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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6625 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 18, 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 12, 2024Hindi
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Please suggest a few Mutual funds for SHORT term investing Lumpsum 20 lakhs

Ans: Short-Term Investing with a Lump Sum (?20 Lakhs)
Looking to invest a ?20 lakh lump sum for a short period? Let's explore some options that prioritize safety and potential returns.

Understanding Short-Term Investing:

Time Horizon: Short-term investments are typically for 1-3 years. Since you have a short investment horizon, capital preservation becomes more important.

Lower Risk Appetite: With less time for market recovery, high-risk equity funds might not be suitable. We need options with lower volatility.

Suitable Investment Options:

Debt Mutual Funds (Debt MFs): Debt MFs invest in fixed-income securities like government bonds and corporate bonds. They offer relatively stable returns with lower risk compared to equity funds. Actively managed debt funds aim to generate returns that outperform the fixed income market. Actively managed funds come with higher fees compared to passively managed funds.

Liquid Funds/Ultra Short-Term Debt Funds: These funds invest in very short-term debt instruments, offering high liquidity and potential for steady returns. They are suitable for parking your money for a few months to a year.

Fixed Deposits (FDs): FDs offer guaranteed returns but may not always keep pace with inflation. However, they are a safe option for short-term goals.

Choosing the Right Option:

Investment Goal: Consider your specific short-term goal and the time frame until you need the money.

Risk Tolerance: If you need high liquidity or are uncomfortable with market fluctuations, prioritize debt funds or FDs.

Diversification:

Spreading Risk: Consider splitting your investment between debt funds with varying maturities to manage interest rate risk.
Consulting a Professional:

Personalized Advice: A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) can assess your risk tolerance, investment goals, and suggest suitable debt funds or FDs based on your needs.
Remember:

Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Debt markets are also subject to interest rate fluctuations, which can impact returns.

By carefully considering your goals and risk tolerance, you can choose an investment option that offers a good balance of safety and potential returns for your short-term needs.

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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Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6625 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 02, 2024

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Please suggest a few good Mutual Funds for Short Term Lumpsum investment of 20-30 lakhs
Ans: For a short-term lump sum investment of 20-30 lakhs, consider mutual funds that prioritize capital preservation, liquidity, and potential for modest returns. Here are some options to consider:

Liquid Funds: Ideal for short-term investments, liquid funds invest in short-term debt instruments with high credit quality and low interest rate risk. They offer liquidity and stability while providing slightly higher returns than traditional savings accounts.
Ultra Short Duration Funds: These funds invest in a mix of money market instruments and short-term debt securities, offering slightly higher returns than liquid funds with a slightly longer investment horizon.
Low Duration Funds: Low duration funds invest in short-term debt instruments with slightly longer maturities compared to liquid and ultra short duration funds. They provide a balance between returns and risk, suitable for investors with a moderate risk appetite.
Short Duration Funds: These funds invest in a diversified portfolio of debt and money market instruments with a duration typically ranging from one to three years. They offer higher potential returns than ultra short and low duration funds, with a slightly higher level of risk.
Bank Fixed Deposits (FDs): While not mutual funds, bank FDs offer a safe and predictable return on investment for short-term parking of funds. Consider spreading your investment across multiple banks to benefit from deposit insurance coverage.
Before investing, assess your investment horizon, risk tolerance, and liquidity requirements. Ensure that the chosen funds align with your financial goals and investment objectives. Additionally, review the track record, expense ratios, and fund manager credentials of each mutual fund to make an informed decision.

Consulting with a Certified Financial Planner can provide personalized guidance and help you select the most suitable mutual funds based on your specific financial situation and objectives.

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6625 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 09, 2024

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I want invest lumpsum 5lakhs in long term 20yrs mutual fund..can anyone pls advice n suggest good mutual funds for long term.. Quant small cap fund is in my mind
Ans: Investing a lump sum of Rs. 5 lakhs with a long-term horizon of 20 years can be a powerful strategy to build wealth. However, selecting the right mutual fund is crucial to achieving your financial goals. While the Quant Small Cap Fund might seem appealing due to its potential for high returns, it's important to evaluate your investment choice carefully, considering the risks and rewards.

Considerations for Long-Term Investment
Risk Tolerance: Small-cap funds are high-risk, high-reward investments. They have the potential for significant returns but also come with higher volatility. Over 20 years, this could lead to substantial growth, but you must be comfortable with potential fluctuations.

Diversification: Instead of putting all your money into a small-cap fund, consider diversifying across different types of equity funds. This reduces risk and ensures a more balanced portfolio.

