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Should I invest in a mutual fund or an education policy for my child?

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8626 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 25, 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 - Jul 17, 2024Hindi
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Thankyou for the indepth analysis and encouragement.. im planning to do my sip's in a manner of increasing investment by 15 percent every year .. is it better to do a sip on a mutual fund or begin a tailor-made education policy for an amount of 1 crore for my childs education, within the next 15 years sir? If yes, plz do mention the name of funds, i will do more research

Ans: You have a noble goal to secure your child's education. Increasing SIP investments by 15% annually is a wise approach.

Systematic Investment Plan (SIP)
SIPs in mutual funds can offer substantial growth over time.

Benefits of SIPs
Compounding: Regular investments compound over time. This leads to exponential growth.

Rupee Cost Averaging: Investing a fixed amount regularly reduces the impact of market volatility.

Flexibility: You can start with a small amount and increase it. This matches your plan to increase investments by 15% yearly.

Liquidity: Mutual funds offer easy liquidity. You can withdraw funds when needed for your child's education.

Professional Management: Actively managed funds have professional fund managers. They aim to outperform the market.

Disadvantages of SIPs
Market Risk: SIPs are subject to market risks. However, long-term investments typically smooth out these risks.
Education Policy
Education policies are often insurance products combined with investment.

Benefits of Education Policy
Guaranteed Returns: They offer guaranteed returns. This provides a sense of security.

Insurance Coverage: They often include insurance. This can be beneficial in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Disadvantages of Education Policy
Lower Returns: Returns are usually lower compared to mutual funds. This affects the overall growth of your investment.

Less Flexibility: These policies are less flexible. Early withdrawal may incur penalties.

High Costs: They come with higher costs and charges. This reduces the net returns.

Why SIPs are Better
Higher Returns: Mutual funds, especially equity funds, offer higher returns. This helps in achieving the 1 crore goal faster.

Flexibility and Liquidity: SIPs provide flexibility in investments. They also offer easy liquidity when needed.

Professional Management: Actively managed funds can outperform market indices. This leads to better growth.

Investing Through a Certified Financial Planner
Professional Guidance: A CFP can guide you to choose the best mutual funds. They provide valuable insights and manage your investments.

Regular Funds: Investing through a CFP offers advisory services. Direct funds lack this professional guidance.

Disadvantages of Direct Funds
Lack of Advice: Direct funds do not offer advisory services. This can lead to mismanagement of funds.

Higher Effort: Managing direct funds requires more effort and knowledge. It may not be suitable for everyone.

Avoid Index Funds
Disadvantages: Index funds simply mimic the market. They lack professional management.

Lower Returns: Actively managed funds often outperform index funds. Fund managers adjust for market conditions.

Final Insights
Increasing SIP investments by 15% annually is a wise decision. SIPs in mutual funds offer higher returns, flexibility, and professional management. Education policies, while secure, provide lower returns and less flexibility. Consult a Certified Financial Planner for personalized advice. They can help create a tailored plan to achieve your goal of 1 crore for your child's education.

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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Hi Sir, I am investing in SIP since last 5years and presently below are the SIP's. 1. PARAG PARIKH FLEXI CAP FUND - GROWTH - 20000, 2. SBI FOCUSED EQUITY FUND REGULAR GROWTH -5000 ,3. Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund - 20000 , 4. Canara Robeco Bluechip Equity Fun - 5000 , 5. Mirae Asset Large Cap - 10000 6. AXIS MIDCAP FUND - 10000 . Apart from SIP , PPF and SSY - 1.5lakh /year each With the SIP's any modification required please suggest. and my goal plan is as my daughter aged 5years now for her Education ,marriage and self retirements after 20 years and a house of 50lakhs at 2030. can it be ok . give more idea on this financial planning base on my goal.
Ans: It's fantastic to see your dedication to investing and planning for your future and your daughter's. Let's dive into your current SIP portfolio and goal planning:
• Firstly, kudos on maintaining a disciplined approach to SIP investing over the past five years. Consistency is key!
• Your SIP portfolio consists of a mix of flexi-cap, large-cap, mid-cap, and focused equity funds, providing diversification across market segments.
• Additionally, investing in PPF and SSY reflects your commitment to long-term savings and securing your daughter's future.
Now, let's focus on your goals:
• Education & Marriage: Allocating funds for your daughter's education and marriage is crucial. Consider estimating the future expenses for these goals and adjusting your investment allocations accordingly.
• Retirement: Planning for your retirement after 20 years is wise. Ensure your investment portfolio aligns with your retirement goals and risk tolerance. Regularly review and adjust your investments as needed.
• Home Purchase: Saving for a house by 2030 is a significant goal. Factor in inflation and property price trends while estimating the required corpus. You may need to increase your savings rate or explore additional investment avenues.
Here are some additional pointers:
• Regular Review: Periodically review your investment portfolio to ensure it remains aligned with your goals and risk tolerance.
• Emergency Fund: Build an emergency fund equivalent to 6-12 months of expenses to handle unforeseen financial challenges.
• Professional Advice: Consider consulting with a Certified Financial Planner to fine-tune your financial plan and receive personalized advice tailored to your goals and circumstances.
Remember, financial planning is a dynamic process, and adjustments may be needed along the way. Keep up the good work, and if you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out. You're on the right track to financial success!

