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Student Visa Waitlist for Germany - Will My Son Make It?

Dr Pananjay K

Dr Pananjay K Tiwari  | Answer  |Ask -

Study Abroad Expert - Answered on Aug 31, 2024

Dr Pananjay Tiwari is the founder and director of Impel Overseas Education, a Dehradun-based consultancy for students who want to study abroad in the fields of engineering, science, agriculture, medicine, arts and the humanities.
They also guide PhD students who are studying internationally with their research.
Dr Pananjay has 21 years of academic and research experience and has published several books and research papers in various Indian and international journals.
He is a gold medallist with a master’s degree in science and a PhD in environmental sciences from the Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal Central University, Uttarakhand.... more
Asked by Anonymous - Aug 22, 2024Hindi
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My son has got admission in University of Stuttgart, Germany for his masters degree in Computers. We have applied for submission of documents for Visa processing on 31st July, 2024, but still it is showing wait-listed. How long it takes for the date to come up. I have heard that Schengen Visa for Germany there is not much load like US or UK. My son is very tense, as he needs to join the University before 1st Oct, 2024. I have paid the 1st semester fees & also opened the required the blocked account for his overseas expenses. Hence as an expert, can you please guide what is the waiting time to get Visa & is it possible to contact German Consulate in Mumbai for help in the matter.

Ans: Hi...The waiting time for a German student visa can vary, but it typically takes between 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the consulate's workload and the completeness of the application. Although the processing time for a German Schengen visa is generally less compared to the US or UK, delays can still occur, especially during peak seasons. Given your son's need to join the University of Stuttgart by October 1st, it is advisable to contact the German Consulate in Mumbai directly to explain the urgency of the situation and inquire about the status of the application. They may provide an update or suggest ways to expedite the process. It is also helpful to regularly check the visa application portal for any updates.
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Ramalingam Kalirajan  |7644 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jan 27, 2025

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I am a retired person of 61years. I have a corpus of 85 lakhs , with two flats. One in Mumbai and the other in Nashik. I have no liability towards emi or children education. Presently my income comes from mutual funds, share market and house rent. Pl let me know how can I invest to get a return of at least one lakh per month
Ans: At age 61, your corpus of Rs. 85 lakhs and property assets give a solid foundation. Generating Rs. 1 lakh monthly requires careful allocation of your resources, balancing growth, and stability. Below is a detailed 360-degree solution.

Key Observations and Current Income Sources
You have two flats in Mumbai and Nashik, generating rental income.

Investments in mutual funds and the share market provide additional income.

You have no liabilities for EMIs or children’s education.

This financial freedom allows you to focus entirely on managing and optimising your investments.

Monthly Income Goal and Inflation
Your target income of Rs. 1 lakh per month is Rs. 12 lakh annually.

Inflation will increase your living expenses over the next 20+ years.

Your investment strategy must beat inflation while maintaining stable cash flow.

Allocation of Corpus for Regular Income
1. Emergency Fund
Set aside Rs. 5-7 lakhs as an emergency fund.

Invest in a liquid mutual fund or a short-term FD for easy access.

This ensures financial stability during unforeseen circumstances.

2. Equity for Growth
Allocate 40% of your corpus (Rs. 34 lakhs) to equity mutual funds.

Focus on diversified equity funds with large-cap, multi-cap, and balanced categories.

These funds will provide growth to counter inflation over the long term.

3. Debt for Stability
Invest 50% of your corpus (Rs. 42.5 lakhs) in debt instruments.

Use a mix of debt mutual funds, corporate bonds, and fixed deposits.

Debt investments provide stable and predictable returns.

4. Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP)
Use SWPs from mutual funds for regular monthly income.

Withdraw from balanced and debt funds to ensure capital preservation.

Start with Rs. 75,000 from debt and balanced funds, adjusting for inflation later.

5. Share Market Investments
Retain 5%-10% (Rs. 4-8 lakhs) in the share market for high-return opportunities.

Diversify your portfolio to reduce risk from market volatility.

Invest only surplus funds and avoid using them for monthly expenses.

Managing Rental Income
Maintain both properties to ensure steady rental income.

Use the rental income for daily living expenses or reinvest in debt funds.

