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Prof Suvasish Mukhopadhyay  |880 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on May 05, 2025

Professor Suvasish Mukhopadhyay, fondly known as ‘happiness guru’, is a mentor and author with 33 years of teaching experience.
He has guided and motivated graduate and postgraduate students in science and technology to choose the right course and excel in their careers.
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Dr Question by Dr on May 05, 2025
Career

VNIT, Nagpur for chemical versus IIIT, Trichy for computer science which one would be advisable for career

Ans: Please don't ask whether I should recommend chicken kebab or Gulab jamun.First ask yourself what is your choice.
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Dr Nagarajan J S K

Dr Nagarajan J S K   |418 Answers  |Ask -

NEET, Medical, Pharmacy Careers - Answered on Jul 14, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 11, 2024Hindi
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Career
Which is best iit Varanasi pharmaceutical engineering and technology or nit trichy civil engineering
Ans: I'd like to discuss the program at IIT Varanasi in Pharmaceutical Engineering. It appears that the Department of Pharmaceutics has been renamed as Pharmaceutical Engineering. The department offers a combination of 16 pharmacy-based and 6 engineering-based subjects. In addition, fundamental subjects such as English, biology, chemistry, physics, and PET are included in the curriculum, similar to other engineering colleges. This differs from traditional pharmacy programs where these subjects are not typically taught.

However, there are some issues with the program. It seems like a new program, and there could be confusion for students interested in pursuing higher education. If a student wants to pursue further studies, they might be uncertain about whether to pursue an M.Tech or M.Pharm. While IIT-V offers an Integrated course for M.Tech, for M.Pharm, the options are limited to IITs and not other pharmacy colleges. The eligibility criteria for joining M.Pharm in pharmacy colleges in India requires a B. Pharm degree from an institution approved by the Pharmacy Council of India with a minimum of 55% marks.

Moreover, after completing B.Tech and M.Pharm, a candidate may encounter limitations in registering with the pharmacy council and joining academic institutions as an academician. This is a drawback of the program.

On the other hand, NIT Trichy offers a Civil Engineering program with core engineering subjects and no biology.

In conclusion, if you have a passion for biology, you may want to consider studying Pharmacy instead of Pharmaceutical Engineering. Conversely, if you are passionate about engineering, NIT Trichy may be a better fit for you. Additionally, IIT Varanasi is also offering Civil engineering.

..Read more

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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8513 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 25, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - May 25, 2025
Money
Hi, I am 52 and working in a Central Government job. My gross salary is around 2.5lacs. My husband is 53 yrs old and working in a pvt company. His take home is 4.2l per month. We have two flats worth 1.7cr each which are currently in use. We have another flat worth 2.5cr. Apart from this we have a farmhouse land worth 80l and some ancestral property worth 50l. We have two children, elder daughter in final year of degree and wants to pursue higher education abroad. Son is 18 and has taken admission in Btech this year. His monthly expenditure including everything will be around 60 thousand. Apart from this we have a monthly expenditure of 1L and due to husband ongoing health issues considerable expenditure on treatment around 1l we both have around 1.5 cr in epf, 30l in stocks and 8l on sip. Also 6vl each in ppf Due to health issues, husband want to able to continue his job long and has to take premature retirement. What should be our future investment plans. Kindly guide
Ans: You have worked hard and saved well. Your current asset base is strong. Your financial situation now needs a clear, future-ready plan. Let’s assess, realign, and plan forward with clarity and balance.

Here is a detailed 360-degree solution designed just for your needs.

1. Understand the New Phase

You are entering a key transition stage in life.

Your family income may reduce soon.

Medical costs are rising steadily.

Children’s higher education will need big money.

Retirement is also nearing.

Hence, your money must now work smarter.

2. Current Income and Expenses

Monthly family income is around Rs. 6.7 lakhs.

Household and son’s expenses are Rs. 1.6 lakhs monthly.

Medical treatment adds Rs. 1 lakh per month.

So total regular outflow is Rs. 2.6 lakhs monthly.

This leaves you a surplus of Rs. 4.1 lakhs now.

However, post-retirement, husband’s income may stop.

Then surplus may drop to Rs. 0.9 lakhs per month.

This calls for adjusting investments wisely.

3. Children’s Higher Education Planning

Your daughter wants to study abroad soon.

Expenses may go beyond Rs. 40–50 lakhs easily.

Please don’t redeem retirement corpus for this.

Instead, plan to liquidate from equity-based assets.

Start a step-by-step Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP).

You may also liquidate part of your flat worth Rs. 2.5 crore.

If needed, consider an education loan partially.

