Home > Relationship > Question
Need Expert Advice?Our Gurus Can Help
Anu

Anu Krishna  |1787 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Mar 23, 2023

Anu Krishna is a mind coach and relationship expert.
The co-founder of Unfear Changemakers LLP, she has received her neuro linguistic programming training from National Federation of NeuroLinguistic Programming, USA, and her energy work specialisation from the Institute for Inner Studies, Manila.
She is an executive member of the Indian Association of Adolescent Health.... more
Asked by Anonymous - Mar 19, 2023Hindi
Listen
Relationship

Madam, I am 61 years old , retired from Govt service an year ago. I have a problem in my family. Though my wife is a post graduate, she refused to take up any Job and wants all others including her in laws to give her money eternally. Misbehaved with my parents & sent them out of our house for their supposed conservative style and refused to allow my sisters family on a visit and quarreled with me on this ground time & again. She quarrels with me on silly issues loudly infront of kids. She reflects her mother`s attitude in dealing with my parents & relatives. Later She re-started her love affair with her ex lover . Fed up with quarrels at home and keep her away from unwarranted affairs, I decided to go abroad and took her also with me with our 2 daughters. There again, she started another illicit affair with my classmate cum colleague (whom i knew for 2 decades and i treated like a brother and was already married with kids). After 18 months of secret affair , behind me, they finally disclosed and wanted to elope leaving their families behind. Stunned by their ghastly betrayal , I sent my family back to India and also reported the matter to boss, who repatriated that Traitor back. I had to forgive my wife for sake of my Daughters who were aged 12 yrs and 9 yrs then. I am unable to come to terms with their ghastly actions though 2 decades have since passed. We sleep in separate rooms and I have no physical relation with her, ever since as our marriage is over for all purposes. I believe that mutual Trust & respect are the foundations of any marriage. Both are lost in our case. Now my daughters aged 31, 29 are Post graduates but are sitting idle at home wasting time in TV and refuse to do any job as their mother keeps telling them why should women work ?. They refuse to receive any external counselling nor willing to get married nor take up a job nor pursue any studies. They are financially dependent on me. I am now retired and live on Govt Pension. They refuse to understand the reality around them. They have no friend either in Relatives or in their college circles. What to do with their Intransigence? .

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
At 61, you look back and reflect; what choices have you made that has led you to be where you are right now?
Have those choices robbed you of your peace of mind and a better life?
If Yes, it still isn't late to rework and revisit those choices and make better ones.

But for that, this obsession with their ghastly affair must end. The more you are focused on the past, it becomes difficult to create anything beautiful for today and tomorrow. Yes, you felt hurt and were in pain, but to continue to feel the pain is a choice and that is only going to make you more bitter. Consider what is happening with your marriage; you might have to accept that this is the way it will be. If you are not happy with this, then think of what you want to do about it.

It's a good thing that you have begun to focus on your children. They seem to be in need of focus and direction. Since they are adults, it's time you gave them an ultimatum to find a job and move out of home. It sounds cruel, but at times, as a parent you need to do the right thing for your children. So, act NOW and without hesitation.
As for you, as you decide what you want to do with your marriage, involve yourself in social circles and hobbies, travel etc. It will give you a distraction and also a way to calm your mind to take decisions.

All the best!

