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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Sep 08, 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
Asked by Anonymous - Sep 08, 2025Hindi
Money

Hi, I started my monthly sip for 30k since 2023 july. Im planning to start swp also when amount will be around 20lakhs. I'll never stop sip. It is going on around 20 to 25 years on same amount. Swp amount will be 40 to 50 k for 8 to 10 years. Actually I want to buy a home. For that I'll take swp. Is it right decision to take swp? But remember that my swp and sip will be together

Ans: You have shown strong discipline by continuing SIP even with long-term view. That is a very positive step. Many investors stop midway, but your clarity is inspiring. You are also thinking about SWP with balance. That shows maturity. Let me share a complete 360-degree review with clarity.

» Understanding Your SIP Commitment
– You started Rs. 30,000 SIP since July 2023.
– You want to continue for 20–25 years.
– This approach creates large long-term wealth.
– Compounding works powerfully when SIP is uninterrupted.
– Staying committed for decades ensures real growth.
– Your mindset towards consistency is very strong.

» Your SWP Plan Explained
– You want SWP once corpus reaches Rs. 20 lakh.
– Planned withdrawal is Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000 monthly.
– You expect this for 8 to 10 years.
– At same time, you will keep SIP running.
– Idea is to fund home purchase through SWP.
– This shows you want to balance growth and liquidity.

» Practical Concerns With Early SWP
– Corpus of Rs. 20 lakh is still small.
– Monthly withdrawal of Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000 means Rs. 5 to 6 lakh yearly.
– That is nearly 25–30% of corpus every year.
– This pace will quickly reduce wealth.
– SIP will keep adding, but outflow is much larger.
– Corpus may finish in 3 to 4 years.
– After that, both SIP and future growth get affected.

» Purpose of SWP in Mutual Funds
– SWP is best when you need steady income.
– It suits retirement phase or regular cash flow.
– It is not ideal for asset purchase like home.
– For home buying, one-time withdrawal or planned saving is better.
– Using SWP for house goal strains wealth sustainability.

» Alternative Strategy for House Purchase
– If home is your clear goal, build dedicated home corpus.
– Start a separate SIP for home target.
– Keep this SIP in safer mix if goal is near.
– When corpus grows, withdraw lump sum at right time.
– This prevents breaking your main SIP compounding.
– You should not rely on high SWP from small base.

» Risk of Depending on Market for SWP
– SWP works best on large stable corpus.
– Rs. 20 lakh corpus is too small for Rs. 50,000 monthly.
– If market falls, redemption eats principal heavily.
– SIP contribution may not cover withdrawal loss.
– This can leave you with depleted corpus midway.
– Risk is very high in your current plan.

» Tax Rules for Withdrawals
– Equity mutual fund withdrawals above Rs. 1.25 lakh yearly are taxed at 12.5%.
– Withdrawals before one year taxed at 20%.
– Regular SWP means tax will apply each year.
– This also reduces effective return.
– So high SWP reduces both corpus and return post-tax.

» Better Way to Balance SIP and SWP
– Continue SIP with long-term horizon, as you already planned.
– For home, don’t use high SWP from main corpus.
– Instead, create targeted fund with clear timeline.
– If you need within 8–10 years, shift to safer funds gradually.
– Withdraw lump sum when ready to buy.
– This way your SIP growth remains intact.
– Your home purchase also gets clarity without wealth erosion.

» Home Purchase Decision
– Buying house is emotional and financial both.
– You should not disturb core long-term wealth for it.
– Safer plan is to build home corpus separately.
– Use systematic investment for that goal.
– If loan is needed later, manage EMI with income balance.
– Don’t use forced SWP for down payment.

» Long-Term Wealth Protection
– Your main SIP is your strongest financial backbone.
– Keep that untouched for wealth creation.
– SWP from small base risks breaking this foundation.
– Instead, target-based investments secure all goals.
– This helps both home purchase and future retirement.

» Role of Certified Financial Planner
– Direct platform or random online advice may confuse you.
– CFP can design exact SIP allocation for each goal.
– CFP also tracks risk, rebalancing, and tax impact.
– For house goal, CFP sets safer allocation closer to need.
– This avoids mistake of early SWP pressure.
– Regular review ensures smooth path.