Fund Performance: Look at the historical performance of the fund over different market cycles. While past performance doesn't guarantee future returns, it gives an idea of how the fund has managed different market conditions.

Fund Manager’s Expertise: The expertise of the fund manager plays a significant role in the fund’s performance. Consider the track record of the fund manager in managing small-cap funds or other equity funds.

Expense Ratio: Lower expense ratios help in maximizing your returns over the long term. Ensure that the fund you choose has a competitive expense ratio.

Suggested Mutual Funds for Long-Term Investment
Given your 20-year horizon, it's wise to consider a mix of funds that can offer growth potential while managing risk. Here are a few categories and examples of funds you might consider:

Large-Cap Funds: These invest in companies with a large market capitalization, offering stability and steady growth.

Recommended Fund Type: Large-cap equity funds.
Benefit: Lower risk compared to small-cap funds with consistent returns.
Multi-Cap/Flexi-Cap Funds: These funds invest across large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks, offering a diversified approach.

Recommended Fund Type: Multi-cap or Flexi-cap funds.
Benefit: Balanced risk with exposure to various segments of the market.
Small-Cap Funds: If you are comfortable with high risk and volatility, small-cap funds can be considered for a portion of your investment.

Recommended Fund Type: Small-cap equity funds.
Benefit: High growth potential, suitable for a small portion of your portfolio.
Mid-Cap Funds: These funds invest in medium-sized companies that have the potential for significant growth, offering a balance between risk and return.

Recommended Fund Type: Mid-cap equity funds.
Benefit: Higher growth potential than large-caps, with less volatility than small-caps.
Why Consider Diversification?
While the Quant Small Cap Fund might offer high returns, it also comes with higher risk. Diversifying your investment across different fund categories can help balance this risk. For example:

Large-Cap Fund: Invest Rs. 2 lakhs.
Flexi-Cap Fund: Invest Rs. 2 lakhs.
Small-Cap Fund: Invest Rs. 1 lakh.
This strategy ensures that your portfolio can withstand market fluctuations while still participating in the growth potential of small-cap stocks.

Final Thoughts
Investing for 20 years provides you with the opportunity to benefit from compounding, but it’s essential to make well-informed decisions. Diversification, understanding your risk tolerance, and selecting funds with a proven track record are key to achieving your long-term financial goals. Consulting a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) could also help in personalizing your investment strategy to align with your financial goals.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6625 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Sep 17, 2024

Money
I want to invest lumpsump 20 lakh in mutual fund for 10 years can you suggest me some good funds where can i get 17-18 percent return per anum
Ans: First, it's great that you're planning to invest Rs 20 lakh for the next 10 years. Long-term investments give your money time to grow, and mutual funds are a strong option. However, aiming for an annual return of 17-18% is quite optimistic and not very realistic for the long term. A more practical expectation for equity mutual funds would be around 10-12% per annum. This is achievable with the right strategy, but remember that no returns are guaranteed, as mutual fund returns depend on market conditions.

Equity markets can be volatile, and patience is essential to let your investment grow while managing the risks.

Evaluating Risk and Return
Before we dive into potential funds, it’s important to understand the balance between risk and return. Higher returns usually come with higher risks. Mutual funds that offer the chance of higher returns, like equity-oriented funds, also expose you to greater volatility.

Equity Funds: These funds primarily invest in stocks and can potentially offer high returns over the long term, but they carry significant risk, especially in the short term.

Balanced or Hybrid Funds: These invest in both equities and debt instruments, providing a more balanced return. The risk is lower than pure equity funds, but the returns will likely be more moderate.

Sectoral Funds: These focus on specific sectors like infrastructure, technology, or healthcare. While these can deliver high returns in a sectoral boom, they are much riskier because they depend on the performance of just one sector.

Setting Realistic Expectations
Given your 10-year horizon, expecting consistent annual returns of 17-18% is unrealistic. However, with the right selection of funds and proper management, a 10-12% annual return is a reasonable expectation for equity mutual funds over this period. Remember:

Markets Fluctuate: Mutual funds reflect market conditions, so your returns will vary from year to year.

Long-Term Commitment: Staying invested for the full 10 years and beyond will help you ride out market downturns.

Diversification Helps: A diversified portfolio across different types of equity funds can help manage risk while aiming for growth.