You may like to see similar questions and answers below

Anu

Anu Krishna  |1787 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Jan 30, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 27, 2023Hindi
Listen
Dear Anu, I am married for 24 years having two grown up children. Both are studying. My wife is not working. She had been adamant and spendthrift since the beginning of our marriage. Just to maintain peace I was putting up with her undue demands. Than in last decade my business suffered for quite sometime still I sold some property and managed the household expenses. Than in 2017 the business started picking up and it started doing well. but having learned the lesson I became very firm with wasteful expenses. And by end of 2017 she broke all ties with me, and started sleeping with our daughter in her room. Now since last six years we are hardly talking to each other despite living in the same house . Her parents are also hand in glove with her and disconnected with me. I also came to know lot of factors about her family. Her father claimed to be a businessman before marriage and later I learned he was working in subcontracts division of a company and making money by illegal means from vendors. He was a heavy drinker and had relations with many women. I also came to know that her father had thrown his father out of house and that old man had died in a temple. To make matter worse her parents are having one more daughter which they claim to be given to some family member and now they don't have any relationship with that girl or the couple to whom they have given their daughter to. So prima facie they have a child or children which they have hidden from society. We attended marriages of her uncle's daughters out of Mumbai. His uncle and his family attended my marriage and marriage of my wife's only brother. Now after all marriages are over they have broken up with that uncle too. He is real brother of my father in law. Her aunty expired two years back I offered to call her uncle and offer condolences she said no need now relationship with uncle is over. With all these I am able to come to a conclusion that the family doesn't value relationships and once their purpose is served they discontinue the relationship. Due to constant problems my children have also become very adamant and are not concentrating on studies. Kindly suggest what should I do in the given situation. Can the marriage be annulled on the grounds her family concealed vital information before marriage. I offered her to go for marriage counselling and therapy but she refused. Please suggest some suitable solution.
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
Too much of a mess, yeah?
Why they hid certain facts and what impact that has had on your marriage is something that you are experiencing. Relationships are built on trust and honesty leads to that trust. You possibly feel being misled multiple times over and it will indeed affect the mind state of your children.
Good that you have woken up to this NOW.
Are you sure that you want to end this marriage? Or is there a possibility of saving it?
If you want to end it through a legal recourse, find an able lawyer who specializes in divorce cases. She/he will advise you on annulment or mutual consent divorce or filing for one. These options come to a better choice when you seek an expert in legal matters.
In the meantime, keep your mind in a place where it is calm. Too much of muddle and constant over processing will make you have bitter thoughts and keep you engaged in stress building situations.
Accept what's happening (difficult, I know)...but doing this will enable you to take the right decision not only for your life but also for your children. Also, I suggest spend a lot of time with the children and teach them not to take sides of any parent.
Whatever you decide is going to impact them and they must be prepared anyway. So, talk to them like they are grown ups and let them grow into it supporting you both rather than be caught in the cross fire.
I am sure if you have had the courage to understand what has been happening to you, you can surely take additional steps to safeguard your mind space and do what's right for the children as well.
All the best!

..Read more

Anu

Anu Krishna  |1787 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Mar 31, 2023

Listen
Relationship
Madam, I'm 52 year old, with 20 years of married life. Have one daughter, 18 and one son, 15. I'm well earning government employee. My wife is also post-graduate. However, after marriage, she put half- hearted efforts to get govt job, but didn't succeed. She was never interested to live at different places for the sake of job and also wanted equal rank job. At that time, I didn't realize that she might be comparing with me. Any way, I was fine with any of her decisions. Later she told thatnshe wants to focus on children only. But, after 4-5 years, she started hating my all family members. While they are staying almost 1000 kms away, and except on few occasions, they never asked any help from me. Since last 10 years, she stopped talking to any of them. She doesn't allow my children to visit my native place and meet my family members, even during any marriages or function. My family members or friends aren't welcome at my home. Even after accepting all these nonsense behaviour, she never remains happy. She keeps passing sarcastic comments. She willn't dress nicely. Remains busy in watching movies/webseries on laptop. Many times, our arguments in the past turned to physical also. How long can I tolerate abuse for my family members? All such situations created toxic environment at home. Both of my children were sharp and intelligent, but now they are showing depressive symptoms. I'm not able to focus on my work and affected my personalty and performances. She wants no frills attached to me. In such case, she should have married to any orphan. She neither wants to meet any one for counselling. Now, I also snapped all relations with her family members. But looks, all the doors are also closed for me. I'm feeling suffocated. I neither leave her nor leave the world, as I love my children and my reputations. Kindly suggest the way out.
Ans: Dear Ramesh,
What it seems like to me from what you have shared is: a case of lost identity!
She has been struggling to find her acceptable place in her own eyes for herself.
In simple terms, she is not happy with the decisions that she has made in life and now chooses to complain about it by pushing people away.
Does this happen to others as well? Oh, YES!
When we have the desire to do something and then we suppress it with an excuse of taking care of the family etc, one fine day in the future, it comes back to haunt us.
In all likelihood, your wife might have done the same thing...I can only assume as from what you have shared, there is nothing else that seems to be the matter.

Now, because it has begun to affect the children, you have woken up but this has been going on with her for a while. Support her thoughts but not the behaviour that impacts everyone around. Give her an assurance that is she chooses to do something professionally, you will be there for her!

