My son got undergrad admission to Penn State-US in Computer Science. Do you recommend him to peruse UG itself in US or going for Masters is better choice?

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
I am assuming you are still married and if that’s the case, the thing that you should focus on is not your feelings for this colleague. It’s your feelings towards your wife. Does your wife know, or are you in an open setup? I need more details before I can help you any further.


Best Wishes

Ans: Hello Rajdeep.
When weighing Thapar against BITs, making a choice between the two would be challenging. Overall, we suggest considering CSE at Thapar. An offer for an M. Sc. has been extended to your son. Mathematics in Pilani and Electronics and Communication in Goa. However, neither of the choices provided by BITs meets your son's interests. Always select the branch or course that you are passionate about. The most wonderful news is that your son is receiving an offer for CSE from Thapar. Therefore, taking into account his enthusiasm, he opts for CSE at Thapar without much hesitation, disregarding distance.
Best of luck to you.
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Radheshyam

Ans: You’ve shown real commitment by becoming disciplined in recent years.
Let’s now create a 360-degree plan to secure your financial future.

Your Current Financial Profile
Age: 46 years

Employment: Central Government

Monthly in-hand salary: Rs. 88,000

NPS corpus: Rs. 30 lakhs

LIC investment: Rs. 8 lakhs (matures in 2027)

Gold bought from 2020 till now: Rs. 25 lakhs

Owns ancestral home; no housing rent or EMI burden

Married late; has 3-year-old son

No other investments currently

You have built a strong NPS corpus.
You also have gold and an LIC policy.
But your asset allocation is unbalanced.
It needs more diversification for stability and growth.

Understanding NPS and the New UPS Option
Government employees now have the choice to move from NPS to UPS.
This switch is optional and available for a limited time.

Let’s compare them carefully before any decision.

NPS – National Pension System
Pension is based on market performance

No assured income in retirement

Allows investment choice in equity and debt

Gives tax benefits under multiple sections

Offers flexibility but comes with market risk

NPS is good for growth but lacks guaranteed pension.
Returns depend on fund performance.
Pension amount at retirement is not fixed.
You will need to buy annuity at the end.
But annuity returns are generally low.
Also, annuity income is taxable.

UPS – Unified Pension Scheme (New Option)
Offers guaranteed pension after retirement

Pension amount is fixed at 50% of average last salary

Needs at least 25 years of service

Government will contribute more than under NPS

Gives peace of mind with predictable income

UPS gives financial stability in retirement.
It is not linked to market returns.
But you lose the flexibility and market growth of NPS.
You also don’t have control over your retirement corpus.
It may fall short of inflation-adjusted needs.

Which is Better for You?
You are 46 now.
So, you may have already completed more than 20 years of service.
If your qualifying service is 25 years, you can choose UPS.

Choose UPS if:

You want assured income in retirement

You are uncomfortable with market risks

You don’t want to manage investments post-retirement

Stay with NPS if:

You want growth potential with flexibility

You are okay with variable pension income

You are willing to plan annuity and withdrawals

Since you are already in NPS with Rs. 30 lakh corpus,
you should weigh the impact of switching carefully.
You can’t reverse it once opted.
Compare estimated pension under UPS
with possible pension from NPS corpus.

About the LIC Policy
You mentioned LIC worth Rs. 8 lakhs maturing in 2027.
You didn’t specify if it is term or endowment.

If it is an endowment plan, returns will be very low.

Consider surrendering the policy post-maturity.
Reinvest the maturity amount into mutual funds
through a Certified Financial Planner and MFD.

Avoid mixing insurance and investment.

Over-Exposure to Gold: A Concern
You’ve accumulated Rs. 25 lakhs worth of gold.

That’s a very high allocation to a single asset.

Gold does not give regular income.
It doesn’t beat inflation in the long term.
Also, jewellery has making charges and low resale value.
Liquidity is also limited compared to financial assets.

You may retain some portion as family reserve.
But avoid fresh investment in gold.
Avoid considering gold as your core long-term asset.

Create an Emergency Fund
You have a dependent child and only one income.
Maintain an emergency fund of 6 months’ expenses.

Keep it in a liquid fund or savings account.
This will help during medical or job emergencies.

Plan for Child’s Education
Your son is only 3 years old.
You have 15 years before his higher education.

Start a SIP now for his future.
Use a diversified mutual fund with long-term potential.

As he grows, reduce equity exposure gradually.

Create a dedicated portfolio only for education.
Don’t mix it with other goals.

Start SIP in Mutual Funds for Growth
Mutual funds offer good diversification and professional management.
Avoid direct funds, especially if you lack expertise.

Regular funds with support of CFP and MFD
offer hand-holding, periodic review, and behavioural support.

Direct funds lack personal guidance.
You may end up choosing unsuitable schemes.

Investing through an MFD with CFP credential
brings strategy, discipline, and peace of mind.

Avoid index funds.
They just follow the market blindly.
They don’t protect during market fall.

Actively managed mutual funds are better.
They aim for alpha returns and are guided by research.

Retirement Planning Must Start Now
You have only around 14 years left before retirement.

Depending only on UPS/NPS will not be enough.

You need an additional retirement corpus
to handle inflation and rising medical costs.

Start a separate SIP only for retirement.

This will help supplement your pension.

If you retire at 60 and live till 85,
your retirement will last 25 years.

Plan well in advance to avoid dependence later.

Do a Monthly Budgeting Exercise
Your current in-hand salary is Rs. 88,000.
You can still start small SIPs with Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000.

Track expenses.
Avoid unnecessary purchases.
Gold buying can be stopped.

Assign money towards education, retirement, and emergency fund.

Check for Existing Insurance
Check if you have life cover.
If not, take a pure term insurance plan.

This will secure your son’s future.
Also take family health insurance.

Medical bills can wipe out savings.

Do Not Depend on Physical Assets Only
Gold is not income-producing.
House is for living, not for income.

You need financial assets for retirement cash flows.

Create a financial asset base now
through mutual funds and NPS.

Final Insights
You have taken a step in the right direction.
Your gold assets and NPS corpus give a base.

But you need to balance and grow wisely.
Don’t depend only on government pension.
Start SIPs for retirement and child’s future.

Don’t lock money in low-return products.
Seek professional support for fund selection and goal tracking.

Make every rupee count from now on.
That’s how you can create financial freedom in retirement.

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

Ans: Here's a short step-by-step action plan:

Get a copy of the court order for gratuity payment.

Send a legal notice to your employer with the court order attached.

If no response, file an Execution Petition under Section 33 of the Payment of Gratuity Act.

Approach the Labour Court or Controlling Authority (usually Assistant Labour Commissioner).

You can also approach District Collector for recovery as arrears of land revenue.

It is advisable to consult a labour law advocate for faster execution.

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

Ans: Hello Vishnu
We cannot make predictions regarding the admission and counseling procedures of universities such as Amrita. Stay connected with the administration and counseling procedures. They will contact you if there is an available seat. In the meantime, consider various alternatives as a backup.
Best of luck to you.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello dear
Prefer CSE @ NSUT
Best of luck to you.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello dear.
There is a strong possibility that your son will gain admission to one of the leading IITs; however, securing a spot in CSE might prove to be a difficult endeavor. If feasible, reach an agreement with the branch.
Best of luck to you.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello Komala
You may hope for GMC with the provided data.
Best of luck to you.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello Kartik.
Yes, It is a good college.
Best of luck to you.
Follow me if you like the reply. Thanks
Radheshyam