Self-employed with no GST number, how to claim tax?

Ans: Your situation is a classic case of interest rate hikes affecting floating-rate home loans. Since you took the loan in August 2019 at 8.70%, and now the rate has increased to 10.5%, your EMI is going more towards interest rather than the principal. That's why your loan tenure has barely reduced.

Immediate Steps to Take
1. Contact HDFC Housing Immediately
Visit or call your bank and ask for a detailed loan amortization statement.
Get clarity on why the tenure is not reducing despite timely payments.
Request a break-up of the outstanding loan amount and revised interest calculations.
2. Ask for an Interest Rate Reduction
HDFC allows you to reduce your floating rate by paying a nominal fee (loan conversion charge).
Check the current floating home loan rates for existing borrowers and ask them to apply the lowest possible rate.
If HDFC refuses, ask about switching to a better scheme within HDFC itself.
3. Consider Balance Transfer to Another Bank
If HDFC does not reduce your interest rate significantly, you can transfer your home loan to another bank with lower rates.

Banks like SBI, ICICI, and Axis Bank may offer interest rates below 9% for a balance transfer.
Check with a few banks and negotiate for the lowest possible interest rate.
Ensure that the processing fee and other charges do not offset the savings from lower interest.
4. Prepay a Part of Your Loan (If Possible)
If you have some savings, prepay at least 5-10% of the loan principal.
This will reduce your interest burden and EMI tenure.
Ensure that prepayment charges (if any) are minimal or waived.
5. Monitor Your Loan Regularly
Floating-rate loans fluctuate based on RBI policy changes.
Check your home loan rate every 6 months to avoid sudden increases.
Opt for automatic rate conversion with HDFC, if available.
Final Insights
You should first try to reduce your rate with HDFC.
If they do not offer a better rate, go for a balance transfer.
If you have surplus funds, consider prepayment to reduce your tenure faster.
Always monitor your home loan rate every 6 months to avoid overpaying.
Would you like help in evaluating a balance transfer option with a different bank?

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

Ans: Your stock portfolio consists of companies from various sectors, including finance, defense, auto, infrastructure, and manufacturing. While some of these stocks have strong long-term potential, a few may face challenges over the next 3-5 years. Below is an analysis of stocks that may not be the best fit for long-term holding.

Stocks to Reconsider for Long-Term Investment (3-5 Years)
1. Bajaj Housing Finance
Housing finance companies are highly dependent on interest rate cycles.
RBI rate hikes can impact lending growth.
Competition from banks and fintech players is increasing.
2. Coal India
Coal demand may decline due to a global shift towards renewable energy.
Government regulations on carbon emissions could impact future growth.
The company has strong dividends, but capital appreciation may be limited.
3. Greaves Cotton
Faces stiff competition in the electric vehicle (EV) and auto component space.
EV transition is challenging for traditional engine manufacturers.
Growth prospects depend on EV adoption, which is uncertain.
4. First Source Solutions
IT services firms face margin pressure due to automation and AI.
The company lacks strong global scalability compared to bigger IT players.
Growth in the BPM (Business Process Management) industry is slowing down.
5. IRCTC
Revenue depends heavily on Indian Railways policies.
Any policy change by the government can impact profitability.
Stock is overvalued with limited growth potential.
6. RVNL (Rail Vikas Nigam Limited)
PSU infrastructure stocks depend on government projects.
Execution risks and delays affect revenue growth.
Limited innovation and scalability compared to private players.
Stocks with Strong Long-Term Potential
The remaining stocks in your portfolio have strong fundamentals and long-term growth potential. However, active management is necessary to ensure continued performance.

Switch to Active Mutual Funds for Better Growth
Managing an individual stock portfolio requires constant tracking, analysis, and decision-making. Instead of investing in individual stocks, switching to actively managed mutual funds can offer several benefits:

? Professional Management – Fund managers actively monitor and adjust holdings.
? Diversification – Reduces risk by investing in multiple sectors.
? Consistent Returns – Actively managed funds can outperform the market over time.
? Tax Efficiency – Mutual funds offer better tax advantages compared to stocks.

You can invest in large-cap, mid-cap, and flexi-cap mutual funds based on your risk appetite. Consider consulting a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) for personalized investment advice.

Would you like a detailed mutual fund recommendation based on your goals?

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

Ans: You have a well-diversified SIP portfolio, but some improvements can be made. Below is a detailed review of your portfolio with suggestions.

Portfolio Diversification
Your portfolio covers large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap, flexi-cap, pharma, technology, and international exposure.

There are too many funds in the portfolio, leading to duplication.

A more focused approach can improve returns while maintaining diversification.

Large-Cap Exposure
Your portfolio has a large-cap fund. Large-cap funds provide stability.

Consider keeping only one large-cap fund instead of multiple overlapping ones.

Large-cap funds deliver steady growth but may not beat inflation significantly.

Mid-Cap and Small-Cap Exposure
You have multiple mid-cap and small-cap funds. These funds offer high growth potential.

Overexposure to small-cap and mid-cap can increase risk.

