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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 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
Ashish Question by Ashish on Aug 28, 2025Hindi
Money

Presently, I have 2 SIPs running, one with DSP Regular Fund Direct Growth (Rs. 1000/ month) and another one with Nippon India Small Cap Fund Direct Growth (Rs. 1500/ month). Now, I would like to start another SIP along with the abovesaid SIPs, can you kindly guide me about the mutual fund (company name), which will be beneficial for me in a long run.

Ans: You have shown a very good discipline by continuing SIPs. Many investors start and stop. You are already running two SIPs. That itself shows your patience and trust in long term investing. SIP is like planting trees. You water them monthly. Later you enjoy the shade and fruits. Your Rs.1000 in DSP regular and Rs.1500 in Nippon India small cap are already helping you build wealth slowly.

Now, let us assess the third SIP option from different angles.

» Importance of balance in portfolio
You already have exposure to small cap through Nippon India. You also have some exposure to diversified category through DSP. This is good but still tilted towards high risk. Small cap is volatile. It can give high return but also deep fall in short term. To balance, you need one fund that brings stability. This stability protects during market falls. Stability plus growth creates sustainable wealth.

» Regular fund versus direct fund
You are now using direct plan funds. On paper, direct plan looks cheaper. Many investors think lesser expense ratio means higher return. But in real life, it is not always true. Direct funds expect you to track, review, and rebalance alone. This takes skill and time. Many investors fail to review at right time. They either stay too long or exit too soon. Mistakes in allocation cost more than saved expenses.

In regular plans, you invest through a Mutual Fund Distributor who holds Certified Financial Planner credential. They monitor portfolio. They alert you when changes are required. They bring discipline in asset allocation. Their continuous advice helps you avoid emotional decisions. This advice often adds more value than small difference in expense ratio. Over 10–15 years, disciplined allocation with CFP-backed guidance beats direct investing.

» Choosing category for third SIP
Since you already have mid and small cap exposure, the next SIP can go into:

– A large cap oriented fund. This gives stability, smoother growth, and steady compounding.
– Or a flexi cap fund. This allows the fund manager to move across large, mid, small. It creates balance automatically.

This approach makes your portfolio a mix of growth and safety. A Certified Financial Planner will recommend not to load too much on small caps. Stability matters in wealth creation journey.

» Risk assessment and tolerance
You must check how much risk you are comfortable with. You are already comfortable with SIPs. That itself is very good. If you have long horizon, you can tolerate volatility. But still, too much exposure in small cap creates stress. So balancing with large cap or flexi cap reduces sleepless nights.

» Asset allocation importance
Asset allocation is the real driver of returns. It is not fund selection alone. A Certified Financial Planner will suggest mix of equity, debt, and gold. Your current portfolio is 100% equity. This is fine if horizon is above 10 years. Still, a small allocation to debt fund can give cushion. Debt funds also help when you need money in short notice.

» SIP as a habit
Your SIP journey is already consistent. Increasing SIP amount or adding new SIP is like step-up in fitness training. Each step builds more strength. The key is not stopping. SIP works only when continued across market ups and downs.

» Taxation aspects
In equity mutual funds, long term capital gains above Rs.1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%. Short term gains are taxed at 20%. This new rule means holding long term is more beneficial. Frequent switching will cost higher. Regular plans with advisor’s monitoring reduce unnecessary switches. Thus, taxation also favours long term disciplined SIP.

Debt mutual funds are taxed as per income tax slab. That means they are not tax free. But their role is stability, not tax saving. Hence, a small allocation to debt can still be useful.

» Behavioural benefit of regular plan
Direct plan investors often panic in market fall. They sell early. Or they buy when markets are high. This behaviour kills return. With a regular plan, you get handholding by an expert. A Certified Financial Planner ensures you do not act on fear or greed. This behavioural advantage alone can add big value over decades.

» Insurance and protection
If you have dependents, you must ensure proper term insurance. Do not mix investment with insurance. ULIP and endowment policies give poor returns. Pure term plan is cheaper and safer. Along with SIP, term plan gives complete protection. If you already hold ULIP or LIC investment-cum-insurance policies, better to surrender and reinvest in mutual funds. That improves wealth creation.

» Emergency fund
Before investing more, check if you have 6 months of expenses as emergency fund. This can be in savings account or liquid fund. Emergency fund saves you from breaking SIP during crisis. Without emergency cushion, SIP discipline may suffer.

» Financial goals clarity
Your SIPs must be linked to goals. Retirement, children education, house purchase – each needs different horizon. Equity SIPs suit long term goals above 7 years. Debt SIPs suit short term goals. So, decide the new SIP purpose. Then select fund category accordingly. If for retirement, equity is good. If for medium-term goal, balanced or hybrid funds are better.

