मैम, मैं 19 साल का हूं और मुझे लगता है कि मैं इस बार NEET क्रैक नहीं कर पाऊंगा क्योंकि मैं अच्छे स्कोर नहीं कर रहा हूं और यह मेरा तीसरा प्रयास है, मैंने सोचा था कि यह मेरा आखिरी प्रयास होगा लेकिन अब मैं चौथा प्रयास देने के बारे में सोच रहा हूं लेकिन मैं उलझन में हूं कि मुझे यह देना चाहिए या नहीं, कृपया मुझे कुछ अच्छी सलाह दें कि मुझे क्या करना चाहिए ????

Ans: HI,
Possibilities are there. To get more clarity, wait till this weekend.

Ans: At 38 years of age, with no loan burden and Rs. 25,000 surplus monthly, you are in a strong financial position. You are thinking wisely about using the extra income productively. Let us now assess, in a very detailed and 360-degree manner, whether a plot or mutual fund SIP will create more wealth, stability, and long-term peace of mind.

We will review this in simple language with clear bullet points and logical insights.

Understanding the Nature of Each Investment
Let’s first see what both options actually mean for your financial life.

Buying a Plot of Land

This is a physical asset. You can touch and see it.

You need to arrange a large lump sum to buy a plot.

If you invest Rs. 25,000 per month, it may take years to collect enough.

Plot does not give you any monthly return.

It has no liquidity. You cannot sell quickly when you need money.

Price appreciation depends on many unknown factors.

Legal risks, encroachments, and title issues can cause problems.

You will need to keep paying for taxes, cleaning, fencing, etc.

Investing in Mutual Fund SIP

Mutual fund SIP grows your money in small amounts monthly.

You can start with Rs. 1,000 or Rs. 25,000 easily.

It is very flexible. You can increase or pause it anytime.

Your funds are invested in companies, bonds, etc., by professionals.

You get compounding growth over long term.

Funds are highly liquid. You can withdraw within 3 working days.

Taxation is favourable after one year for equity mutual funds.

Cash Flow and Monthly Benefit
Let us now look at how both options help you month by month.

Plot Investment

No monthly return is earned.

You keep paying property tax or maintenance cost.

It may remain idle for many years.

You may not find buyers easily when you need to sell.

Mutual Fund SIP

You see your wealth growing every month.

You can check and track it online anytime.

You can stop SIP anytime, based on need.

You can start monthly SWP (Systematic Withdrawal) later as income.

It builds a habit of saving and growing step by step.

Liquidity and Emergency Use
What happens when you suddenly need money?

Plot of Land

Cannot be sold quickly.

It may take months or years to find a buyer.

You may have to sell it at lower price under stress.

You cannot sell it in parts. Either full or nothing.

Mutual Fund SIP

Funds can be withdrawn anytime.

Even partial redemption is possible.

Your emergency planning stays strong and ready.

This gives peace of mind to the investor.

Maintenance and Cost Burden
Every investment has some cost. Let’s compare both here.

Land Plot

You must maintain the plot or it may get encroached.

You may need to build compound wall, put name board, etc.

You need to do regular mutation, survey, and patta update.

You may need a caretaker if plot is in another town.

All these will cost time and money every year.

Mutual Funds

There is no maintenance cost.

Fund manager and AMC take care of all investments.

You pay a small annual fee called expense ratio.

This is deducted automatically from fund value.

No stress, no physical movement, no service charges.

Tax Treatment Differences
Let us now review how both options affect your tax.

Plot Investment

No tax benefit while buying.

When you sell after 2 years, you get long-term capital gain (LTCG).

You must pay 20% LTCG tax with indexation benefit.

Buying another property within 2 years can save tax, but adds more stress.

Stamp duty, registration cost is non-refundable.

Mutual Funds

You get LTCG benefit after 1 year of holding.

Up to Rs. 1 lakh of annual gain is tax-free.

Tax is only 10% beyond that.

SIP allows tax-efficient withdrawals by planning.