Disadvantages of Direct and Index Funds
You’re aiming for high returns, and index funds or direct plans may seem appealing due to their lower costs. However, they may not align with your return expectations. Here's why:

Index Funds: These funds replicate market indices and usually deliver moderate, market-average returns. While they have lower fees, their potential for high returns is limited as they merely follow the overall market’s performance. This is unlikely to meet your 10-12% target.

Direct Funds: While they have lower expense ratios than regular funds, direct funds lack the personalized advice and active management that you can get through a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Without professional guidance, it’s easy to make poor investment decisions, especially during market volatility.

To achieve your financial goals, it's better to invest in actively managed regular funds with the help of a CFP. Active management allows fund managers to capitalize on market opportunities and provide a potentially better return than index funds.

Fund Categories to Consider
To achieve a 10-12% annual return, your portfolio should be diversified across various types of mutual funds. Each type has a different risk-return profile, and spreading your investment across these categories can help you balance risk and return.

1. Large-Cap and Flexi-Cap Funds
Large-cap funds invest in stable, established companies. These funds tend to be less volatile compared to small and mid-cap funds and can deliver steady, moderate returns over the long term. Flexi-cap funds invest across companies of various sizes, offering more flexibility and the chance for higher returns.

Pros: They offer relatively stable returns and are less risky than mid or small-cap funds.
Cons: The returns are moderate compared to more aggressive funds.
Investing a portion of your Rs 20 lakh in large-cap or flexi-cap funds can provide stability to your portfolio.

2. Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Funds
Mid-cap and small-cap funds invest in smaller companies with higher growth potential. These funds tend to be more volatile but have delivered higher returns over long investment periods.

Pros: These funds offer significant growth potential and can help you achieve higher returns.
Cons: They come with more risk, especially during market downturns.
A strategic allocation to these funds can help you reach the 10-12% annual return target. However, you should be prepared for short-term volatility.

3. Multi-Cap Funds
Multi-cap funds invest in a mix of large, mid, and small-cap companies. This broad diversification helps balance risk and return, providing more growth potential than large-cap funds alone, while being less risky than pure small-cap or mid-cap funds.

Pros: They offer the potential for higher returns by balancing investments across companies of different sizes.
Cons: While diversified, they are still exposed to market risks and can experience short-term losses.
Allocating a portion of your Rs 20 lakh to multi-cap funds can help spread risk while offering growth opportunities.

4. Thematic and Sectoral Funds
Thematic or sectoral funds focus on specific industries, such as technology, healthcare, or infrastructure. These funds can deliver high returns if the sector performs well, but they are also highly volatile and risky due to their narrow focus.

Pros: High growth potential if the sector experiences a boom.
Cons: High risk due to dependency on a single sector. A downturn in the sector can significantly affect returns.
You could allocate a small portion of your investment to thematic or sectoral funds for additional growth potential, but it’s important to limit exposure to avoid too much concentration risk.

Benefits of Investing Through a Certified Financial Planner
A Certified Financial Planner can help you navigate the complexities of mutual fund investments. Here’s how a CFP adds value:

Expert Guidance: A CFP can recommend a tailored portfolio based on your goals, risk tolerance, and market conditions.

Active Fund Management: Actively managed funds often outperform passive index funds, especially when market conditions fluctuate. A CFP can help you choose funds with strong management teams that focus on achieving above-average returns.

Tax Planning: A CFP can also help you structure your investments in a tax-efficient manner, ensuring that your gains are optimized while keeping tax liability low.

By working with a CFP, you ensure that your Rs 20 lakh investment is professionally managed and monitored regularly.

Diversifying Your Investment Portfolio
For your Rs 20 lakh investment, diversification is key to achieving your 10-12% annual return target while managing risk. Here’s a sample strategy to consider:

40-50% in Large-Cap or Flexi-Cap Funds: These funds offer stability and growth by investing in established companies. This portion helps anchor your portfolio with moderate returns.

20-25% in Mid-Cap Funds: Mid-cap funds provide higher growth potential and add a bit more risk to the mix for better long-term returns.

15-20% in Small-Cap Funds: Small-cap funds are more volatile but can offer higher returns over a 10-year horizon. This portion helps boost potential growth.

5-10% in Sectoral or Thematic Funds: These funds add a high-risk, high-reward element to your portfolio. Only a small percentage should be allocated to manage concentration risk.

Finally
Achieving an annual return of 10-12% is realistic over a 10-year period if you invest wisely in a well-diversified portfolio of mutual funds. While 17-18% returns are unrealistic in most market scenarios, equity mutual funds have the potential to provide solid returns, especially when invested for the long term.

