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Ulhas

Ulhas Joshi  |280 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Fund Expert - Answered on Jun 22, 2023

With over 16 years of experience in the mutual fund industry, Ulhas Joshi has helped numerous clients choose the right funds and create wealth.
Prior to joining RankMF as CEO, he was vice president (sales) at IDBI Asset Management Ltd.
Joshi holds an MBA in marketing from Barkatullah University, Bhopal.... more
Sushanta Question by Sushanta on Jun 05, 2023Hindi
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I am a retired Bank of Baroda executive of 65 yrs old drawing pension, started mf investments late since Nov,2021 and presently having investement in following mf. Pl give yr suggestion . Bal adv fund of Rs 5.00 lakhs on Aditya Birla SL with swp amount of Rs 3000/ Bal adv fund of Tata MF for Rs 5.00 lacs with swp amount of Rs 3000/ Monthly SIP of Rs 2000/ on Axis bluechip fund( lumpsum investment of Rs 50000) Monthly SIP of Rs 2000/ of Baroda BNP Paribas large & mid cap fund ( lumpsum investment of Rs 50000) Monthly SIP of Rs 4000/ of Canara rebeco flexi cap fund. Lumpsum investment of Rs 1.60 lacs of Nippon India flexi cap fund. Lumpsum investment of Rs 0.60 lacs of Kotak manufacturing fund. Monthly sip of Rs 2000/ of nippon india small cap fund from January,2023. Monthly sip of Rs 2000/ of SBI magnum midcap fund ( lumsum invested Rs 40000)

Ans: Hello Sushanta and thanks for writing to me. Please elaborate on your objectives and risk appetities to understand your needs and requirements better.

As a general rule, balanced advantage funds can be good schemes to begin SWP's.
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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Hardik

Hardik Parikh  | Answer  |Ask -

Tax, Mutual Fund Expert - Answered on Apr 07, 2023

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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 May 15, 2024

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I am 48 yrs old l am investing 7k per month in MF from last 2 years. Rs 1000 each in DSP Multi Asset allocation fund. Canara robeco bluechip equity fund. Mirae asset large and midcap fund. Motilal oswal nifty next 50 index fund. Kotak Emerging equity fund. Quant smallcap fund. Parag parikh flexi cap fund. My horizon is 10 yrs.
Ans: That's a great start! Investing Rs. 7,000 monthly for the past 2 years shows discipline. Let's analyze your portfolio for your 10-year investment horizon.

Diversification is Key

Your portfolio has a good mix of fund types:

Multi-Asset: Provides diversification across asset classes for stability.
Large & Mid-Cap: Offers growth potential with established and growing companies.
Small-Cap: Carries more risk but has the potential for high returns.
Index Fund: Tracks a market index, offering market-related returns.
Actively Managed vs. Index Funds

While your Motilal Oswal Nifty Next 50 is an index fund, your other choices are likely actively managed. These funds have managers who try to outperform the market. This approach can be beneficial, but also carries inherent risks.

10-Year Timeframe Advantage

A 10-year horizon allows you to ride out market ups and downs. Equity funds, though volatile in the short term, have the potential for higher growth over the long term.

Points to Consider:

Overall Asset Allocation: Review the percentage allocation across each fund type to ensure it aligns with your risk tolerance.
Fund Performance: Track the performance of each fund and compare it to its benchmark.
Role of a CFP Professional

A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professional can offer a more personalized assessment. They can help you:

Analyze Asset Allocation: Ensure your portfolio mix matches your risk tolerance and goals.
Review Fund Performance: Identify any underperforming funds and suggest adjustments.
Rebalance Regularly: Periodically rebalance your portfolio to maintain your desired asset allocation.
Remember:

Market performance can impact your returns. However, your diversified portfolio and long-term focus are positive steps.

Next Steps:

Consider consulting a CFP professional for a detailed portfolio review.
Monitor your fund performance and rebalance as needed.
Keep investing for the long term!

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 21, 2024

Money
Hello sir, I am 48 yrs old, salaried, just stared to invest in MF. I selected the following funds for monthly SIP of rs 10000 each... 1. Nippon India large cap fund direct growth 2. Motilal Oswal midcap fund direct growth 3. Quant large & Mid cap fund direct growth Please advice all these choices are ok? Also pl advice two more funds to invest sip of rs 10000 each and likely to invest lumpsum of 2 lakhs every 6 months....expecting carpus of 3cr during my retirement age of 60yrs old. Advance thanks
Ans: You are 48 years old and have started investing in mutual funds. You plan to invest Rs 10,000 per month in three selected funds. Additionally, you are looking to invest Rs 10,000 per month in two more funds and a lump sum of Rs 2 lakhs every six months. Your goal is to accumulate a corpus of Rs 3 crore by the time you retire at age 60.

This is a critical time in your financial journey, and it's essential to make informed decisions. Your choices will significantly impact your retirement corpus.

Evaluating Your Current Fund Selections
Nippon India Large Cap Fund (Direct Growth): Large-cap funds offer stability and are generally less volatile. However, direct plans require you to manage the investments yourself. This might be challenging without regular market insights. It’s advisable to invest in regular plans through a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) who can provide ongoing guidance and support.

Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund (Direct Growth): Midcap funds can offer higher growth but come with increased risk. Again, managing direct funds on your own can be complex. A CFP can help you navigate market changes and ensure your investments align with your goals.

Quant Large & Mid Cap Fund (Direct Growth): This fund provides a balance between stability and growth. However, the same concerns apply here regarding the direct plan. A CFP can help you maximize returns while managing risk.

Disadvantages of Direct Funds
Direct funds have lower expense ratios, but they lack the professional advice and management that comes with regular funds. This can lead to missed opportunities or increased risks, especially if you lack the time or expertise to monitor your investments closely.