» Monitoring and review
Every SIP needs yearly review. Not every quarter, not daily. Once in a year with Certified Financial Planner is enough. They check whether fund is performing compared to peers and benchmark. If fund is lagging continuously, they suggest switch. You don’t need to worry day-to-day.

» Long term wealth compounding
Power of compounding is like magic. Rs.2500 monthly becomes huge in 15–20 years. By adding one more SIP, you are accelerating wealth creation. Compounding works best with time and discipline. That is why staying invested matters more than timing market.

» Behavioural discipline and patience
Patience is rare in investing. Many quit after few years seeing no big growth. But real wealth comes after 10–15 years. You already showed patience. Continue it. The new SIP must be set and forgotten. Just review once in a year.

» Why avoid index funds
Some investors get attracted to index funds. They think passive is better. But in India, markets are still less efficient. Skilled managers beat index over long term. Actively managed funds adapt better in falling markets. Index funds just mirror market fall. That creates larger drawdowns. For Indian investors, actively managed funds by reputed houses are better for wealth creation.

» Role of diversification
You should not keep all SIPs in same style. Diversification across categories reduces risk. Large cap, mid cap, small cap, flexi cap – a mix creates balance. Adding debt and gold at right time adds further balance. This way, one category falls, another supports. That reduces overall shock.

» Long term mindset
The real power of SIP comes only with long term mindset. Small amounts today become large wealth later. By adding another SIP, you are stepping into stronger financial future. Long term mindset avoids distraction of short term noise.

» Psychological advantage of SIP
SIP brings habit of saving regularly. It makes you investor automatically. You don’t need to time market. Even in bad markets, SIP buys cheaper. This rupee cost averaging is silent but powerful. Over years, it reduces risk and enhances return.

» Family financial security
Wealth building is not only for self. It creates security for family. SIPs ensure you can meet big expenses without debt. This avoids financial stress. With proper planning, you can retire peacefully and support children’s education comfortably.

» Building step-up strategy
As your income grows, increase SIP. A step-up SIP ensures wealth grows faster than inflation. Even Rs.500 increase every year creates big difference later. That is more effective than one-time large lump sum.

» Final Insights
You are already on good path with SIPs. Adding a third SIP will further strengthen portfolio. Choose a fund that brings stability. Prefer regular plans through a Certified Financial Planner for guidance and discipline. Link SIPs to goals. Keep patience. Review yearly. Avoid ULIPs and endowment policies. Build emergency fund. Protect family with term insurance. Increase SIP gradually as income rises. With these steps, your wealth creation journey will be strong and worry free.

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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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 15, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - May 06, 2024Hindi
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Money
I am 43 years old and Started SIP in 2018. Kindly suggest about the funds. Following are my current mutual fund investments: AXIS Blue Chip fund Monthly SIP of Rs 3500 Mirae Large and Mid Cap fund Monthly SIP of Rs 2000/- Invesco India contra fund Monthly SIP of Rs 6000/- Axis Small Cap Fund Monthly SIP of Rs 5000/- Kotek flexicap fund Monthly SIP of RS 4000/- Sbi Banking & Financial Services fund Monthly SIP Rs.3500 Franklin India Prima fund monthly SIP Rs.1000.
Ans: Your current mutual fund portfolio reflects a thoughtful approach to wealth accumulation through systematic investment plans (SIPs). Let's delve into each aspect of your portfolio and assess its performance and potential.

Diversification Analysis
Your portfolio comprises a mix of large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap, and flexi-cap funds, offering diversification across market segments. This diversification mitigates risk and enhances the potential for returns.

Performance Assessment
Each fund has its unique investment strategy and objectives. Analyzing their historical performance against benchmarks and peers provides insights into their efficacy in delivering returns.

Fund Selection Rationale
Your selection of funds appears to be well-researched, considering factors such as fund manager expertise, consistency in performance, and alignment with your risk tolerance and financial goals.

Active vs. Passive Management
Your focus on actively managed funds suggests a preference for capitalizing on the expertise of fund managers to navigate market fluctuations and exploit growth opportunities. This approach contrasts with passive strategies like index funds, which lack the agility and discretion of active management.

SIP vs. Lump Sum Investment
SIPs offer the advantage of rupee cost averaging, enabling you to buy more units when prices are low and fewer when prices are high. This disciplined approach to investing smoothens market volatility and fosters long-term wealth creation.

Regular Funds vs. Direct Funds
By investing through a Certified Financial Planner, you benefit from professional guidance and portfolio monitoring. Regular funds, though they may have slightly higher expense ratios compared to direct funds, offer value through expert advice, ensuring optimal fund selection and allocation.

Future Considerations
Regularly reviewing your portfolio's performance and aligning it with evolving financial goals is crucial. Periodic rebalancing may be necessary to maintain the desired asset allocation and adapt to changing market dynamics.

