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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10879 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 18, 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
vinay Question by vinay on Sep 11, 2023Hindi
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please suggest best health insurance plan family floater

Ans: For a comprehensive Family Floater health insurance plan, consider the following top-rated options in India:

Star Health Family Health Optima: Offers coverage for up to 16 relationships, including parents, children, and in-laws. It provides lifelong renewability and covers pre and post-hospitalization expenses.
HDFC ERGO Health Suraksha Gold: Provides a wide range of coverage options with flexible sum insured options. It offers lifetime renewability and covers daycare procedures and organ donor expenses.
ICICI Lombard Complete Health Insurance: Offers cashless hospitalization at network hospitals, maternity benefits, and covers pre-existing diseases after a waiting period. It also provides coverage for alternative treatments like Ayurveda, Homeopathy, and Unani.
ManipalCigna ProHealth Insurance: Provides comprehensive coverage with flexible plan options. It offers rewards for maintaining good health and covers alternative treatments and maternity expenses.
Religare Health Insurance Care: Offers comprehensive coverage with no upper age limit for entry. It provides automatic recharge of sum insured and covers daycare procedures and annual health check-ups.
When selecting a Family Floater health insurance plan, consider factors like coverage amount, network hospitals, claim settlement ratio, waiting periods for pre-existing diseases, and additional benefits like maternity coverage, OPD expenses, and alternative treatments. Compare the premiums, features, and benefits of different plans to choose the one that best meets your family's healthcare needs and budget. Consult with a Certified Financial Planner or insurance advisor to help you make an informed decision tailored to your requirements.
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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Moneywize

Moneywize   | Answer  |Ask -

Financial Planner - Answered on Mar 14, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Mar 13, 2024Hindi
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I am 69. I had an open-heart surgery in July 2000. I have an Oriental Insurance Co. health insurance family floater for self and wife for Rs 10 Lakh. They did not increase the amount to 15 Lalh. I am looking for only self or family floater health insurance for 10 Lakh or top up of Rs 10 lakh. Please advise if possible and to contact which Co.
Ans: Unfortunately, finding a new health insurance policy with pre-existing conditions like open-heart surgery can be challenging, especially at the age of 69. Here's why:

• Pre-existing Conditions: Most insurers are hesitant to cover pre-existing conditions, and open-heart surgery falls under that category.
• Age: As you age, premiums tend to rise, and insurers might be more cautious about taking on new senior citizens.

However, there are still some options to explore:

1. Renew Existing Policy with Oriental:

Check with Oriental Insurance Co. again regarding renewal. While they might not increase the sum insured to 15 lakh, they might still offer renewal on the existing 10 lakh plan.

2. Senior Citizen Mediclaim Plans:

Many insurers offer senior citizen health insurance plans designed for people above 60. These plans may have limitations on pre-existing conditions, but they could offer some coverage. You can explore options from reputable companies like Max Bupa, Care Health Insurance, or Cholamandalam MS. Research these companies online or consult an insurance broker for plan details.

3. Top-up Plans:
These plans work alongside your existing policy and provide additional coverage in case your existing sum insured gets exhausted. However, pre-existing condition exclusions might still apply. Explore top-up plans offered by your existing insurer or other companies.

4. Finding the Right Plan:

• Use online insurance comparison platforms or consult an insurance broker to compare different senior citizen mediclaim or top-up plans.
• Carefully review the policy documents, especially exclusions related to pre-existing conditions.
• Consider factors like network hospitals, co-pay clauses, and claim settlement ratio before finalising a plan.

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10879 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 12, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 18, 2024Hindi
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Which health insurance is good for 1 cr family floater for family of 4 and age is 47 years
Ans: Choosing a health insurance plan, especially a family floater with a high sum insured like Rs 1 crore, requires careful consideration of several factors. At 47 years old, you are at an age where health insurance becomes even more critical. Here's a detailed guide on selecting a suitable plan:

Key Considerations for Selecting Health Insurance
Comprehensive Coverage
Look for policies that offer extensive coverage, including:

In-patient Hospitalization: Covers room rent, ICU charges, doctor fees, and more.
Pre and Post Hospitalization: Expenses incurred before and after hospitalization.
Daycare Procedures: Treatments that don't require a 24-hour hospital stay.
Domiciliary Treatment: Home treatment in case of inability to get hospitalized.
Ambulance Charges: Coverage for emergency transportation.
Critical Illness Cover: Additional cover for life-threatening diseases.
Cashless Hospitalization
Ensure the insurer has a wide network of hospitals offering cashless treatment. This feature is crucial for hassle-free hospital admissions and treatments.