No physical documents, stamp duty or paperwork.

Risk and Return Potential
Let’s understand how your money may grow over time.

Plot Investment

Return is uncertain.

Some plots may stay same value for many years.

Real estate market is illiquid and slow to react.

Resale price depends on buyer mood, location, legal history.

Sometimes, government projects may reduce value due to land regulation.

Mutual Fund SIP

Return depends on market performance, but long-term trend is positive.

Equity funds usually give better return than gold or land over 10+ years.

Risk reduces with time and diversification.

SIP also benefits from market fall due to rupee cost averaging.

Mental Stress and Peace of Mind
We often forget this point while investing.

Plot Investment

It may look like a stable asset but creates hidden tension.

You keep worrying about its value, fencing, and resale.

Any property dispute takes years in court.

Not ideal if you want peace and simplicity.

Mutual Fund SIP

Very low involvement needed.

Regular funds through CFP give you human support.

You feel more organised and in control.

Portfolio tracking is transparent and real-time.

Long-Term Wealth Creation
Let’s now check which asset builds your retirement corpus better.

Plot

Returns depend fully on future buyer.

Hard to use for retirement income.

Selling is needed to get cash flow.

SIP

Grows slowly and steadily.

Helps you reach retirement goal step-by-step.

You can start monthly income by SWP after retirement.

Works well if you aim to retire early or reduce work stress.

Certified Financial Planner Support
Let us now see why working with a CFP matters in SIP.

CFP helps choose right mutual fund mix based on your goals.

They review and rebalance your funds once a year.

They support in market crashes, so you don’t panic.

They help plan insurance, tax, and retirement together.

They give emotional and professional guidance.

Investing through MFD + CFP gives structure to your wealth building.

Regular plans give better lifetime results than direct plans.

Final Insights
You are asking the right question at the right time in life.

Buying land may feel safe, but it blocks liquidity and slows wealth growth.

SIP gives freedom, flexibility, and smart long-term compounding.

You can track, adjust, and even pause anytime as per life events.

You have no loans now. Don’t invite stress with plot purchase.

Let your Rs. 25,000/month build real wealth through mutual funds.

Talk to a Certified Financial Planner to customise your SIP journey.

They will guide you across goals like retirement, emergency, child education, or home buying.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

Ans: At age 30, you are far ahead of most when it comes to building wealth, maintaining discipline, and planning for the future. Your financial habits are solid, and the choices you are making show maturity and foresight.

Let’s assess your situation and goals step-by-step from a 360-degree angle. We’ll cover investments, insurance, real estate choices, gold options, retirement planning, and more.

Current Financial Strengths
You are saving over 50% of your income. This is excellent.

You have no EMIs or loans. This gives full control on cash flow.

Your SIP of Rs. 88,000/month is high. This builds wealth quickly.

Emergency fund of Rs. 5 lakh is already in place. That is very good.

You have invested Rs. 5 lakh in PPF. It gives stable, tax-free returns.

You already own one plot. You paid Rs. 13 lakh as a one-time payment.

You have set a strong financial base. From here, the focus should be on future goals and better use of surplus.

Asset Allocation Review
Let’s break down your investment allocation.

22% of MF is in small-cap funds. This is high and very volatile.

16% is in mid-cap funds. This is moderate to high risk.

13% is in large-cap funds. This is more stable.

10% is in other categories, in direct plan growth.

Balance 39% is not clearly mentioned but assumed to be mixed.

This shows a very aggressive equity portfolio. For your age, this can be okay, but needs review.

A Certified Financial Planner can rebalance this with proper goal planning.

About Direct Plan Mutual Funds
You mentioned you are using direct plans. Direct plans may look cheaper, but have risks.

No personal guidance is given in direct plans.

You may choose wrong categories or wrong asset mix.

Switching, stopping SIPs, or rebalancing becomes difficult without advice.

You may take emotional decisions during market ups and downs.

If you are working with a trusted MFD + CFP, regular plans are better.