Reducing the number of mid-cap and small-cap funds will avoid redundancy.

Flexi-Cap and Multi-Cap Exposure
Flexi-cap funds allow fund managers to invest across market caps.

One flexi-cap fund is sufficient. Multiple flexi-cap funds lead to overlap.

A well-managed flexi-cap fund can balance risk and returns.

Sectoral and Thematic Funds
Pharma and technology funds are sectoral funds. They perform well in specific market cycles.

Sectoral funds are high-risk and should not exceed 10-15% of the total portfolio.

Consider reducing exposure to sectoral funds unless you have a long-term view.

International Fund Exposure
Global exposure adds diversification. However, international markets have different risks.

Foreign exchange rates and geopolitical risks can affect returns.

A single international fund is enough for diversification.

Tax-Saving ELSS Fund
ELSS funds help save tax under Section 80C.

ELSS has a lock-in period of three years.

One ELSS fund is enough instead of multiple tax-saving funds.

Direct vs Regular Funds
You have invested in direct funds. Direct funds require active tracking.

Regular funds provide guidance from an MFD with CFP credentials.

If you are not monitoring regularly, consider switching to regular funds.

Overlap Analysis
Some funds have similar stocks, leading to portfolio overlap.

Reducing overlapping funds can make your portfolio more efficient.

A focused approach improves returns without excessive diversification.

Debt Fund Allocation
There is no debt fund in the portfolio.

Debt funds provide stability and liquidity.

A small allocation to a short-duration debt fund can help manage short-term goals.

Portfolio Simplification Suggestions
Reduce the number of overlapping funds.

Keep one large-cap, one mid-cap, one small-cap, one flexi-cap, and one sectoral fund.

Limit international exposure to a single fund.

Maintain tax-saving investments only if needed under Section 80C.

Final Insights
Your portfolio is well-structured but has too many funds.

Streamlining the portfolio will improve efficiency and returns.

Reduce sectoral and mid/small-cap exposure for better risk management.

Add a debt fund for stability and liquidity.

Monitor the portfolio regularly or consult a Certified Financial Planner for guidance.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP

Chief Financial Planner

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

Ans: Hi Sona,
The validity of the caste certificate is one year. You may use the same certificate for application purposes, but you must have a valid one, including the creamy layer and Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) status, at the time of admission. Your admission will be based on this. Therefore, it is advisable to obtain a new certificate.
Best of Luck.
Poocho. LIfe Change Karo!

Ans: The NTA has started conducting eligibility exams for all PG courses, including professional courses like Pharmacy (MPHARM), known as the PG CUET exams. This is the first year for these exams, with 174 universities participating: 41 central universities, 38 state universities, 12 government institutions, 14 deemed universities, and 69 private universities. Similar to NEET, universities from all over India are involved, so you need not worry. Additionally, you may be able to obtain a scholarship to pursue your course. In the near future, many more universities are expected to join this initiative.

For your specific situation, you need to appear for the entrance exam for TEST PAPER SCQP17, based on the course you have studied and the one you have selected. In some cases, the syllabus is also provided. Therefore, you don’t need to struggle with the admission process. However, you should research which courses are offered by each university to gather the necessary details individually. If you haven't registered this time, you can always try again next time. Please note: A candidate can take up to four different test papers.
Both courses are acceptable, but consider pursuing an MSc in Clinical Embryology and Assisted Reproductive Technology for a better future.

Ans: There is a typing error. Please clarify what is '23s2'? To resolve a scorecard issue, double-check the result, check NTA's official website for updates, contact NTA again, file a grievance on NTA's portal, and connect with other students. It's important to follow up with NTA until a resolution is reached, as a sudden drop to 82 marks is unusual. Stay connected and don't give up. All the Best for your Prosperous Future.

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Ans: Dear Anonymous,
If you do not have an open marriage, then what you are doing is certainly wrong. When has cheating ever been right? Especially when you did not mention anything wrong with your husband. I am not judging you; but I would suggest that if you want to keep this up, you either come clean to your husband or let him go. This isn't fair. You living your life to the fullest should not harm or hurt others.
Hope this helps.

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
If he is worth fighting for, then fight. And your parents pressuring him to convert is unacceptable. You have to make them understand that. Children do not need a certain religion; children need a set of happy parents.

I understand that you fear losing your parents, but it doesn't have to be that way. You have time. Slowly try to convince them and make them understand that forced conversions are unethical and there are laws that make it illegal too.
Best Wishes.

Ans: Tejaswini, The JoSAA counseling process begins once you log in to the JoSAA portal, which opens only after the JEE Advanced results are declared. Regarding eligibility criteria, it depends on: ?? Your percentile in JEE Main (for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs).
?? Your rank in JEE Advanced (for IIT admissions). Please go through the Opening & Closing Ranks Data of JoSAA 2024 Counselling to get an Idea. For a detailed step-by-step explanation of the JoSAA counseling process, you may check out my YouTube video, where I have covered everything from start to finish. If time permits, give it a watch! All the Best for your Prosperous Future.

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