No-Claim Bonus
Choose a policy that offers a no-claim bonus. This feature increases the sum insured for every claim-free year, providing additional coverage at no extra cost.

Annual Health Check-ups
Look for policies that offer free annual health check-ups for all family members. This can help in early detection and management of potential health issues.

Factors to Compare
Premiums
Compare premiums for similar coverage across different insurers. Look for the most cost-effective option without compromising on coverage.

Waiting Periods
Check the waiting periods for pre-existing diseases and specific treatments. Opt for policies with shorter waiting periods.

Sub-Limits and Co-Payments
Be aware of any sub-limits on room rent or specific treatments, and co-payment clauses where you share the treatment costs. Prefer policies with minimal or no sub-limits and co-payments.

Customer Service and Claim Settlement
Research the insurer's reputation for customer service and claims settlement ratio. Insurers with high claim settlement ratios and positive customer feedback are preferable.

Selecting the right health insurance can feel overwhelming, especially with the wide range of options available. Your priority should be securing the best possible coverage for your family's health needs, ensuring peace of mind in medical emergencies.

Final Insights
A Rs 1 crore family floater plan is a wise choice, providing ample coverage for medical emergencies. Ensure you choose a policy that offers comprehensive benefits, a high claim settlement ratio, and a wide network of cashless hospitals. Regularly review and update your policy to match your changing health needs.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Reetika

Reetika Sharma  |417 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF and Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 12, 2025

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I am a 49 year individual. I only have a 4 Lakh Employer's floating health insurance cover for myself, 13 year old daughter and 47 year old wife. I am planning to do a family floater policy. Need some help on the amount of cover (10 lakh, 15 lakh etc) and also on the top up. Would also like some tips that I need to consider while choosing the plocy and some recommendations of the provider (TATA AIG, HDFC Ergo etc). TIA.
Ans: Hi Biswadeep,
Its good for you to think about increasing Health Insurance cover as it is one of the basic requirement these days.
For your family of 3, cover of 15 lakhs is a good amount to decide.

Things for you to consider while choosing policy:
- Select your insurer which has wide hospital network.
- Check the claim settlement ratio. More the ratio, better is the insurer.
- Check online reviews regarding claim process.
- Check room rent limits.
- Check co-pay and deductible clause.
- Check waiting period of any pre-existing diseases. It is usually between 3 to 5 years for different policies.
- Ensure the policy also cover day care procedures.

Also make sure to avoid the one with lower premiums. Lower premiums usually comes with extra cost and hidden T&C's.
And avoid mixing insurance with investments such as LIC policy or ULIPs.

Working with a Certified Financial Planner - a CFP can guide you with exact insurance and investments keeping in mind your age and risk profile.

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

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10879 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 11, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 11, 2025Hindi
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Hello Sir, I am 56 yrs old with two sons, both married and settled. They are living on their own and managing their finances. I have around 2.5 Cr. invested in Direct Equity and 50L in Equity Mutual Funds. I have Another 50L savings in Bank and other secured investments. I am living in Delhi NCR in my owned parental house. I have two properties of current market worth of 2 Cr, giving a monthly rental of around 40K. I wish to retire and travel the world now with my wife. My approximate yearly expenditure on house hold and travel will be around 24 L per year. I want to know, if this corpus is enough for me to retire now and continue to live a comfortable life.
Ans: You have built a strong base. You have raised your sons well. They live independently. You and your wife now want a peaceful and enjoyable retired life. You have created wealth with discipline. You have no home loan. You live in your own house. This gives strength to your cash flow. Your savings across equity, mutual funds, and bank deposits show good clarity. I appreciate your careful preparation. You deserve a happy retired life with travel and comfort.