» Final Insights
– Your SIP habit is already excellent.
– But SWP from Rs. 20 lakh corpus at Rs. 50,000 monthly is unsafe.
– It will erode wealth quickly and disturb compounding.
– Better approach is to create a home goal fund separately.
– Keep your SIP for long-term untouched.
– For house, save specifically and withdraw lump sum when needed.
– If house need is immediate, then loan plus dedicated repayment is safer.
– Don’t depend on forced SWP for major asset purchase.
– Continue SIP, build emergency fund, and allocate separately for house.
– This way you achieve both wealth growth and property ownership with balance.

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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You may like to see similar questions and answers below

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

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

Asked by Anonymous - Feb 06, 2025Hindi
Listen
Money
My age is 40 and I have 40 lakh invest in mutual funds and planning to do swp to get monthly 20 thousand. Please help me is it correct approa
Ans: You have Rs. 40 lakh in mutual funds.

You plan to withdraw Rs. 20,000 monthly.

A systematic withdrawal plan (SWP) can provide steady income.

It should not deplete your corpus too soon.

A balanced strategy is essential.

Checking the Sustainability of SWP
The withdrawal rate should match returns.

High withdrawals can erode capital.

Market performance affects fund growth.

A mix of equity and debt is needed.

Debt funds provide stability.

Equity ensures long-term growth.

Asset Allocation for Stability
Avoid relying only on equity.

Allocate funds for long-term security.

Debt funds can handle short-term needs.

Equity funds grow wealth over time.

A mix of both balances risk and return.

Tax Implications of SWP
SWP in equity funds is tax-efficient.

Long-term capital gains are taxed at 10%.

Short-term gains are taxed at 15%.

Debt fund withdrawals attract slab tax.

Tax planning can reduce liability.

Adjusting SWP for Longevity
Increase withdrawals gradually.

Monitor portfolio performance.

Adjust allocation based on market cycles.

Avoid withdrawing more than growth.

Review plan every year.

Final Insights
SWP can work if planned well.

A balanced allocation is necessary.

Tax-efficient withdrawals save money.

Regular reviews keep the plan effective.

Aim for capital preservation with growth.

Your income should last for decades.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10872 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Sep 08, 2025

Money
Hi sir, I'm investing 30k in sip per month. For last 2 years. I want to take swp, when my sip amount will be around 20 lakhs. But sip will never stop. I planned to pay sip 20 to 25 years. But in between I want to start swp also. It means swp and sip will be together. I need for a house. For that I'll take swp for 8 to 10 years. Is it right decision. 40 to 50 k I'll withdrawal as swp. And sip will be as usual 30k.
Ans: You have shown a lot of discipline. Investing Rs.30,000 monthly through SIP for two years is a very strong step. Planning to continue for 20 to 25 years shows long-term vision. At the same time, you are also planning for SWP to fund a house. That balance of growth and usage is impressive. Many people either stop midway or confuse insurance with investments. But you are building wealth in a structured way.

Now let us analyse in detail. I will cover your SIP, SWP, goal alignment, tax, and risks. This will give you a 360-degree clarity.

» Understanding SIP and SWP together
– SIP means adding money monthly to build wealth.
– SWP means withdrawing fixed money regularly.
– Doing both at the same time is possible.
– SIP continues long-term while SWP supports immediate need.
– This requires careful asset allocation.
– Growth and withdrawal should not disturb each other.
– A Certified Financial Planner can structure this balance properly.

» Your SIP commitment
– Rs.30,000 monthly SIP is powerful over decades.
– Two years is just the beginning.
– The real compounding happens after 10 to 15 years.
– Long horizon builds large wealth quietly.
– Discipline is more important than chasing returns.
– Continuing SIP for 25 years can fund multiple goals.
– This is one of the strongest steps you have taken.

» SWP for house purchase
– You want to start SWP when portfolio is Rs.20 lakh.
– Plan is to withdraw Rs.40,000 to Rs.50,000 monthly.
– SWP for 8 to 10 years is your target.
– This means you will use money for a house.
– But you must assess sustainability of such withdrawals.
– If withdrawal rate is very high, capital may reduce fast.
– So alignment of amount, time, and growth is critical.

» Impact of early withdrawals
– Equity funds are for long-term compounding.
– If you start SWP too early, growth gets disturbed.
– Rs.40,000 monthly means almost Rs.5 lakh yearly.
– This is a heavy outflow compared to corpus size.
– A 20 lakh fund may not sustain such withdrawals.
– The risk is your capital may shrink faster than expected.
– This can affect your long-term goals later.