The key is not to give her solutions (that will bring down her self-esteem even lower) but to nudge her into thinking about doing something other than care for the family. Point her in a direction without being eager for her to take the bait. These things take time and the state of mind that she has now, if you push her, she will only resist. It's almost like teaching a child to walk or write for the first time. You don't walk for them but nudge them and wait for them to pick up at their own pace and praise them when they take those first baby steps. Get the drift, here? All this 'displeasure' with family members is only her way of complaining about her mind struggles.
Also, your children are old enough to support you through this journey as well. So seek their help on this.


Best wishes and it's nice to know that you still care and want to do something for her.

..Read more

Anu

Anu Krishna  |1787 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Apr 12, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 06, 2023Hindi
Relationship
Dear Anu I am a 46 year old man .. married for last 16 years... My wife is well educated but a house wife by choice.. I lost my father when i was 18 and had struggled a lot to gain a great life in terms of money, name in my field and satisfaction at work. At home front we live a nuclear family... me, my wife and my 12 year daughter. But after my marriage in 2006 for next 6/7 years we were in joint family. my daughter was born in 2010.. In joint family me, my younger brother his wife and my mother were members... during these years, my wife never got along with my mother, brother and his wife... and also had fights [severe kind] where she accused them for petty reason...she demanded separate house within 3 month of marriage.. but since I was not financially settled so I promised her we will buy own home in course of time... but over these 6&7 years her behavior started really erratic.. she stopped talking to everyone, and keep fighting with all my family. also the house with joint family owned my me and younger brother... she demanded i should sell the house and get my share to buy own house. which i refused as my brother and his family with my mother were also staying there... and while buying it my mother had helped us financially, without having her name as owner. over the period things became really bitter... we also had fights where out of anger I happened to slap her.. but as promised I bought another house [with lot of efforts since i m self employee] within 5/6 years and we shifted to another city around our previous house. but after shifting she had the same temperament. She never got along with me.. Over an argument she would stop talking to me, and when confronted she would mention about my share in old house which i left... she was not happy seeing my brother living in that house with his family and my mother... i told her as promised we bought this house and I haven't withdrew my share in that house.. may be over the year i will take my share as per market value.. but at this point we don't need to do it.. since it will involve a lot of turbulence for my brother, his family and my mother as they were settled there. so I strongly told her she should not think about as she have her house and focus on it. Over these time, we had a very cute daughter... growing.. her schooling started.. i got busy with my work... and my wife by choice chose to be house wife... taking care of house... but she was hell bent on the house issue over selling it and taking my share.. and due to that we had several fights... which became my life miserable. her point was why pay EMI when you can get share and pay off the loans for new house. in these 8/9 years she became bitter person... no ties with my relatives /cousins, no friends, never got along with neighbors... and opposite to that i have very cordial relation with her family, cousins, my family and have great social circle. when my daughter was 10 year old, i was already settled with good career and financial status... i had cleared all the home loan for our new home... i did everything all out to make her happier but her wish to sell that house where my brother with his wife and my mother i didn't take share or sell it.. and she keeps nagging me with that and her temperament getting worst... now she started accusing me for having an affair and threatening me that she will complain police if i argue with her. unfortunately my daughter had to see this... but my daughter is very sorted, focused and a good kid. In last 2 years i managed to buy another house, which is bigger, where we shifted 1.5 years back, she wanted to do a puja and refused to invite anyone from my family.. also bought one more house as investment.. and a farm too as second home... Im very happy and satisfied with my career and other aspects of life... but the bitterness of wife kept on increasing... sometimes i felt she wanted me to fail and she could just take the pleasure of making me feel how she was right.. which never happened.. Now she is completely out of touch with my family... her anger triggers when i speak to my brother , my mom, Now over these years my brother also managed to earn some money and he paid me an amount as part of my share for the house he is living.. which we mutually agreed among us... and i withdrew my name from that property... i informed this to my wife.. first she didnt believe.. and then she was not interested in it.. so basically over these years i managed to fulfil everything what i promised also took my share from the joint house even i was not very happy with that situation. but all these incidences.. my wife became a difficult person to deal with... be it talking a simple conversation or smallest issue.. we don't have any physical relation .... we sleep in different bedrooms.. my wife also became too possessive and control freak with my daughter.. my daughter is 12 now and she retaliate with it.. so even they keep fighting now... me and my daughter have a great bonding... over these period i started feeling that i married a wrong person.. sometimes i think of divorce but i m worried about my daughter.. and also lot other things as im 45 already.. i wont say that i have never done any mistake while these 16 years but i never chose to disconnect with my wife... i worked really hard to earn money to build a good fortune for my wife and daughter... but looks like she doesn't care... and she takes me completely for granted... she thinks i wont leave her and will be stuck around.. i also advised to visit a therapist or counselor... or join a meditation or do anything she likes to do... be it creative or extra curricular.. but she just ignores it... i am into creative field and this domestic chaos sometimes really bothers me. it never effected my work yet but i m worried it might just. Let me know your opinion... if there is something i can do more to help this mess with my wife.
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
Clearly your wife has a streak of wanting people to want her, literally where it comes off as her being possessive of them (I gather this from what you have shared). I only have a one-sided view and don't know fully well why your wife chooses to be possessive.
She does not want to share you or what you earn with your family; it only suggests that she is worried about losing both. It may seem like they are unfounded fears but they exist in real for her.
Obviously your pleas to see a counselor will better her life and it is easier to stay where she is as nothing needs to change. It seems relatively clear that she fears LOSING!
How this got there or did it become even more evident because of the tussles between your family and her; no one knows. You would not completely know what transpired between your wife and your family; but something has triggered within her to hold on to her beliefs.
Anyway, it is difficult to be where you are; but the only way out is to have a person that is neutral to handle this. It could be a mutual friend, a senior member of her side of the family, a person that she idolizes...anyone who can in a very unbiased manner approach the situation and bring out the fears.
In the meantime, you can spend more time with your daughter and give her a sense of protection and care and at the same time ensuring that she empathizes with her mother. Matters like these can go sour overnight and YES, you have held on so long, give it some more time but do facilitate the neutral person to do an Intervention ASAP.

