I am 43 yr. old & have following SIPs going as per the duration below. My horizon is next 5-10 years & want to build a corpus of 1 Cr for retirement. Please suggest if this OK. Risk Acceptance - Medium. Mutual Fund SIP Amount Months Started

SBI Blue Chip – Growth 10,000 42
HDFC Mid Cap opportunities Growth 5,000 32
Sundaram Rural & Consumption Regular 5,000 25
TATA Equity P/E Fud Regular Growth 5,000 25
Kotak Blue Chip Fund Growth 5,000   7
Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund Regular 5,000 7
Axis Small Cup Fund 5,000 1

Ans: I recommend that you postpone your retirement till accumulation of additional corpus of 1.5+1=2.5 Cr+

This incremental 1.5 Cr with existing 2.5 Cr adding upto 4 Cr can be used to buy an annuity.

Assuming 6% annuity rate you can expect a monthly payout of 2 L(pre-tax).

After deducting monthly expenses, the balance can be reinvested in moderately risky funds to protect against inflation/healthcare costs in older age.

1 Cr can be corpus earmarked for future needs.

*Investments in mutual funds are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme related documents carefully before investing.

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Happy Investing!!

Ans: Please check if the EPF contribution after deduction is indeed credited to her EPF account especially after superannuation at 58 and reappointment thereafter on adhoc basis.

Date of exit for EPF and EPS may need not be the same.

Ans: I offer you two scenarios:
1. Step up both SIP and lumpsum by 40% every year to reach your target of 1 Cr corpus, 10 years from now.

2. Step up your SIP and lumpsum by 15% every year to reach your target of 1 Cr corpus 15 years from now. (Modest return of 13% assumed)

Your sip break up is:
PPFAS flexicap fund (2 K)
MO Midcap fund (1.5 K)
Axis Small Cap (2.5 K)
ICICI Pru Value Discovery Fund (1 K)

I suggest you to remove ICICI Pru Value Discovery Fund from your portfolio and add that 1 K sip into MO midcap fund.

Also I recommend you to migrate to Nippon India Small Cap Fund (2.5 K)

The lumpsum I would suggest you to invest in Quant ELSS tax saver fund and SBI Technology Opportunities Fund

*Investments in mutual funds are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme related documents carefully before investing

You may follow us on X at @mars_invest for updates.

Happy Investing!!

Ans: Go for BE/BTech Lateral Entry and/or pursue some Certifications in Software/IT online to upgrade your skills. Have a LinkedIn Profile, put job alerts, matching your qualifications, know the job market trends and if the need arises upgrade yourself (or) you can apply for core companies if you wish to. All the BEST for Your Bright Future.

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Ans: Lot of options for online MBA with specialization in Supply Chain such as, SRM, Greatlakes, Jain, Dy Patil, Mysore University, UpGrad, IIM-Indore, Manavrachna, Symbiosis etc. Please check the accreditation/AICTE approval of these online programs individually and then join. All the BEST for Your Bright Future.

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Ans: Manish Sir, Your son can pursue MCA in AI with Galgotia University, Chandigarh University, LPU, Christ University, Jaipur National University etc. All the BEST for Your Son's Bright Future.

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Ans: Dear Anonymous,

I don't know what pushed you to seek a relationship outside of your marriage; I am also not assuming that you have an open marriage- keeping that in mind, I don't see how you are not okay with the guy getting married. You are married, and you can never have a marital relationship with the guy. The relationship you share with him is not legitimate and it won't be unless you leave your husband. You didn't mention divorce, so I am assuming you don't plan to do so. Then why do you expect him to stick with you without any prospect of a future? Please consider what I said. I am sure you already know this, but it's time you come to terms with it.

Best Wishes.

Ans: Dear Pankaj,

Please try to sit them down and have a logical conversation- I am sure you already did, but this time, point out all the positives of the relationship and ask them how can one overshadow all the good things about the relationship. See if that helps.

Best Wishes.

Ans: Dear Anonymous,

It is totally up to you. But I would suggest waiting a few days till they get back to you with an answer. It might come off a bit pushy and in case the guy does not reciprocate the feeling, things might get awkward. So, even though there is no harm in sending a request now, it would be better for all parties involved, if you wait a little.

Best Wishes.