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Baqar Iftikhar

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Start-up Mentor - Answered on Feb 11, 2023

Baqar Iftikhar Naqvi is the founder and CEO of Upriver Ecommerce, an online sales accelerator firm and can guide entrepreneurs on how to make their firms grow.He holds a BTech in textile technology from the Central Textile Institute and has a master's degree in marketing and merchandising from the National Institute of Fashion Technology.He has 23 years of experience in the consumer products and retail industry.... more
Asked by Anonymous - Feb 11, 2023Hindi
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Career

In my career, I am in responsible position in my organization where I am working from past 11 years. I am in situation where management is doubting my integrity from year or so (Which is not true, but few influential colleagues have created this opinion because of certain conflicts and ego) and I am not getting growth opportunities freely and I feel people are not openly accepting and appreciating my efforts and hard work. This is creating hardships for me, I want break this stigma about me and work freely as earlier, which am trying but feel, it is not working. Will it take time, should I wait for it to change by doing work or should I look for some new opportunities. The dilemma is because I had thought this job is my long time career option and looks like it has become a comfort zone considering my it is in my native, decent salary, children started their schooling now and spouse is also working nearby. It feels hard some times to face people and their reactions, my growth opportunities are getting delayed or in limbo. How to Handle this kind of situation, please advice.

Ans: I think it is time to move on. If you are good in what you do, please waste time in a place where your integrity itself is doubted. I don’t think the perception created once will change anytime soon, and that too on its own
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Mayank

Mayank Rautela  | Answer  |Ask -

HR Expert - Answered on Apr 07, 2021

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Hi Mayank,I was going through this article Struggling with your career? and it prompted me to write this email.I am Kalpesh Desai, aged 45, working with an MNC as project manager in Mumbai.I feel I have reached a kind of dead-end and am unable to crack that due to office politics, coupled with my inability to say ‘Yes boss’ everywhere and my poor marketing skills as far as my own work is concerned.I am bad at speaking lies and I am process oriented. This just adds to my woes.I feel I end up being used without getting recognised.Changing jobs seems to be easy option but does not guarantee a better situation in future jobs. Kindly share insights on how to come out of this.Warm regards,Kalpesh Desai
Ans:

Dear Kalpesh,

Many of us face this situation in this stage of our careers.

It’s something I have faced as well.

I can share what I have learnt from my experience; I hope it will help you.

1. Reinvent yourself. Upgrade your competencies; take up some courses in your field from a reputed institute.

2. Set clear goals and expectations with your manager. You don't have to be a 'yes man', but you must be aligned with the goals of your manager and the organisation at large.

3. Have a career discussion with your manager. Clearly express what you are looking for in your career and what help you need from the management.

4. Move out of your core area of functioning. For example, you could move from project management to analytics, strategy or even sales.

5. Ensure that you have a good financial plan to secure the future of your family.

..Read more

Krishna

Krishna Kumar  | Answer  |Ask -

Workplace Expert - Answered on May 02, 2024

Pradeep

Pradeep Pramanik  | Answer  |Ask -

Career And Placement Consultant - Answered on Nov 12, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Oct 29, 2024Hindi
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Career
Pradeep, I am a professional with more than 17 years of experience in Operations, team management. Currently I have started working in a global MNC in a global position. Earlier I was working with the same organization for more than 10 years. Then during Covid, I lost my job. Finally, settled down with another company with almost 40% less salary. Though I loved the role and responsibilities there. I was a Senior Team Lead there. I liked the role where I was managing the team, working with the team. But due to some internal politics, I lost my job in that organization too in this year only. Why I am saying politics? Because just before they fired me, I got best performer award and best employee of the last quarter 2024 award. Then I rejoined my old organization with lots of hope. But now I am finiding it difficult to cope up in this global role. The top management expected me to know everything within 3 to 4 months and start delivering. One of the biggest hurdle that I am facing is that earlier when I was in this organization for more than 10 years, I was in another process. This time I got in a role where the process is completely different. Also no proper training is provided. I am not get a fulfiling satisfaction from this role. Also I am not able to get job satisfaction and now I am thinking of quitting and start something of my own. A business venture or a consultancy service. But not sure how to start and also afraid of the flow of income. I have a mother who is suffering from age related problems. Have a little kid of 12 years. My wife is not working. I tried to switch jobs. But it seems that no one is there to take someone who is almost at 45 years of age. I am loosing my hope and confidence day by day. Please help.
Ans: Dear... Request you to mention the question in precise way to understand what exactly you require from us. Big question normally indicates state of confusion somewhere hence difficult to repply which will satisfy you.

