MCA Graduate with 17 Years of Teaching Experience: Can I Transition to Data Science?

Ans: Your Financial Goals

Retirement fund target: Rs 4 Crores

Child’s education fund target: Rs 2 Crores

You have not mentioned the time horizon for both.

For now, we will assume:

Retirement goal – 15 to 20 years away

Education goal – around 10 to 12 years away

These are long-term goals and require consistent and strategic equity exposure.

Current SIP Portfolio Review

Let’s assess your current monthly SIP of Rs 25,000:

Mirae Asset Large & Midcap – Rs 2,000
This category balances stability and growth. Keep allocation minimal.

Mirae Asset ELSS – Rs 4,000
ELSS funds have 3-year lock-in. Useful only if you need tax benefit.
Avoid more than one ELSS fund.

ICICI Equity & Debt Fund – Rs 4,000
Hybrid funds reduce volatility. But not ideal for aggressive long-term growth.

Canara Robeco ELSS – Rs 4,000
You already have one ELSS. Two ELSS schemes dilute focus.

Canara Robeco Large Cap – Rs 2,000
Large caps give stability. Allocation is fine.

Quant Active – Rs 5,000
High-risk, high-return style. Can keep limited exposure.

Parag Parikh Flexi Cap – Rs 2,000
Well-managed diversified fund. Suitable for long-term.

Key Observations and Suggestions

Too Many Funds
Seven funds for Rs 25,000 monthly is excessive.
It spreads your money too thin.
Each fund needs minimum size to show results.

Duplicate Categories
Two ELSS funds. Avoid duplication.
If tax saving is not your aim, ELSS is unnecessary.

Overuse of Direct Funds
Direct funds may look cheaper.
But they offer no human support during market crashes.
Investors make emotional exits at wrong times.
Regular funds via Certified Financial Planner and MFD provide personalised support.
Direct fund route is risky for goal-based investing without expert review.

Avoid Index or ETF Investing
Index funds just copy the index.
They cannot outperform.
During correction phases, they fall more and recover slower.
Active funds are better. Fund managers can protect and grow your money.
ETFs are just index funds traded like shares.
They offer no advisory support and involve price volatility.

Recommended Portfolio Restructure

Here is a simplified suggestion:

One Flexicap Fund (for core long-term growth)

One Midcap Fund (for long-term wealth creation)

One Hybrid Aggressive Fund (to reduce volatility in short-term)

Optional: One ELSS Fund (only if you need Sec 80C deduction)

This way, you manage risk and get better returns with less complexity.

How to Allocate Your SIPs Wisely

Flexicap Fund – Rs 10,000

Midcap Fund – Rs 7,000

Hybrid Aggressive Fund – Rs 5,000

ELSS Fund – Rs 3,000 (only if required for tax)

This structure gives direction, clarity and growth focus.

Review Your Fund Performance Periodically

Don’t judge a fund by 1-year returns

See rolling performance across 3, 5 and 7 years

Check fund house stability, manager consistency

Avoid switching funds too frequently

Are Your SIPs Enough for Your Goals?

For Rs 2 Cr education fund in 12 years, you need focused allocation

For Rs 4 Cr retirement in 20 years, SIPs need to grow gradually

Current SIP of Rs 25,000/month may not be enough for both

You may need to increase it by 10% every year

As income grows, increase SIPs. Also do lumpsum whenever possible.
Track the gap between required and actual corpus annually.

Secure Your Child’s Future Better

You already have SIPs and term insurance.

Add a dedicated child fund (not child ULIP or plan from insurer)

Choose pure mutual funds.

Invest regularly. Track goals yearly.

Avoid gold ETF for child’s future. It doesn’t match education cost inflation.

About Your Term Insurance

You didn’t mention coverage amount

For Rs 6 Cr of goals, ideal cover is 12 to 15 times your income

Keep your term cover separate from investment

Review the policy every 3 to 5 years

Final Insights

Restructure funds. Avoid duplication and unnecessary direct funds

Use actively managed regular funds via CFP and MFD

Build child’s education corpus with discipline

Retirement corpus target is realistic. Increase SIPs gradually

Track fund performance every 6 months.