Review rental agreements periodically to match market rates.

Tax Implications on Investments
Equity LTCG above Rs. 1.25 lakh is taxed at 12.5%.

STCG on equity funds is taxed at 20%.

Debt mutual funds are taxed as per your income tax slab.

Plan withdrawals to minimise tax liabilities using a Certified Financial Planner.

Health and Insurance Considerations
Ensure your health insurance coverage is adequate for senior citizen needs.

Review the policy sum assured and add critical illness coverage if needed.

Keep a separate fund for health emergencies to avoid dipping into investments.

Regular Portfolio Reviews
Review your investments annually with a Certified Financial Planner.

Rebalance equity and debt allocations based on market performance and age.

Shift to safer options like debt and balanced funds as you grow older.

Benefits of Actively Managed Funds Over Index Funds
Actively managed funds outperform index funds in the Indian market.

Skilled fund managers identify high-growth opportunities and minimise risks.

Certified Financial Planners select suitable funds tailored to your goals.

Key Recommendations
1. Avoid Real Estate Investments
Real estate is illiquid and unsuitable for generating monthly income.

Focus on mutual funds and fixed-income options for better liquidity.

2. Reallocate High-Risk Investments
Reduce exposure to individual stocks if market fluctuations affect income stability.

Transfer surplus equity investments to balanced funds or debt options.

3. Utilise Surplus Funds
Reinvest any surplus income into equity or hybrid mutual funds.

Compounding will enhance your corpus over time.

Finally
Generating Rs. 1 lakh monthly is achievable with disciplined financial planning.

Diversify your corpus into equity, debt, and SWPs for stability and growth.

Regularly review your portfolio to ensure alignment with financial goals.

Stay focused on maintaining liquidity and minimising risks in your retirement years.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |7644 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jan 27, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 27, 2025Hindi
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How much money is enough in India for a 50 years old couple in a tier 2 city, kids education, home loan been taken off, having a reasonable mediclaim in place and current household expense is 75k, life expectancy is 80 years, pension will be 50k?
Ans: At age 50, a financial plan must address expenses, inflation, and retirement income.

Your current expenses, pension income, and life expectancy are critical inputs.

Current Household Expenses
The household expense of Rs. 75,000 is your baseline cost.

After factoring in your pension of Rs. 50,000, there is a monthly shortfall of Rs. 25,000.

This shortfall will need to be covered by your retirement corpus.

Accounting for Inflation
Over 30 years, inflation will significantly increase expenses.

Assuming a 6% inflation rate, today’s Rs. 75,000 will become Rs. 4.3 lakh in 30 years.

Your financial plan must account for inflation-adjusted expenses.

Retirement Corpus Needed
Your corpus must sustain the Rs. 25,000 shortfall in today’s value for 30 years.

This includes increasing withdrawals over time due to inflation.

To generate the shortfall, a mix of equity and debt investments is required.

Assuming a 7% return post-retirement, you need a minimum corpus of Rs. 3.5 crore.

Children’s Education
Children’s education costs are usually front-loaded before retirement.

Allocate funds for their education separately from your retirement savings.

Ensure adequate education-focused investments in equity mutual funds.

Emergency Fund
Maintain an emergency fund of 6-12 months’ expenses for unforeseen situations.

This fund ensures financial stability during unexpected events.

Mediclaim and Insurance
Your Rs. 1 crore family health insurance is sufficient.

Ensure that it offers comprehensive coverage for senior citizens.

Review your term insurance to ensure sufficient coverage until age 60.

Investment Strategy
Equity for Long-Term Growth
Equity mutual funds are essential for fighting inflation over 30 years.

Allocate 50%-60% of your portfolio to equity funds initially.

Include large-cap, mid-cap, and balanced advantage funds for diversification.

Debt for Stability
Debt investments provide stable income and reduce risk.

Invest 40%-50% in debt mutual funds, PPF, and fixed deposits.

Debt instruments must generate regular income post-retirement.

Regular Reviews
Review your portfolio yearly with a Certified Financial Planner.

Rebalance your portfolio based on market conditions and changing goals.

Shift to safer debt options as you age to protect capital.

Avoid Index Funds
Index funds do not outperform actively managed funds in India.

