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Ulhas

Ulhas Joshi  |280 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Fund Expert - Answered on Apr 19, 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
Samreen Question by Samreen on Apr 11, 2023Hindi
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: Hi Samreen, thank you for writing to me. As you have a corpus of Rs.5 Lakh, you can start Systematic Transfer Plans by first investing in liquid or overnight funds and then instructing the AMC to redeem some debt funds and invest in equity funds. If you can state your objectives and your risk appetite for me to recommend schemes and frequency. Hi U had replied as above to my query on investing 500000 I want a balanced fund prefer growth not too risky n stable returns for 5 years as its for sons education

Ans: Hi Samreen, as you want a balanced fund with stable returns, you can consider investing in:

1-ICICI Balanced Advantage Fund -Rs.2 Lakh
2-HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund-Rs.2 Lakh
3-Tata Hybrid Equity Fund-Rs.1 Lakh

After 5 years, you can start systematic withdrawal plans to pay for your sons education.
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  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

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

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Dear Mr. Kalirajan, My name is Emir, a 20-year-old BCA student in India. I'm fortunate to have discovered a passion for a new field in IT, and thanks to God over the past 10 months, I've begun earning a steady income. In fact, I've managed to save approximately ?40 lakhs in the last 10 months, with a goal of reaching ?55-60 lakhs by December 2024. As I have minimal expenses and a supportive family, I'm eager to explore investment opportunities to grow my savings. I recently spoke with my bank manager, who suggested investing in HDFC Balanced Advanced Fund and SBI Magnum Low Duration Fund. While I've invested a total of ?12 lakhs in these funds and set up a SIP for SBI Small, Mid, Large Combination Fund, I recognize my knowledge gap in the investment landscape. Although trading seems enticing for faster growth, I lack the time to dedicate to it effectively. Having come across your impressive experience in financial planning, I'm reaching out for your guidance. I'm particularly interested in building a portfolio of mutual funds or other suitable options that can generate a passive income of at least ?1 lakh per month as soon as possible. Since I have no immediate need for this money, I'm comfortable with a short term as well as long-term investment horizon (5-10 years or more) and am willing to take calculated risks to achieve my goals. I understand the importance of a personalized approach to financial planning, and I'm eager to learn from your expertise. Could you please recommend suitable investment strategies? Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Emir
Ans: Emir, your proactive approach to financial planning at such a young age is commendable. Congratulations on your substantial savings and your commitment to reaching your financial goals. Let's chart a course to help you achieve your aspirations.

Understanding Your Goals:

Your goal of generating a passive income of at least ?1 lakh per month is ambitious yet achievable given your sizable savings and willingness to take calculated risks.

Crafting a Diversified Portfolio:

While the funds suggested by your bank manager are reputable, it's essential to diversify your portfolio further to spread risk and optimize returns. Considering your long-term horizon and income objectives, a blend of equity, debt, and hybrid funds might be suitable.

Embracing Equity for Growth:

Equity funds have the potential to deliver significant growth over the long term. Since you're comfortable with a longer investment horizon, allocating a portion of your portfolio (around 60-70%) to diversified equity funds can help capitalize on market opportunities.

Exploring Debt for Stability:

Debt funds offer stability and consistent returns, making them ideal for balancing the risk in your portfolio. Considering your income goals and risk tolerance, allocating around 20-30% of your portfolio to high-quality debt funds like short-term or dynamic bond funds can provide stability.

Emphasizing Hybrid Funds for Flexibility:

Hybrid funds combine the best of both worlds by blending equity and debt instruments. These funds can offer stability while still participating in equity market growth. Allocating 10-20% of your portfolio to balanced or aggressive hybrid funds can enhance diversification and mitigate risk.

Navigating SIPs for Consistent Growth:

Continuing your SIP in SBI Small, Mid, Large Combination Fund is a prudent move, providing you with a disciplined approach to investing and benefiting from rupee cost averaging over time.