Regular plans offer hand-holding, goal mapping, risk planning, and human support.

Return is not just about saving expense ratios. It is about making the right decisions year after year.

Land Purchase Assessment
You recently bought land for Rs. 13 lakh. That is now part of your asset base.

But here are some things to think about:

You said this land is only for investment. No plans to live there.

Such land often stays idle. It won’t give you any rental return.

Resale may take years. Liquidity is poor.

Maintenance cost, legal upkeep, fencing, and taxes add stress.

Plot may not see price appreciation for many years.

Real estate as investment does not create monthly income. Mutual funds are far more efficient.

Should You Buy Another Property?
Now you are considering buying another property. Let’s explore both types.

Option 1: Buy Rs. 75 lakh house in your hometown

You do not plan to live there. So, it will be just an investment.

Rent from a Rs. 75 lakh house in small towns may be Rs. 15,000–20,000.

But you will pay EMI of around Rs. 60,000–65,000 per month.

That means high monthly outflow, with very low return.

Loan tenure will stretch for 15–20 years, unless you prepay.

No capital appreciation is guaranteed. Property may remain unsold.

Liquidity again becomes a problem. You will get stuck with the asset.

Option 2: Buy smaller Rs. 45 lakh house for rental use

Rental income still stays low, maybe Rs. 10,000–12,000.

Tenants may not be consistent. Maintenance cost will reduce returns.

You will still take loan and commit EMI for a long time.

Better options exist to create monthly income.

Final View on Buying Property Now

Do not buy real estate again, just for investment.

You already have one plot. That is enough exposure.

Too much of your wealth will get locked.

Instead, increase financial investments that give liquidity and flexibility.

Should You Buy Gold Jewellery or Gold Bonds?
You are also thinking about gold. Let’s explore both options.

Buying Gold Jewellery

It is emotional buying, not investment.

You lose 20–25% in making charges and GST.

It needs storage, has risk of theft.

Returns from gold are not regular or fixed.

It becomes a dead asset lying in locker.

Buying Gold Bonds (SGBs)

You get 2.5% annual interest. That is extra income.

Capital gain is tax-free after 8 years.

No storage problem. No theft risk.

Can be used as diversification up to 5–10% of portfolio.

Final View on Gold

Do not buy jewellery for investment.

If you want gold exposure, buy gold bonds.

Keep it under 10% of your overall wealth.

Should You Invest in NPS?
Let’s now evaluate National Pension System (NPS).

It is a government-backed scheme with long-term benefit.

Up to Rs. 50,000 extra tax saving under section 80CCD(1B).

Auto choice invests in a mix of equity, corporate bonds, and government debt.

Exit is allowed after age 60. Before that, partial exit rules apply.

60% maturity is tax-free. 40% goes into annuity, which is taxable.

You don’t have liquidity till age 60.

Asset allocation is rigid and may not suit changing needs.

Final View on NPS

You can start NPS with small yearly amount for tax saving.

Do not make it your main retirement tool.

Mutual funds offer better flexibility, control, and liquidity.

Early Retirement Planning
You are 30 now and want to retire early. That’s a bold and exciting goal.

Let’s see how your current setup supports that:

Monthly income: Rs. 1.75 lakh

SIP: Rs. 88,000 (50% of income)

Existing MF corpus: Rs. 19.5 lakh

Emergency and PPF: Rs. 10 lakh total

Real estate (1 plot): Rs. 13 lakh

If you continue SIP of Rs. 88,000 per month and avoid new loans:

You can reach strong corpus in 15–17 years.

That means early retirement at 45–47 is possible.

But this depends on no lifestyle inflation and no big new EMIs.

You should have clear retirement goals and expenses in mind.

A Certified Financial Planner can help you plan in detail.

Also build a parallel income stream post-retirement.

What You Should Do Now
Let’s now turn your financial picture into action steps.

Don’t buy another land or house as investment.

Keep investing Rs. 88,000/month. Review SIP funds with CFP.

