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Samraat

Samraat Jadhav  |2507 Answers  |Ask -

Stock Market Expert - Answered on May 29, 2025

Samraat Jadhav is the founder of Prosperity Wealth Adviser.
He is a SEBI-registered investment and research analyst and has over 18 years of experience in managing high-end portfolios.
A management graduate from XLRI-Jamshedpur, Jadhav specialises in portfolio management, investment banking, financial planning, derivatives, equities and capital markets.... more
Dinesh Question by Dinesh on May 19, 2025
Money

Sbi contra or sbi blue chip

Ans: Both funds have a very high risk level, but SBI Bluechip Fund tends to be more stable due to its large-cap focus, while SBI Contra Fund may offer higher returns in the long run but with greater fluctuations.
Before investing please have a vision of atleast 10yrs in mutual funds
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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Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Mar 03, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Feb 28, 2025Hindi
Listen
Money
Which is better in choosing SBI Contra Fund : Regular growth or regular dividend
Ans: SBI Contra Fund is a value-oriented fund that invests in undervalued stocks. It has the potential to generate long-term capital appreciation.

Now, let us compare the Regular Growth and Regular Dividend options.

1. Regular Growth Option
? Profits are reinvested – Your returns are compounded over time.

? Better for long-term wealth creation – Helps in accumulating a larger corpus.

? No dividend payout – You do not receive periodic cash but benefit from capital growth.

? More tax-efficient – You only pay tax when you redeem the units.

? Best for long-term investors – Suitable if you do not need regular income.

2. Regular Dividend Option
? Dividends are paid periodically – You receive payouts at irregular intervals.

? Not guaranteed – Dividends depend on the fund’s performance.

? Slower growth – Your investment does not compound as well as in the growth option.

? Less tax-efficient – Each dividend is taxed as per your income slab.

? Suitable for those needing periodic income – Better for retirees or those seeking cash flow.

Which One is Better?
If you want higher long-term returns, go for the Regular Growth option.
If you need periodic income, choose the Regular Dividend option.
However, the Growth option is better for most investors. It helps in wealth accumulation and tax efficiency.


Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP

Chief Financial Planner

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

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 27, 2025

Money
Hi sir iam 34 year old invest SIP 5000 in large mid small cap flexcap fund ,i need to one fund for balancing my port polio plz suggest SBI contra or SBI PSU or Invesco contra or sector like icici Prudential technology or icici Prudential infrastructure which one is better kindly give your opinion sir
Ans: You are only 34 years old.
That gives you good time to grow your wealth.
Investing in flexicap, largecap, midcap and smallcap is a smart mix.
This structure supports both stability and long-term compounding.
Rs. 5000 SIP is a steady commitment at this stage.

Now you want to add one more fund for better balance.
That’s a wise move. But selection must be done with care.

Let’s evaluate the options in front of you.

Understanding Contra Funds and Their Role

Contra funds follow a different style of investing.
They invest in unpopular or underperforming sectors or companies.
They believe those areas will turn around in future.

Contra strategy works well in volatile or sideways markets.
It needs patience and long-term holding to see results.
Not suitable for short-term goals or conservative investors.

A contra fund can be used by mature investors with experience.
But for many young investors, it brings complexity and delay in returns.

So, if you select contra fund, invest with patience for 7 years or more.
And make sure the rest of your portfolio is stable.

What About Sector-Based Funds Like Technology or Infrastructure?

Sectoral funds invest in just one theme or sector.
Like technology or infrastructure or pharma.
They carry high risk and high return potential.

If the sector performs, returns are very strong.
But if sector fails, returns may be poor for many years.

These funds need right timing and sector understanding.
They are not suitable for core portfolio.
You should not use these for balancing your main holdings.

Use them only if you have surplus money for experimental investing.
Limit exposure to 5% of your total portfolio only.

So, if you have Rs. 5,000 monthly SIP,
Sector funds should get no more than Rs. 250 per month.

What About PSU-Themed Funds?

PSU-focused funds invest in government-run companies.
These companies usually operate in banking, oil, power, etc.
Their returns depend on government policy and reforms.

They may perform well during economic growth and PSU revival cycles.
But they underperform when reforms are slow or global issues rise.

PSU funds are very cyclical.
They are not meant for steady long-term compounding.
They are also not suitable as a core fund in your structure.

Like sector funds, keep PSU exposure low.
These should not disturb your main diversified portfolio.

How to Choose the Right Balancing Fund

At your age and SIP stage, you need one thing: stability with long-term growth.
So, adding a fund that works across market cycles is better.

The right choice is not theme-based, not sectoral.
Instead, go with a well-managed diversified fund with active strategy.
This gives smoother returns and keeps your portfolio well-balanced.

Diversified funds have exposure across all sectors.
The fund manager shifts allocation as per market needs.
This is safer and more effective than single-theme funds.

Also, make sure your investment is in regular plan through Certified Financial Planner.
Regular plan gives you expert support and monitoring.

If you invest directly, you miss timely rebalancing and expert advice.
Direct funds look cheaper, but harm you with wrong fund choices.
With regular funds, the CFP helps in tracking and review.

That helps you stay on track with your goals.

What to Do If You Still Want Exposure to a Thematic Idea

If you still want to invest in a contra or sector idea,
Limit your exposure to 5% or 10% of total SIP only.
This helps you take benefit if the theme works.
But it does not disturb your main portfolio.

Always consult your Certified Financial Planner before investing in themes.
Don’t go by news, YouTube or peer suggestions.
Proper review is important before adding such funds.

Make sure your core portfolio has at least 80% in diversified funds.
This includes flexicap, largecap, and balanced allocation funds.
Only 20% or less should go into thematic funds if needed.

Final Insights

You are doing very well with your current strategy.
Age 34 is ideal time to focus on building strong investment base.
Your mix of flexi, large, mid and small cap is balanced.

Now you are thinking of adding one more fund.
That is fine, but avoid sector and PSU-based funds for this purpose.

Instead, go with a diversified active fund under regular plan.
That gives you smoother returns and risk-managed growth.

If still curious about contra or sector-based funds,
Use them only for experimentation. Keep exposure very low.
Monitor performance every 6 months. Don’t add more if not performing.

All your SIPs should be tracked by a Certified Financial Planner.
This gives you 360-degree support for risk, tax and goals.
Avoid random suggestions and social media-based fund ideas.

Invest with a purpose, review regularly and act with discipline.
That’s how real wealth is created over time.

For scheme-specific recommendation, please contact an MFD-CFP one-on-one.


Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

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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!

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Dr Dipankar

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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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