IIT JEE or Foreign University for a 11th Grader in Mumbai?

Ans: I truly appreciate your courage and clarity even in the face of health challenges. With your current financial resources and the need to secure a monthly income of Rs. 70,000, a detailed and careful plan is very much possible.

Let me give you a full 360-degree solution below, step-by-step.

Understanding Your Present Financial Picture
You are 55 years old and have been living with stage 4 cancer for 5 years.

You are still employed and drawing a salary of Rs. 30 lakhs per year.

You have Rs. 75 lakhs in your savings bank account.

You hold Rs. 25 lakhs in shares, with Rs. 12 lakhs in losses.

You have Rs. 12 lakhs in mutual funds.

Rs. 3 lakhs is in your EPF account.

You have no loans or financial commitments.

Your main concern is to receive Rs. 70,000 every month if the job stops.

You are not looking to take risks.

You want regular, reliable income without physical involvement.

Step 1: Emergency Medical and Health Fund
Health comes first. Keep money aside just for medical needs.

This fund should cover two years of your full household and medical costs.

Keep Rs. 15 to 20 lakhs aside for this purpose.

This money should be in ultra-safe places.

Prefer a savings bank account and liquid mutual funds.

This should remain untouched unless truly needed.

This emergency buffer gives peace and avoids panic in tough times.

Step 2: Generate Rs. 70,000 Monthly Income
Rs. 70,000 monthly means Rs. 8.4 lakhs needed per year.

Aim for post-tax cash flow from your investments.

Break your funds into income generation buckets.

Use your Rs. 75 lakhs from savings bank as the core capital.

Avoid keeping the full amount idle in SB account.

Allocate funds into low-risk, stable return instruments.

Prefer investment avenues offering quarterly or monthly payouts.

Choose options where you can withdraw in parts if needed.

Step 3: Structured Investment Allocation
Short-Term Bucket: 1 to 2 Years

Set aside Rs. 18 to 20 lakhs for short-term needs.

Put this money into highly liquid options.

Use only those that protect capital and give fixed income.

These funds will generate stable income for the next two years.

Prefer options offering monthly or quarterly payouts.

This will help replace your salary if job stops.

You don’t need to sell any shares or mutual funds right away.

You get time to think clearly, plan calmly.

Medium-Term Bucket: 3 to 5 Years

Keep around Rs. 25 to 30 lakhs here.

Invest in actively managed hybrid mutual funds.

Choose regular plans through a mutual fund distributor with CFP credentials.

Do not go for direct funds.

Direct plans do not come with personalised guidance.

There is no one to help you rebalance, switch or review.

Regular plans through a Certified Financial Planner offer ongoing support.

With hybrid funds, risk is moderate and returns are better than FDs.

Use SWP (Systematic Withdrawal Plan) to get monthly income.

You can set up SWP of Rs. 40,000 to 50,000 from this bucket.

These funds will last for years while also growing gradually.

Long-Term Bucket: 5+ Years

Keep Rs. 10 to 15 lakhs for the long-term.

This is not for current income, but for inflation beating growth.

Invest in actively managed large cap or balanced advantage funds.

Again, use regular plans with Certified Financial Planner.

These funds will build wealth for later stages.

You can shift gains to the medium bucket after 5 years.

Step 4: Shareholding Review and Action Plan
You have Rs. 25 lakhs in shares.

Out of this, Rs. 12 lakhs are in losses.

Do not sell them in a hurry.

Some may recover if you wait patiently.

First, make a list of all companies and their quality.

Exit poor-quality stocks even at a loss.

Retain good quality stocks with strong future.

If the whole portfolio is confusing, take help from a Certified Financial Planner.

You can harvest the loss now to set off gains later.

Book losses smartly to reduce future capital gains tax.

After cleaning up, move the proceeds to your medium bucket.

Step 5: Mutual Fund Review
You hold Rs. 12 lakhs in mutual funds.

Find out the type of each fund.

If these are equity funds, hold them long-term.

If returns are low or risk is high, shift to hybrid funds.

Avoid investing in index funds.

Index funds cannot protect capital in falling markets.

They simply copy the market blindly.

Actively managed funds are safer.

Professional fund managers take timely actions.

They reduce your risk and improve consistency.

Step 6: EPF Strategy
You have Rs. 3 lakhs in EPF.

EPF earns stable tax-free interest.

Do not withdraw unless it’s urgent.

Keep it as part of your long-term reserve.

Step 7: Monthly Income Setup
Use short-term and medium-term buckets to get income.

Start SWP from mutual funds for Rs. 40,000 monthly.

Use fixed income tools for Rs. 30,000 more.

Review this every year with a Certified Financial Planner.

Adjust amounts if needed based on inflation.