Investing through a CFP in regular funds ensures that your investments are regularly reviewed and rebalanced. This approach aligns your portfolio with your financial goals and risk tolerance.

Recommendations for Additional Funds
To complement your existing investments and achieve your retirement goal, consider the following:

Diversification: It's crucial to diversify your portfolio across different asset classes and fund categories. This strategy helps in managing risk and improving potential returns.

Balanced or Hybrid Funds: Consider adding a balanced or hybrid fund to your portfolio. These funds invest in both equity and debt instruments, offering a mix of growth and stability. They can be an excellent addition, especially as you approach retirement.

Flexi-Cap Funds: Flexi-cap funds invest across large, mid, and small-cap stocks. This flexibility allows the fund manager to shift investments based on market conditions, potentially enhancing returns while managing risk.

Regular Plans with CFP Guidance: As mentioned earlier, it's advisable to invest in regular plans with the guidance of a CFP. This will ensure that your investments are well-managed and aligned with your retirement goal.

Investing Lump Sum Every Six Months
Lump sum investments can be a great way to boost your corpus. However, investing the entire amount at once can expose you to market volatility. Here’s how to approach it:

Systematic Transfer Plan (STP): Instead of investing the lump sum directly into equity funds, consider using a Systematic Transfer Plan (STP). Start by investing the lump sum in a debt fund, and then gradually transfer it to your equity funds. This strategy helps in averaging the purchase cost and reduces the impact of market volatility.

Diversification Across Funds: Spread your lump sum investments across different funds rather than concentrating it in one. This approach reduces risk and increases the potential for growth.

Achieving Your Rs 3 Crore Retirement Goal
Your goal of accumulating Rs 3 crore by the time you turn 60 is achievable with disciplined investing and proper planning. Here’s how to ensure you stay on track:

Consistent SIPs: Continue with your SIPs diligently. The power of compounding will significantly enhance your corpus over time.

Regular Reviews: Schedule regular reviews of your portfolio with your CFP. This will help in making necessary adjustments based on market conditions and your evolving financial goals.

Adjusting Contributions: As your income grows, consider increasing your SIP amounts. Even a small increase can have a significant impact over the long term.

Focus on Long-Term Growth: Avoid the temptation to withdraw from your investments for short-term needs. Keep your focus on the long-term goal of building a substantial retirement corpus.

Final Insights
You have made a good start by choosing to invest in mutual funds. However, moving forward, it’s crucial to seek guidance from a Certified Financial Planner. This will ensure that your investments are aligned with your goals and are managed effectively.

By diversifying your portfolio, utilizing STPs for lump sum investments, and regularly reviewing your investments, you can achieve your goal of Rs 3 crore by the time you retire. Your commitment to consistent investing will pay off, securing a comfortable retirement for you.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |235 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Oct 13, 2025

Money
My age is 50 years. I have the following investments in MF through SIPs. Kindly advice me. Details below: MF Start amount status 1.Motilal May-25-- 2000 active Oswal Midcap fund. 2.parag Nov-20 2000 active parik Flexi cap fund. 3.Motolal June-25 2000 active oswal BSE 1000 Index Fund. 4.Quant june-23 1000 active Smallcap fund. 5.DSP multi Sep-23 2000 active Asset alloc- ation fund. 6.Icici pru May-24 2000 active Regular Gold saving (FOF). 7.Icici pru Sep-24 1000 active Equity& Debit Fund. 8.White Oak Dec.-24 1000 Stoped Capital flaxi Cap fund. 9.Bandhan Sep.-25 2000 active small cap Fund. 10.SBI Gold Sep-25 2000 active Fund.
Ans: At 50, your portfolio should balance moderate growth with capital protection, because you are likely approaching retirement in 8–10 years.
Your current SIP pattern shows good diversification — equity, gold, multi-asset — but a bit of overlap and small-cap overweight.
Suggested Action Plan

Streamline portfolio (reduce duplication)

Stop: Bandhan Small Cap Fund

Stop: SBI Gold Fund

Keep: Quant Small Cap + ICICI Pru Gold

New SIP additions / adjustments

Add: ICICI Balanced Advantage Fund (?2,000–3,000/month) — auto-balancing hybrid fund, low volatility.

Add: HDFC Flexi Cap Fund (?2,000/month) for steady large-cap growth.

Approx. new allocation (after trimming)

Large/Flexi Cap: 40% (Parag Parikh, HDFC Flexi, Index Fund)

Mid Cap: 15%

Small Cap: 10%

Hybrid/Multi-Asset: 25%

Gold: 10%

This mix balances growth and protection — ideal for your stage.

???? Additional Suggestions

Stay invested till 58–60 for full compounding benefits.

Once you reach 55+, start gradually moving 20–25% into short-duration debt funds or conservative hybrids.

Avoid more than 2 small-cap or thematic funds; volatility can hurt nearing retirement.

Always review performance yearly; trim underperformers.

???? Final Note

You are on the right track — diversified, disciplined, and consistent.
Just simplify, reduce overlap, and add stability via hybrid or balanced advantage funds.
Disclaimer / Guidance:
The above analysis is generic in nature and based on limited data shared. For accurate projections — including inflation, tax implications, pension structure, and education cost escalation — it is strongly advised to consult a qualified QPFP/CFP or Mutual Fund Distributor (MFD). They can help prepare a comprehensive retirement and goal-based cash flow plan tailored to your unique situation.
Financial planning is not only about returns; it’s about ensuring peace of mind and aligning your money with life goals. A professional planner can help you design a safe, efficient, and realistic roadmap toward your ideal retirement.

Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
https://members.networkfp.com/member/naveenkumarreddy-vadula-chennai

..Read more

Latest Questions
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!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

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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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