I am aged 57 years and retired. I have an ongoing SIP in Axis Bluechip Direct Growth fund for Rs.1000, for the past two years. I had a SIP in Axis Long Term Equity Direct Growth for Rs.2500 for four years and stopped last year. Since both the funds are underperforming, shall I redeem and switch to other funds ? I have a long term view and aggressive risk appetite. - Ganesa moorthy, Coimbatore.

Ans: Yash, to save time and prevent travel, it is quite preferable to join NEARBY Centre to your residence. For instance, if you live near Moti Bagh/RK Puram/Munirka/Katwaria Sarai etc., choose South Delhi Branch. All The BEST for Your Prosperous Future, Ayush.

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Ans: Ayush, Here are some Career Options Following a Bachelor of Arts (BA) (Hons) for you, based on your Commitment (financial / non-financial) Interest, Aptitude, Attitude, Interest, Orientation Style & Personality Traits:

• Civil Services (UPSC or State PSCs): Prepare for UPSC or Uttar Pradesh PSC exams while pursuing graduation.
• Teaching or Academia: Pursue a B.Ed post-BA to qualify for teaching positions in schools.
• Content Writing and Journalism: Start with freelance writing jobs or internships. Consider a postgraduate diploma in Journalism or Mass Communication.
• Sales and Marketing: Apply for jobs in FMCG, real estate, or insurance sectors and improve communication skills.
• Customer Service and BPO Jobs: Apply to companies with customer support operations and gain initial experience.
• Digital Marketing: Take online courses on platforms like Coursera or Udemy and start working as a freelancer.
• Government Jobs: SSC CGL, CHSL, Railways, Banking (IBPS, SBI PO/Clerk), and Uttar Pradesh government jobs.
• Law (LLB): Pursue a 3-year LLB after BA and become a lawyer.
• Social Work: Pursue a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) or join NGOs for on-ground experience.
• Entrepreneurship: Take small courses in business or entrepreneurship and seek guidance from mentors or incubators.
• Skill Development: Improve English Communication, Computer Skills, and Certifications.
• Steps to Take Right Now: Evaluate Interests, Start Learning, Network, Apply for Internships, and Prepare for Competitive Exams.
All The BEST for Your Prosperous Future, Ayush.

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Ans: Kishore Sir, Before addressing your questions, if time allows, I kindly suggest attending the complimentary webinars offered by Vikram Anand, Sakshi Chandrasekar, and Sawan Kapoor, who possess specialized expertise in Resume Building, Salary Negotiation Skills, and LinkedIn Profile Building. They offer a wealth of insights during their complimentary webinars, which can be extremely beneficial for refining your Resume/LinkedIn Profile and enhancing your Interview/Salary Negotiation Skills. You have the choice to decide whether to opt for their paid services.
Now coming to your question. Compensation expectations for individuals with five years of service sector experience are influenced by industry norms, location, talents, and firm. Industry norms suggest that mid-level jobs with five years of experience typically pay 30-50% of the current wage. Higher offers may be available for specific skills, certifications, or higher-paying industries. Location also plays a role, with higher salaries in urban areas and high-growth industries. Researching salary benchmarks and focusing on non-financial advantages can help negotiate better offers. The typical pay range is between 6-7 LPA for those with five years of experience.
All The BEST for Your Prosperous Future.

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Ans: Jivraj Sir, Starting an LLB degree for a retired person is a desirable goal in Pune, where there is no upper age restriction for registering in a three-year LLB program. Some prestigious Pune law schools include Symbiosis Law School Auditorium, ILS Law College, Vidyapeeth Deemed University Bharati Academic Building of New Law College, Law School Navalmal Firodia Law College, and Sinhgad Law College. Factors influencing enrollment include having a bachelor's degree from a reputable university, admission tests like MH CET Law, and a curriculum covering constitutional, criminal, and corporate law. To apply, research colleges' websites, prepare for entry tests, apply to selected universities, and engage with admissions staff. Pursuing an LLB can be rewarding with intellectual stimulation and opportunities to help the legal sector. All The BEST for Your Prosperous Future, Sir.

