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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 20, 2024

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 - Apr 16, 2024Hindi
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Please suggest five mutual funds for long term investment through SIP @8000 pm per fund

Ans: Investing in mutual funds through SIPs is a wise strategy for long-term wealth accumulation. Let's explore five mutual funds suitable for your investment objective.

Understanding Investment Goals
Before selecting funds, it's crucial to understand your investment goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon. This ensures alignment with your financial objectives.

Appreciating Your Initiative
Kudos to your initiative in planning for long-term investments through SIPs. Starting early and staying consistent is key to achieving financial success.

Evaluating Fund Options
When selecting mutual funds for SIP investment, consider factors such as fund performance, consistency, fund manager expertise, and investment philosophy.

Benefits of Actively Managed Funds
Actively managed funds offer several advantages over passive index funds, including:

Professional Management: Skilled fund managers make strategic investment decisions.
Market Adaptability: Funds can adjust to market conditions to optimize returns.
Outperformance Potential: Actively managed funds have the potential to outperform passive funds over the long term.
Recommended Mutual Funds
Large Cap Equity Fund: Provides stability and growth potential by investing in large, established companies with a track record of performance.

Mid Cap Equity Fund: Offers higher growth potential by investing in mid-sized companies with strong growth prospects.

Multi Cap Equity Fund: Provides diversification across large, mid, and small-cap stocks, offering exposure to different segments of the market.

Balanced Advantage Fund: Offers a balanced approach by dynamically managing asset allocation between equity and debt based on market conditions.

Sectoral or Thematic Fund: Invests in specific sectors or themes poised for growth, providing opportunities for higher returns but with higher risk.

Monitoring and Review
Regularly monitor the performance of your mutual funds and review your investment strategy periodically. Adjust allocations as needed based on changes in financial goals, market conditions, and risk tolerance.

Conclusion
Selecting the right mutual funds for SIP investment is crucial for long-term wealth creation. By choosing funds aligned with your investment goals and risk profile, staying disciplined with SIP contributions, and regularly reviewing your portfolio, you can achieve your financial objectives.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
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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Sir Please suggest best Mutual fund as i want to Do SIP for long term.
Ans: While I can't provide specific fund names, I can offer some general guidance:

Consider investing in diversified equity mutual funds for long-term wealth creation. These funds invest in a mix of large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks, offering growth potential while spreading out risk.
Look for funds with a proven track record of consistent performance over several market cycles. Past performance is not indicative of future results, but it can provide insights into a fund's management strategy and risk management practices.
Pay attention to factors like fund manager experience, expense ratio, and portfolio turnover. A seasoned fund manager with a solid investment approach can navigate market volatility more effectively.
Evaluate the fund's investment philosophy and strategy to ensure it aligns with your risk tolerance and investment goals. Some funds may focus on growth-oriented stocks, while others may prioritize value or dividend-paying stocks.
Consider your investment horizon and risk appetite. If you have a long-term investment horizon (e.g., 5 years or more) and are comfortable with market fluctuations, you may opt for equity-oriented funds. For shorter investment horizons or lower risk tolerance, consider balanced funds or debt funds.
Lastly, seek professional advice from a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or a trusted financial advisor. They can assess your financial situation, risk profile, and investment goals to recommend suitable mutual funds that align with your needs.
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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 27, 2024

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Please suggest me 5 mutual funds for Sip of 8000/- total amount monthly.....I want to invest for 8 years .....I'm 42 years of age ..
Ans: Investing Rs. 8,000 monthly for 8 years can help you create wealth effectively. Let us identify the ideal funds and strategy for you.

Key Points for Selection
Your investment horizon of 8 years is medium-term.

A balanced approach is suitable, combining equity and debt.

Diversification across fund categories ensures better risk management.

Suggested Allocation for Rs. 8,000 SIP
Large-Cap Fund (Rs. 2,000)
These funds invest in top 100 companies by market capitalisation.
They offer stability and steady growth.

Flexi-Cap Fund (Rs. 2,000)
These funds invest across market caps for diversification.
They provide growth and flexibility during market fluctuations.

Mid-Cap Fund (Rs. 1,500)
These funds focus on mid-sized companies with high growth potential.
They carry moderate risk and reward.

Balanced Advantage Fund (Rs. 1,500)
These funds dynamically adjust between equity and debt.
They are suitable for moderate risk and consistent returns.

Debt Fund (Rs. 1,000)
These funds offer stability and act as a hedge against equity volatility.
They are crucial for meeting liquidity needs.

Benefits of Actively Managed Funds
Active funds allow fund managers to outperform benchmarks.

They adjust to market trends for better returns.

Avoid index funds due to limited flexibility and performance dependency.

A Certified Financial Planner can guide you in selecting high-quality funds.

Tax Considerations
Equity funds attract LTCG tax above Rs. 1.25 lakh at 12.5%.

Short-term capital gains (STCG) are taxed at 20%.

Debt funds are taxed as per your income tax slab.

Plan redemptions to minimise tax liabilities.

Recommendations for Effective SIP Management
Automate SIPs to maintain discipline.

Increase SIP amounts annually by 10–15% with income growth.

Review the fund performance periodically.

Stay invested during market corrections for better compounding.

Emergency and Risk Management
Maintain an emergency fund of 6–12 months' expenses.

Ensure adequate health insurance for yourself and dependents.

Have life insurance of 10–15 times your annual income.

Final Insights
Your decision to invest Rs. 8,000 monthly is excellent. A well-diversified mutual fund portfolio aligned with your goals can achieve significant growth. Focus on consistency, discipline, and periodic reviews for optimal results.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

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Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025Hindi
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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

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1840 Answers  |Ask -

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

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025
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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.

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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

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College = formality

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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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