All the best!

..Read more

Latest Questions
Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10987 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Apr 13, 2026

Career
Sir My son has completed his B.Com Honours from SASTRA during the year 2025. He is interested in pursuing MA from Madras School of Economics in this year 2026. He is currently enrolled in the Executive course of Company Secretary from ICSI. I wanted to know whether pursuing the course in Madras School of Economics is worthwhile and also the likelihood of getting good placements after successful completion of the course. Please provide your advice and suggestions which would help me in taking a decision. Thanks and Regards V NARASIMHAN
Ans: Narasimhan Sir, according to today’s (13th April 2026) Times of India (Education Times) advertisement, Madras School of Economics offers multiple programmes such as a 5?year Integrated MA, MA programmes in five specialisations, MBA, MSc in Data Science, and even PhD. Now, regarding your son’s wish to pursue an MA and also keeping in mind that he is already pursuing the ICSI Executive Course, it is important to know whether he has decided which one of the five MA specialisations—Actuarial Economics, Applied Quantitative Finance, Environmental Economics, Financial Economics, or General Economics—he wants to choose and why. However, since he has already joined the ICSI Executive, it is advisable to go for the MA in Financial Economics, because its core courses and electives in financial markets, asset pricing, corporate finance, risk, and regulation directly complement the CS Executive papers on Corporate Accounting, Financial Management, Capital Markets, and Securities Laws. This combination is very helpful for careers in corporate finance, investment banking, and financial?compliance advisory, where both domain?specific economics knowledge and legal?compliance skills are highly valued. At the same time, your son must be sure and confident that he can comfortably manage the workload of both ICSI and the MA in Financial Economics. As far as placements are concerned, all five MA specialisations—General Economics, Financial Economics, Applied Quantitative Finance, Actuarial Economics, and Environmental Economics—have broadly similar placement outcomes, but Financial Economics and Applied Quantitative Finance usually lean more towards higher?paying jobs in finance and analytics, while Environmental Economics and General Economics often lead more towards policy, research, consulting, and data?heavy roles. It should also be noted that success in placements does not depend only on the specialisation, but also on the student’s skill upgradation, soft skills, a strong LinkedIn profile, and effective networking strategies. ALL the BEST for Your Son's Prosperous Future!

