My son is just starting FYJC, Science. He is interested in Chemistry. What are the options he can pursue after class 12? Could you also throw some light on PharmD? What are the career opportunities after studying PharmD?

Ans: VIT, Manipal (MIT),SRM etc. etc.

Ans: It depends on whether you want CIVIL/MECHANICAL

Ans: With an OBC rank of 4180 and an overall rank of 16025 in the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT), your son has a moderate chance of getting admission to some IISERs, particularly the newer ones or those with lower cutoff scores. The older and more competitive IISERs like Pune and Kolkata may be difficult to get into with this rank.

Ans: DTU MAC is better

Ans: BIT Mesra

Ans: It is difficult to get in main campus, but chances are there in other campus.

Ans: This score is good for admission into reputable mid-tier private colleges such as PICT Pune, DJ Sanghvi Mumbai, Vishwakarma Institute Pune, and SPIT Mumbai, especially for branches like IT, Mechanical, and emerging fields like Artificial Intelligence and Data Science.

Ans: You are already showing great discipline by saving and investing regularly. Let us build a solid 360° financial roadmap for your future, considering your age, income, goals, and priorities.

Income, Expenses & Savings Snapshot
Age: 27 (turning 28 in October)

Your salary: Rs. 98k/month (includes shift allowance)

Your wife’s income: Rs. 15–16k/month (based on work situation)

Combined monthly income: approximately Rs. 1.13 lakh

Rent: Rs. 12k/month

Household expenses: Rs. 10k/month

Parents’ medical insurance: Rs. 27k/year

Total fixed monthly expenses ~ Rs. 22k excluding rent

You have savings: Rs. 11–12 lakh in savings account

Current SIP investments: 7 funds across large, mid, small, multicap, ELSS totaling Rs. 10k/month

Step 1: Establish Emergency Fund
You have Rs. 11–12 lakh in savings.

Allocate Rs. 3.5–4 lakh as emergency buffer (~3–4 months of expenses).

Keep it in a liquid debt mutual fund via a regular plan.

This ensures safety, liquidity, and better returns than bank savings.

Place the remaining savings into your financial goals (explained later).

Step 2: Build Core Investment Goals
A. Retirement Planning
You’re young with 30+ years ahead.

Retirement corpus needs long-term growth.

Start a Rs. 5k monthly Sip in actively managed, diversified equity fund.

Avoid index funds – they passively follow markets and don’t adjust allocation.

Choose regular plans via an MFD with CFP, not direct plans.

This gives guidance, rebalancing, and emotional discipline.

B. Children Planning (from 2026 onward)
No urgency until 4–5 years later.

Plan for education fund building around 2026.

From 2026, invest Rs. 5k–10k/month in a child-focused mutual fund.

Use balanced or hybrid funds that offer some debt buffer.

Regular plan guidance ensures timely review.

C. Home Purchase Fund (Post H1B)
You plan to buy a flat after return to India.

Set aside Rs. 5–6 lakh from savings as preliminary down payment fund.

Park this in a low-risk debt fund (short-term or low-duration) via regular plan.

Add Rs. 5k/month to this fund after emergency buffer is built.

D. Wealth Accumulation
You hold multiple SIPs (seven funds) of Rs. 10k/month.

Continue them if they meet your risk-return needs.

But consider consolidating overlapping fund strategies.

Consolidation reduces complexity and improves tracking.

Step 3: Optimize & Consolidate Portfolio
A. Review Current SIP Funds
Large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap, multi-cap, ELSS: diversity is good.

But seven funds may cause overlap.

Identify the core top 3 equity funds that give broad market coverage and strong performance.

Continue those as your core.

Use other thematic or smaller funds as satellites, not primary.

B. Reduce Overlap
Overlap happens when multiple funds share similar holdings.

Ask your CFP or MFD to run overlap analysis.

Consolidate overlapping funds into stronger, well-performing funds.

This reduces churn and enhances tracking.

C. Retain Thematic ETFs (via mutual funds)
Global themes (if you hold any) can add value but keep them small (5–10% of equity).

Your focus should be on broad Indian equity first.

Any diversification to global equity should be via actively managed mutual funds, not ETFs or index funds.

