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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |9251 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 13, 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
Faiz Question by Faiz on Jun 12, 2025
Money

Sir, Thanks a lot Sir ... The information you provided was excatly what i needed Regards Faiz

Ans: You're welcome! If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask. Best wishes on your financial journey!

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.
Money

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |7115 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Sep 09, 2024

Career
Sir, thank you very much for your guidance. Much appreciate the quality inputs. May I request for the link / copy of one year before ‘lengthy’ answer (unable to trace back); that would be of much helpful! Kind Regards
Ans: 1) Visit the college campus & your CSE Department. Spend around 2-3 hours, if the college has not yet opened. 2) Check the reviews/do thorough research about the college in Google/Quora. Please note, no college can be 100% perfect and the perception/opinion of the students about the college differs from one another. Keep in mind any negative evaluations of universities, but avoid making predetermined conclusions until you get them validated after joining the college, as the internet is flooded with information with differing opinions. 3) If the course curriculum is available on the college’s website, go through it. 4) Try to research your favorite subjects in Google / YouTube / LinkedIn etc. till college opens. 5) Now, create your professional-looking LinkedIn Profile. 6) It is advisable to create a new professional email ID (preferably Gmail ID) like ‘ravikant_btech or ravikant_tech or ravikant_cse_tech’ etc. (for LinkedIn/Job Applications/Certificate Courses) INSTEAD of using the same personal email ID that you might be having already. 7) You can provide your email ID to the college if it stresses for the same ID when you applied for the college No issue. 8) Have a limited/like-minded friends circle though you can interact with all the students of your classroom. 9) Involve in co/extra-curricular activities, related to your domain or which will be of your interest. This will help you in the long run for Campus Interviews/Abroad Education etc. 10) Avoid skipping any classes and take notes, provided by the Faculties. Class notes are more important for all tests/exams in your college. 11) Have a good/professional relationship with all faculties of the CS department. 12) Create a separate note-book for doubts for each subject. 13) Whenever doubt-clearing sessions are conducted, fully utilise them and get all your doubts cleared and note down to avoid 11th hour pressure before each test/exam. 14) Important: Maintain a decent SGPA/CGPA of 8.5 and above without any backlogs/arrears. 15) After 1st Semester is over, start learning and/or upgrading new skills from NPTEL, LinkedIn, Coursera, Upgrad, Internshala etc. and / or recommended by your faculties. 16) Once you complete the online/offline short-term courses & get certificates, immediately update them in LinkedIn. 17) MOST IMPORTANT: Put job alerts in LinkedIn, related to your domain (CSE), get notifications, go through the JD (Job Description) of each job vacancy to know the job market trends and prepare yourself for the same. 18) Whenever you get an opportunity, interact with the 2nd to 4th year students & get their advice which will enable you to plan after completing each academic year. 19) Whenever Campus Recruitments are taking place, if time permits, interact with the last year students after they attend the interview, to know about the assessment tests, interviews, group discussion, selection process & companies visited. 20) Placement cell of most of the colleges displays the names of the recruiters/companies visited during the last 3-years. Whenever time permits, do a research about each company by visiting its website. 21) It is advisable to start preparing for assessment tests of Campus Recruitment, once you enter into 4th year. 22) Decide in advance in 4th year itself, whether you want to go for the job after your BTech or to pursue your Masters in India or Abroad. 23) If decided for Masters, start preparing well for Entrance Exams/IELTS/TOEFL/PTE etc. whichever is applicable. 24) Before approaching an Abroad Education Consultant, conduct thorough study on the countries and universities you are interested in. 25) Please note, your college cannot arrange to provide internships for all students. If you get, well and good. 26) If not, you should start trying through LinkedIn, Internshala, any other Internship platforms, or through your parents/their colleagues in any of their companies for Internship (instead of relying only on your college). 27) As far as the Campus Interview is concerned, prepare a good/professional-looking Resume just in 1-page as you will be a fresher. Use ‘cultivatedculture’ Resume Building Platform which is very user-friendly and free also. 28) To prepare for the online or offline interview, prepare yourself with Mock Interviews using your mobile phone with the help of your family members/friends. Conduct at least 10 mock interviews, correcting yourself in each one for your responses to the questions as well as your body language. 29) Preparing around 20-25 technical / non-technical questions & answers for the same in advance will further boost your confidence when you face actual interviews. 30) When applying for campus interviews, prioritize organizations with job descriptions that fit your profile, hobbies, credentials, qualifications, location, job title, and company reputation. 31) However, have Plan B & Plan C if campus recruitment does not work out. I Hope, I have covered almost all aspects with value-additions. I am supposed NOT to provide any direct link here. Please visit Coursera, UpGrade, Internshala etc., go through the Courses available and make your son join. It is also advisable to seek guidance of his College Faculties who are the first best sources to provide information on this.

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |9251 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

...Read more

Anu

Anu Krishna  |1633 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Jun 27, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 24, 2025Hindi
Relationship
Hi Anu I'm 35, recently widowed. My husband passed away in a road accident. I was in a state of shock when he left me. I took a break from everything and resumed office only six months ago. A young man from my office, whose engagement was cancelled last year, has started showing interest in me. I don't know if he is doing it out of sympathy that I am a widow. But I am beginning to enjoy his company. I am surprised and also worried if it is too soon. I never believed there would be another guy in my life after my husband. Do you think I am feeling lonely? He's 37, gentle and respectful. We haven't kissed or got intimate. No flirting either. We like each other's company and there is an instant spark how we light each others' lives. I don't know if I am open to love, if this relationship will work. I don't know yet but how do I check if I am emotionally vulnerable? My family and in-laws would disapprove if I moved on 'so soon.' Is it wrong to date someone so early? I am feeling guilty too.
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
I am truly sorry for your loss.
And NO, it is not wrong to date someone; early or not is something that is very subjective in nature. It is possible that family and in-law may disapprove of you moving on, but over time when they realize that you are searching for a true companion and if the person is someone that they can trust, there maybe no reason why they will object.

Now, here comes a reality check questions;
- Are you jumping into another relationship after you have healed from your grief and you feel that you are ready for a new journey
OR
- Are you impulsively giving into your feelings of loneliness and this gentleman seems to fit the label of someone who is caring and keeps you distracted from your grief?

If it's the first case, then I am sure you know that it feels right; then it's just a matter of your family understanding it when they can...
But if it's the second case, please exercise caution as it can backfire leaving you feeling more lonely and less fulfilled...

Evaluate it keeping your emotions aside and I am sure you will come to the right decision.

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

Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |7115 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jun 27, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 26, 2025Hindi
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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