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

...Read more

Anu

Anu Krishna  |1787 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Apr 13, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 05, 2026Hindi
Relationship
How can one married woman destroy another's life? My husband has been spending more time with his married office colleague whose children have grown up and live abroad. Since I am a homemaker, whenever they meet at our home or during public events when I am around, they talk in riddles that only they seem to understand and laugh about. It used to be annoying and I have also expressed to both of them about how I feel. But I am never taken seriously. They even hug each other so intimately that I feel like the third wheel in their relationship. My husband never appreciates me, he even refuses to acknowledge my feelings. He thinks I am some illiterate homemaker but I had a well paying job. I used to lead a team and I know I am not overreacting. I can tell when a colleague becomes more than a coworker. I can tell that they are having an affair from the way she holds my husband's arm. I am tired of confronting and I don't want to lose my sanity trying to defend my respect. I am just waiting for my daughter to complete her board exam so I can talk to her about this. Anu mam, I need your help. How can I seek divorce while still keeping my dignity?
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
You have two paths n front of you; either you move on or make your marriage work.
Both paths are not easy but the latter can help you rebuild your marriage. But if you feel strongly about moving on, do find a good lawyer who can help you with the legal proceedings.
To maintain your dignity, make sure that you clearly state what you want as a part of your separation and NO, there is no shame or backing out in this; your lawyer should be able to take care of this.
Also, divorce can take a huge toil on your emotional health; make no mistake about it especially since you are the aggrieved one in this case. And if your husband chooses to contest, the battle can turn ugly. Be prepared for these turn of events; keep your family and friends close as you will need to fall back on someone.

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

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11135 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 13, 2026

Money
Hi, I'm 24 yrs old now, want to start sip for long term for 30-35 yrs, is this combination a good go: Parag Parikh flexi cap direct + HDFC midcap direct and nifty index fund in 30:30:40 proportion, kindly enlighten me on this.. Also I want to generate a marriage fund 3 yrs from now, how should I approach?? Debt or equity..
Ans: It is very good to see that at age 24 you are already planning SIP for 30–35 years and also thinking about a separate marriage fund. Starting early gives you a very strong advantage in wealth creation.

Your approach shows clarity and discipline.

» Review of your long-term SIP combination (30–35 years)

Your proposed allocation:

– Flexi cap category fund
– Midcap category fund
– Nifty index fund

Allocation: 30 : 30 : 40

This structure has growth potential. But there are two important improvements required.

First improvement:

Index funds are not suitable when your target is very long-term wealth creation like 30–35 years.

Reason:

– index funds only copy market returns
– they cannot select future winning companies early
– they cannot avoid weak sectors
– they cannot manage downside risk actively
– they cannot generate extra return above market

Actively managed funds can:

– adjust sector allocation
– identify emerging companies
– control risk better during corrections
– generate higher long-term alpha

So instead of index category exposure, one more actively managed category fund is better.

Second improvement:

Your portfolio currently has only one large-cap exposure indirectly through flexi cap category. It is better to include a large & midcap category fund or multi-cap category fund for balance.

Suggested improved structure:

– Flexi cap category fund (core foundation)
– Midcap category fund (growth engine)
– Multi-cap or large & midcap category fund (balance + stability)

This improves diversification and return consistency.

» Important observation about investing through direct plans

You mentioned investing through direct option.

Direct plans look attractive because expense ratio is lower. But many investors face practical issues:

– no professional monitoring support
– no asset allocation guidance
– no rebalancing discipline
– emotional switching during market falls
– difficulty in tax planning decisions
– lack of withdrawal strategy planning later

Regular plans through a Mutual Fund Distributor guided by a Certified Financial Planner help in:

– proper category selection
– portfolio correction at right time
– behavioural guidance during volatility
– tax-efficient switching decisions
– retirement income strategy planning

Over a 30–35 year journey, guidance quality matters more than small expense difference.

» Strategy for your marriage fund (3-year goal)

This is a short-term goal.

Equity mutual funds are not suitable for 3-year horizon.

Because:

– markets can fall suddenly
– recovery may take time
– capital may not be available when needed

Safer approach is better.

Suitable categories:

– conservative hybrid category fund
– short duration debt category fund
– bank FD combination approach

This protects your marriage fund from market volatility.

If marriage date is fixed, safety becomes even more important.

» Suggested smart approach to manage both goals together

You are handling two timelines:

– 30–35 year wealth creation
– 3-year marriage goal

So keep investments separate.

Long-term SIP bucket:

– flexi cap category fund
– midcap category fund
– multi-cap or large & midcap category fund

Marriage fund bucket:

– conservative hybrid category fund
– short duration debt category fund

This avoids mixing risk levels.

» Additional steps to strengthen your financial foundation at age 24

Along with SIP planning:

– maintain emergency fund equal to 6 months expenses
– take health insurance if not already taken
– start term insurance after income stabilises
– increase SIP every year when salary increases

These steps multiply long-term wealth success.

» Finally

Your early start itself is your biggest strength.

Replace index exposure with another actively managed category fund.

Keep marriage fund in safer investments.