Conclusion
Your mutual fund portfolio reflects a prudent approach to wealth management, characterized by diversification, active management, and systematic investment. As a Certified Financial Planner, I commend your diligence and commitment to long-term financial well-being.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 06, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 06, 2025Hindi
Money
Dear Sir/Ma'am, I need some guidance and advice for continuing my mutual fund investments. I am a 36 year old male, married, no kids yet and no debts/liabilities as such. I have couple of savings in PPF, NPS, Emergency funds and long term investing in direct stocks. I recently started below mentioned SIPs for long term to grow wealth. Request you to review the same and let me know if I should continue with the SIPs or need to rationalize. Kindly also advice on how to invest a lumpsum amount of around 6lacs. invesco small cap 2000 motilal oswal midcap 2700 parag parikh flexicap 3000 HDFC flexicap 3100 ICICI prudential largecap 3100 HDFC large and midcap 3100 HDFC gold etf FOF 2000 ICICI Pru equity and debt fund 3000 HDFC balanced advantage fund 3000 nippon india silver etf FOF 2000
Ans: You already built a solid foundation. Many investors delay planning. But you started early at 36. That gives you a strong advantage. You have no liabilities. You have long term thinking. You also have diversified savings like PPF, NPS, Emergency funds and direct stocks. That shows clarity and discipline. This approach builds wealth with less stress over time.

You also started systematic investments in equity funds. That is a positive step. Your selection covers multiple categories like large cap, mid cap, small cap, flexi cap, hybrid and precious metals. So the intent is right. You are trying to create a broad portfolio. That gives balance.

» Your Portfolio Composition Understanding
Your current SIP list includes:

Small cap

Mid cap

Flexi cap

Large cap

Large and mid cap

Hybrid category

Gold and Silver FoF

Equity and Debt allocation fund

Dynamic hybrid fund

This shows you are trying to cover many segments. But too many categories can create overlap. When there is overlap, you get confusion during review. It also makes portfolio discipline difficult. You may think you are diversified. But the holdings inside may repeat. That reduces efficiency.

Your portfolio now looks like:

Equity dominant

Hybrid for stability

Metals for hedge

So the broad direction is fine. But simplifying helps in long-term habit building.

» Fund Category Duplication
You hold:

Two flexi cap funds

One large and mid cap fund

One pure large cap fund

One mid cap fund

One small cap fund

Flexi cap funds already invest across large, mid, small. Then large and mid also overlaps. So the large cap exposure gets repeated. That may not add extra benefit. But it increases monitoring complexity.

So I suggest rationalising. Keep one fund per category in core. Keep satellite space for only high conviction.

» Core and Satellite Strategy
A structured portfolio follows core and satellite method.

Core portfolio should be:

Simple

Long term

Stable

Satellite portfolio can be:

High growth

Concentrated

Based on your thinking level, you can structure like this:

Core funds:

One large cap

One flexi cap

One hybrid equity and debt fund

One balanced advantage type fund

Satellite funds:

One mid cap

One small cap

One metal allocation if needed

This division gives clarity. You can continue SIPs with review every year. No need to stop and restart often. That reduces behavioural mistakes.

» Your Current SIP List Review with Suggested Streamlining

You can consider continuing:

One flexi cap

One large cap

One mid cap

One small cap

One balanced advantage

One equity and debt hybrid

You may reconsider keeping both flexi caps and both gold silver funds. One of each category is enough. Because too many funds do not increase returns. It complicates tracking.

Precious metal funds should not be more than 5 to 7 percent in your portfolio. This is because metals are hedge assets. They do not create compounding like equity. They act as protection during cycles. So keep them small.

» How to Use the Rs 6 Lakh Lump Sum
You asked about lump sum investing. This is important. Lump sum should not go fully into equity at one time. Markets move in cycles. So use a staggered method. You can invest the lump sum through STP (Systematic Transfer Plan). You can keep the amount in a liquid fund and set STP toward your chosen growth funds over 6 to 12 months.

This reduces timing risk. It also creates discipline. So your Rs 6 lakh can be deployed gradually. You may use 50% towards core equity funds and 30% toward satellite growth category. The remaining 20% can go into hybrid category. This gives balance and comfort.

» Regular Funds Over Direct Funds
One important point many investors miss. Direct funds look cheaper. But they demand deep knowledge, discipline, and behaviour control. Most investors lose more through emotional selling and wrong timing than they save on expense ratio.

With regular funds through a Mutual Fund Distributor with Certified Financial Planner qualification, you get guidance, structure and correction. The advisory discipline protects you during market extremes. That is more valuable than a small saving in expense ratio.

A personalised planner also tracks portfolio drift, rebalancing need and category shifts. So regular fund investing gives long-term benefit and behaviour coaching.

» Actively Managed Funds over Index or ETF
Some investors choose index funds or ETF thinking they are simple and cheap. But they ignore drawbacks.