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Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8626 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 25, 2024

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Sir I am 37 year old ... having salary of 1.2 lacs per months and want to save money for child higher education. Please suggest how to invest in SIP currently having 14500 SIP in Sbi energy opportunities fund lumsum 50000 Hdfc noncyclic consumer fund Sip of 4000 Edelweiss small cap fund sip of. 4000 Kotak emerging equity fund sip of. 4000 Flexi cap. 1500 Hdfc multicap fund. 1500 (50000 lumsum) Icici prudential value discovery fund. 1000 Total SIP per month 14500 and will increase to 30000 but Please review and suggest if i have chossen correct category or need to switch Waiting for your suggestion and thanks in advance
Ans: It's great to see your proactive approach towards saving for your child's higher education. With your current SIP investments, you're already on the right track. However, it's essential to regularly review and adjust your investment strategy to align with your goals and market conditions.

Considering your income and the goal of funding your child's education, diversifying your investments further could be beneficial. You might consider adding SIPs in diversified equity funds or balanced funds to spread the risk and potentially enhance returns.

A Certified Financial Planner can provide personalized advice after assessing your risk tolerance, investment horizon, and financial goals. They can help you optimize your portfolio, recommend suitable fund categories, and suggest any necessary switches to align with your objectives.

Remember, investing is a journey that requires periodic review and adjustments. As you plan to increase your SIP amount, it's crucial to ensure that your investments are well-diversified and aligned with your goals. Seeking professional guidance can help you make informed decisions and achieve your savings target. Best wishes for your child's bright future!

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Hello Sir, Good morning. This is Suchithra Reguraj. My daughter is going to complete her Mtech in Robotics and AI this year. We have the confusion between going to job or doing PhD further. Could you guide us what are the scope in these two different tasks. Hope you reply soon. Thank you.
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Hello sir my son secured 93.65%ile which is 95132 CRL. Which nit, iiit and gfti can he get? Category is open general and home state is Maharashtra.
Ans: Manish Sir, Here is, How to Predict Your Son's Chances of Admission into NIT or IIIT or GFTI After JEE Main/Advanced Results – A Step-by-Step Guide

Providing precise admission chances for each student can be challenging. Here’s a simple yet effective 9-step method using JoSAA’s past-year opening and closing ranks. This approach gives you a fair estimate (though not 100% exact) of your admission chances based on the previous year’s data.

Step-by-Step Guide to Check Your Admission Chances Using JoSAA Data
Step 1: Collect Your Key Details
Before starting, note down the following details:

Your JEE Main percentile
Your category (General-Open, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD categories)
Preferred institute types (NIT, IIIT, GFTI)
Preferred locations (or if you're open to any location in India)
List of at least 3 preferred academic programs (branches) as backups (instead of relying on just one option)
Step 2: Access JoSAA’s Official Opening & Closing Ranks
Go to Google and type: JoSAA Opening & Closing Ranks 2024
Click on the first search result (official JoSAA website).
You will land directly on JoSAA’s portal, where you can enter your details to check past-year cutoffs.
Step 3: Select the Round Number
JoSAA conducts five rounds of counseling.
For a safer estimate, choose Round 4, as most admissions are settled by this round.
Step 4: Choose the Institute Type
Select NIT, IIIT, or GFTI, depending on your preference.
If you are open to all types of institutes, check them one by one instead of selecting all at once.
Step 5: Select the Institute Name (Based on Location)
It is recommended to check institutes one by one, based on your preferred locations.
Avoid selecting ‘ALL’ at once, as it may create confusion.
Step 6: Select Your Preferred Academic Program (Branch)
Enter the branches you are interested in, one at a time, in your preferred order.
Step 7: Submit and Analyze Results
After selecting the relevant details, click the ‘SUBMIT’ button.
The system will display Opening & Closing Ranks of the selected institute and branch for different categories.
Step 8: Note Down the Opening & Closing Ranks
Maintain a notebook or diary to record the Opening & Closing Ranks for each institute and branch you are interested in.
This will serve as a quick reference during JoSAA counseling.
Step 9: Adjust Your Expectations on a Safer Side
Since Opening & Closing Ranks fluctuate slightly each year, always adjust the numbers for safety.
Example Calculation:
If the Opening & Closing Ranks for NIT Delhi | Mechanical Engineering | OPEN Category show 8622 & 26186 (for Home State), consider adjusting them to 8300 & 23000 (on a safer side).
If the Female Category rank is 34334 & 36212, adjust it to 31000 & 33000.
Follow this approach for Other State candidates and different categories.
Pro Tip: Adjust your expected rank slightly lower than the previous year's cutoffs for realistic expectations during JoSAA counseling.

Can This Method Be Used for JEE April & JEE Advanced?
Yes! You can repeat the same steps after your April JEE Main results to refine your admission possibilities.
You can also follow a similar process for JEE Advanced cutoffs when applying for IITs.

Have some other options also as back-ups instead of relying only on JEE/JoSAA.

Want to Learn More About JoSAA Counseling?
If you want detailed insights on JoSAA counseling, engineering entrance exams, preparation strategies, and engineering career options, check out EduJob360’s 180+ YouTube videos on this topic!

Hope this guide helps! All the BEST for your Son's Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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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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