Considering Future Opportunities:

As you accumulate additional savings, periodically reassess your portfolio and explore opportunities in real estate investment trusts (REITs), international funds, or thematic funds to further diversify and optimize returns.

Staying the Course with Patience:

While trading may seem tempting for quick gains, it often requires significant time and expertise. By sticking to a well-thought-out investment plan and staying invested for the long term, you can harness the power of compounding and achieve your financial objectives.

In Conclusion:

Emir, by following a strategic investment plan tailored to your goals and risk profile, you're on track to realize your aspirations. Remember, financial planning is a journey, and I'll be here to provide guidance and support every step of the way.

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 Jun 06, 2024

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Hello Sir, I am 36 years old and looking at a corpus of around 50 lakhs in 5-8 years. I am very new to Mutual Funds investing honestly. I have invested in Aditya Birla PSU Equity fund Direct Growth - 1,50,000 this very month and ICICI Prudential Bharat 22 FOF Direct Plan - One time 1,00,000 and an SIP of 15,000 per month in Tata Small Cap Fund Direct Growth. I’m looking at investing another 3,50,000 readily plus another SIP of 15,000 a month. Can you please advise how to go about it. Thank you so much Sir. Divya
Ans: Planning Your Mutual Fund Investment Strategy

Congratulations on your proactive approach to investing! With a goal of Rs 50 lakhs in 5-8 years, and considering your existing investments, let's develop a comprehensive plan. You've already started with some mutual funds, and you’re looking to invest an additional Rs 3.5 lakhs and continue monthly SIPs of Rs 15,000. Here’s how you can optimize your investment strategy.

Understanding Your Investment Horizon and Risk Appetite

Your target of Rs 50 lakhs in 5-8 years is achievable with a disciplined approach. Given this medium-term horizon, a balanced portfolio with a mix of equity and debt funds can help manage risk while aiming for good returns.

Reviewing Your Current Investments

You’ve invested in:

Aditya Birla PSU Equity Fund Direct Growth: Rs 1.5 lakhs
ICICI Prudential Bharat 22 FOF Direct Plan: Rs 1 lakh
Tata Small Cap Fund Direct Growth: SIP of Rs 15,000 per month
Investment in Direct Funds

Direct funds often have lower expense ratios, but they require more monitoring. Since you are new to mutual funds, investing through a Mutual Fund Distributor (MFD) with Certified Financial Planner (CFP) credentials can offer professional advice and active management.

Evaluating the Current Portfolio

PSU Equity Fund: Focuses on public sector undertakings. While potentially rewarding, it can be sector-specific and volatile.
Bharat 22 FOF: A fund of funds investing in Bharat 22 ETF. It's diversified but closely tied to the performance of selected public sector enterprises.
Small Cap Fund: High growth potential but with higher volatility. Suitable for long-term investment but requires risk tolerance.
Diversifying Your Portfolio

A diversified portfolio balances risk and reward. Here are some suggestions:

1. Large Cap Funds

Large cap funds invest in well-established companies. They offer stability and steady returns. Allocate a portion of your Rs 3.5 lakhs here for a balanced approach.

2. Multi Cap Funds

Multi cap funds invest across market capitalizations (large, mid, and small caps). They offer diversification within a single fund, reducing risk while providing growth opportunities.

3. Balanced or Hybrid Funds

Balanced or hybrid funds invest in both equities and debt. They provide growth potential with the stability of fixed-income investments. This can be a good option for conservative investors looking for balanced risk and reward.

4. Debt Funds

Debt funds invest in bonds and other fixed-income securities. They offer lower risk and stable returns. Allocating a portion to debt funds can stabilize your portfolio, especially for short-term goals.