» Your Present Position
Your current financial position looks very steady. You hold direct equity of around Rs 2.5 Cr. You hold equity mutual funds worth Rs 50 lakh. You also have Rs 50 lakh in bank deposits and other secured savings. Your two rental properties add more comfort. You earn around Rs 40,000 per month from rent. You also live in your owned house in Delhi NCR. So you have no rent expense.

Your total net worth crosses Rs 5.5 Cr easily. This gives you a strong base for your retired life. You plan to spend around Rs 24 lakh per year for all expenses, including travel. This is reasonable for your lifestyle. Your savings can support this if planned well. You have built more than the minimum needed for a comfortable retired life.

» Your Key Strengths
You already enjoy many strengths. These strengths hold your plan together.

You have zero housing loan.

You have stable rental income.

You have children living independently.

You have a balanced mix of assets.

You have built wealth with discipline.

You have clear goals for travel and lifestyle.

You have strong liquidity with Rs 50 lakh in bank and secured savings.

These strengths reduce risk. They support a smooth retired life with less stress. They also help you handle inflation and medical costs better.

» Your Cash Flow Needs
Your yearly expense is around Rs 24 lakh. This includes travel, which is your main dream for retired life. A couple at your stage can keep this lifestyle if the cash flow is planned well. You need cash flow clarity for the next 30 years. Retirement at 56 can extend for three decades. So your wealth must support you for a long period.

Your rental income gives you around Rs 4.8 lakh per year. This covers almost 20% of your yearly spending. This reduces pressure on your investments. The rest can come from a planned withdrawal strategy from your financial assets.

You also have Rs 50 lakh in bank deposits. This acts as liquidity buffer. You can use this buffer for short-term and medium-term needs. You also have equity exposure. This can support long-term growth.

» Risk Capacity and Risk Need
Your risk capacity is moderate to high. This is because:

You own your home.

You have rental income.

Your children are financially independent.

You have large accumulated assets.

You have enough liquidity in bank deposits.

Your risk need is also moderate. You need growth because inflation will rise. Travel costs will rise. Medical costs will increase. Your lifestyle will change with age. Your equity portion helps you beat inflation. But your equity exposure must be managed well. You should avoid sudden large withdrawals from equity at the wrong time.

Your stability allows you to keep some portion in equity even during retired life. But you should avoid excessive risk through direct equity. Direct equity carries concentration risk. A balanced mix of high-quality mutual funds is safer in retired life.

» Direct Equity Risk in Retired Life
You hold around Rs 2.5 Cr in direct equity. This brings some concerns. Direct equity needs frequent tracking. It needs research. It carries single-stock risk. One mistake may reduce your capital. In retired life, you need stability, clarity, and lower volatility.

Direct funds inside mutual funds also bring challenges. Direct funds lack personalised support. Regular plans through a Mutual Fund Distributor with a Certified Financial Planner bring guidance and strategy. Regular funds also support better tracking and behaviour management in volatile markets. In retired life, proper handholding improves long-term stability.

Many people think direct funds save cost. But the value of advisory support through a CFP gives higher net gains over long periods. Direct plans also create more confusion in asset allocation for retirees.

» Mutual Funds as a Core Support
Actively managed mutual funds remain a strong pillar. They bring professional management and risk controls. They handle market cycles better than index funds. Index funds follow the market blindly. They do not help in volatile phases. They also offer no risk protection. They cannot manage quality of stocks.

Actively managed funds deliver better selection and risk handling. A retiree benefits from such active strategy. You should avoid index funds for a long retirement plan. You should prefer strong active funds under a disciplined review with a CFP-led MFD support.

» Why Regular Plans Work Better for Retirees
Direct plans give no guidance. Retired investors often face emotional decisions. Some panic during market fall. Some withdraw heavily during market rise. This harms wealth. Regular plan under a CFP-led MFD gives a relationship. It offers disciplined rebalancing. It improves long-term returns. It protects wealth from poor behaviour.

For retirees, the difference is huge. So shifting to regular plans for the mutual fund portion will help long-term stability.

