Hello sir, My son has written jee on 24 second shift and expected to score 260. My question is, is this the good enough score for tip tier NITs or should he attempt to second season foe bettering the marks or utilise all energy to advance. We are in dilema.

Ans: You have shown strong financial discipline at a relatively young age. Building assets across market-linked investments, retirement instruments, fixed deposits, and property, while supporting a single-income family, is not easy. This already puts you on a stable path and gives you choices, which is most important at this stage of life.

» Your current life and career situation
– Age 41, working in a software role with valid career risk concerns
– Single income family, spouse not working, one child aged 8
– Realistic work horizon of 2 to 5 more years
– High current income but uncertainty about continuity
– Desire to move into a small business after job exit

This mindset is practical and timely. Planning now is far better than reacting later.

» Snapshot of your current financial strength
– Market-linked investments (stocks and mutual funds) around Rs.1.5 crore
– Retirement-oriented assets (EPF, PPF, NPS, gratuity) around Rs.1.5 crore
– Fixed deposits around Rs.55 lakh
– Self-occupied house in Bengaluru, loan free
– One additional house giving Rs.17,000 monthly rent
– No mention of loans, which is a big positive

Overall, you are asset-rich and reasonably diversified.

» Understanding what “retirement” means in your case
– You are not planning to stop work fully and sit idle
– You want to exit a high-pressure job and move to a lower-risk phase
– Some income from rent and future business is expected
– Main fear is loss of salary, not lack of activity

So this is more of a “career reset” than a traditional retirement.

» Can you afford to retire from the job in 2–3 years
– Financially, you are closer to independence than you may feel
– Your core retirement money is already built to a large extent
– Child’s higher education is still a future responsibility
– Medical inflation and family protection must be kept in focus
– The biggest risk is stopping income too early without a plan

If expenses are controlled and withdrawals are disciplined, job exit in 2–3 years is possible, but only with structure.

» Key risk areas to address before exiting the job
– Large portion of wealth is locked in long-term retirement buckets
– Fixed deposits are safe but may not support long-term inflation
– Rental income is modest compared to living costs
– Business income is uncertain in the early years

This means you must not rely on just one source after job exit.

» How your portfolio needs to evolve now
– Clearly separate money into three buckets

Near-term living and safety money

Medium-term flexibility money

Long-term growth and retirement money
– Do not treat all assets as one combined pool
– Gradually reduce unnecessary concentration in any one area
– Ensure enough liquidity for 3 to 5 years of expenses

This structure gives confidence during job transition.

» Fixed deposits and cash management
– Keep only planned money in fixed deposits
– Avoid excess idle cash losing value silently
– Fixed deposits should act as shock absorbers, not growth engines
– Review tenure and purpose of each deposit

Purpose-based use of FDs is important now.

» Market-linked investments
– Continue equity exposure, even after leaving the job
– Avoid sudden exit from markets due to fear
– Gradual rebalancing is safer than sharp changes
– Long-term money should stay invested for growth

Your time horizon for a part of money is still very long.

» Real estate holdings
– Self-occupied house gives emotional and financial stability
– Rental property provides some income but low yield
– Do not depend on rent alone for regular expenses
– Keep property only if it fits your long-term comfort and liquidity needs

Real estate should remain supportive, not central to retirement income.

» Planning for the small business idea
– Do not invest retirement money into business directly
– Start with a small, capped capital allocation
– Expect low or zero income in the first few years
– Treat business as optional income, not compulsory

This protects your family lifestyle if the business takes time.

» What the next 2–5 years should focus on
– Save aggressively while salary continues
– Build a clear post-job cash flow plan
– Strengthen emergency and medical buffers
– Prepare mentally for variable income
– Avoid lifestyle inflation during high-income years

These years are your strongest defence against future uncertainty.

» Final Insights
– You are not late, and you are not underprepared
– Exiting a software job in 2–3 years is possible with discipline
– A 5-year horizon gives much more comfort and flexibility
– Portfolio clarity is more important than chasing returns
– Financial independence is closer than you think, but structure is key

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in

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