» Possible restructuring of plan
– For a house, debt-oriented instruments are safer.
– Use equity for long-term goals like retirement.
– For SWP, shift required part into debt mutual funds.
– Keep balance money in equity to grow for future.
– This way, short and long-term are balanced.
– Equity can continue compounding without pressure.
– Debt portion can handle withdrawals smoothly.

» Asset allocation for dual purpose
– Splitting your portfolio is key.
– One part for house SWP, another for wealth creation.
– Equity portion should not be disturbed.
– Debt portion should be earmarked for SWP.
– Gold can be kept as small hedge.
– This ensures both goals move without clash.
– Professional review yearly can fine-tune the mix.

» Tax implications on withdrawals
– Equity mutual funds have new tax rules.
– Long-term capital gains above Rs.1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%.
– Short-term gains taxed at 20%.
– Debt mutual funds taxed as per income slab.
– SWP withdrawals trigger tax on gains.
– So taxation reduces actual available cash.
– Planning with tax awareness avoids surprises later.

» Liquidity and safety during SWP
– SWP must give steady inflow for 8 to 10 years.
– Market volatility should not disturb withdrawals.
– For this reason, mix of debt and equity is essential.
– Full reliance on equity for SWP is risky.
– At the same time, full debt reduces growth.
– Balanced approach provides steady liquidity.
– Always keep emergency fund separate.

» Importance of goal clarity
– House purchase is a clear financial goal.
– Goal clarity avoids emotional decisions.
– Without clarity, investors stop SIPs or over-withdraw.
– Your clarity is already very high.
– Just refine the withdrawal plan carefully.
– This ensures house purchase happens without hurting long-term wealth.

» Risks if not structured properly
– Too early withdrawal reduces compounding benefit.
– Overdependence on equity for SWP increases volatility risk.
– Ignoring tax impact reduces net inflow.
– Not separating long-term and short-term goals leads to clashes.
– If review is missed, imbalance can grow.
– Emotional panic during market falls may force wrong actions.

» Advantages of your current approach
– You are not stopping SIPs.
– This means long-term wealth creation continues.
– You are also planning cash flow with SWP.
– This shows forward thinking and balance.
– Many investors either stop SIPs or over-withdraw.
– You are already avoiding these mistakes.
– With some restructuring, this plan can be powerful.

» Why avoid index funds here
– Some investors think index funds are better.
– But index funds cannot adjust during cycles.
– They only copy the market index.
– For long SWP and SIP together, active management helps.
– Fund manager can adjust portfolio for risks and opportunities.
– Actively managed funds provide higher flexibility for your situation.
– Index funds give limited scope and weak risk control.

» Importance of professional guidance
– Combining SIP and SWP requires structured planning.
– Asset allocation must match both short and long needs.
– Withdrawals should not affect compounding.
– Tax rules must be reviewed carefully.
– Emotional discipline must be supported with expert review.
– A Certified Financial Planner gives 360-degree guidance here.
– Their role ensures long-term success of your plan.

» Emotional discipline while doing SIP and SWP
– Markets will rise and fall.
– During SWP, seeing capital fluctuate may create fear.
– Many investors stop SIPs in panic.
– Others withdraw more than planned.
– Emotional discipline is key during such times.
– Continue SIPs steadily, keep SWP steady.
– Avoid reacting to market noise.

» Regular review of plan
– Yearly review is very important.
– Check if withdrawal rate is sustainable.
– Rebalance equity and debt based on goal progress.
– Track fund performance against peers.
– Review tax impact every year.
– Make small adjustments instead of big changes.
– This steady review keeps plan safe.

» Preparing for future life goals
– House is one big goal, but many others will come.
– Retirement, children’s education, and health are important.
– SIPs should be linked to each goal properly.
– House goal should not eat into retirement funds.
– Diversify your SIP into multiple goals.
– This avoids future stress and shortfall.
– One goal should not disturb another.

» Finally
– You are on the right track with strong SIP discipline.
– Combining SWP and SIP is possible, but needs structure.
– Withdrawals should come from safer debt portion.
– Equity portion must stay untouched for long-term compounding.
– Rs.40,000 to Rs.50,000 monthly is heavy for Rs.20 lakh corpus.
– Plan SWP amount carefully to avoid draining principal.
– Keep tax and liquidity impact in mind.
– With yearly review and guidance from a Certified Financial Planner, your plan can succeed.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

..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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