» Your Withdrawal Strategy
A planned withdrawal strategy is key for your case. You should create three layers.

Short-Term Bucket
This comes from your bank deposits. This should hold at least 18 to 24 months of expenses. You already have Rs 50 lakh. This is enough to hold your short-term cash needs. You can use this for household costs and some travel. This avoids panic selling of equity during market downturn.

Medium-Term Bucket
This bucket can stay partly in low-volatility debt funds and partly in hybrid options. This should cover your next 5 to 7 years. This helps smoothen withdrawals. It gives regular cash flow. It reduces market shocks.

Long-Term Bucket
This can stay in high-quality equity mutual funds. This bucket helps beat inflation. This bucket helps fund your travel dreams in later years. This bucket also builds buffer for medical needs.

This three-bucket strategy protects your lifestyle. It also keeps discipline and clarity.

» Handling Property and Rental Income
Your properties give Rs 40,000 monthly rental. This helps your cash flow. You should maintain the property well. You should keep some funds aside for repairs. Do not depend fully on rental growth. Rental yields remain low. But your rental income reduces pressure on your investments. So keep the rental income as a steady support, not a primary source.

You should not plan more real estate purchase. Real estate brings low returns and poor liquidity. You already own enough. Holding more can hurt flexibility in retired life.

» Planning for Medical Costs
Medical costs rise faster than inflation. You and your wife need strong health coverage. You should maintain a reliable health insurance. You should also keep a medical fund from your bank deposits. You may keep around 3 to 4 lakh per year as a buffer for medical needs. Your bank savings support this.

Health coverage reduces stress on your long-term wealth. It also avoids large withdrawals from your growth assets.

» Travel Planning
Travel is your main dream now. You can plan your travel using your short-term and medium-term buckets. You can take funds annually from your liquidity bucket. You can avoid touching long-term equity assets for travel. This approach keeps your wealth stable.

You should plan travel for the next five years with a budget. You should adjust your travel based on markets and health. Do not use entire gains of equity for travel. Keep travel budget fixed. Add small adjustments only when needed.

» Inflation and Lifestyle Stability
Inflation will impact lifestyle. At Rs 24 lakh per year today, the cost may double in 12 to 14 years. Your equity exposure helps you beat this. But you need careful rebalancing. You also need disciplined review with a CFP-led MFD. This will help you manage inflation and maintain comfort.

Your lifestyle is stable because your children live independently. So your cash flow demand stays predictable. This makes your plan sustainable.

» Longevity Risk
Retirement at 56 means you may live till 85 or 90. Your plan should cover long years. Your total net worth of around Rs 5.5 Cr to Rs 6 Cr can support this. But you need a proper drawdown strategy. Avoid high withdrawals in early years. Keep your travel budget steady.

Do not depend on one asset class. A mix of debt and equity gives comfort. Keep your bank deposits as cushion.

» Succession and Estate Planning
Since you have two sons who are settled, you can plan a clear will. Clear distribution avoids conflict. You can also assign nominees across accounts. You can also review your legal papers. This gives peace to you and your family.

» Summary of Your Retirement Readiness
Based on your assets and cash flow, you are ready to retire. You have enough wealth. You have enough liquidity. You have enough income support from rent. You also have good asset mix. With proper planning, your lifestyle is comfortable.

You can retire now. But maintain a disciplined withdrawal strategy. Shift more reliance from direct equity into professionally managed mutual funds under regular plans. Keep your liquidity strong. Review once every year with a CFP.

Your wealth can support your travel dreams for many years. You can enjoy retired life with confidence.

» Finally
Your preparation is strong. Your intentions are clear. Your lifestyle needs are reasonable. Your assets support your dreams. With a balanced plan, steady review, and mindful spending, you can enjoy a comfortable retired life with your wife. You can travel the world without fear of running out of money. You deserve this peace and joy.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in

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

...Read more

Dr Nagarajan J S K

Dr Nagarajan J S K   |2577 Answers  |Ask -

NEET, Medical, Pharmacy Careers - Answered on Dec 10, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 10, 2025Hindi
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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