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Investment Portfolio: How Can a 30-Year-Old with Tech Background Best Plan?

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Nov 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
Sourav Question by Sourav on Nov 23, 2024Hindi
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Hi, I need ypur professional guidance.to plan my investment portfolio

Ans: I appreciate your trust and willingness to connect.
Let's embark on this financial journey together.
You can reach me through my website mentioned below.
This platform has restrictions on sharing personal contact. Hope you understand.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
Insagram: https://www.instagram.com/holistic_investment_planners/
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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Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Nov 21, 2024

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Mr. Patel ......I am 60 years of age. Can invest about 20 to 25k pm. Can you suggest a portfolio mix please in MF. Abhijit Guha
Ans: At 60, your primary goal should be wealth preservation and stable returns.
Generating a steady income for retirement is also crucial.
Balancing growth and safety in your portfolio is essential.
Assessing Your Risk Appetite

At this stage, you may prefer moderate to low-risk investments.
A small allocation to equity ensures inflation-beating growth.
Higher allocation to debt ensures capital protection and steady returns.
Recommended Portfolio Mix
Equity Allocation (30–40%)

Allocate 30–40% of your investment to equity mutual funds.
Opt for diversified or hybrid equity funds for stable growth.
Actively managed funds can outperform and adapt to market changes.
Avoid index funds as they lack flexibility and underperform in volatile markets.
Debt Allocation (50–60%)

Allocate 50–60% to debt mutual funds for consistent returns.
Choose funds with a track record of low volatility.
Debt funds suit your need for liquidity and safety.
Balanced Advantage or Hybrid Funds (10–20%)

Allocate 10–20% to balanced advantage or hybrid funds.
These funds adjust between equity and debt based on market conditions.
They provide a good mix of growth and stability.
Investment Strategy
Systematic Investment Plan (SIP)

Invest Rs 20,000–25,000 monthly through SIPs in selected funds.
SIPs reduce risk by averaging costs over time.
They also instil financial discipline in retirement planning.
Regular Portfolio Reviews

Review your portfolio every six months to a year.
Ensure funds align with your goals and risk tolerance.
Work with a Certified Financial Planner for professional guidance.
Emergency Fund Allocation

Maintain an emergency fund equivalent to 6–12 months of expenses.
Keep this in liquid or ultra-short-term debt funds for accessibility.
Tax Efficiency
Minimise Tax on Gains

Equity funds: Long-term gains above Rs 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%.
Debt funds: Gains taxed as per your income slab.
Plan redemptions to reduce tax liabilities.
Benefits of Actively Managed Funds
Higher Returns Potential

Actively managed funds aim to outperform market benchmarks.
Skilled fund managers adapt to market trends.
Flexibility and Professional Guidance

These funds adjust holdings based on performance and market dynamics.
Certified Financial Planners can guide fund selection and allocation.
Addressing Common Concerns
Avoid Direct Funds Without Expert Help

Direct mutual funds lack personalised support.
Regular plans offer professional guidance through MFDs and CFPs.
Ensure Portfolio Diversification

A well-diversified portfolio reduces risks and enhances returns.
Avoid over-reliance on a single asset class or fund type.
Final Insights
At 60, focus on preserving capital, ensuring stable income, and achieving moderate growth. A balanced mix of equity, debt, and hybrid funds can meet your goals effectively. Invest systematically through SIPs, and consult a Certified Financial Planner for periodic reviews. Diversification and tax efficiency will strengthen your portfolio.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jan 31, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 31, 2025Hindi
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I am a central employee.My salary package is 15lacs annually.My monthly expenses is 20k.Please make a healthy portfolio for me.
Ans: Your salary is Rs 15 lakh annually.

Your monthly expenses are Rs 20,000.

You have significant surplus income for investment.

You can create a strong and diversified portfolio.

Emergency Fund for Financial Security
Your emergency fund should cover at least six months' expenses.

Keep this fund in a high-liquidity option.

Avoid using long-term investments for emergencies.

This ensures stability in case of job loss or health issues.

Optimising Insurance Coverage
A term insurance plan is necessary for financial security.

Ensure coverage is 10-15 times your annual salary.

Medical insurance should cover you and your family.

Employer insurance is not enough; get a personal policy.

Smart Investment Strategy
Invest in a mix of high-growth mutual funds.

Actively managed funds provide better returns than index funds.

Increase SIPs as your income grows.

Allocate funds across different investment categories.

Review your portfolio annually and rebalance when needed.

Retirement Planning for Long-Term Stability
Government employees get pension benefits.

Still, additional retirement savings are necessary.

Increase your EPF contributions for tax benefits.

Invest in mutual funds to build a strong retirement corpus.

Tax-Efficient Investment Planning
Use tax-saving options under Section 80C.

Invest in ELSS mutual funds for better tax benefits.

Medical insurance can help save tax under Section 80D.

Use government-backed tax-saving schemes wisely.

Creating Passive Income Sources
Relying only on salary may not be enough.

Invest in dividend-yielding mutual funds.

Build a diversified portfolio for financial security.

Passive income will provide stability in the long run.

Final Insights
Your financial position is strong, but planning is essential.

A structured investment approach will ensure financial security.

Diversify investments for long-term growth.

Ensure adequate insurance and retirement savings.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

..Read more

Latest Questions
Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10854 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Dec 14, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025Hindi
Career
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!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

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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
Career
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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