This keeps your retirement fund safe.

4. Husband’s Premature Retirement

This needs realignment of your financial plan.

Ensure a minimum of 5 years expenses are protected.

This means Rs. 1.6 lakhs x 60 months = Rs. 96 lakhs.

Keep this amount in low-risk debt mutual funds.

Avoid taking this from EPF or PPF.

Use proceeds from one flat if necessary.

SIPs must continue, but evaluate rebalancing based on income drop.

5. Medical Contingency Planning

Your husband’s treatment cost is high.

Medical inflation is rising rapidly.

Ensure both of you have health insurance.

Prefer a Rs. 25–50 lakh family floater with super top-up.

Do not depend only on employer health cover.

Keep an emergency fund of Rs. 10–15 lakhs separate.

This can be in liquid or ultra-short debt mutual funds.

6. Retirement Planning for Both

You are 52 and still employed.

Retirement age may be around 58–60 years.

That gives you 6–8 years of active income.

Use this period to build a strong retirement fund.

Don’t withdraw EPF or PPF till maturity.

Consider contributing more in mutual funds through SIPs.

Keep retirement corpus in low-cost, diversified active funds.

Don't shift funds into annuity options.

Post-retirement, plan a SWP from mutual funds for income.

Try to build a retirement corpus of Rs. 3–4 crores.

This will give Rs. 1–1.25 lakhs income monthly.

Include spouse’s expenses, inflation, and medical needs.

7. Existing Real Estate Assets

You have three flats. Two are for your use.

The third one is worth Rs. 2.5 crores.

Avoid holding it just for value appreciation.

Use it strategically for daughter’s education and corpus building.

Avoid further real estate purchases now.

Real estate is not liquid.

It doesn’t give regular income.

It has high maintenance and poor tax efficiency.

Your real estate exposure is already high.

8. Existing Investments Analysis

EPF and PPF total is around Rs. 1.62 crores.

Stocks worth Rs. 30 lakhs add moderate risk.

SIPs are Rs. 8 lakhs value currently.

Continue SIPs in well-diversified active mutual funds.

Prefer regular plan with guidance from MFD with CFP credential.

Direct plans don’t suit every investor.

Regular plans offer rebalancing, review, and advice.

Stocks are fine, but not for short-term needs.

Try not to add more unless you have time to review.

Mutual funds offer better diversification and control.

Ensure debt-equity mix is rebalanced annually.

9. Tax Planning and Investment Efficiency

EPF, PPF are tax-free on maturity.

Mutual fund gains are taxable.

LTCG on equity funds above Rs. 1.25 lakh is taxed at 12.5%.

STCG is taxed at 20%.

Debt fund gains are taxed as per your slab.

Plan redemptions smartly to reduce tax burden.

Avoid too many redemptions at once.

Spread them across financial years.

Get Form 26AS checked every year.

Don’t buy insurance for tax saving.

10. Cash Flow Planning Post-Retirement

Husband’s income may stop soon.

Your income will continue till 58 or 60.

Use your salary to fund most expenses till then.

From age 60, use SWP from mutual funds.

Add rental income if any in future.

Avoid bank FDs for monthly income.

They have low returns and poor taxation.

Instead, use a ladder of debt funds for short-term needs.

Equity mutual funds for long-term growth.

11. Insurance Cover Check

Check your term insurance if still active.

If not, you may not need one now.

Your asset base is strong.

Focus more on health insurance.

Take a separate critical illness cover too.

Medical costs can deplete savings quickly.

Review nominee details in every policy.

12. Estate and Will Planning

You have significant real estate and investments.

Children will inherit eventually.

Prepare a registered Will soon.

Mention who gets what clearly.

Include mutual funds, EPF, PPF, stocks, property.

Assign separate nominees for each asset class.

This avoids future disputes and confusion.

Discuss openly with your children.

13. Investment Behaviour Going Forward

Keep emotions out of investment decisions.

Don’t redeem when markets fall.

Follow asset allocation method strictly.

Every year review the plan.

Rebalance mutual funds once a year.

Reinvest redemptions wisely.

Don’t increase real estate holding further.

Don’t fall for hot stock tips.

Avoid policies combining insurance and investment.

Finally

Your current position is strong.

Your focus should be on protection and preservation.

Avoid risky investments now.

Plan each goal with a dedicated fund.

Keep enough liquidity for health and education.

Create predictable income sources post-retirement.

Work with a Certified Financial Planner yearly.

Review goals, returns, risks and expenses every year.

Stay disciplined and goal-oriented.

Your family’s financial future will remain safe.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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