Proposed Allocation of Additional Rs 3.5 Lakhs

Large Cap Fund: Rs 1 lakh
Multi Cap Fund: Rs 1 lakh
Balanced/Hybrid Fund: Rs 1 lakh
Debt Fund: Rs 50,000
Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs)

Continue with your existing SIP of Rs 15,000 in Tata Small Cap Fund. Start another SIP of Rs 15,000 as follows:

Large Cap Fund: Rs 5,000 per month
Multi Cap Fund: Rs 5,000 per month
Balanced/Hybrid Fund: Rs 5,000 per month
Why Choose Regular Funds through MFD with CFP

Professional Guidance: CFPs offer personalized advice tailored to your financial goals and risk appetite.
Active Management: Regular funds managed by professionals can adapt to market changes, potentially outperforming passive funds.
Peace of Mind: Regular monitoring and adjustments by professionals ensure your investments align with your goals.
Calculating Expected Returns

Assuming an average annual return of 10-12% from equity funds and 7-8% from debt funds, let's estimate the future value of your investments.

Lump Sum Investments

Rs 3.5 lakhs in diversified funds with an average return of 10% over 5-8 years

Using the compound interest formula:

FV = P (1 + r/n)^(nt)

For simplicity, let's assume annual compounding.

After 5 years:

FV = 3,50,000 (1 + 0.10)^5 ≈ Rs 5.64 lakhs

After 8 years:

FV = 3,50,000 (1 + 0.10)^8 ≈ Rs 7.51 lakhs

SIP Investments

Rs 30,000 per month (Rs 15,000 existing + Rs 15,000 new) with an average return of 10% over 5-8 years

Total Estimated Corpus

Combining lump sum and SIP investments:

After 5 years: Rs 5.64 lakhs (lump sum) + Rs 23.23 lakhs (SIP) ≈ Rs 28.87 lakhs
After 8 years: Rs 7.51 lakhs (lump sum) + Rs 45.82 lakhs (SIP) ≈ Rs 53.33 lakhs
You are likely to achieve your goal of Rs 50 lakhs within 8 years, possibly even sooner.

Regular Monitoring and Adjustments

Regularly review your portfolio's performance. Adjust your SIPs and allocations based on market conditions and personal financial changes. A CFP can help with these adjustments.

Conclusion

Your goal of Rs 50 lakhs in 5-8 years is achievable with a well-diversified investment strategy. By reallocating your lump sum and SIP investments into large cap, multi cap, balanced/hybrid, and debt funds, you balance growth potential and risk. Investing through a Mutual Fund Distributor with CFP credentials offers professional guidance and peace of mind. Regular monitoring and adjustments will ensure you stay on track to meet your financial goals.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10854 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Dec 14, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025Hindi
Career
Hello, I am currently in Class 12 and preparing for JEE. I have not yet completed even 50% of the syllabus properly, but I aim to score around '110' marks. Could you suggest an effective strategy to achieve this? I know the target is relatively low, but I have category reservation, so it should be sufficient.
Ans: With category reservation (SC/ST/OBC), a score of 110 marks is absolutely achievable and realistic. Based on 2025 data, SC candidates qualified with approximately 60-65 percentile, and ST candidates with 45-55 percentile. Your target requires scoring just 37-40% marks, which is significantly lower than general category standards. This gives you a genuine advantage. Immediate Action Plan (December 2025 - January 2026): 4-5 Weeks. Week 1-2: High-Weightage Chapter Focus. Stop trying to complete the entire syllabus. Instead, focus exclusively on high-scoring chapters that carry maximum weightage: Physics (Modern Physics, Current Electricity, Work-Power-Energy, Rotation, Magnetism), Chemistry (Chemical Bonding, Thermodynamics, Coordination Compounds, Electrochemistry), and Maths (Integration, Differentiation, Vectors, 3D Geometry, Probability). These chapters alone can yield 80-100+ marks if practiced properly. Ignore topics you haven't studied yet. Week 2-3: Previous Year Questions (PYQs). Solve JEE Main PYQs from the last 10 years (2015-2025) for chapters you're studying. PYQs reveal question patterns and difficulty levels. Focus on understanding why answers are correct, not memorizing solutions. Week 3-4: Mock Tests & Error Analysis. Take 2-3 full-length mock tests weekly under timed conditions. This is crucial because mock tests build exam confidence, reveal time management weaknesses, and error analysis prevents repeated mistakes. Maintain an error notebook documenting every mistake—this becomes your revision guide. Week 4-5: Revision & Formula Consolidation. Create concise formula sheets for each subject. Spend 30 minutes daily reviewing formulas and key concepts. Avoid learning new topics entirely at this stage. Study Schedule (Daily): 7-8 Hours. Morning (5:00-7:30 AM): Physics concepts + 30 PYQs. Break (7:30-8:30 AM): Breakfast & rest. Mid-morning (8:30-11:00): Chemistry concepts + 20 PYQs. Lunch (11:00-1:00 PM): Full break. Afternoon (1:00-3:30 PM): Maths concepts + 30 PYQs. Evening (3:30-5:00 PM): Mock test or error review. Night (7:00-9:00 PM): Formula revision & weak area focus. Strategic Approach for 110 Marks: Attempt only confident questions and avoid negative marking by skipping difficult questions. Do easy questions first—in the exam, attempt all basic-level questions before attempting medium or hard ones. Focus on quality over quantity as 30 well-practiced questions beat 100 random questions. Master NCERT concepts as most JEE questions test NCERT concepts applied smartly. April 2026 Session Advantage. If January doesn't deliver desired results, April gives you a second chance with 3+ months to prepare. Use January as a practice attempt to identify weak areas, then focus intensively on those in February-March. Realistic Timeline: January 2026 target is 95-110 marks (achievable with focused 50% syllabus), while April 2026 target is 120-130 marks (with complete syllabus + experience). Your reservation benefit means you need only approximately 90-105 marks to qualify and secure admission to quality engineering colleges. Stop comparing yourself to general category cutoffs. Most Importantly: Consistency beats perfection. Study 6 focused hours daily rather than 12 distracted hours. Your 110-mark target is realistic—execute this plan with discipline. All the BEST for Your JEE 2026!

