How should I guide my daughter in 11th standard JEE preparation, considering her dependence on me in 10th?

Ans: If he's very passionate about coding and wants a direct path into tech, CSE at RVCE is the better pick.
If he wants a prestigious brand, flexible academics, and is willing to put extra effort to break into tech or consider higher studies abroad, EEE at BITS Goa or Hyderabad is excellent too.

Ans: The order of preferences will be:
1. PEC Chandigarh – Mechanical Engineering
2. UIET Chandigarh – ECE
3. NIT Uttarakhand – Mechanical

Ans: Your decision to review your Rs. 21.5 lakh corpus is very thoughtful.

You have already done the hard part — staying invested patiently. That deserves appreciation.

Let’s evaluate with a 360-degree view.

 

Review of Your Existing Fund

The large and mid cap category is built for balance. Growth + Stability.

 

This category holds 35% minimum in both large and mid caps. That ensures diversification.

 

Your investment in this fund has grown from Rs. 16 lakh to Rs. 21.5 lakh.

 

That means you are already sitting on long-term capital gains.

 

Stopping SIP a year ago was not a wrong move. But restarting must be evaluated now.

 

Past performance of this fund has been steady. Not flashy, but solid.

 

Performance vs peers is above average over 5 years. That shows it is consistent.

 

Portfolio quality is decent. Exposure to leaders in large caps and promising mid caps.

 

Fund manager is stable and has decent track record. There is no red flag.

 

Should You Stay Invested?

Yes, this fund is still investment-worthy if your goals are 5+ years away.

 

No urgent need to exit unless your goal is nearing.

 

If it aligns with your asset allocation, you can keep the corpus as is.

 

If you're satisfied with the growth and risk level, it’s a good hold.

 

Don’t churn just for the sake of change. That hurts long-term returns.

 

Should You Restart the SIP?

Restart SIP only if your overall asset allocation allows more equity exposure.

 

Also, check if your existing portfolio lacks this category.

 

If you already have large cap and small cap funds, this fits well in the middle.

 

If SIP was helping you average cost over time, restarting can be useful.

 

If this is your only mid cap exposure, SIP will give future compounding benefit.

 

Should You Switch to Another Fund?

Only switch if:

Performance is poor compared to category

Fund manager has changed recently

You need to change investment style

 

Your fund is not underperforming. So switching is not necessary now.

 

Review style overlap before switching. Don’t hold two funds with same portfolio.

 

Fund style in this case is mostly growth-oriented with some quality bias.

 

If you switch to a focused or contra fund, your overall portfolio risk may rise.

 

Should You Redeem Now?

No need to redeem unless you need the money for goals.

 

Redeem in small chunks only if rebalancing your portfolio.

 

Also, remember the new capital gains rules.

 

For equity funds, LTCG above Rs. 1.25 lakh will be taxed at 12.5%.

 

Plan redemption carefully in a financial year to manage taxes.

 

Disadvantages of Direct Funds

Direct plans look cheaper, but advice is missing.

 

You invest without regular review and support.

 

A certified financial planner or MFD gives timely rebalancing suggestions.

 

Regular plans have small cost, but offer long-term tracking and service.

 

Emotional mistakes are common in direct mode. Panic selling happens often.

 

Stick to regular plans with professional help for peace of mind.

 

Stay Away from Index Funds

Index funds may sound passive and safe. But they lack flexibility.

 

In a falling market, they continue holding bad companies.

 

No chance to exit underperformers like in active funds.

 

Fund manager cannot protect downside in index strategy.

 

In India, active managers still beat index in most time frames.

 

For goal-based investing, active funds offer more control.

 

Tax Aspects to Remember

Your gain from Rs. 16 lakh to Rs. 21.5 lakh includes long-term capital gains.

 

LTCG up to Rs. 1.25 lakh per year is tax-free.

 

Beyond that, 12.5% tax is applicable.

 

Short-term gains (less than 1 year) are taxed at 20%.

 

For future redemptions, plan in parts to reduce tax burden.

 

Portfolio Check Needed

Before any decision, check your total portfolio structure.

 

Do you have large cap, mid cap, flexi cap, and small cap balance?

 

Do you have thematic or sector funds? Those should be limited.

 

Ensure that you are not overexposed to just one AMC.

 

One fund house approach is risky if strategy underperforms.

 

Suggestions for Future Investing

Continue SIP in this fund if portfolio requires mid cap exposure.

 

Or, consider adding one flexi cap fund with value or blend style.

 

Keep portfolio to 4-5 funds. More than that reduces clarity.

 

If you want more growth, small cap fund can be added with caution.

 

Ensure that all funds are across different fund managers.

 

SIP of Rs. 10,000–15,000 per month is ideal to create Rs. 1 crore in 10–12 years.

