Home > Career > Question
Need Expert Advice?Our Gurus Can Help
Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |7436 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jun 14, 2025

Nayagam is a certified career counsellor and the founder of EduJob360.
He started his career as an HR professional and has over 10 years of experience in tutoring and mentoring students from Classes 8 to 12, helping them choose the right stream, course and college/university.
He also counsels students on how to prepare for entrance exams for getting admission into reputed universities /colleges for their graduate/postgraduate courses.
He has guided both fresh graduates and experienced professionals on how to write a resume, how to prepare for job interviews and how to negotiate their salary when joining a new job.
Nayagam has published an eBook, Professional Resume Writing Without Googling.
He has a postgraduate degree in human resources from Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Delhi, a postgraduate diploma in labour law from Madras University, a postgraduate diploma in school counselling from Symbiosis, Pune, and a certification in child psychology from Counsel India.
He has also completed his master’s degree in career counselling from ICCC-Mindler and Counsel, India.
... more
vinnu Question by vinnu on Jun 11, 2025
Career

My son got 34791 rank in comedk 2025 ...will he get CSE in top 10 colleges of bangaluru?

Ans: With your son's COMEDK rank of 34791, securing CSE admission in Bangalore's top 10 colleges (RVCE, MSRIT, BMSCE, etc.) is not feasible as these premier institutions typically close CSE admissions within ranks 150-4200 for general category . However, excellent opportunities exist at mid-tier colleges where CSE cutoffs extend to 30,000-40,000 ranks . Based on his rank, the top 10 accessible colleges for CSE are Global Academy of Technology (CSE cutoff 26,500-26,800) , Atria Institute of Technology (cutoff 28,000-28,300) , BGS College of Engineering and Technology (cutoff 27,000-27,300) , Acharya Institute of Technology (cutoff 16,200-16,400) , BNM Institute of Technology , Dayananda Sagar Academy of Technology and Management , Cambridge Institute of Technology , SJB Institute of Technology , Bangalore College of Engineering and Technology , and KLE Institute of Technology (cutoff 26,700-27,000) . These colleges demonstrate solid placement performance with Atria Institute achieving 84% CSE placement rate and highest package of 30 LPA in 2024 , while Global Academy of Technology maintains COMEDK CSE cutoff at 26,511 for general merit category . Recommendation: Apply to Global Academy of Technology, Atria Institute of Technology, and BGS College of Engineering as primary choices for strong CSE admission prospects and decent placement opportunities with your current rank. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

You may like to see similar questions and answers below

Latest Questions
Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |7436 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jun 29, 2025

Career
My son has scored 96.98 percentile rank 45000 in jee mains in general category. His goal is to persue cse or ece in a reputed nit or others as per his current rank heay get onlylower tier nit or other than cse he is getting cse in amu on his air 110 through amuee. Is it worth taking a drop year for a better shot at top tier institute?
Ans: Ashfaq Sir, With a 96.98 percentile and rank of 45,000 in JEE Main 2025 for the general category, your son faces significant challenges for CSE admission in top-tier NITs but has viable opportunities in lower-tier NITs and several IIITs for CSE/ECE branches. NIT Patna offers reasonable prospects with CSE closing ranks around 14,400-18,600 (Other State) and 18,300-18,600 (Home State), while specialized programs like CSE with Data Science close at 15,600-16,100 ranks. NIT Sikkim provides excellent opportunities with CSE closing ranks at 21,087-25,441 (Other State) and ECE at 35,024-37,004, achieving 75.37% BTech placement rates with packages up to ?44 LPA from recruiters including Deloitte, Samsung, IBM, and NVIDIA. NIT Goa remains challenging with CSE requiring ranks around 34,858-44,014 but offers strong placement statistics with 75.83% overall placement rate and highest packages of ?20 LPA. Among IIITs, promising options include IIIT Manipur, IIIT Agartala, IIIT Ranchi, IIIT Bhagalpur, IIIT Dharwad, IIIT Bhubaneswar, and IIIT Kalyani which accept 96+ percentile candidates. Private engineering colleges also present excellent alternatives, with institutions accepting ranks between 40,000-50,000 offering competitive CSE/ECE programs with 70-90% placement rates. Essential institutional quality aspects include accredited faculty with industry experience and advanced qualifications, modern infrastructure with well-equipped laboratories and computing resources, strong industry partnerships ensuring consistent 70%+ placement rates, comprehensive curriculum balancing theoretical knowledge with practical application, and research opportunities with appropriate student-faculty ratios enabling effective mentoring and academic support.

