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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 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
Bhanumati Question by Bhanumati on Jul 20, 2024Hindi
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Money

Thank you sir I will try to increase SIP. I have a Max life insurance policy which cost 25000 per year and will mature in 2033. It will give me 300000. Thank you for your suggestion.

Ans: Your Max Life insurance policy costs Rs. 25,000 per year. It will mature in 2033, giving you Rs. 3,00,000.

Recommendation to Surrender
1. Low Returns:

The expected maturity amount indicates low returns. You can achieve better growth elsewhere.

2. Surrender the Policy:

Consider surrendering the policy. Redirect the premium to mutual funds.

Reinvest in Mutual Funds
1. Higher Growth Potential:

Mutual funds offer higher returns over the long term. They can significantly increase your corpus.

2. Diversify:

Invest in a mix of equity and balanced funds. This provides growth and stability.

Final Insights
Surrender the low-return policy. Reinvest the Rs. 25,000 annual premium in mutual funds for better returns.

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

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 29, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 30, 2023Hindi
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Hello Sir, I am 43 yrs old and have 35k monthly SIP as below.. Kindly suggest if any changes needed. I am planning to increase it to 10% by next month. Asset Class/Scheme Name Category Risk Appetite Existing sip amount Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip-Reg(G) Blend Very High 3000 Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund-Reg(G) Blend Very High 3000 ICICI Pru Value Discovery Fund(G) Value / Contra Very High 3000 Aditya Birla SL Floating Rate Fund(G) Floater Fund Low To Moderate 1500 DSP Global Innovation FoF-Reg(G) Global Very High 3000 HDFC Short Term Debt Fund(G) Short Duration Fund Moderate 2000 Kotak Balanced Advantage Fund-Reg(G) Hybrid Very High 2000 Kotak Small Cap Fund(G) Mid / Small Very High 3000 ICICI Pru Savings Fund(G) Low Duration Fund Moderate 1500 HDFC Flexi Cap Fund(G) Value / Contra Very High 3000 DSP Midcap Fund-Reg(G) Mid / Small Very High 3000 ICICI Pru Balanced Advantage Fund(G) Hybrid High 2000 Mirae Asset Equity Savings Fund-Reg(G) Hybrid Moderately High 2000 DSP Quant Fund-Reg(G) Quality Very High 3000
Ans: Optimizing Your Monthly SIP Portfolio for Long-Term Growth

Your proactive approach to investing through monthly SIPs reflects a commitment to building wealth and achieving your financial goals. Let's review your current portfolio and make informed recommendations for potential adjustments.

Assessing Your Existing SIP Portfolio

Your SIP portfolio comprises a diverse mix of asset classes and fund categories, catering to various risk appetites and investment objectives. Here's a brief overview:

Blend Funds: Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund and Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund offer exposure to both large and mid-cap segments, providing growth potential with a blend of stability.
Value/Contra Funds: ICICI Pru Value Discovery Fund and HDFC Flexi Cap Fund focus on identifying undervalued stocks, potentially offering attractive returns over the long term.
Floater Fund: Aditya Birla SL Floating Rate Fund provides stability and income generation through investments in floating-rate securities.
Global Fund: DSP Global Innovation FoF offers exposure to global innovation-driven companies, diversifying geographical risk and tapping into international growth opportunities.
Debt Funds: HDFC Short Term Debt Fund and ICICI Pru Savings Fund provide stability and income generation with moderate risk exposure.
Identifying Areas for Potential Adjustment

Risk Assessment: Given the high-risk nature of several funds in your portfolio, it's essential to ensure alignment with your risk tolerance and investment horizon. Reassess your risk appetite and consider rebalancing your portfolio accordingly.

Overlapping Holdings: Review your portfolio for any overlapping holdings or duplicate exposures across funds. Consolidating similar investments can streamline your portfolio and optimize diversification.

Performance Evaluation: Evaluate the historical performance of each fund relative to its benchmark and peer group. Identify underperforming funds and consider replacing them with alternatives that offer better prospects for growth.

Asset Allocation: Maintain a balanced asset allocation across equity, debt, and hybrid funds to manage risk effectively and achieve your long-term financial goals.

Recommendations for Adjustments

Increase SIP Amount: As you plan to increase your SIP allocation by 10%, consider allocating additional funds to well-performing funds with proven track records and growth potential.

Streamline Portfolio: Consider consolidating your portfolio by trimming or eliminating underperforming funds. Focus on retaining funds that align with your investment objectives and risk tolerance.

Explore New Opportunities: With the additional investment amount, consider exploring new funds or asset classes that complement your existing holdings and provide opportunities for diversification and growth.

Seeking Professional Guidance

As a Certified Financial Planner, I recommend conducting a comprehensive portfolio review to identify areas for optimization and align your investments with your financial goals. Professional guidance can help navigate market uncertainties and maximize your investment outcomes.

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 Jul 16, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 19, 2024Hindi
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I am currently 51 and willing to retire at 56.current sips done is 1.33L per month.Started investing in June 2021 and so far invested value is 58 L and market value seen as 77 L..Now i am thinking to increase SIP by additinal 1.4 L per month so will it be good to increase sips for next 5 years .Pl advise.
Ans: Current Investment Analysis
You are investing Rs. 1.33 lakhs per month in SIPs. Since June 2021, your investment of Rs. 58 lakhs has grown to Rs. 77 lakhs. This shows good growth in your portfolio.

Increasing SIPs
You plan to increase your SIPs by Rs. 1.4 lakhs per month for the next 5 years. This will significantly boost your investment corpus. Regular investments in diversified funds can yield good returns over time.

Evaluating Investment Strategy
Increasing SIPs is a good strategy. Ensure you diversify across large cap, midcap, and small cap funds. Actively managed funds can offer better returns than index funds.

Balancing Risk and Returns
As you are nearing retirement, balance your portfolio to manage risk. Consider allocating a portion to debt funds for stability. This ensures safety and steady returns.

Planning for Retirement
With increased SIPs, your retirement corpus will grow substantially. Review your portfolio regularly. Adjust based on market conditions and financial goals.

Insurance and Emergency Fund
Ensure you have adequate life and health insurance. Maintain an emergency fund covering 6-12 months of expenses. This provides financial security for unforeseen events.

Final Insights
Increasing your SIPs by Rs. 1.4 lakhs per month is a good strategy. Ensure diversification and balance risk. Regular reviews and adjustments will help you achieve your retirement goals.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

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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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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.

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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