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Ans: Sanjay Sir, Financial stability and meaningful activities can lead to happiness and fulfillment. To maximize daily time, consider re-discovering interests, participating in social events, and sharing knowledge with future generations. Stay physically active through exercise, travel, reading, writing, and participating in local events. Support family by planning family events and providing guidance. Consider consulting or light work in your field, or start a low-stress entrepreneurial venture. Work on reflective or spiritual practices like yoga and meditation. A daily schedule should include morning walks, yoga, writing, light work, volunteer work, socializing, and spending time with family. This will help you find happiness and direction in your life. All The BEST for The Prosperous Future of All of Your Family Members, Sir.

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Ans: The decision to move to the United States or Ahmedabad depends on several factors, including financial stability, career development opportunities, individual considerations, immigration and visa policies, and revenue consequences. The current salary in Ahmedabad is nearly $22,000 annually, while in Rincon, Georgia, it is $100,000 annually. The cost of living in the US is higher, but the cost of living in small American towns is reasonable compared to urban areas. The after-tax compensation in the US can range from $70,000 to $75,000. The American way of life offers opportunities for travel, improved infrastructure, and cultural differences. The decision should also consider long-term plans, immigration and visa policies, and the potential for dual-taxation concerns. If money and career progress are priorities, moving to the US can provide greater income, fresh experiences, and better opportunities for professional development. All The BEST for Your Prosperous Future.

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Ans: Getting stuck in your current job can be a chance for professional reevaluation and significant development. To do this, evaluate yourself, identify areas of discontent, analyze your strengths, and consider your values. Explore employment alternatives based on your hobbies and aptitudes, such as reskilling or uplifting in fields like computing, artificial intelligence, or digital marketing. Consider new sectors like EdTech, HR, or public policy. Schedule a changeover with at least six months' worth of savings, explore side gigs, network, and seek guidance from successful transitioning professionals. Act now by looking for positions related to your hobbies, negotiating internal moves, remaining receptive to possibilities, and prioritizing remote or flexible employment. Seek help if stress becomes intolerable. All The BEST for Your Prosperous Future.

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Ans: Let us review the suitability of investing in a mid-cap 150 ETF for the long term via SIP.

Understanding ETFs and Their Characteristics
Passive Management: Midcap ETFs replicate an index like the Nifty Midcap 150.

Cost Efficiency: They offer lower expense ratios compared to actively managed funds.

No Active Decision Making: They do not try to outperform the market but track the index.

Volatility Concerns: Midcap indices are more volatile than large-cap indices.

Returns Depend on Index: The ETF's performance mirrors the performance of its benchmark.

Disadvantages of Investing in Midcap ETFs
Lack of Active Management
Mid-cap stocks are highly volatile.

Active fund managers can adjust portfolios to limit risks during downturns.

ETFs lack this flexibility, as they strictly follow the index composition.

Limited Flexibility in Rebalancing
Market conditions often demand sector rotation or stock-specific decisions.

Actively managed funds adapt to such conditions, but ETFs cannot.

Tracking Errors
ETFs may not perfectly replicate the index due to tracking errors.

This can affect returns, especially over the long term.

Why Actively Managed Funds May Be Better
Fund Manager Expertise
Skilled managers can outperform the index by selecting high-growth stocks.

They can mitigate risks in falling markets through tactical decisions.

Flexibility in Stock Selection
Active funds are not limited to a predefined basket of stocks.

Managers can select fundamentally strong stocks beyond the index.

Potential for Higher Returns
Actively managed funds have historically outperformed midcap indices over long periods.

This makes them a better choice for wealth creation in the mid-cap segment.

Recommendations for Long-Term Mid-Cap Investments
Diversify: Include actively managed mid-cap funds instead of relying solely on an ETF.

Professional Guidance: Invest in regular plans via a Certified Financial Planner.

Monitor Performance: Review fund performance every 6–12 months.

Manage Risk: Avoid overexposure to mid-cap investments due to their volatility.