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Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |203 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 18, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 07, 2025Hindi
Money
am 53 , in between jobs as lost a high profile job about 8 months back. Have fulfilled all my responsibilities. no debt. own home. Me and wife are empty nesters. Monthly expenses maximum will be 60-65000 per month. Am planning to travel where the expenses could range between 10-12 lakhs per annum. What should be the ideal corpus that i should have at this point in time. i have currently close to 5.5-6.00 cr in corpus most in debt and some in ppf . Is this good enough to retire for good Am planning to go for a comprehensive medical insurance for me & my spouse. Am a very conservative & risk averse individual.
Ans: Dear Sir,

You are 53 years old with the following profile:

No dependents

Monthly expenses: ?60,000–65,000

Planned travel expenses: ?10–12 lakh/year

Current corpus: ?5.5–6 crore (majority in debt instruments and PPF)

Owns home (loan-free)

Risk profile: Very conservative, risk-averse

Planning to take comprehensive medical insurance for self & spouse

Observations

Current Corpus & Expenses

Annual lifestyle + travel expenses: ~?18–20 lakh/year

Using a safe withdrawal rate of 3.5–4% (suitable for conservative, long retirement), you would need a corpus of ~?5–6 crore to sustain current lifestyle indefinitely.

Investment Composition

Since most of your corpus is in debt and PPF, it is stable but may lag inflation slightly over long term.

With low-risk instruments, annual real returns may be ~5–6%, which is adequate if spending is controlled.

Recommendations

1. Portfolio Allocation

Maintain 70–75% in debt/PPF/FDRs for safety.

Keep 15–20% in conservative equity/balanced funds for inflation hedge.

Allocate 5–10% in gold/SGB for long-term protection.

2. Liquidity & Emergency Planning

Maintain cash or liquid funds for 12–18 months’ expenses to cover unexpected needs or medical emergencies.

3. Insurance & Health Coverage

Opt for a comprehensive family floater medical insurance covering hospitalization, critical illness, and post-hospitalization expenses.

Keep term insurance only if required for estate or inheritance planning.

4. Travel Planning

Fund travel expenses from short-term debt or liquid mutual funds to avoid liquidating PPF or long-term debt.

Set aside an annual corpus of ?10–12 lakh specifically for travel.

5. Inflation & Corpus Monitoring

Even conservative retirees should review corpus annually to account for inflation, unexpected medical costs, and lifestyle changes.

Consider modest equity allocation to maintain purchasing power over decades.

Conclusion

With ?5.5–6 crore mostly in safe instruments, your current corpus is sufficient for retirement with your conservative lifestyle and travel plans. Key actions:

Opt for comprehensive health insurance

Maintain liquidity for 12–18 months

Small equity allocation for inflation protection

Review corpus annually

Your retirement can be comfortable, low-risk, and sustainable, given disciplined spending and conservative investment approach.

Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
https://members.networkfp.com/member/naveenkumarreddy-vadula-chennai

...Read more

Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |203 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 18, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 06, 2025Hindi
Money
I'm 26, unmarried, my current in-hand salary is 1.8L per month, In my savings i have 11.4Lakhs invested in mutual funds focusing investing in Small cap and mid cap large cap and index funds. And 10 lakhs invested in equities My PF Balance is 3.5lakhs and in Nps it's 1.5lakhs. and In my savings account i have around 2.5lakhs. I have recently received salary hike and now I'm planning to invest 1lakh in SIPs every month. I want to retire at the age of 45. My current expenses are around 70k per month.How shall I plan my investments to achieve this goal so that I draw atleast 1.5lakhs(today's value) post retirement.
Ans: Dear Sir/Madam,

You are 26 years old, unmarried, with a monthly in-hand salary of ?1.8 lakh. Current financials:

Investments & Savings:

Mutual funds: ?11.4 lakh (Small-cap, Mid-cap, Large-cap, Index funds)

Equities: ?10 lakh

PF: ?3.5 lakh

NPS: ?1.5 lakh

Savings account: ?2.5 lakh

Planned SIP: ?1 lakh per month

Current Expenses: ?70,000/month

Goal: Retire at 45, maintain lifestyle, draw ?1.5 lakh/month (today’s value)

Observations & Recommendations:

Retirement Corpus Requirement: Considering 19 years to retirement and 5% inflation, you may need a corpus of approx. ?7–8 crore to generate ?1.5 lakh/month in today’s value (adjusted for inflation) at 4% safe withdrawal rate.