Actively managed funds offer higher returns for long-term goals.

Certified Financial Planners can select the best actively managed funds.

Key Recommendations
Surrender Endowment Policies
If you hold LIC or ULIP policies, consider surrendering them.

Reinvest the proceeds in equity or balanced funds for better returns.

Build a Retirement Corpus Gradually
Use systematic investment plans (SIPs) to build your retirement corpus.

Diversify investments into equity and debt based on risk appetite.

Plan Withdrawals Strategically
Post-retirement withdrawals must be inflation-adjusted and tax-efficient.

Use a combination of systematic withdrawal plans (SWPs) and debt funds.

Final Insights
You need Rs. 3.5 crore to sustain your expenses until age 80.

Start preparing for rising costs due to inflation in the next 30 years.

Invest wisely in equity and debt to build a strong retirement corpus.

Regular reviews with a Certified Financial Planner will keep your plan on track.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |7644 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jan 27, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 27, 2025Hindi
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Hi, I am 29 years old, working in Europe. I started with mutual funds a few months back, 20000 per month ( quant mid cap -3000, quant small cap- 5000,parag parikh flexi - 4000,tata balanced advantage -3000,axis small cap- 5000) I am planning 10k per month for a long time around 15 years and 10k per month for 5-10 years. Is this approach of division into funds good or should I reinvest anything?
Ans: Assessing Your Current Investment Approach
At age 29, starting early in mutual funds is a great decision.

A Rs. 20,000 monthly SIP shows disciplined investing.

Your allocation to diverse mutual fund categories is a good start.

Review of Current Mutual Fund Selection
Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Funds
Allocating Rs. 8,000 to mid-cap and small-cap funds focuses on high growth.

These funds perform well in the long term but can be volatile.

Limit allocation to small-cap funds to 20%-25% of your portfolio.

Small-cap funds are riskier but offer higher potential returns over 10-15 years.

Flexi-Cap Funds
Flexi-cap funds offer diversification across market capitalisations.

They balance risk and reward better than mid-cap and small-cap funds.

The Rs. 4,000 allocation here is suitable for long-term wealth creation.

Balanced Advantage Funds
Balanced Advantage Funds reduce portfolio risk with equity and debt allocation.

Your Rs. 3,000 allocation ensures stability during market fluctuations.

These funds are ideal for medium-term financial goals.

Suggestions for Improvement
Simplify Your Portfolio
Too many funds in the portfolio can lead to overlapping investments.

Reducing the number of funds to three or four can improve efficiency.

Choose funds with distinct strategies and avoid redundancy.

Increase Equity Exposure for Long-Term Goals
Your 15-year goal allows higher equity allocation.

Focus on large-cap or flexi-cap funds for stable returns.

Reduce allocation to small-cap funds for risk management.

Adjust Based on Investment Horizons
For the 15-year horizon, increase allocation to equity-heavy funds.

For the 5-10 year horizon, balanced advantage or hybrid funds work better.

Avoid investing in small-cap funds for shorter timeframes due to volatility.

Benefits of Regular Funds over Direct Funds
Regular funds provide expert advice through Certified Financial Planners.

Certified Financial Planners help monitor, review, and rebalance portfolios.

Direct funds require more expertise and regular tracking by the investor.

Tax Considerations for Mutual Funds
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 redemptions strategically to minimise tax liability.

Key Actions to Consider
Portfolio Restructuring
Retain 2-3 core funds based on performance and consistency.

Include more large-cap or flexi-cap funds for stability.

Maintain a 70:30 equity-to-debt allocation for the 15-year goal.

Regular Reviews and Adjustments
Review your portfolio annually with a Certified Financial Planner.

Ensure funds align with your financial goals and risk appetite.

Adjust allocations based on market conditions and personal milestones.

Emergency Fund and Insurance
Build an emergency fund of 6 months’ expenses before increasing investments.

Ensure adequate health and term insurance coverage for family security.

Final Insights
Your early start and disciplined SIPs set a strong financial foundation.

Simplify your portfolio to maximise returns and reduce complexity.

Prioritise equity for long-term goals and balance risk for shorter durations.

Regular reviews with a Certified Financial Planner will ensure portfolio alignment.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

...Read more

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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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