I am a retired government officer aged 71 yrs. Can you suggest something I can do from home to earn a little more money?

Ans: Hello;

Depends on type of insurance, types of riders required, cost preference and sum assured being considered.

Best wishes;

Ans: Chance is slim.Best of luck.Professor......:)

Ans: In IITs chance is less,but you are advised to try for middle and low ranked NITs.Best of luck.Professor..........:)

Ans: Please don't worry about placement.Now a days thinking of placement is a contagious disease and you people the parents inject stress within children by repeated discussion of placement.Let him study properly, placement will be done automatically.Best of luck to your son.Professor......:)

Ans: You will surely get.Best of luck.Professor.....:)

Ans: Technically there is no tax if taxable income upto 12 lakh (except special rate income), as you get rebate equivalent to tax charged. So you have to calculate tax as per slab rate first and reduce tax liability by way of rebate.

Ans: As per the amendment proposed for FY 25-26, under new tax regime you will pay tax of Rs.171600 after taking benefit of Rs.75000 of standard deduction.

Ans: Your mutual fund portfolio is diverse, but some consolidation can improve efficiency. Below is an analysis of key points to help you decide which funds to keep and which to exit.

Key Observations
Overlapping Funds: Multiple funds from the same AMC in similar categories reduce diversification.

Sector-Specific Funds: Banking and financial sector funds add concentration risk.

Too Many ELSS Funds: Excessive ELSS funds may reduce focus on wealth creation.

Global Fund Exposure: International funds can diversify risks but may underperform in volatile global conditions.

Bond Funds for Stability: While bond funds offer stability, they may limit long-term growth.

Recommended Actions
Equity Funds: Focus on Quality Over Quantity
Retain 1-2 large-cap funds for stability and consistent returns.

Keep 1 flexi-cap fund for dynamic investment across market caps.

Retain 1-2 ELSS funds if you require tax savings; avoid over-diversification in this category.

Hold 1 small-cap fund for aggressive growth, but limit exposure to manage volatility.

Avoid multiple funds with similar strategies as they create redundancy.

Sector Funds: Reduce Concentration Risk
Reduce exposure to banking and financial services funds. These are cyclical and can underperform during economic downturns.

Instead, focus on diversified equity funds that include financial sector stocks.

Global Equity Funds: Moderate Allocation
Retain your global fund if you seek international diversification.

Limit exposure to less than 10% of your total portfolio to reduce currency risk.

Bond Funds: Stability with Limited Growth
Retain 1 bond fund for liquidity needs or near-term expenses.

Avoid excessive debt fund investments if your goal is long-term wealth creation.

Portfolio Optimisation Strategy
Aim for 7-9 well-chosen funds instead of spreading investments too thin.

Focus on a mix of large-cap, flexi-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap funds for balanced growth.

Retain one global fund for international exposure.

Include one debt fund for short-term financial needs.

Exit funds with similar investment strategies to improve clarity and focus.

Tax Efficiency Considerations
Consider the latest capital gains tax rules when redeeming equity funds.

Long-term capital gains (LTCG) above Rs 1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%.

Short-term capital gains (STCG) are taxed at 20%.

For debt funds, both LTCG and STCG are taxed as per your income slab.

Plan redemptions strategically to minimise tax impact.

SIP Strategy
Continue SIPs in high-performing equity funds with strong track records.

Increase SIPs in funds aligned with your long-term goals.

Reduce or stop SIPs in overlapping or underperforming funds.

Final Insights
Your portfolio requires better alignment with your financial goals. By reducing fund overlap and sector-specific exposure, you can improve returns and risk management. Focus on a leaner, more diversified portfolio with a strong mix of equity and debt funds.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

Ans: Hello Dear.
I am pleased to note your kind attention towards your son. Additionally, you provided a lot of information to answer your queries in detail to some extent. Your son is interested in pursuing a career in the field of Space, specifically Aerospace, and he is keenly passionate about Physics. He is very clear that he does not want to pursue CSE or other computer-related engineering branches. He took his first attempt at the JEE but scored lower than both his and your expectations. However, he has another attempt in April where he has the opportunity to excel. Let us hope positively. Along with JEE, you are also encouraging him to sit for the BITSAT, VIT, COMEDK UGET, MHT-CET, IISER, and NEST entrance examinations, which is a wise decision.
Here is a point-wise reply to your questions: (1) Let him take all the above entrance examinations and the JEE second attempt, and gather the scorecards from these exams. (2) Based on these scores, you can choose the appropriate college and branch, excluding mechanical engineering. (3) Although your son aims to join ISRO, it would be safer to be admitted to a reputed engineering college in a good branch to avoid potential issues in the future. (4) Once admission is confirmed in a reputed college and branch, your son will have ample time to prepare for the entrance examinations conducted by ISRO and other institutions like NASA. (5) Even if he does not get into ISRO, he still has the chance to join a reputable company based on his degree. (6) Undoubtedly, Bangalore would be the best choice if your son were interested in CSE. However, since he has little interest in the computer field, there is no point in relocating from North to South India. It would be better to choose a college in the Northern region, particularly from the Delhi area. (7) If you are not interested in Mechanical Engineering and your son is not keen on computer-related branches, then it would be better to focus on getting admission to aerospace engineering. Numerous reputed institutes in India offer aerospace engineering courses; a quick Google search for "aerospace engineering colleges in India" can help. (8) Enrolling in aerospace engineering will boost your son's confidence right from the first year. (9) Your decision is neither wrong nor right. As a parent, your concern for your son's future is valid. However, navigating the entrance exams is your best option. Just wait for all the results to make the best choice. I hope this reply has satisfied you to some extent.
Follow me, if you are satisfied, else ask again.
Thanks
Radheshyam