A mix of large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap, and sectoral funds will give your portfolio the balance it needs to grow while managing risk. To make the most of your investment, partnering with a Certified Financial Planner will ensure your funds are actively managed, regularly reviewed, and adjusted to suit your goals.

By staying committed to your investment for 10 years and being patient through market ups and downs, you stand a strong chance of reaching your financial objectives.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Latest Questions
Anu

Anu Krishna  |1201 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Oct 15, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Oct 07, 2024Hindi
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Relationship
Mam i am a 52 year ols women i have never had a secure relationship only who wanted to have s.Marriage in proposals too dint work for me. At late 40 age i met a guy it was all good till start 1 year but since 3 years we just fight my fault to as i have no family no friends and all i have to look after 2 aged parents and i am deep involved my life is just that. This relationship is good to talk on phone as all i do is talk my problems 24 by 7 365 days which i understands upsets him. But i see no effort too from him for meeting planning dates and if i do i pay for it all he never pays . I lost interest felt disappointed after going on saying he never tries to make plans talk future his family finance. I am not sure what i should do stay or live my life alone which i was always doing.
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
Start fresh and if you had a clean slate, what would you want to draw on it?
All your miseries or what you actually want from life?
When you meet someone new and you dump your set of issues on them, how exactly do you think they are going to be interested in taking you out on a date?
Your prospective life partner is not a dumping yard for your life's problems BUT a person that is going to marry you and support you and who you can trust. And will you start this relationship by actually talking only about your problems? Honestly, you need to ask yourself if you will be interested in a guy who keeps ranting about all things going wrong...
Establish a connection by being on a positive ground and showing the other person that you care and also are interested in knowing about them. This interest will let them lower their guard down and actually connect with you at an emotional level and then you can pursue this as a potential life partner association...somewhere down the line, they will be genuinely interested in being a part of your challenges and that's when you make them your strength to solve these challenges. Am I making sense to you?
Do you see how you have been sabotaging your own future? Dust yourself, become genuinely interested in people not to dump your problems on them but to make a genuine connection and watch how things change for you. Prioritize your life not your problems!

All the best!
Anu Krishna
Mind Coach|NLP Trainer|Author
Drop in: www.unfear.io
Reach me: Facebook: anukrish07/ AND LinkedIn: anukrishna-joyofserving/

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Anu Krishna  |1201 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Oct 15, 2024

Relationship
Hi, I am a 36yo guy. Married and have 2 beautiful kids. I am a naturally happy person in life and have achieved reasonable success through my hard work. From last 3 years i am in love with a married girl who works at an office near my workplace. We two believe that we are best suited for each other in every aspect i.e. mental, emotional and physical. We share a great chemistry that we never felt with our respective spouses. We decided that we both cant leave our spouses because of our kids. But very often she keeps on getting crazy and tortures and taunts me that i love my wife more and doesnt give value to her. She is mostly unhappy about this in her life and many times abuses me when she sees that i am a naturally happy and content person. I have even told her that if she wants we can take divorce from our spouses and move-in together. But she never accepts that also and keeps on making my life hard. But i do believe that we both love each other like crazy and my sexual life with her is just out of this world. I have a very high libido and she satisfies me like no other girl. My question is how can i make her sane and make her trust me that i am more inclined towards her?
Ans: Dear Avinash,
I am sure by now you realize that having parallel lives is not easy. Maybe you are at that stage where a decision must be made...
You owe at least that much to your respective spouses who have nothing to do this life of yours...

The lady in question wants the cake and wants to eat it too...obviously she needs to see that if she wants her marriage, then you are going to keep your marriage as well and with that all the insecurities that arise must also be accepted as this is something that the two of you got into willingly...did she not know that a relationship outside of marriage comes with its set of challenges like insecurities, doubts, fears, instability and more? I guess it's not about you making her sane and trust you BUT for the two fo you to come to some sort of a decision on where all this is leading?

Again, I say this...leading two lives in parallel ain't easy; especially on an emotional level!