Index funds or ETF will not avoid weak companies in the index. They will invest whether the company grows or struggles. There is no fund manager decision making. So when markets are at peak, index funds continue aggressive exposure. In downturns also they fall fully. There is no cushion.

Actively managed funds work with research teams. They can avoid bad sectors. They can shift allocation based on market and economy. Over long term, this gives better alpha and stability. So continuing with actively managed funds creates better wealth compounding.

» SIP Continuation Strategy
Once the rationalisation is done, continue SIPs every month without interruption. Pause and restart behaviour damages compounding power. SIP works best when you go through all market cycles. You benefit more during corrections because cost averaging works.

So continue SIP amount. You can also review SIP increase every year based on income. Increasing SIP by 10 to 15 percent every year helps you reach large corpus faster.

» Asset Allocation Based Approach
One key point in wealth creation is having the right asset mix. Equity gives growth. Hybrid gives balance. Metals give hedge. Debt gives safety. Your asset allocation should stay aligned to your risk profile and time horizon.

Since you are young and have long term horizon, higher equity allocation is fine. But as time moves, rebalancing is important. Rebalancing protects gains and restores allocation.

So review your asset allocation every year or during major life events like child birth, home buying or retirement planning.

» Behaviour Management
Many portfolios fail not due to bad funds. They fail due to bad decisions. Selling during correction. Stopping SIP when market falls. Chasing past return performance. These mistakes reduce wealth.

Your discipline so far is good. Continue to stay patient during volatility. Equity rewards patience and time.

» Financial Goals Clarity
Since you have no children now, you can decide your long-term goals. Typical goals may include:

Retirement

Future child education

Dream lifestyle purchase

Health care reserves

When goals are clear, investment purpose becomes stronger. So you can map each fund category to goal horizon. Short-term goals should not use equity. Long-term goals should use equity with hybrid support.

» Role of Review and Monitoring
Review once in a year is enough. Frequent review can create anxiety. Annual review helps check:

Fund performance

Expense drift

Category relevance

Allocation balance

Then adjust only if needed. This progress helps you stay confident and aligned.

» Taxation Awareness
Equity mutual funds taxation rules are:

Short term (below one year holding) taxable at 20 percent

Long term (above one year holding) gains above Rs 1.25 lakh taxable at 12.5 percent

Debt mutual funds are taxed as per your income slab.

So always hold equity funds for long term. That reduces tax impact and gives better growth.

» SIP Increase Plan
You can create a simple plan to increase SIP over time. For example:

Increase SIP at every salary increment

Increase SIP during bonus time

Use rewards or extra income for investing

This habit accelerates wealth. So by the time you reach 45 to 50 years, your investments could reach a strong level.

» Insurance and Protection
Before investing large, ensure you have term insurance and health insurance. If not already done, it is important. Insurance protects wealth. Without insurance, even a small medical event can impact investment plan. So review this part also. Since you are married, cover both.

» Wealth Behaviour Mindset
You are already disciplined. Just keep these simple principles:

Invest without stopping

Review once a year

Avoid funds overlap

Follow asset allocation

Avoid reacting to media noise

This helps you reach long term milestones.

» Finally
You are on the right track. Only fine tuning and simplification is needed. Your discipline is visible. Your portfolio will grow well with structure, patience and periodic review. Use the Rs 6 lakh with STP approach. And continue SIP with rationalised categories.

With time and consistency, wealth creation becomes effortless and peaceful. You just need to stay committed and avoid overthinking during market movements.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

...Read more

Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1837 Answers  |Ask -

Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Dec 05, 2025

Career
Dear Sir, I did my BTech from a normal engineering college not very famous. The teaching was not great and hence i did not study well. I tried my best to learn coding including all the technologies like html,css,javascript,react js,dba,php because i wanted to be a web developer But nothing seem to enter my head except html and css. I don't understand a language which has more complexities. Is it because of my lack of experience or not devoting enough time. I am not sure. I did many courses online and tried to do diplomas also abroad which i passed somehow. I recently joined android development course because i like apps but the teaching was so fast that i could not memorize anything. There was no time to even take notes down. During the course i did assignments and understood the code because i have to pass but after the course is over i tend to forget everything. I attempted a lot of interviews. Some of them i even got but could not perform well so they let me go. Now due to the AI booming and job markets in a bad shape i am re-thinking whether to keep studying or whether its just time waste. Since 3 years i am doing labour type of jobs which does not yield anything to me for survival and to pay my expenses. I have the quest to learn everything but as soon as i sit in front of the computer i listen to music or read something else. What should i do to stay more focused? What should i do to make myself believe confident. Is there still scope of IT in todays world? Kindly advise.
Ans: Your story does not show failure.
It shows persistence, effort, and desire to improve.

Most people give up.
You didn’t.
That means you will succeed — but with the right method, not the old one.

...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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