Recommendation: Target NIT Sikkim CSE/ECE for confirmed admission with strong placement consistency and growing industry connections; consider NIT Patna specialized CSE programs and newer IIITs like IIIT Manipur, IIIT Ranchi, or IIIT Bhagalpur offering excellent computer science education; simultaneously explore reputable private engineering colleges as backup options, ensuring admission to quality institutions with established placement records exceeding 75% and comprehensive technical education meeting modern industry demands. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

...Read more

Dr Nagarajan J S K

Dr Nagarajan J S K   |1469 Answers  |Ask -

NEET, Medical, Pharmacy Careers - Answered on Jun 29, 2025

Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |7436 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jun 29, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 29, 2025Hindi
Career
My daughter got vit chennai electrical and electronics engineering category1. She got 94.3 percentile in mhtcet and 86 percentile in jee mains. What are her chances in vjti or coep for electrical engineering. She is Maharashtra domicile
Ans: With a 94.3 percentile in MHT CET and Maharashtra domicile, your daughter's admission chances to VJTI or COEP for electrical engineering are minimal. COEP Electrical Engineering requires 99+ percentile for open category, with 2024 closing at 99.48 percentile. VJTI Electrical Engineering cutoff reached 93.67 percentile in round 1 but closed at 98.10 percentile for general category. While VIT Chennai EEE Category 1 offers confirmed admission with her secured seat, achieving 80% placement rates with median packages of 5-6 LPA and recruiting through top companies like Intel, Cisco, Qualcomm, and TCS. The institute provides NBA accreditation for 6 years (2025-2031), modern laboratories, and experienced faculty from prestigious institutions. COEP Electrical Engineering recorded 93.75% placement rate in 2024 with recruiters including Google, Goldman Sachs, and Mastercard. VJTI Electrical Engineering demonstrates strong industry connections with Siemens-funded High Voltage Laboratory and L&T Low Voltage Switchgear Laboratory, though specific electrical branch placement data shows moderate performance compared to computer science branches. All three institutions maintain quality academic infrastructure, research facilities, faculty expertise, industry partnerships, and global exposure as essential institutional parameters. VIT Chennai offers 6 industry-sponsored research labs, 23 academic labs, ABET accreditation, international faculty, and strong placement support.

Recommendation: Accept VIT Chennai EEE Category 1 for guaranteed admission with solid 80% placement rates and strong industry exposure (however, check its REFUND Policy if you withdraw the seat from here); simultaneously apply for later MHT CET counselling rounds where electrical engineering cutoffs may decrease, though chances remain limited at government colleges VJTI and COEP with your current percentile. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |9273 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 29, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 27, 2025Hindi
Money
Hello sir. I am 45 year's old and I am working in overseas (Singapore) and take home around 1.5L saving.. Family: Wife and 2 kid's (6 year daughter and 4 year son) Investment: #1 : 1.2Cr rental property and monthly income 40000rs #2 : 1cr plot property (total 5 plot's) #3 : mutual fund value 50L(sipp stopped) #4: Gold 30L(gold beees) Debt: No debts and no EMI. Future plan: I am planning working until 2026 end and return back to Chennai... No more working and spending quality time with my family.. My requirements: 1L per month My request is: How to plan my retirement life?
Ans: You have built strong assets. You also have no debts. That is a great achievement. You are just 45 and want to retire by 47. You want Rs. 1 lakh monthly after retirement. That is a realistic target. Let us now plan a 360-degree strategy for your retirement life.

Quick Snapshot of Your Current Situation

Age: 45 years

Retirement plan: End of 2026 (at age 47)

Monthly savings now: Rs. 1.5 lakh

Family: Wife and two children (ages 6 and 4)

Rental income: Rs. 40,000 monthly

Plot property: Rs. 1 crore (5 plots)

Mutual funds: Rs. 50 lakh (SIP stopped)

Gold: Rs. 30 lakh (Gold Bees)

Debts: None

Desired post-retirement income: Rs. 1 lakh monthly

Location after retirement: Chennai

You have two years left before retirement. Let’s use this time smartly.