Avoid direct mutual funds. Shift to regular plans with MFD + CFP support.

Do not buy jewellery as investment.

Allocate up to 10% in gold bonds if you like.

You may add NPS for tax saving, but keep it under Rs. 50,000/year.

Slowly reduce exposure to small-cap funds over time.

Make your portfolio more stable with large/mid/flexi-cap funds.

Build a 12-month emergency fund. Right now, you have 10 months.

Start retirement goal calculation now. Use financial software or CFP guidance.

Review your portfolio once every year.

Final Insights
You are financially strong, focused, and clear. That is rare at age 30.

But real estate can trap your money. Avoid second purchase for now.

Mutual funds, PPF, and gold bonds give better growth and control.

Direct plans can derail long-term success without personal guidance.

Early retirement is possible if you stay EMI-free and keep investing.

You are doing many things right. Stay consistent and review regularly.

A Certified Financial Planner can help you go from good to great.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

Ans: Dipali, With 88.5% in HSC (PCM) and zero JEE Main percentile, securing CSE in top NITs/IIITs is unlikely, but private universities like Chandigarh University (CSE cutoff: 60% PCM, 90% placements via CUCET/Class 12 merit), Sharda University (CSE cutoff: 70% PCM, 91% placements via SUAT/Class 12), and LPU (CSE cutoff: 60% PCM, 85–90% placements via LPUNEST/Class 12) offer viable pathways. Amity Noida (CSE cutoff: 70% PCM, 95% placements) and Galgotias University (CSE cutoff: 60% PCM, 72–90% placements) prioritize academic merit via direct admission. Explore state engineering colleges like Mumbai University (cutoff ~85–90% via CET) or MSRIT Bangalore (non-CSE branches via management quota). Confirm eligibility for fee waivers and apply promptly to private institutions with NAAC/NBA accreditation for assured tech roles. All the BEST for your Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: Hello dear.
Chances are moderate to very slim in IITs. Please try in IIITs for the brighter chances. Prefer VIT @ Chennai.
Best of luck.
Follow me if you like the reply. Thanks
Radheshyam

Ans: Hello dear.
Please reconsider the decision to take either a full or partial drop. It would be very difficult to maintain patience again for one year. In most cases, the outcome is unsatisfactory. It would be wise to choose CSE @ KIIT or COMDEK, whichever is suitable for you. Wait for AKTU before finalizing any options.
Best of luck.
Follow me if you like the reply. Thanks
Radheshyam

Ans: Deeksha, A 3-year gap after 12th due to health issues or academic realignment is manageable if framed strategically. While some companies (e.g., TCS) enforce a 2-year gap limit, others prioritize skills and transparency. Highlight your eye-related challenges as a valid reason for switching fields, emphasizing proactive steps like certifications (Python, data science) or internships to stay relevant. Opt for careers with lower screen dependency, such as project management, technical writing, or optometry (if feasible with eye conditions), leveraging institutions like Nandadeep School of Optometry or Amrita Coimbatore for specialized training. Affordable options like SASTRA University (BCA/MCA) or GLA University (B.Tech lateral entry) offer placements (~75–85%) with moderate fees. Use the gap to upskill via platforms like Coursera/edX and document health management as resilience. Prioritize colleges with NAAC/NBA accreditation and explore scholarships to mitigate financial strain. While core tech roles may pose challenges, sectors like healthcare tech, education, or government jobs (via SSC/UPSC) are viable alternatives. Balance honesty about your gap with evidence of growth to transform perceived weaknesses into strengths during placements. All the BEST for your Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: Hello Jan
You should target for core branches for B.Tech.. If not interested in core branches, then opt for the branch in the preferred college via management quota.
Best of luck.
Follow me if you like the reply. Thanks
Radheshyam

Ans: Hello dear.
Both options are strong. You can choose any one based on your convenience. However, it is advisable to visit the campuses of the institutions in person for more details. If this is not possible, consider the Acropolis.
Best of luck.
Follow me if you like the reply. Thanks
Radheshyam