My Son Is Studying MS in CS at USC: Worried About His Job Prospects in the US

Ans: Hello dear.
You did not mention the examination name in which your cutoff is 186. But from our side, you have a fair chance to get a seat in cyber security.

Good luck.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello dear.
You’re eligible for CSE in lower-tier colleges like Coorg Institute of Technology, City Engineering College, and Ballari Institute of Technology, but these offer modest placements and limited reputation. Therefore, admission makes sense only if you're okay with mid-tier colleges. If you are highly interested in CSE, then consider taking admission to your preferred top private college via management quota for better value for money. The final choice will be yours.

Good luck.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello dear.
BSc Agriculture at BHU is a solid choice, but if he's aiming for a top-tier engineering college, attempting JEE Main again could be worthwhile, depending on his interest and confidence. However, reconsider taking a drop for JEE twice. The final decision will be yours.

Good luck.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello dear.
Prefer CS specialization @ BIT Mesra if possible. The final decision will be yours.

Good luck.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello Rajat
Your chances are quite slim, even in lower NITs or IIITs. Consider exploring other options with private colleges through management quota if you are specifically interested only in CSE or ECE.

Good luck.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello Pranav
Your chances for NIT Trichy Civil through JoSAA are decent but borderline, so they're not guaranteed. Through CSAB, your chances improve because cutoffs usually go higher due to seat withdrawals and less competition. Still, keep backup options ready.

Good luck.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello dear.
Your son is well-equipped to face any future challenges. Congratulations to you and your son on your great success in all the examinations. You can choose either CSE @ BITs or BS-MS @ IISER Pune. I would recommend BS-MS @ IISER from a long-term perspective and staying away from the rat race with CSE. Take your time to consider, as both options are very strong. I also suggest getting a second opinion. Ultimately, the final decision will be yours. Make it wisely.

Good luck.
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Radheshyam

Ans: You are already investing in multiple mutual funds. Your target corpus is Rs?2?crore in 15 years and Rs?50?lakh in 10 years. You also have a home loan of Rs?8.5?lakh and 2 kids aged 14 and 6.

Let’s assess your situation and restructure it with a 360-degree, goal-oriented, simple language plan.

? Understand Your Monthly SIP Structure
– Flexi Cap: Rs?14,000
– Balanced Advantage: Rs?2,000
– Large & Mid Cap: Rs?6,500
– Mid Cap: Rs?3,000
– Small Cap: Rs?2,500
– Nifty Smallcap 250 Index: Rs?1,000
– Nifty 500 Momentum 50 ETF: Rs?1,000
– Sector Funds (Energy + Business Cycle): Rs?3,000

Total SIP: Rs?33,000 per month. Corpus now is Rs?9?lakh.

? First Issue: Over-diversified Fund Portfolio
– You are in too many funds.
– Some of them are overlapping.
– Index and ETF investments also dilute focus.
– Sector funds and thematic funds are not suitable for goal planning.
– They are risky and not diversified.

Having 7–8 funds increases confusion, not returns.

? Second Issue: You Hold Index and ETF Funds
– Nifty Smallcap 250 Index is unmanaged and volatile.
– It tracks the index without protection.
– ETF (Momentum 50) also depends on short-term trends.
– They work only in rising markets.
– In flat or falling markets, they drop fast.

Actively managed funds are better for long-term goals.
A Certified Financial Planner can guide your allocation.

? Third Issue: Sector and Theme-Based Funds
– Sector funds are risky and cyclical.
– Energy or Business Cycle funds are for advanced investors.
– They are not suitable for education or retirement goals.
– Sectors may underperform for long periods.
– You don't need them for goal-based planning.

Better to exit sector funds and shift to core diversified equity.

? Fourth Issue: Lack of Defined Goal Buckets
– You aim for Rs?50?lakh in 10 years.
– You also aim for Rs?2?crore in 15 years.
– But the current fund setup doesn’t align clearly.
– You must split SIPs for each goal.
– Each goal should have its own mix of funds.

