My Daughter is in 12th std. & preparing for IIT JEE entrance exams since last 1& half years through online mode of coaching . But we are worried if this mode of preparation for a stiff competition is good enough for her. How she can cope up with fear of being Lost & be motivated enough ? Please suggest us the rational strategy with such a common situation among us for the student & parent both.

Ans: Your father’s current stock portfolio worth Rs 90 lakh is a strong starting point. Diversifying into mutual funds and gold, while maintaining stock investments, can help achieve a balanced portfolio. The goal of Rs 1.5 crore in 5 years is ambitious but achievable with disciplined investment strategies.

Suggested Diversification Approach

Stocks

Retain a portion of the stock portfolio to maintain growth potential.

Focus on a mix of large-cap and mid-cap stocks for stability and growth.

Gradually reduce exposure to highly volatile stocks if present.

Mutual Funds

Allocate around 40% of the total investment to equity mutual funds.

Opt for a mix of large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap funds.

Small-cap funds have higher growth potential but also higher risk.

Consider balanced advantage funds for risk-adjusted returns.

Gold

Allocate 10-15% of the total investment to gold.

Prefer sovereign gold bonds or gold mutual funds over physical gold.

These options provide liquidity and tax benefits.

Investment Plan for Retirement Corpus

Upon retirement, your father will receive Rs 30-40 lakh. This can be strategically invested to generate a monthly income of Rs 50,000.

Step-by-Step Plan

Debt Mutual Funds:

Allocate 50% of the retirement corpus to debt mutual funds.

Focus on short-term and ultra-short-term funds for stability.

Debt funds can generate consistent returns with lower risk.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP):

Set up SWP from debt mutual funds to provide monthly income.

Start with Rs 50,000 per month while leaving room for inflation adjustment.

Hybrid Funds:

Allocate 30% of the retirement corpus to hybrid funds.

Hybrid funds balance equity and debt, offering moderate growth and safety.

Equity Mutual Funds:

Invest 20% in equity funds for long-term growth.

Choose large-cap and flexi-cap funds for moderate risk.

Evaluating Small-Cap Funds

Small-cap funds offer high growth potential. However, they come with high volatility and risk. Investing a small portion of the portfolio (10-15%) in small-cap funds is advisable. Monitor performance regularly and rebalance as needed.

Tax Implications

Equity Mutual Funds:

Gains above Rs 1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5% (LTCG).

Short-term gains are taxed at 20%.

Debt Mutual Funds:

Gains are taxed as per your father’s income tax slab.

Recommendations for SWP-Friendly Funds

Opt for mutual funds with a proven track record of consistent performance.

Prefer funds with low volatility and steady returns.

Hybrid and debt mutual funds are ideal for setting up SWP.

Key Considerations

Regularly review and rebalance the portfolio.

Avoid direct funds; choose regular funds through a Certified Financial Planner.

Consult a CFP for customized investment planning.

Focus on long-term wealth creation rather than short-term gains.

Final Insights

Diversification is key to achieving financial goals and reducing risk. A well-balanced portfolio of stocks, mutual funds, and gold can help you reach the Rs 1.5 crore target. Setting up an SWP ensures steady monthly income post-retirement. Regular portfolio reviews and adjustments are essential for success.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

Ans: Your intention to optimise returns while preserving your LIC policy is thoughtful. Let’s analyse your proposed approach comprehensively.

Challenges with Continuing the Policy
Low Returns: LIC Jeevan Anand traditionally delivers returns between 4%-6%. This does not match inflation-adjusted returns needed for long-term growth.

Opportunity Cost: Continuing the policy locks capital in a low-performing investment, missing higher returns elsewhere.

Surrendering the Policy
Immediate Loss: Surrendering early often results in a financial loss due to penalties and lower surrender value.

Lost Insurance Cover: Surrendering ends your life insurance, which might impact your family's financial safety.

Loan Against the Policy
Taking a loan against the policy can be a balanced approach. Let’s break it down:

Advantages of Policy Loan
Preserves Policy Benefits: The policy remains active, and you avoid surrendering it.

Low-Interest Rate: Policy loans have lower rates (around 9.5%-10%) compared to personal loans or unsecured loans.

Flexible Repayment: You can repay on your terms. If unpaid, it adjusts against the maturity or surrender value.

Access to Capital: You can reinvest the loan amount in higher-return investments, offsetting the policy’s poor performance.

Challenges with Policy Loan
Interest Burden: The interest rate of 9.5%-10% is higher than some secured investment returns, especially if the market underperforms.

Risk of Non-Repayment: Unpaid loans reduce the maturity or surrender value. This might impact the total financial benefit.

Investment Discipline Needed: Returns depend on reinvesting prudently. Poor decisions or market volatility can lead to losses.

Investment Options for Loan Amount
If you proceed with this plan, careful reinvestment is essential.

Equity Mutual Funds for Growth
Allocate a majority to actively managed equity mutual funds. These outperform inflation and generate higher long-term returns.