Step 1: Define Retirement Corpus Need Clearly

You need Rs. 1 lakh monthly after retirement. That is Rs. 12 lakh yearly. You will need this income for 40 years. Retirement at 47 means long retirement life. Inflation will reduce value of money every year.

So you must:

Build a retirement corpus that grows and pays

Keep risk low but returns high enough

Create income from multiple sources

Ensure money lasts for 35–40 years

You already have some good assets. Let us now structure them smartly.

Step 2: Secure and Optimise Rental Income

You are earning Rs. 40,000 rent now. This will help in retirement.

Action points:

Increase rent by 5–7% every year

Create rental agreement and register it properly

Ensure maintenance is handled by tenant

Keep property insured

Don’t depend 100% on rent for income

Keep Rs. 40,000 rent as support income. Main retirement income must come from your investments.

Step 3: Re-assess Your Gold Holding

Gold Bees worth Rs. 30 lakh is good. But gold should not exceed 10–15% of total assets. It does not give regular income. It also has no capital growth.

What you can do:

Redeem part of Gold Bees

Shift Rs. 15–20 lakh to mutual funds or SWP

Keep balance Rs. 10–15 lakh in gold as hedge

Gold is useful only during crisis. It is not suitable for monthly income.

Step 4: Mutual Fund Portfolio – Reactivate With Plan

You already have Rs. 50 lakh in mutual funds. That’s your strongest retirement tool. But your SIP is stopped. That reduces growth.

Start again:

Resume SIP of Rs. 1–1.5 lakh monthly till 2026

Invest in actively managed funds only

Avoid index funds completely

Why not Index Funds?

They follow market blindly

No protection in falling market

Cannot avoid bad sectors

No strategy or active decisions

Why choose Active Funds via MFD + CFP?

Managed by experienced fund managers

Good for risk-adjusted returns

Helps beat inflation over long term

Offers advice, rebalancing, and behaviour support

Also avoid direct mutual funds. Here's why:

No guidance or portfolio review

No support during market crash

No proper exit planning

A mistake costs more than low fee saving

Use regular mutual funds through MFD with CFP credential. This gives full financial support.

Step 5: 2-Year Retirement Strategy Until 2026

You are saving Rs. 1.5 lakh monthly now. You also have no loans. Use this time to maximise investments.

Action plan till 2026:

Invest Rs. 1 lakh monthly into mutual funds

Use balance Rs. 50,000 for emergency buffer or child fund

Review mutual fund portfolio every 6 months

Build Rs. 80–90 lakh corpus before you retire

Exit from plots only when needed

You can also use part of the gold proceeds to fund SIP.

Step 6: Post-Retirement Withdrawal Planning

After 2026, you can start monthly income from:

Mutual Fund Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP)

Rental income

Bank interest for short-term cash

Partial withdrawal from gold (if needed)

Why SWP is better than pension plans or annuities:

SWP gives flexible income

Your money keeps growing

Withdraw only what you need

Avoid annuity which locks money and gives low return

Example plan post-2026:

Rs. 40,000 rent income

Rs. 60,000 monthly from mutual fund SWP

This matches your Rs. 1 lakh monthly requirement.

Step 7: Asset Allocation for Retirement

Split your portfolio like this before you retire:

60% in mutual funds (Rs. 90 lakh approx.)

Mix of large-cap, hybrid, flexi-cap

15% in gold (Rs. 15 lakh)

Keep Gold Bees for emergencies

15% in debt (Rs. 15 lakh)

Use for short-term income

10% in plots (Rs. 10 lakh equivalent)

Liquidate as needed

This gives growth, stability, and liquidity.

Step 8: Emergency and Health Safety Net

You must protect your family before you retire.

Keep Rs. 5 lakh emergency fund in liquid mutual fund

Buy Rs. 25–30 lakh health insurance (family floater)

Add critical illness cover if possible

Keep health policy active even if you return to India

Do not depend only on Singapore policy. Health is expensive in India too.

Step 9: Child Future and Education Planning

Your children are 6 and 4 years old. Their higher education will start after 10–12 years.

Action steps:

Create separate mutual fund SIP for kids

Invest Rs. 10,000–15,000 monthly

Use actively managed diversified funds

Don't use child ULIPs or insurance plans

Review portfolio every year

Don’t mix your retirement corpus with their education fund.