Do not mix insurance with investment.

Avoid ETF and Index Funds for wealth building

Maintain asset allocation. Review annually

Keep emergency fund in liquid fund or short-term plan

What You Can Do Next

Consolidate your funds

Consult a Certified Financial Planner to create a personalised goal tracker

Shift to a guided MFD platform that gives you regular review

Reinvest ELSS redemption amount after 3 years in the new structure

Ensure you have health insurance too – not mentioned above

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

Ans: Hello Dear. Enough is enough. There is a successful life without NEET, and many people are earning crores without becoming doctors or engineers. Forget about the past, NEET exam, and start a new journey with a career that interests you or where you can develop an interest.

Good luck.
Follow me if you get this reply.
Radheshyam

Ans: Hello dear.
Chances are slim. Explore other options.

Good luck.
Follow me if you get this reply.
Radheshyam

Ans: Chances are slim. Explore other options.

Good luck.
Follow me if you get this reply.
Radheshyam

Ans: Hello dear.
Chances are slim. Explore other options.

Good luck.
Follow me if you get this reply.
Radheshyam

Ans: Akshit, Please elaborate your question by including the BRANCH & LOCATION of private engineering colleges you prefer.

Ans: SRM IST’s CSE software-engineering specialization is NBA-accredited with PhD-faculty, 47+ dedicated labs, mandatory six-month internships and maintained an average placement consistency of approximately 91% over the last three years. Manipal University Jaipur’s core CSE program holds NAAC A+ accreditation, boasts a 93% overall placement rate (97% for engineering), with 62% of offers above ?8 LPA and 38% above ?10 LPA in 2024.

recommendation
For robust specialization infrastructure, proven placement consistency, and deep software-engineering focus, the recommendation is SRM KTR CSE (Software Engineering). If you prefer a broader core-CSE curriculum with higher overall placement rates and more top-tier offers, recommendation shifts to Manipal University Jaipur CSE. My Suggestion: Prefer MUJ-CSE over SRM-KTR-CSE. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: Dhananjayan, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s Amritapuri campus offers a B.Tech in Electrical and Electronics Engineering with NBA accreditation, PhD-led faculty, advanced power-electronics, instrumentation and embedded-systems labs, and specialized research centres (Flexible Electronics & Advanced Materials, e-Learning, SMART Mobility) fostering interdisciplinary projects. Its 2022–23 batch recorded an 86.67% placement rate over three years with an average package of ?4.91 LPA. CUSAT School of Engineering’s EEE programme, under NAAC A+ accreditation, provides modern power-systems, control and communication labs, active research in Power & Energy Systems and Industrial Power Electronics, and industry internships through its Central Placement Office. The 2024–25 placements achieved an average package of ?5.40 LPA and approximately 80% branch-specific placement consistency for EEE. Both institutions ensure robust curricula, accredited programmes, experienced faculty, well-equipped infrastructure, strong industry tie-ups and dedicated placement support.

For deeper academic research immersion, interdisciplinary lab access and consistent core-sector placements, the recommendation is Amrita Amritapuri EEE. If higher average packages and broader corporate recruiter engagement in IT and power sectors are priorities, the recommendation shifts to CUSAT SOE EEE. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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

Ans: The latest IISER Mohali EWS category closing ranks for BS-MS programs have consistently ranged between 256 and 473 in recent admission rounds, with even the most relaxed cutoffs not exceeding 601 for EWS candidates. The expected cutoff for 2025 remains well below 500 for EWS, and current trends indicate that ranks above 1000 do not secure admission at IISER Mohali. The institute maintains NAAC accreditation, advanced research infrastructure, experienced faculty, and 80–90% placement consistency, but the seat matrix and reservation trends do not extend EWS admissions to a rank as high as 1847.

With an EWS rank of 1847, admission to IISER Mohali is not possible this year. Explore alternative science universities, or consider other IISER campuses with higher closing ranks for EWS category candidates. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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