All the best!
Anu Krishna
Mind Coach|NLP Trainer|Author
Drop in: www.unfear.io
Reach me: Facebook: anukrish07/ AND LinkedIn: anukrishna-joyofserving/

...Read more

Anu

Anu Krishna  |1201 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Oct 15, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Oct 01, 2024
Relationship
Hi Anu, I have been reading since long the advices you give to others expecting that there can be an identical issue which i am suffering, i am 48yrs and my wife 42yrs married for 22yrs & having grown up children, over period of time my wife has become more dominating expecting me to listen and follow everything what she says, everything was going fine for until last six years when she was following me as a dutiful wife, since last 6-7yrs she is disinterested in sex also, i sit and speak with her trying to address all the issues, but things get back to ZERO within days, she has turned very short tempered and egoistic, shouting and using foul language in rage at times, we both are highly educated and give lectures at college with limited reasonable income, the problem is she compares her life to others and disturbs our life, ours is a marriage against parents so both the side relatives are little indifferent and we are not extroverts or that persons who are outgoing to change all that, we just lead our life within ourselves and try to help the relatives whenever they come to us. My question is that is it not cruel for a wife to deprive the husband of sex and develop unreasonable expectations comparing the lifestyles of others. when at peace my wife suggests that i can look outside for sex and she is ok with it but i don't believe in it and in her words, at times in rage she keeps asking for divorce uttering foul language, i keep reminding her that emotions, anger and rage shall only aggravate the issues we should know what we actually want and seek it speaking to each other, i feel that my wife doesn't know what she wants from herself or from me or from life, Anu, Is this all that pre-menopause frustrations which is building up or is it some mental issues which are surfacing due to negligence from me or our relatives? Please suggest? Thank you
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
Let's understand it in 3 ways..

1) Whether your wife is in pre-menopause or perimenopause or menopause stage can be determined only by a doctor. A lot of material floats on the internet convincing people of one over the other BUT it's important to get it validated by a doctor that will help your wife understand what is going on with her body and how it impacts her mind...

2) It is also possible that the current sex routine maybe boring to her and infusing it with some spice can get things going? So, think out of the box here...

3) Also, you might want to think if the emotional bond between the two of you has broken down; women respond to sex easier when they feel emotionally connected and safe with their man...

What will be useful in your situation is: to reconnect with her and aim to connect with her emotionally. This will help her in conveying to you what might be the problem and then it gets easier to solve it or take necessary steps...

All the best!
Anu Krishna
Mind Coach|NLP Trainer|Author
Drop in: www.unfear.io
Reach me: Facebook: anukrish07/ AND LinkedIn: anukrishna-joyofserving/

...Read more

Milind

Milind Vadjikar  |418 Answers  |Ask -

Insurance, Stocks, MF, PF Expert - Answered on Oct 15, 2024

Milind

Milind Vadjikar  |418 Answers  |Ask -

Insurance, Stocks, MF, PF Expert - Answered on Oct 15, 2024

Milind

Milind Vadjikar  |418 Answers  |Ask -

Insurance, Stocks, MF, PF Expert - Answered on Oct 15, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Oct 15, 2024Hindi
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Money
Hi Milind I am 52 years old single woman, from small town and who has worked hard ro reach to level in corporate with good salary. I have a corpus of about 5 crores and small flat in tier 2 town. I dont enjoy yhis new job wirh reputed brand and at a senior level as i dont find ut engaging or doing justice to role. My parents are old and i worry for rhem ans want to spent rkmw with them. With this corpus can i take a call to leave job and get decent income of atleast 2-2.5 lac a month. I have been quite action oriented, but now my mind and body feel exhasuted and also fear rhat without a job i will become lazy. Also living with parents will be a joy, at the same time resteictive to eating or socializing. I am quite concious ,if i leave this well paying ,senior role job with a big renonwed corporate which many of my friends aspired for and whole lot of people congratulated me ,they will think i was not able to justify my role,hence left . I dont want that impression at last stage of career as whole life i have been seen as hard working ,passionate professional. Such rhoughts are taking toll on my mental health. Please advise what should be done
Ans: Hello;

With the corpus that you have (5 Cr) you may buy an immediate annuity from a life insurance company and can expect to receive monthly payout of 2.5 L (pre tax)from the very next month. 6% annuity rate considered, if you shop around and negotiate you may get a better rate.

You can opt for increasing annuity to account for inflation and return of purchase price to your nominee, after you.

Ensure good health insurance policy to cover yourself and your parents.

Think about some vocation which you would like to pursue passionately after retirement.

You are seeking retirement from regular 9 to 5 job not from pursuit of your passion/goals.

It could be in the role of an consultant, counselor or educator.

You should take the decision which you feel is appropriate for you irrespective of what people comment because they will comment in any case.

Learn to ignore such people.

Happy Retirement!!

...Read more

Milind

Milind Vadjikar  |418 Answers  |Ask -

Insurance, Stocks, MF, PF Expert - Answered on Oct 15, 2024

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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