Step 10: Property Sale Strategy for Plots

You have 5 plots worth Rs. 1 crore. But land gives no income.

Here is the plan:

Hold for 5 years more if not urgently needed

Sell one plot if market gives good price

Use that money to boost mutual fund retirement corpus

Avoid keeping all wealth in illiquid plots

Don’t treat land as your retirement money

Reinvest land sale proceeds in active mutual funds.

Step 11: Tax Planning for Mutual Fund Withdrawals

Remember these new tax rules:

LTCG above Rs. 1.25 lakh on equity funds taxed at 12.5%

STCG taxed at 20%

Debt fund gains taxed as per your slab

So:

Hold equity funds for more than 1 year

Withdraw in small parts through SWP

Work with MFD to plan tax-efficient redemptions

Do not exit all at once. That will increase tax burden.

Finally

You are financially stable.

No loans, good assets, and strong income.

Use next 2 years to build Rs. 80–90 lakh mutual fund corpus

Restart SIP now.

Avoid index funds and direct funds.

Use active funds through regular plan via CFP + MFD

Gold and rent will support partially

SWP will provide regular income

Build emergency and health cover

Create separate child education SIP

Plan exit from plots over time

Review retirement portfolio every 6 months

Your retirement goal is very much achievable. With clarity and action, you can enjoy full freedom.

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

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |9273 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 29, 2025

Money
Hi sir I am 28 years old and my monthly take home is 1.22k , have a ongoing car loan with balance amount of around 4.8L and invested around 2.10 in PPF , 2.15L in EPF and investing 40k per month in 6 SIPs and over the years I have accummulated around 15.5 lakh and my stock portfolio is 9.2 Lakh where I invest 7.5k per month . Can you tell me what are the other investments I can make to achieve 1 cr portfolio ?
Ans: You are 28 years old with strong monthly savings habits. You have already built a solid foundation. With some structure and clarity, you can surely reach your Rs. 1 crore goal. Let us now build a full 360-degree investment plan for you.

Your Financial Snapshot
Let us first understand your present numbers.

Monthly take-home salary: Rs. 1.22 lakh

Ongoing car loan balance: Rs. 4.8 lakh

Monthly SIP in mutual funds: Rs. 40,000

Monthly stock investments: Rs. 7,500

Mutual fund corpus: Rs. 15.5 lakh

Stock portfolio: Rs. 9.2 lakh

EPF balance: Rs. 2.15 lakh

PPF balance: Rs. 2.10 lakh

This is a very healthy position for someone aged 28.

Your investment attitude is disciplined. That is your biggest strength today.

Now, let us move towards the Rs. 1 crore portfolio.

Define the Goal Clearly
Wanting Rs. 1 crore is good. But we must define more.

Do you need Rs. 1 crore in 5 years?

Or in 10 or 15 years?

Is this for retirement? Or a house? Or travel?

Let us assume your goal is to build wealth in the next 8–10 years.

That gives enough time to use equity for strong growth.

Loan Management Comes First
You have Rs. 4.8 lakh car loan.

That will create EMI burden for the short term.

Do not prepay unless interest is very high.

Keep EMI under 20–25% of income.

Make sure emergency fund is ready before investing more.

Do not divert SIP money for loan prepayment unless urgent.

Emergency Fund Planning
Before increasing investments, secure yourself.

Build 6 months of expenses and EMIs.

That is around Rs. 2.5 to Rs. 3 lakh minimum.

Keep in savings, liquid fund, or short-term FD.

Do not invest this money in risky options.

This gives safety and peace of mind during job loss or medical need.

Current Investments Evaluation
You are investing Rs. 40,000 monthly in 6 SIPs.

Review if they cover all categories.

Include flexi-cap, mid-cap, and large-cap.

Add hybrid fund for stability.

If all 6 are similar, returns may overlap.

More funds do not mean more returns. Fewer but right funds are better.

Ideal SIP basket:

One flexi-cap fund

One mid-cap fund

One large and mid-cap fund

One aggressive hybrid fund

One ELSS for tax-saving if needed

Avoid repeating fund categories. Each fund should serve a clear purpose.