Step 8: Tax Planning and Awareness
Income from mutual funds is taxable.

Long-term capital gains above Rs. 1.25 lakhs taxed at 12.5%.

Short-term gains taxed at 20%.

Debt fund gains taxed as per your slab.

Plan redemptions to avoid tax shocks.

Harvest profits in a planned manner.

Step 9: Avoid These Common Mistakes
Do not invest in real estate.

It is illiquid and needs physical handling.

Do not buy annuities.

They give poor returns and lock your money.

Do not fall for insurance + investment combos.

If you already hold such policies, review them.

Consider surrender if return is poor.

Reinvest the proceeds into mutual funds.

Step 10: Use a Certified Financial Planner
A Certified Financial Planner gives structured and unbiased advice.

They help you with fund selection, SWP setup, rebalancing.

They guide you with tax-saving and risk control.

Their ongoing service is crucial at your life stage.

Choose someone with experience and clear credentials.

Finally
You are in a better financial position than many.

You have no loans, no dependents, and have built good savings.

With a calm and simple plan, you can replace your income safely.

You do not need to take risky steps now.

You have already shown strength by managing your life and job for 5 years.

Now your money should serve you with peace and stability.

Break your capital into buckets.

Get monthly income through safe withdrawals.

Review regularly with a Certified Financial Planner.

Avoid unnecessary complexity or noise.

You deserve a peaceful financial life.

Your health is precious. Let money be your quiet support.

Invest safe. Withdraw smart. Sleep well.

You are already doing well. Just add clarity and structure.

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

Ans: Yes Nitu. The Assam State Board's betterment exam marks can be used for JEE counselling. The board issues a new marksheet with updated scores after the exam. During counselling, the latest marksheet reflecting the improved scores must be submitted. JEE counselling authorities accept the improved marksheet as long as it is issued by a recognized state board. Eligibility criteria for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs require an improved percentage of 75% or top 20 percentile. Carrying both original and improved marksheets is essential. All the best!

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Ans: Sahil, The HSC Improvement Exam in June-July 2025 might be open for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) subjects only. Eligibility is based on passing the HSC board exam (2025). Candidates can choose to improve one, two, or all subjects. If only the theory part is improved, it must be indicated during registration. Practical marks from the main exam (2025) will carry forward. The best score between the main exam and improvement exam will be considered for the final mark sheet. Improved scores will be valid for JEE Main/Advanced if they meet the eligibility criteria. Ensure to complete the improvement exam registration correctly and on time. Contact your school or board office to get accurate information about the application process and deadlines.

Be sure to prepare well to improve your PCM scores, as it directly impacts your JEE eligibility.

Double-check whether your board requires a separate form or fee for the theory-only improvement. All the best!

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Ans: You can apply for JEE Advanced 2026 if you meet certain eligibility criteria. You can apply for the exam twice in two consecutive years, and you must have first appeared in the Class XII board exam in either 2024 or 2025. You must also qualify for JEE Main 2026 and be among the top 2,50,000 candidates (changes every year). The year of first appearance in Class XII (2024) is considered for eligibility, not the reappearance year (2025). Both attempts are still available, and you must clear JEE Main 2026 with the required rank to be eligible for JEE Advanced. All The BEST.

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Ans: Saruu, If you want a curriculum with a wide range of specializations, a focus on hands-on learning, and a lively campus community, you can go for Woxsen University.

If you value a curriculum that is in line with industry demands, first-rate facilities, and a solid placement record, you can better choose Mahindra University. All the best for your admissions!

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Ans: Piyush Sir, Securing admission to Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) or Mechanical Engineering (ME) at SRM Kattankulathur (KTR) campus may be challenging due to your son's 34,400 SRMJEEE 2025 rank. The expected closing ranks for these branches are 22,000 to 27,000, Careers360 Engineering, 31,000, and Embibe. However, your son's 34,400 rank is above these expected ranks, making admission to these specific branches unlikely. Alternative options include considering other SRM campuses, such as Ramapuram, Vadapalani, and NCR (Ghaziabad), which often have higher closing ranks for various branches. Additionally, exploring other engineering disciplines like Automobile Engineering, Civil Engineering, or Biotechnology may also increase admission chances. It is better to have other BACK-UPS, instead of relying only on SRM. All the best for your Son's admissions!

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Ans: Sona, mention college names to answer.

Ans: Dear Shamsunder,

Please feel free to submit your queries here. If you are worried about privacy, I want to assure you that you can ask anything anonymously. Your private details won't be visible to me.

Ans: Career path will depend on your interest. One option is to do Executive MBA from one of the top colleges. Check their placements before you join. Second option is to contact placement agency to find what skill sets are required to get a job in the area of your interest and do some short term course relevant to that. Simultaneously you can keep looking for job.