Step 4: Cash Deployment of Savings
You have Rs. 11–12 lakh idle. Here’s how to deploy:

Emergency fund: Rs. 3.5–4 lakh in liquid mutual funds

Child planning: Rs. 5–6 lakh parked in low-duration debt fund

Retirement: Top up with Rs. 1 lakh from savings into retirement equity SIP

Home fund: Top up initiative with Rs. 1 lakh in short-term debt fund

This ensures structured use of savings aligned with financial goals.

Step 5: Monthly Cash Flow & SIP Strategy
Let’s plan monthly investments strategically:

Continue current Rs. 10k SIPs

Add retirement SIP of Rs. 5k actively managed equity fund

Add child fund SIP Rs. 5k (starts 2026)

Add home fund SIP Rs. 5k in debt fund

Total monthly SIP after this deployment: Rs. 25k new + Rs. 10k existing = Rs. 35k

Keep surplus for lifestyle, investments, or bonuses.

Step 6: Insurance Intake & Protection Needs
Life insurance:

At your age, with combined income ~ Rs. 13–14 lakh/year, you need a pure term cover sum assured of Rs. 1–1.5 crore.

This protects wife and future child in income loss.

Health insurance:

You already have Rs. 27k/year parents cover.

Add personal family floater plan of Rs. 5–10 lakh to cover medical emergencies.

This is crucial before starting family and for long-term protection.

Disability/Accident cover:

You may consider a small premium-term rider for income protection in case of disability.

Optional but useful given shift allowance dependency.

Step 7: Tax Planning
SIPs in equity funds qualify under new mutual fund LTCG tax rule:

Gains above Rs. 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%

STCG taxed at 20%

Use ELSS fund for sectional 80C deduction, up to Rs. 1.5 lakh limit

Retirement SIP may qualify for 80C/80CCD (depending on fund type and structure)

Avoid frequent withdrawals to reduce tax.

Keep long-term horizon on equity investments.

Step 8: Risk & Asset Allocation
Given your profile:

Age 27, risk appetite likely high, with long horizon

Asset mix guidance:

Equity: 60–70%

Debt: 20–30%

Liquid/emergency: 10–15%

Your current mix:

Equity via SIPs across categories (good)

Debt via home rent saving fund

You need clear emergency and insurance buffer

This allocation aligns with your age and goals.

Step 9: Review, Rebalance & Monitoring
Meet CFP every 6 months with MFD to review portfolio

Rebalance allocation if equity or debt drifts by ±10%

Watch asset overlap, performance, and goal alignment

Increase SIP amounts gradually with income growth

Example adjustments:

Step up retirement SIP from Rs. 5k to 10k in two years

Add child fund after medical planning begins

After flat purchase, reduce home fund and allocate to retirement

Step 10: Lifestyle, Goals & Flexibility
You keep lifestyle simple and frugal—this is an excellent habit

Focus on saving and investing, not buying assets prematurely

Delay big spending until after H1B return and salary clarity

Stay flexible and responsive to life changes like kids or relocation

360° Financial Roadmap Summary
Build an emergency fund in liquid mutual funds (~Rs. 4 lakh)

Park home down-payment fund in low-risk debt mutual funds (~Rs. 6 lakh)

Launch a retirement-focused equity SIP (Rs. 5k monthly)

Continue and optimize your existing SIPs via consolidation

Add insurance: term life cover Rs. 1–1.5 crore, family floater health cover

Use ELSS under 80C for tax savings

Maintain your frugal lifestyle and high savings discipline

Rebalance and review every 6 months via CFP guidance

Step?up SIPs with bonus or salary increment

Prepare for child-related expenses from year 2026 onward

Final Insights
Your saving discipline at age 27 is impressive

You have a strong head-start

Now build emergency security, retirement growth, and insurance cover

Consolidate investments to reduce clutter and enhance clarity

Use actively managed funds through a CFP-guided MFD

Avoid index and direct funds for long?term funds

Plan for child's future and home purchase mindfully

Stay focused on goals and flexible with life changes

You are laying a strong foundation for future financial strength and flexibility. With consistent execution, periodic reviews, and strategic adjustments, you are likely to meet your long?term goals calmly and confidently.

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

Ans: Her ST ranking is required for proper counselling.