Disadvantages of Direct Mutual Funds
If your SIPs are in direct plans, please note this:

Why direct funds can hurt you:

No fund selection help

No support during market fall

No one to rebalance your portfolio

No emotional handholding

It looks cheaper, but can cost more in wrong choices.

Regular funds via CFP and MFD are better:

Expert help in fund selection

Annual reviews and asset rebalancing

Help in goal tracking

Peace of mind during market volatility

Choose experience and expertise over saving small commission.

Why Index Funds Are Not Suggested
You may hear about index funds. But they are not right for your goal.

Problems with index funds:

They blindly copy top 50 or 100 stocks

No active management during crash

Include overvalued companies too

No scope of beating the market

Actively managed funds are better:

Fund managers take smarter decisions

Remove poor-performing sectors

Focus on growth sectors

Protect during market fall

You need active guidance for your Rs. 1 crore goal.

Index funds offer no protection or personalised growth.

Stocks vs Mutual Funds
You are investing Rs. 7,500 monthly in stocks.

This is good for active investors.

But stocks need deep research and time.

High risk and emotional stress involved.

Continue with stocks if you enjoy research.

But mutual funds should remain your core vehicle.

Let mutual funds handle your major goals.

Use stocks for learning or extra returns.

SIP Strategy to Reach Rs. 1 Crore
You already have Rs. 15.5 lakh in mutual funds.

You also invest Rs. 40,000 monthly in SIPs.

This is the right habit.

To reach Rs. 1 crore:

Continue investing Rs. 40,000 monthly

Increase SIP by 10% every year

Avoid withdrawing early

Add lump sum when bonus or incentives come

Review portfolio every year with Certified Financial Planner

With time and discipline, this goal is easily possible.

EPF and PPF – Safe Long-Term Tools
You have Rs. 2.15 lakh in EPF and Rs. 2.10 lakh in PPF.

These are safe and steady tools.

EPF helps in retirement.

PPF is tax-free and good for long-term goals.

Continue investing Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000 in PPF yearly.

But use mutual funds as your main engine for growth.

Asset Allocation Check
You need to keep proper balance in asset types.

At 28 years, you can take higher equity exposure.

Ideal asset mix:

75% in equity mutual funds

10–15% in hybrid funds

10–15% in PPF, EPF, FD

Too much cash in savings slows down returns.

Do not put too much into debt at this stage.

Time is your biggest asset now.

Tax Efficiency of Mutual Funds
Mutual funds give tax benefits with proper planning.

Equity mutual funds:

Long-term gains above Rs. 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%

Short-term gains taxed at 20%

Debt mutual funds:

Taxed as per your income slab

Avoid frequent redemptions. Stay long term for tax efficiency.

Increase SIP With Income Growth
Your income will grow every year.

Do not keep SIP fixed.

Increase SIPs by 10% every year

Use bonus and hikes for top-ups

Avoid lifestyle inflation

More you invest early, faster you reach Rs. 1 crore.

Avoid These Mistakes
Don’t invest in traditional insurance policies

Avoid ULIPs and endowment plans

Don’t stop SIPs during market fall

Don’t keep cash idle in savings account

Don’t follow stock tips blindly

Don’t pick direct funds without CFP help

These mistakes delay your wealth creation journey.

Add These Good Habits
Track net worth every 6 months

Keep all investments goal-linked

Create health and term insurance

Stay invested for at least 10 years

Use Certified Financial Planner for guidance

These habits will make your journey stress-free and efficient.

Step-by-Step Action Plan
Review your current 6 SIPs with a CFP

Exit overlapping or poorly performing ones

Maintain 5–6 funds across categories

Keep investing Rs. 40,000 monthly

Increase SIP every year as salary increases

Keep Rs. 2.5 lakh emergency fund in FD or liquid fund

Continue PPF and EPF contributions

Maintain stock portfolio with caution

Do not chase index or direct funds

Review portfolio once every year

This is your roadmap to reach Rs. 1 crore and beyond.

Finally
At 28, you are far ahead of your age group. Your SIP amount is strong. Your stock and mutual fund corpus is already impressive.

But to reach Rs. 1 crore smoothly, you need:

Focus

Discipline

Annual review

Expert guidance

Right fund selection

You are not far. Stick to your plan. Improve it gradually. Keep investing with purpose and patience.

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

...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