip in ICICI bluechip fund,3000 sip in motilal oswal midcap fund.
Ans: Review of Your Mutual Fund Portfolio
Let's assess your current mutual fund portfolio and provide suggestions to optimize it.

Current Portfolio Breakdown
Baroda BNP Paribas Multi Asset: Rs 5,00,000
SBI Balanced Advantage: Rs 2,00,000
HDFC Manufacturing Fund: Rs 2,00,000
Bandhan Innovation Mutual Fund: Rs 2,00,000
SBI PSU Fund: Rs 1,00,000
SBI Next 50 Index Fund: Rs 1,00,000
HDFC Multicap Fund: Rs 2,00,000
SIP in SBI 250 Small Cap Index Fund: Rs 3,000 per month
SIP in ICICI Bluechip Fund: Rs 3,000 per month
SIP in Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund: Rs 3,000 per month
Analysis and Evaluation
Diversification:

Your portfolio includes a mix of equity, balanced, and sector funds.
This diversification helps in risk management.
Sector Funds:

HDFC Manufacturing Fund and SBI PSU Fund are sector-specific.
Sector funds can be risky due to lack of diversification.
Index Funds:

SBI Next 50 Index Fund and SBI 250 Small Cap Index Fund are passive investments.
Index funds do not outperform the market and lack active management.
Balanced Advantage Fund:

SBI Balanced Advantage Fund balances equity and debt.
This provides stability during market volatility.
Multicap Funds:

HDFC Multicap Fund offers diversification across large, mid, and small caps.
This reduces concentration risk.
Recommendations
Reduce Sector Exposure:

Consider reducing your investment in sector funds like HDFC Manufacturing and SBI PSU Fund.
These funds are less diversified and can be volatile.
Shift from Index Funds to Actively Managed Funds:

Index funds like SBI Next 50 and SBI 250 Small Cap Index Fund lack active management.
Actively managed funds can potentially offer better returns.
Increase Exposure to Actively Managed Funds:

Increase investment in actively managed funds such as multicap, large-cap, and mid-cap funds.
These funds are managed by professionals who can make informed investment decisions.
SIP in Balanced and Multicap Funds:

Continue your SIP in ICICI Bluechip and Motilal Oswal Midcap funds.
Consider adding more SIPs in balanced advantage or multicap funds.
Diversify Across Asset Classes:

Continue investing in multi-asset funds like Baroda BNP Paribas Multi Asset.
These funds offer a mix of equity, debt, and other assets for better diversification.
Suggested Portfolio Allocation
Equity Funds:

Large Cap Funds: 30% of your portfolio.
Mid Cap Funds: 20% of your portfolio.
Multicap Funds: 25% of your portfolio.
Reduce sector funds to 10% of your portfolio.
Balanced Funds:

Balanced Advantage Funds: 15% of your portfolio.
Multi-Asset Funds:

Continue with Baroda BNP Paribas Multi Asset.
Final Insights
Your portfolio is well-diversified but can be optimized by reducing sector-specific and index funds. Increase allocation to actively managed large, mid, and multicap funds. This strategy will potentially enhance returns and manage risks better. Regularly review and rebalance your portfolio to stay aligned with your financial goals.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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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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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.

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???? Strategy:

Stay enrolled (degree security)

Reduce emotional investment in college rules

Use:

GitHub

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Hackathons

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Hardware / software self-projects

This way:

College = formality

Learning = self-driven

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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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