Continue SIP for 30–35 years with discipline and yearly increase. This approach can create strong wealth over time.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramalingamcfp/

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11135 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 13, 2026

Money
i am 70 year old. 10,000 i want to sip . pl. suggest MF .
Ans: You are taking a very positive step by continuing investment through SIP even at age 70. This shows strong financial awareness and helps your savings grow better than keeping money idle in savings account.

At this stage, safety and steady growth must come first. High-risk funds should be avoided.

» What should be the investment approach at age 70

At your age, investment focus normally should be:

– capital protection
– regular income support in future
– low volatility
– moderate growth beating inflation

So SIP selection should be balanced, not aggressive.

Small cap category funds are not suitable at this stage because they move up and down sharply.

Midcap allocation also should be limited.

Balanced categories work better.

» Best mutual fund categories suitable for Rs 10,000 SIP

You may consider investing your SIP across these categories:

– Multi asset category fund (Rs 4,000)
This category invests in equity, debt and gold. It gives stability and protection.

– Conservative hybrid category fund (Rs 3,000)
This keeps more money in debt and some in equity. Good for steady returns.

– Flexi cap category fund (Rs 3,000)
This gives controlled growth and flexibility across market caps.

This combination creates safety plus growth balance.

» Why this structure is suitable for you

This mix helps in:

– reducing market risk
– giving reasonable growth
– protecting capital during corrections
– supporting future withdrawal planning

It also prepares your portfolio if you want to start SWP later.

» Important safety steps before starting SIP

Please ensure:

– keep at least 2 years expenses in bank or FD
– maintain emergency reserve
– avoid investing full savings into equity mutual funds
– review nominee details in all investments

These steps protect financial independence.

» How long SIP should continue

Since SIP amount is Rs 10,000:

– continue SIP for 3 to 5 years minimum
– review every year once
– later you can shift to SWP if income needed

This gives flexibility and control.

» Finally

At age 70, the correct strategy is not maximum return. The correct strategy is safe growth with stability.

Multi asset, conservative hybrid and flexi cap category funds together create a strong and safe structure for your SIP journey.

Your decision to continue investing even now is a very good step for financial comfort and independence.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramalingamcfp/

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11135 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 13, 2026

Money
Hi , 2 question 1) My mutual fund rm suggested me to switch the funds AXIS ELSS FUND & ABSL ELSS FUND which has free units and around 1.50 lacs to Axis small cap & ABSL flexi cap , can you guide if this is a smart move considering the current market situation , 2) my few other funds are Axis Large Cap Fund - Growth , ICICI Prudential Large Cap Fund - Growth , ICICI Prudential Multi Asset Fund - Growth, LIC MF Multi Cap Fund - Growth, SBI Large Cap Fund - Growth, SBI Midcap Fund - Growth eventhough the XIRR has come down to 5 % am still holding it and will hold it. Kindly suggest if any changes to be done in the fund which i hold or should i continue as it is. Will appreciate any valuable guidance
Ans: You are taking a thoughtful approach by reviewing your portfolio before making switches. Many investors change funds without checking suitability. Your habit of evaluating before acting is a strong advantage for long-term wealth creation.

Let us address both your questions clearly.

» Switching ELSS funds into small cap and flexi cap categories

Your mutual fund relationship manager has suggested switching:

– tax-saving category funds (with completed lock-in period)
into
– one small cap category fund
– one flexi cap category fund

This suggestion is partly good, but it should be applied carefully.

Positive aspects of this switch:

– tax-saving category funds are mainly large cap oriented
– flexi cap category gives better flexibility across market caps
– small cap category improves long-term return potential
– lock-in already completed, so liquidity flexibility exists

However one important caution:

Switching entirely into small cap category is not always suitable in the current market phase if your portfolio already has midcap or small cap exposure.

Small caps:

– move very fast during rallies
– fall sharply during corrections
– need strong patience holding ability

So the smarter approach is:

– switching one ELSS fund into flexi cap category is a very good move
– switching the second ELSS fund fully into small cap category should depend on your existing small cap allocation

If you already hold midcap or small cap funds, then allocate only partly into small cap category.

Balanced allocation improves stability and long-term XIRR consistency.

» Whether continuing your existing funds with 5% XIRR is correct

Your current holdings include exposure across:

– multiple large cap category funds
– one multi asset category fund
– one multi cap category fund
– one midcap category fund

The fall in XIRR to around 5% is mainly because:

– last 12–18 months markets moved unevenly
– large caps remained relatively slow
– midcaps corrected after strong rally

So low recent XIRR does not mean fund quality is weak.

