Hi Patrick, I am currently working as product analyst and have 4.5 years of experience to date. I want to know if I should give a shot at CAT this year as I am a bit discouraged when I see average years of experience . Also what are the placement prospects for students with 5 yoe in IIMs for 2 year PGP.

Ans: Dear Jayesh,
The best way to confirm if she shares the same feelings for you is to simply ask. Tell her how you feel and ask if she feels anything close to that for you. If she says yes, then you can ask her out on a date- maybe start slow with a cup of coffee and see where it goes. If she says no, then please do not take that as a sign to pursue her some more and convince her.

Hope this helps.

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
If you know for sure your partner is cheating, the best thing to do is confront them. There's no point in collecting proof or catching them in the act- it will not make them more guilty than they already are. Ask them directly about what you know and try to rethink the relationship. Cheating should not be excused and I am sure you deserve a partner who remains loyal to you.

Best wishes

Ans: Dear Aravinth,
I am so sorry to hear this. Can you try to go to your educational institute and ask for another copy of your degree? If not, I am sure there are legal steps that you can take to secure your degree; after all, you have earned it yourself. About the share, I would recommend consulting a lawyer; they can help you in this situation better. Moreover, if there is any threat to your or your partner’s life, you should consider taking it up with the authorities.

Best wishes.

Ans: Hello Bipradas.
From your query, it is clear that you have offered by job by a Singapore-based company and they are giving you a posting in your home town. You did not mention anything about the work culture of the company. It simply indicates that you are supposed to work from home which is always related to computers. I think there is no harm in producing the required documents through an agent if they are offering you a handsome salary. The requirement for documents differs from company to company. There is no harm in submitting the mentioned documents. If have fear in your mind, then please go through the profile of the company in detail before submitting the documents. There are many ways to check the authenticity of the company. There are some chances of cheating, but everybody is not indulged in the same category. But take the steps with utmost precaution.

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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello Zakir.
Here are some options for your son:
(1) Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS (Offered by Udemy or Coursera)
(2) MATLAB for Engineers
(3) Advanced Thermodynamics: Offered by universities like Stanford (Coursera, edX).
(4) Reaction Engineering: A course by the University of Minnesota (Coursera)
(5) Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer Fundamentals: NPTEL or Coursera.
(6) Data Science (Udemy and Linkedin learning)
(7) Machine Learning, Offered by universities like MIT (edX)
(8) Sustainable Energy Systems (offered by Coursera)
(9) Green Chemical Engineering: Offered by NPTEL.
(10) Python for Chemical Engineers
And many more.
It is suggested that you please visit the websites of Coursera, edX, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and NPTEL for more details.

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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello dear.
At present, you are in 2nd year and saying that you are confused about what to choose. You have already chosen CSE. Your question is incomplete and not possible to suggest to you what you want. Please ask again with more clarity.

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Ans: Hello Munni.
The right path for placement will be suggested by the placement division of IIT Kharagpur from time to time.. At this early stage, there is no need to take the tension. You have ample time in hand. Related to the score, a BS in Applied Geology from IIT Kharagpur offers a promising huge scope. The scope lies in Geology, resource management, energy, environmental planning, infrastructure development, Mining and Exploration, Hydrogeology, Energy, Environmental Geology, Disaster Risk Assessment, Academia and Research, Infrastructure Development, and many more sectors. A BS has strong career growth and opportunities for innovation and impact. Best of luck for his bright future.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello dear.
Yes, you are eligible for JEE Advanced if you take mathematics as an additional subject in Class 12th, provided you fulfill the other eligibility criteria for the exam. For JEE (Adv), you must qualify for mains with the required cut-off and pass the 12th-grade exam with PCM subjects with language as an additional subject or an equivalent examination. Make sure to check the detailed brochure or eligibility criteria for the specific year of JEE Advanced.

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Radheshyam

Ans: Your financial position shows good planning and discipline.

Assets Summary:

Mutual Funds: Rs 40 lakh
Fixed Deposits: Rs 30 lakh
Rental Income: Rs 55,000 per month from two flats
Own House: Fully paid, no loan liabilities
Provident Fund (PF): Rs 80 lakh
National Pension System (NPS): Rs 10 lakh
Public Provident Fund (PPF): Rs 20 lakh
Term Insurance: Rs 50 lakh
You have built a diversified portfolio across multiple asset classes.

Assessing Early Retirement Feasibility
Early retirement in two years can be achieved with strategic planning.

Key Factors to Evaluate:

Monthly Expenses: Calculate post-retirement expenses, including inflation.
Income Sources: Ensure rental income, investments, and withdrawals meet your needs.
Wealth Growth: Balance corpus growth with income stability.
Monthly Expense Coverage
Assume your future monthly expense is Rs 1.25 lakh.

Existing Income Streams:

Rental Income: Rs 55,000 monthly provides 44% of estimated expenses.
Corpus Withdrawals: Use investments to cover remaining expenses.
Adjust for Inflation:

Plan for a 6% inflation rate to protect purchasing power.
Investment Strategy
Align your portfolio for growth, stability, and liquidity.

Mutual Funds:

Continue investing in equity-oriented funds for long-term growth.
Opt for actively managed funds through Certified Financial Planners.
Avoid index funds; they limit opportunities for alpha generation.
Fixed Deposits:

Reallocate a portion to debt mutual funds for better post-tax returns.
Retain some FDs for emergencies and short-term needs.
NPS and PPF:

Maximise NPS contributions for additional tax savings.
Allow PPF to mature for risk-free, tax-exempt growth.
Corpus Withdrawal Plan
A systematic withdrawal strategy ensures steady income.

Use Systematic Withdrawal Plans (SWP) in mutual funds for monthly cash flow.
Keep withdrawal rates below 4% annually to sustain the corpus.
Children’s Education Planning
Your son’s education may require significant funds.

Steps to Plan for Education Costs:

Use PPF maturity or mutual fund proceeds for higher education.
Avoid using retirement corpus for educational expenses.
Risk Management
Protecting your family is as critical as building wealth.

Term Insurance Coverage:

Rs 50 lakh is adequate for income replacement.
Ensure policies are active and nominees updated.
Health Insurance:

Opt for a comprehensive family floater policy with Rs 20–25 lakh coverage.
Keep health-related emergency funds for additional expenses.
Tax Planning
Efficient tax planning maximises post-retirement income.

Mutual Fund Taxation:

Equity fund LTCG above Rs 1.25 lakh is taxed at 12.5%.
Short-term gains are taxed at 20%. Plan withdrawals carefully.
Fixed Deposit Interest:

FD interest is taxable as per your slab. Consider this in income planning.
Real Estate Considerations
Your rental flats provide steady income.

Points to Consider:

Avoid further real estate investments for better liquidity.
Keep properties well-maintained to ensure uninterrupted rental income.
Healthcare and Emergency Funds
Unplanned medical costs can affect your finances.

Steps to Safeguard:

Maintain Rs 10–15 lakh in liquid assets for emergencies.
Regularly review health insurance coverage to meet rising costs.
Assessing Early Retirement Timing
Your early retirement is achievable by 48 years with careful execution.

Why This is Feasible:

Rental income and portfolio can meet monthly needs.
A diversified asset base ensures sustainable returns.
Finally
Early retirement is within your reach with disciplined planning.

Review your financial plan annually and adjust for changes in needs or markets.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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