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

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Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1840 Answers  |Ask -

Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Dec 13, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025
Career
Dear Sir/Madam, I am currently a 1st year UG student studying engineering in Sairam Engineering College, But there the lack of exposure and strict academics feels so rigid and I don't like it that. It's like they don't gaf about skills but just wants us to memorize things and score a good CGPA, the only skill they want is you to memorize things and pass, there's even special class for students who don't perform well in academics and it is compulsory for them to attend or else the student and his/her parents needs to face authorities who lashes out. My question is when did engineering became something that requires good academics instead of actual learning and skill set. In sairam they provides us a coding platform in which we need to gain the required points for each semester which is ridiculous cuz most of the students here just look at the solution to code instead of actual debugging. I am passionate about engineering so I want to learn and experiment things instead of just memorizing, so I actually consider dropping out and I want to give jee a try and maybe viteee , srmjeee But i heard some people say SRM may provide exposure but not that good in placements. I may not be excellent at studies but my marks are decent. So gimme some insights about SRM and recommend me other colleges/universities which are good at exposure
Ans: First — your frustration is valid

What you are experiencing at Sairam is not engineering, it is rote-based credential production.

“When did engineering become memorizing instead of learning?”

Sadly, this shift happened decades ago in most Tier-3 private colleges in India.

About “coding platforms & points” – your observation is sharp

You are absolutely right:

Mandatory coding points → students copy solutions

Copying ≠ learning

Debugging & thinking are missing

This is pseudo-skill education — it looks modern but produces shallow engineers.

The fact that you noticed this in 1st year already puts you ahead of 80% students.

Should you DROP OUT and prepare for JEE / VITEEE / SRMJEEE?

Although VIT/SRM is better than Sairam Engineering College, but you may face the same problem. You will not face this type of problem only in some top IITs, but getting seat in those IITs will be difficult.
Instead of dropping immediately, consider:

???? Strategy:

Stay enrolled (degree security)

Reduce emotional investment in college rules

Use:

GitHub

Open-source projects

Hackathons

Internships (remote)

Hardware / software self-projects

This way:

College = formality

Learning = self-driven

Risk = minimal

...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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