Avoid index funds. Actively managed funds provide better protection during market downturns.

Balanced Portfolio
Allocate 70%-80% to equity mutual funds (large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap).

Invest 20%-30% in debt mutual funds or hybrid funds for stability.

Focus on Your Goals
Align investments with specific financial goals like retirement, children’s education, or wealth creation.
Steps for Implementation
Assess the Loan Amount Needed: Borrow only what you plan to invest. Avoid over-leveraging.

Consult a Certified Financial Planner: They will guide investment choices based on your risk tolerance and goals.

Track Performance: Regularly review the performance of your investments and adjust when needed.

Plan Loan Repayment: Even if repayment is flexible, try to clear the loan systematically to reduce the interest burden.

Final Insights
Your idea of leveraging a loan against LIC Jeevan Anand is a middle ground. It allows you to continue the policy while investing for better returns. However, it requires financial discipline, monitoring, and strategic reinvestment.

Consult with a Certified Financial Planner to design a customised plan aligned with your long-term financial goals.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

Ans: Hello dear.
Appearing for JEE at this stage is not recommended. You also admit that you had not studied at all until now, i.e., when you were in 12th grade, you did not prepare for JEE and focused only on the state-level entrance test. There is no guarantee that you may be successful if you appear for JEE 2025 or 2026. It will be a just waste of time. You got admission to the best course i.e. CSE (AL/ML) at KIIT University. You happily completed the first sem also. Now related to the environment, do you think it is only related to your college? No, there are many colleges in which the students have to face the worst environment. Slowly you will get acquainted with the college and its environment. Many students face this problem in 1st year in all engineering and medical colleges. Discard the idea of appearing in JEE with a fresh mind, focus on your CSE branch, and try to excel in it for the coming 4 years. The sky is the limit. There is evidence, that the students touched the sky under the very very worst conditions. Focus on your college and syllabus. Best of luck for your upcoming future.

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Ans: You did too many courses. No need to go for extra courses. Your negative point is your basic qualification and positive point is your huge experience. Now only based on experience try for other jobs. Too many certificate based course will lead the employer to confusion. Best of luck. Just follow me. May God Bless You. Professor........................................:)

Ans: Part time job of Data entry at Big shop establishment in ur locality will be better.

Ans: It’s interesting, isn’t it, how relationships often mirror the patterns of communication we create within them? When one partner feels distant or unwilling to talk, it’s less about them giving up and more about a shift in the way they’ve been feeling understood—or misunderstood.

You see, communication isn’t just about words; it’s about emotions, intentions, and the unspoken messages we convey. If your partner isn’t talking, perhaps they’re saying something without words. And that’s where curiosity becomes your ally.

Instead of focusing on the silence, what if you shifted your attention to understanding what that silence represents? Maybe it’s disappointment, frustration, or even fear. But the key is, you can’t solve what you assume—it’s about discovering what’s really there.

And let me ask you this: if you were to step into their shoes for a moment—just imagine being them—what might they feel? What might they need to hear from you, or perhaps sense from your presence, that could bring a spark of connection back into the conversation?

Love is rarely about giving up. It’s about learning to communicate in a way that feels safe and understood. And if you’re willing to stay open, willing to listen to the quiet messages, you may find a new way forward—one step at a time.

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
Trust me, the right thing is to inform her parents about this. Torture is a serious matter and she should not have to tolerate that. I am very sorry that this is happening to her, but please encourage her to break up with the guy and tell her parents the truth. She can simply tell that she used to like someone, but does not anymore. This way, the guy can't blackmail her anymore and her parents will also know that she is not involved with him anymore.

Hope this helps.

Ans: Hello Dear
As far as the NRI quota is concerned, it is better to visit the official website of the said college or directly talk to the administration for more accurate and reliable information. The fee changes and varies institute-wise. If your daughter scores well, she can get admission to Pondicherry through CENTAC (CENTRALISED ADMISSION COMMITTEE). It is not clear why you are only focussing on Pondicherry. There are many colleges where your daughter can get admission through the NRI quota easily either in a college or a good private college. The flow of patients is almost the same to Govt and Pvt college.

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Ans: Hello dear.
Here is the point-wise reply to your question:
(1) Visit any IIT website (i.e. IIT Delhi or Kanpur), and you will get the list of state-wise. or simply copy the following link and paste it into your browser: https://sites.google.com/d/1Jkk3M1VMmz-cAt9715bsTdB8_-HX3zhc/p/1tl1rYT3HOt1z5JjSkfujneMhN6FJCOpo/edit
(2) To become IITan, first crack JEE (Main) and then JEE (Adv). Get admission to IIT College based on your rank. Pass the course. Then you will be called/recognized as IITas.
(3) Cutoff varies from institution to institution and course-wise. It would be better to visit the Kanpur / Madras IIT websites to know the exact cutoff branch-wise.
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