SIP Allocation:

Maintain 60–70% in diversified equity funds (flexi-cap / large & mid-cap) for growth.

Keep 10–15% in debt funds or NPS for stability and tax efficiency.

Maintain emergency fund of 6–12 months’ expenses in liquid funds or savings account.

Portfolio Diversification: Avoid concentration in a few stocks; focus on mutual fund diversification across styles and market caps.

Annual Review: Increase SIP contribution with salary hikes; rebalance portfolio annually to maintain risk allocation.

Insurance: Ensure adequate health and term insurance to cover unforeseen events before retirement.

Next Steps:

Consult a QPFP / MFD planner for a detailed cash flow, goal tracking, and early retirement plan.

Monitor portfolio performance annually and adjust SIPs to ensure the target corpus is achievable.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing.

Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
https://members.networkfp.com/member/naveenkumarreddy-vadula-chennai

...Read more

Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |203 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 18, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 06, 2025Hindi
Money
Hello sir I am 41 years old. My monthly income is 1.1 lakhs . My current financials follows: My monthly expense - 60000 EMI vehicle - 9700 Insurance premium - Term insurance: 2300/month Health insurance: 2000/month LIC: 1500/month APY Contribution: 1000/month Insurance cover: Term insurance 1cr. Plus 17 lakhs critical illness cover Health insurance - 30 lakhs family floater LIC - 4 lakhs Emergency fund - 7 lakhs Investment: Mutual fund SIP 1. Goal - House construction - Rs.65 lakhs - timeline - 15 years Parag pareikh flexicap fund - 8k / month 2. Goal - Land purchase - 40 lakhs - Time line - 10 years Axis large and midcap fund - 8k/month 3. Goal - Kids education - 16 lakhs - 11 years ICICI Prudential Large and Midcap fund - 2.5k/month 4. Goal - Retirement - 3.5 cr - 19 years HDFC Flexicap fund - 9.5k/month 5. Goal - Gold - 100gms - 15 years SBI Gold ETF - 6k/month 6. SSY - 3500/month Kindly suggest if I need to make any corrections in my investment. Thank you
Ans: Dear Sir/Madam,

You are 41 years old with a monthly income of ?1.1 lakh and the following financials:

Monthly Expenses & EMI:

Household expenses: ?60,000

Vehicle EMI: ?9,700

Insurance Premiums & Coverage:

Term insurance: ?2,300/month (Coverage ?1 crore)

Health insurance: ?2,000/month (Family floater ?30L)

LIC: ?1,500/month (Coverage ?4L)

Critical illness cover: ?17L

APY contribution: ?1,000/month

Emergency Fund: ?7 lakhs

Investments (SIPs):

Goal: House construction – ?65L – 15 years → Parag Parikh Flexi Cap ?8k/month

Goal: Land purchase – ?40L – 10 years → Axis Large & Mid Cap ?8k/month

Goal: Kids’ education – ?16L – 11 years → ICICI Large & Mid Cap ?2.5k/month

Goal: Retirement – ?3.5 crore – 19 years → HDFC Flexi Cap ?9.5k/month

Goal: Gold – 100g – 15 years → SBI Gold ETF ?6k/month

SSY – ?3,500/month

Observations & Recommendations:

Equity Allocation: Your goal-based equity SIPs are modest and diversified. You may slightly increase SIPs for long-term goals (House & Retirement) to account for inflation.

Debt Exposure: Ensure your emergency fund remains intact (7–8 months of expenses). Consider keeping some short-term debt instruments for medium-term goals like Land purchase.

SIP Consolidation: For simpler tracking, you may consolidate multiple mid-cap/flexi-cap SIPs with 2–3 strong diversified funds rather than many small SIPs.

Insurance: Term and health insurance are adequate. Review critical illness coverage as you age.

Gold Allocation: 6k/month is reasonable. Monitor market volatility and consider staggering purchases.

Regular Review: Rebalance your portfolio every year to ensure asset allocation aligns with risk and timelines.

Next Steps:

Consult a QPFP financial planner for a detailed cash flow, investment alignment, and goal-tracking strategy.

Monitor inflation impact on your goals (House, Land, Education, Retirement) and adjust SIPs periodically.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing.

Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
https://members.networkfp.com/member/naveenkumarreddy-vadula-chennai

...Read more

Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |203 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 18, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Aug 28, 2025Hindi
Money
I am 43 y/o with a monthly salary Rs.2,15,000 after tax with dependent wife and two boys aged 14 and 10. Monthly expenses around 1.25L-1.5L which includes home and car loan EMI and school fees etc. monthly SIP to index fund and a small cap fund is around 30K. Current MF value is 20Lakhs (started investing late). I have No FDs as I broke them to have very less debt for my new home built last year. Direct equity exposure in India is 40Lakhs and some exposure in US markets with 12Lakhs in equities and US ETFs. I have 25Lakhs in my Provident fund. My wife has gold worth 60Lakhs. My current house and the plot is worth 2.8Cr as of today. I also have some ancestral land worth 1Cr. Have rental income from two apartments summing up to 30K. My rented out apartments combined value is around 80Lakhs. I also have 25Lakh worth of health insurance for family and 3Cr worth term insurance in my name. What could be an ideal retirement strategy for me from my day job. I have tried my hand as a swing trader for a year with a decent return of 22% in a year but went back to my job fearing financial instability. I still have that option open as I like trading as well. Thanks in advance!
Ans: Dear Sir,

You are 43 years old with the following profile:

Monthly Salary: ?2,15,000 (post-tax)

Dependents: Wife + 2 boys (14 & 10 years)

Monthly Expenses: ?1.25–1.5 lakh (including home & car EMI, school fees)

Mutual Funds: ?20 lakh (SIP ?30,000/month in index + small cap)

Direct Equity India: ?40 lakh

US Equities + ETFs: ?12 lakh

PF: ?25 lakh

Wife’s Gold: ?60 lakh

House + Plot: ?2.8 crore (self-occupied)

Ancestral Land: ?1 crore

Rental Income: ?30,000/month from 2 apartments (value ~?80 lakh)

Health Insurance: ?25 lakh (family)

Term Insurance: ?3 crore

Observations

Current Net Worth – Excluding lifestyle/home, your investible corpus is ~?1.57–1.6 crore (MF + Indian & US equities + PF + rental property).

Cash Flow – Your salary plus rental income comfortably covers expenses. SIPs continue to build long-term corpus.

Risk Exposure – High concentration in Indian equities (~?40 lakh) and some direct equity risk in US markets. Gold and PF provide stability.

Retirement Horizon – Assuming retirement at 55, you have 12 years to build corpus.

Action Plan

1. Portfolio Diversification & Growth

Maintain 60–65% in equities (MF + direct equity, India + US) for long-term growth.

Rebalance periodically to reduce concentration risk.

Debt/PPF/FDs: 25–30% for stability and predictable cash flows.

Gold/SGB: 5–10% as an inflation hedge.

2. Children’s Education

Allocate a separate goal-based corpus for children:

14-year-old: ~?20–25 lakh for higher education in 4–5 years.

10-year-old: ~?30–35 lakh in 8–10 years.

Use short-duration debt and balanced funds for near-term needs, equity funds for long-term needs.

3. Retirement Corpus & Income

Target corpus: ?6–7 crore (inflation-adjusted, assuming 4% SWP) to sustain post-retirement lifestyle.

Expected post-retirement income sources:

Rental Income: ?30–35k/month (increase with inflation)

PF/NPS: ~?40–50k/month

Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) from MF/Equity corpus: ~?1–1.2 lakh/month

With disciplined SIPs and equity growth (~10–12% CAGR), target corpus achievable by 55.

4. Protection & Risk Management

Term Insurance: Adequate (already 3Cr).

Health Insurance: Ensure family floater covers future medical inflation.

Keep emergency fund equivalent to 12 months’ expenses in liquid instruments.

5. Optional Trading Exposure

You may continue swing trading in a small portion (

...Read more

Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |203 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 18, 2025

Money
I am 41 years old. I have 2 kids below 3 years age. My monthly income is 1.50 Lacs and rental income of 60000. I have no plans except one Housing loan of 35 Lacs. I am doing 50000 Sip and have a portfolio of 20 Lacs in Mutual funds and 20 Lacs in shares and 15 Lacs shares. My monthly expenses are now Approx 60000 excluding children education. Children education estimated expenses are 3-4 lacs per annum. I am planning to retire after 5 years. At the time of retirement I will be having the following : 1. Monthly Rental income 70000 2. Monthly NPS Pension 37000 3. Fixed deposit 40-50 Lacs ( interest income 30000) 4. Mutual fund and equity portfolio of 1 crore Is it fisible to retire after 5 years ??
Ans: Dear Sir,

You are 41 years old with the following profile:

Monthly Salary: ?1.5 lakh

Rental Income: ?60,000/month

Kids: 2, both under 3 years

Housing Loan: ?35 lakh outstanding

Mutual Funds: ?20 lakh (SIP ?50,000/month)

Equity Portfolio: ?20 lakh

Fixed Deposits: ?15 lakh

Monthly Expenses: ?60,000 (excluding children’s education)

Children’s Education: Estimated ?3–4 lakh/year

Observations

Current Savings & Investments – Your investible corpus is ~?55 lakh (MF + Equity + FD). SIP of ?50k/month adds ~?30 lakh over 5 years (excluding returns).