Without goal buckets, tracking and reviewing becomes difficult.

? Fifth Issue: No Mention of Emergency Fund
– You have a home loan to repay.
– You have school-going kids.
– But there is no emergency buffer shown.
– Emergency fund should be equal to 6–12 months’ expenses.
– Park this in liquid or ultra-short term funds.

Emergency savings protect investments from being disturbed.

? Suggested Mutual Fund Portfolio Restructuring
Let us simplify your SIP basket.

Remove these from portfolio:
– Nifty Smallcap 250 Index
– Momentum 50 ETF
– Both Sector funds

Keep and continue:
– Flexi Cap Fund
– Large & Mid Cap Fund
– Mid Cap Fund
– Balanced Advantage Fund
– Small Cap Fund (with smaller exposure)

Now divide SIPs in buckets:

For Rs?50?Lakh Goal in 10 Years:
– Large & Mid Cap Fund (Rs?7,000)
– Flexi Cap Fund (Rs?7,000)
– Balanced Advantage Fund (Rs?3,000)

Total = Rs?17,000/month

For Rs?2?Crore Goal in 15 Years:
– Mid Cap Fund (Rs?4,000)
– Small Cap Fund (Rs?3,000)
– Flexi Cap Fund (Rs?3,000)
– Large & Mid Cap Fund (Rs?3,000)
– Balanced Advantage Fund (Rs?3,000)

Total = Rs?16,000/month

This separation makes goal tracking clear and efficient.

? Continue SIPs Through Regular Plans via MFD
– Direct plans lack support.
– Regular plans through a CFP or MFD give guidance.
– Helps manage volatility and stay invested.
– Better asset allocation and exit strategy.

Emotional discipline and handholding increase wealth over years.

? Equity Mutual Fund Taxation
– Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG) above Rs?1.25?lakh/year taxed at 12.5%.
– Short-term gains taxed at 20%.
– Plan redemptions smartly to reduce tax burden.

A Certified Financial Planner can optimise exit strategy for minimum tax.

? Home Loan vs Investment
– Your home loan is Rs?8.5?lakh.
– Don’t prepay aggressively.
– Let SIPs run and grow long-term wealth.
– Only part-prepay if cash is idle.

Low-interest home loans help create tax benefits.

? Children’s Education Planning
– Elder child may need college funds in 4 years.
– Use part of your Rs?9?lakh corpus here.
– Shift Rs?3–4?lakh to a short-term debt fund.
– This keeps funds safe and ready.

Don’t keep child education corpus in equity now.

? Retirement Planning Outlook
– Rs?2?crore goal in 15 years is achievable with Rs?16k/month SIP.
– You must increase SIP every year.
– Even a 5–10% increase can improve returns.
– Your EPF/PPF can also support retirement corpus.

Combine mutual funds with PF benefits for better retirement readiness.

? Insurance Protection Review
– No mention of term insurance.
– Buy Rs?1 crore term plan now.
– You have 2 kids and a home loan.
– This is non-negotiable.
– Premium is low if taken early.

Separate protection gives peace of mind to family.

? Importance of Annual Review
– Fund performance needs yearly check.
– Some funds may need to be changed.
– Risk appetite may change.
– Goals may shift.

Annual check with Certified Financial Planner keeps your plan healthy.

? Final Insights
– Reduce the number of funds to avoid overlap.
– Exit index, ETF, and sector funds.
– Focus only on actively managed, diversified equity mutual funds.
– Make separate SIPs for each goal.
– Continue home loan EMIs, avoid prepaying.
– Build emergency fund now.
– Use regular mutual fund plans via CFP or MFD.
– Start term insurance immediately.
– Review fund performance and progress every year.

You have a solid start. A clear structure and consistent investing will achieve both your goals safely.

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

Ans: Hello Deepak.
Based on your MHTCET score, you can gain admission to top colleges in Mumbai with core branches and tech branches in tier 2 colleges. Currently, I am unable to provide a list of colleges due to a high volume of queries. Sorry.

Good luck.
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Radheshyam