 

Add lump sum only when market has corrected. Use STP if unsure.

 

Stay invested for full market cycles to see compounding power.

 

Asset Allocation Reminder

Keep 20–30% of your portfolio in fixed income.

 

Emergency fund and insurance should be ready before equity investing.

 

Don’t invest in equity if goal is less than 5 years away.

 

Avoid frequent fund switching. Let compounding work.

 

Review portfolio once in a year with your Certified Financial Planner.

 

Finally

Your decision to stop SIP and review is thoughtful.

 

The fund still has merit. No urgency to switch or exit.

 

Restart SIP if it helps you reach long-term goals.

 

Portfolio strategy should match your risk, goals, and horizon.

 

Don’t overcrowd your portfolio. Let each fund play a clear role.

 

Use professional guidance to avoid emotional decisions.

 

Focus on goal-based investing, not just returns.

 

Compounding needs time, patience, and discipline.

 

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

Ans: Assessing Your Investment Goal

You aim to accumulate Rs 1 crore in 10 years.

Planning to invest Rs 10,000 monthly towards this goal.

This requires a disciplined and strategic investment approach.

Let's evaluate the feasibility and suggest an optimal investment strategy.

 

Feasibility of Achieving Rs 1 Crore with Rs 10,000 Monthly Investment

Investing Rs 10,000 per month for 10 years totals Rs 12 lakh.

To reach Rs 1 crore, your investment must grow over eight times.

This implies an annual return of approximately 26-27%.

Such high returns are exceptionally rare and involve significant risk.

Therefore, achieving Rs 1 crore in 10 years with Rs 10,000 monthly is highly unlikely.

 

Recommended Investment Strategy

Increase your monthly investment to enhance the likelihood of reaching your goal.

Consider a monthly SIP of Rs 40,000 to Rs 45,000.

This assumes an annual return of 12%, which is more realistic.

Diversify your investments across various mutual fund categories.

Regularly review and adjust your investment portfolio.

 

Suggested Mutual Fund Allocation

Large Cap Funds: Allocate 40% of your investment.

Flexi Cap Funds: Allocate 30% for flexibility across market capitalizations.

Mid Cap Funds: Allocate 20% to capture growth potential.

Small Cap Funds: Allocate 10% for higher risk-reward opportunities.

 

Importance of Diversification

Diversification helps in managing investment risk.

It ensures exposure to various sectors and market segments.

Balances the portfolio to withstand market volatility.

Enhances the potential for consistent returns over time.

 

Regular Portfolio Review

Monitor your investment portfolio periodically.

Assess the performance of each fund category.

Rebalance the portfolio to maintain desired asset allocation.

Adjust investments based on changing financial goals and market conditions.

 

Tax Considerations

Be aware of the tax implications on mutual fund investments.

Long-term capital gains (LTCG) above Rs 1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%.

Short-term capital gains (STCG) are taxed at 20%.

Plan your investments to optimize tax efficiency.

 

Final Insights

Achieving Rs 1 crore in 10 years with Rs 10,000 monthly investment is highly challenging.

Increasing your monthly investment enhances the feasibility of reaching your goal.

Diversify your investments across various mutual fund categories.

Regularly review and adjust your portfolio to align with financial objectives.

Stay informed about tax implications to maximize returns.

 

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

Ans: For LIC Jeevan Anand Plan 149, based on past trends:

For policy term 15 to 19 years and sum assured above Rs 2 lakh,
average FAB is usually between Rs 40 to Rs 70 per Rs 1,000 sum assured.

For sum assured below Rs 2 lakh,
FAB may fall to around Rs 20 to Rs 40 per Rs 1,000.

Higher FAB like Rs 75 to Rs 100 generally applies for longer terms (20+ years) and high sum assured.

This still varies based on LIC’s annual surplus and policy terms.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

Ans: Hi,

There are around 100 gurus on the Rediff platform, each specializing in four different domains. If you have asked a question, it's possible that the guru you reached out to may not have the information you need. Even if you direct your query to a specific guru, the questions posted by the admin from Rediff may not be well-informed. Additionally, the volume of responses received by Rediffguro is quite large, which can lead to delays.

As a result, if you do not receive a response from the respective guru, your query may remain unresolved. It would be advisable to repost your question on the Rediff platform for better chances of receiving an answer.

POOCHO. LIFE CHANGE KARO.

Ans: Hi Utkrisht
You have a fair chance of getting Mechanical at
NIT Mizoram
NIT Nagaland
NIT Sikkim
NIT Meghalaya
NIT Agartala
NIT Silchar
NIT Puducherry
Possibly NIT Jalandhar / NIT Uttarakhand (in later rounds or spot round)

Ans: you can withdraw some amount.
you can get yearly monthly pension from the annuity

Ans: no