Projected Retirement Corpus (5 years) – Assuming 10% CAGR on MF/Equity, your corpus may grow to ~?1 crore. FD interest (~?15k/month at 6–7%) adds stability.

Income at Retirement – Post-retirement, expected inflows:

Rental Income: ?70,000/month

NPS Pension: ?37,000/month

FD Interest: ?30,000/month

MF + Equity Corpus: SWP possible (~?50,000–60,000/month depending on withdrawal plan)

Total Monthly Post-Retirement Income – Approx ?2.1–2.2 lakh/month.

Expense Coverage – Your current expenses (~?60k) plus children education (~?25–30k/month average) are well within projected income.

Action Plan

1. Debt Management

Plan to repay housing loan within next 2–3 years to reduce liability and free cash flow.

2. Portfolio Allocation

Maintain 60–65% in equity (MF + stocks) for growth.

Keep 25–30% in debt (FD/NPS) for stability.

Allocate ~5–10% to gold/SGBs as inflation hedge.

Emergency fund: Maintain 12 months’ expenses in liquid funds.

3. Retirement Withdrawal Strategy

Consider Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) from MF/Equity corpus to supplement rental and pension.

Use goal-based approach for children’s education to avoid disrupting retirement corpus.

Conclusion

Based on current corpus, SIPs, rental, and NPS pension, retiring in 5 years is feasible. Key points:

Focus on clearing housing loan before retirement.

Continue disciplined SIPs for growth.

Keep children’s education funds separate.

Please consult a QPFP / MFD for detailed cash flow planning, SWP structuring, and risk assessment.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme related documents carefully before investing.

Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
https://members.networkfp.com/member/naveenkumarreddy-vadula-chennai

...Read more

Naveenn

Naveenn Kummar  |203 Answers  |Ask -

Financial Planner, MF, Insurance Expert - Answered on Sep 18, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Sep 12, 2025Hindi
Money
I am 37 years male staying with wife and kid and parents, our household monthly expenses are around ₹65k and my income is around 2lakhs per month I have saved around 13lakhs in Ppf and epf has around 21lakhs and nps around 8lakhs. Have mutual fund investments of about 30lakhs, and fd of around 12 lakhs. I have running investments in sip of around ₹55k in equities and equal amount I m putting aside in debt instruments like fd and ppf each month as I do not want too much risk. Please guide me for planning retirement in next 10 years
Ans: Dear Sir/Madam,

You are 37 years old, living with your spouse, child, and parents. Current financials:

Monthly household expenses: ?65,000

Monthly income: ?2 lakh

PPF + EPF: ?34 lakhs (PPF: ?13L, EPF: ?21L)

NPS: ?8 lakhs

Mutual Funds: ?30 lakhs

Fixed Deposits: ?12 lakhs

Monthly SIP: ?55,000 in equities, ?55,000 in debt instruments (FD/PPF)

Goal: Retire in 10 years (age 47) maintaining current lifestyle.

Estimated Retirement Corpus:

Assuming 5% inflation, monthly expenses at retirement will be approx. ?1.0–1.1 lakh.

Using a 4% safe withdrawal rate, a retirement corpus of around ?3–3.5 crore would be needed.

Action Plan:

Continue your disciplined SIPs in equities and debt. You may consider slightly increasing equity exposure over time to boost long-term growth, especially in the first 5–7 years.

Maintain a mix of 60% equities and 40% debt currently. Gradually shift 20–30% of equity into debt instruments 3–5 years before retirement for stability.

Keep 12 months’ household expenses in liquid instruments for emergencies.

Review portfolio annually to ensure asset allocation matches risk tolerance and inflation expectations.

Consider topping up NPS and PPF to maximize tax-efficient retirement corpus.

Next Steps:

Consult a QPFP financial planner for detailed cash flow, retirement projection, and goal-based investment planning.

Ensure adequate term and health insurance coverage to protect family obligations.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing.

Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
https://members.networkfp.com/member/naveenkumarreddy-vadula-chennai

...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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