Your decision to continue holding is correct.

But there is one improvement opportunity.

Currently you hold multiple funds from the same category (large cap category). This creates duplication instead of diversification.

Better structure normally:

– keep one strong large cap category fund
– keep one flexi cap category fund
– keep one midcap category fund
– keep one multi cap category fund
– keep one hybrid or multi asset category fund

Holding many large cap category funds together does not improve returns meaningfully.

It only spreads investment across similar portfolios.

So instead of exiting immediately, a gradual consolidation strategy is better.

» Role of your multi asset category fund

This category is useful because it invests in:

– equity
– debt
– gold

It reduces volatility and improves stability during market corrections.

So continuing this fund is a good decision.

» Role of your midcap category fund

Midcap exposure supports long-term growth strongly.

Since your horizon appears long-term, continuing this allocation is appropriate.

No change required here.

» Suggested improvement strategy going forward

You are already doing the most important thing correctly — staying invested.

Now only refinement is needed.

Recommended actions:

– switch one matured ELSS fund into flexi cap category
– review whether small cap allocation is already sufficient before shifting second ELSS fund
– gradually reduce duplication across large cap category funds
– continue midcap allocation
– continue multi asset allocation
– avoid frequent switching based on short-term performance

These steps improve return potential without increasing risk sharply.

» Finally

Your discipline in continuing investments despite temporary fall in XIRR is the right behaviour of a successful long-term investor.

Switching part of matured ELSS allocation into flexi cap category is a smart move.

Small cap allocation should be added carefully, not aggressively.

Gradual consolidation of multiple large cap category funds will improve portfolio efficiency over time.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramalingamcfp/

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11135 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 13, 2026

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 10, 2026Hindi
Money
Dear Team, Recently I have started reading this expert advices and it is like bless for DIY investors. Sometimes pointing out right direction can change life of a persons. You guys are doing the same. I am professional and working in private sector company. I wanted to build wealth and wanted your advice. I have 40 lacs Rs in FD and slowly I am putting this in mutual funds, having 41 lacs in EPF, having 36 lacs in PPF, having 16 lacs in wife's PPF (I am filing her tax separately, hope it will be tax free at the time of redemption), having mutual fund portfolio of 46 lacs as per following. 1. SBI Large cap - 6.82 lacs 2. PP Flexi cap - 5.3 lacs 3. UTI Nifty 50 - 5.29 lacs 4. ICICI Nifty next50 - 4.93 lacs 5. HDFC midcap- 3.52 lacs 6. SBI small cap- 3.29 lacs 7. Mirrae asset large and midcap - 2.93 lacs 8. ABSL focused fund- 2.36 lacs (SIP is stopped) 9. SBI contra - 1.86 lacs 10. Quant mid cap - 1.6 lacs 11. ICICI value - 1.35 lacs (SIP is stopped) 12. Nippon small cap- 1.29 lacs. There are many mutual fund and per fund 5000 to 6000 Rs. SIP is there. (XIRR is 13-14%) Now I am going for following SIP as wanted XIRR around 15-18%. SIP horizon is beyond 15 years then wanted to go for SWP. 1. HDFC Midcap Opportunity fund -20000 2. Parag Parikh Flexi cap- 20000 3. SBI Contra- 10000 4. Bandhan Small cap fund-10000 5. Nippon India Small cap- 10000 6. searching for one more fund - 20000 . Can you suggest, if I am on correct path? Is my portfolio too much debt heavy as of now? Hope to receive guidance from the Money Gurus Experts...
Ans: You are doing a very disciplined job in building wealth across multiple buckets like EPF, PPF, FD and Mutual Funds. This shows strong savings behaviour and long-term thinking. A 13–14% XIRR already reflects good portfolio quality over a meaningful period.

Your plan to move gradually from FD to mutual funds for a 15+ year horizon and later use SWP is a sensible wealth-building strategy.

» Your current asset allocation position

Let us look at your overall structure first.

– EPF: 41 lakhs
– PPF (self): 36 lakhs
– PPF (wife): 16 lakhs
– FD: 40 lakhs
– Mutual Funds: 46 lakhs

Total approx: 179 lakhs

Out of this:

– Debt-oriented bucket (EPF + PPF + FD) ≈ 133 lakhs
– Equity mutual funds ≈ 46 lakhs

So yes, at present your portfolio is debt-heavy.