Final Insights
While Mirae Asset Midcap 150 ETF is a low-cost option, it has limitations.

Active mid-cap funds can better navigate market volatility.

They provide the flexibility and expertise required for wealth creation.

For long-term SIPs, consider balanced exposure to actively managed funds. This ensures both growth and risk management over time.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

Ans: Your current portfolio and investment habits show a good start. Let us evaluate your financial standing, address your goals, and provide suggestions for optimisation.

Assessment of Your Current Financial Position
Income and Expenses: You have a monthly income of Rs. 1.5 lakh and expenses of Rs. 1.2 lakh. This leaves a surplus of Rs. 30,000 per month.

Investment Corpus: Your existing corpus includes Rs. 80 lakh in mutual funds, Rs. 20 lakh in stocks, and Rs. 40 lakh in bank deposits.

SIP Contributions: You are investing Rs. 57,000 monthly across multiple mutual funds.

Lump Sum Investments: You have allocated significant lump sums to small-cap, flexi-cap, and thematic funds.

Goals: Your goals include securing Rs. 1.5 lakh monthly for retirement and funding your children's education.

Planning for Retirement
Corpus Required
You aim for Rs. 1.5 lakh per month during retirement.

Factor in inflation to estimate future monthly expenses.

The current corpus and SIPs must grow consistently to meet this goal.

Recommendations
Maintain a balanced allocation between equity and debt for steady growth.

Avoid excessive concentration in small-cap and thematic funds, which are volatile.

Increase exposure to balanced and flexi-cap funds for stability.

Planning for Children’s Education
Current Needs
Your children are aged 18 and 14, which implies upcoming higher education expenses.

Plan for expenses within the next 4–8 years.

Recommendations
Create a dedicated education fund for both children.

Use debt-oriented hybrid funds or short-term debt funds for near-term goals.

Ensure part of your mutual fund corpus is earmarked for this purpose.

Portfolio Review and Suggestions
Strengths of the Portfolio
Disciplined SIP Investments: Investing Rs. 57,000 monthly shows financial discipline.

Diversification: Exposure to various categories like large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap, and thematic funds.

Areas for Improvement
Excessive Small-Cap Allocation: High exposure to small-cap funds increases volatility.

Thematic Fund Overlap: Thematic funds like infrastructure may lead to concentration risks.

Direct Fund Investments: Direct funds lack professional guidance and ongoing monitoring.

Portfolio Optimisation
Consolidate funds to reduce over-diversification and improve focus.

Shift some SIPs to balanced advantage or hybrid funds for stability.

Review and replace underperforming funds periodically.

Invest through a Certified Financial Planner to benefit from professional advice.

Optimising Lumpsum Investments
Review the performance of your lump sum investments.

Redeploy underperforming small-cap and thematic funds into balanced funds.

Keep a portion of your bank deposits in liquid funds for emergencies.

Avoid high allocations to sectoral or cyclical funds due to their dependency on market conditions.

Tax Planning
Long-term capital gains on equity mutual funds above Rs. 1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%.

Short-term capital gains on equity funds are taxed at 20%.

Debt mutual funds are taxed as per your income tax slab.

Plan redemptions considering these rules to minimise tax liabilities.

Emergency Fund Allocation
Maintain at least 6–12 months of expenses in liquid funds or fixed deposits.

This ensures financial security given your low job security.

Allocate Rs. 15–20 lakh from your bank deposits for this purpose.

Recommendations for SIPs
Reduce exposure to small-cap and thematic funds.

Increase allocation to large-cap and multi-cap funds for stability.

Consider balanced advantage funds to manage market volatility.

Step-up SIPs only after assessing fund performance.

Final Insights
Your financial foundation is strong, but optimisation is essential.

Prioritise stability and diversification in your portfolio.

Allocate funds separately for retirement and children’s education.

Maintain a robust emergency fund to handle uncertainties.

Seek professional advice to streamline and monitor your investments.

Consistent review and disciplined investing will help you achieve financial independence and secure your family’s future.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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