But this is not a weakness. It is a strength because:

– it gives stability
– it protects capital
– it supports long-term discipline
– it allows gradual equity shift without stress

Your ongoing shift from FD to equity mutual funds is the correct direction.

» Is your target XIRR of 15–18% realistic?

Your horizon is beyond 15 years. That makes your expectation reasonable but not guaranteed.

Possible outcome ranges normally look like:

– Conservative expectation: 12–14%
– Good disciplined portfolio outcome: 13–16%
– Strong cycle-supported outcome: 15–18%

Since your SIP size is strong and horizon is long, your strategy supports the higher range possibility.

Most investors fail because they stop SIP during volatility. Your structure suggests you are not likely to do that.

» Review of your existing mutual fund structure

You currently hold exposure across:

– large cap
– flexi cap
– large & midcap
– midcap
– small cap
– contra
– value
– focused category
– index category

This gives diversification. But number of schemes is slightly high.

Ideal number normally:

– 5 to 7 funds

Your portfolio has crossed that level. So future investing should focus on consolidation instead of adding too many new schemes.

Stopping SIP in focused and value category funds was a sensible move.

» Review of your new SIP structure

Your planned SIP:

– Midcap category fund
– Flexicap category fund
– Contra category fund
– Two small cap category funds
– One more fund under consideration

This structure is growth-oriented and suitable for 15+ year horizon.

However one improvement is required.

Currently:

– small cap allocation is becoming high
– midcap exposure also increasing
– contra already exists in portfolio

So instead of adding another aggressive category fund, the sixth fund should provide balance.

Better choice:

– Multi-cap category fund
or
– Large & midcap category fund

This improves stability without reducing growth potential.

» Important observation about holding two small cap funds

You are already investing in two small cap schemes.

This increases volatility risk.

Instead:

– keep only one small cap SIP long term
– redirect second SIP toward multi-cap category

This improves risk control and consistency of returns.

Small caps perform strongly only during specific market cycles. Too much allocation increases stress during corrections.

» About your index fund exposure

You currently hold index-based investments.

For long-term wealth creation, actively managed funds generally provide stronger outcomes because:

– index funds only copy market performance
– they cannot protect during market falls
– they cannot exit weak sectors
– they cannot select high-growth companies early
– they cannot adjust allocation during valuation extremes

Active funds can:

– move across sectors
– identify emerging businesses
– manage downside risk better
– capture alpha over long horizons

Since your target is 15–18% XIRR, active fund allocation suits your objective better than passive allocation.

Gradually shifting future SIPs toward active strategies supports your goal.

» Tax treatment of your wife’s PPF account

Your approach is correct.

If:

– contribution is within rules
– account is maintained properly

then maturity proceeds remain fully tax-free.

Separate tax filing does not affect PPF exemption status. It remains exempt under current rules.

» Suggested improvement roadmap for next 3–5 years

Your structure is already strong. Only tuning is required.

Action steps:

– Continue shifting FD gradually into equity SIP/STP route
– Reduce duplication across categories
– Keep only one small cap SIP
– Add one multi-cap category SIP as sixth fund
– Continue flexicap allocation as core portfolio engine
– Maintain EPF and PPF as long-term safety anchors
– Avoid frequent portfolio changes

This improves return probability without increasing risk sharply.

» Preparing for future SWP income strategy

Your idea of using SWP after 15 years is very appropriate.

For successful SWP planning later:

– equity allocation should reach 60–70% gradually
– debt bucket (EPF + PPF) should remain intact
– avoid withdrawing during early retirement phase
– rebalance every year once SWP starts

This creates stable retirement-style income flow.

» Finally

You are clearly on the correct wealth-building path.

Your discipline level is higher than most investors.

Only small adjustments are required:

– reduce small cap duplication
– add multi-cap exposure
– continue shifting from FD to equity gradually
– simplify number of schemes over time

With this structure, your probability of achieving long-term 15%+ portfolio growth becomes strong.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramalingamcfp/

...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.

Close  

You haven't logged in yet. To ask a question, Please Log in below
Login

A verification OTP will be sent to this
Mobile Number / Email

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to

Resend OTP in120seconds

Dear User, You have not registered yet. Please register by filling the fields below to get expert answers from our Gurus
Sign up

By signing up, you agree to our
Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

Already have an account?

Enter OTP
A 6 digit code has been sent to Mobile

Resend OTP in120seconds

x