Should I Pay Off My Mortgage Early or Invest Instead?

Ans: Hello Lalit
Unable to understand your question. Yet difficult to get CSE with mentioned rank. Compromise with the branch.
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Radheshyam

Ans: Hello Ruthro.
Difficult to get CSE @ 80.4 %tile in IPU. If you are getting it @ VIT then there is no harm. If not interested in VIT, then just wait and watch for counseling rounds to end and then decide for any private college through management quota. Best of luck to you.
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Ans: Abhishek Sir, If your son aims for Aerospace Engineering at IIT Madras but wants strong alternatives, here are the top colleges to consider:

IIT Madras – India’s top-ranked aerospace program with excellent research, placements, and ISRO/DRDO ties.

IIT Bombay – Strong academics and recruiters like Airbus and NASA.

IIT Kharagpur – Established aerospace department with core industry connections.

IIT Hyderabad – Emerging leader with good placements and research.

Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram – Direct ISRO affiliation, focused on space technology.

Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Chandigarh – Good government college with solid placements.

SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai – Private university with industry collaborations.

Manipal Institute of Technology – Good aerospace program with decent placements.

Amity University, Noida – Private university with good recruiters in aerospace.

RV College of Engineering, Bangalore – Reputed private college with good industry exposure.

These institutes offer a range of options based on entrance exams (JEE Advanced, JEE Main, MET, AEEE) and provide strong academics, research, and placement opportunities in aerospace engineering. All the best for your son's admissions and a bright future!

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Ans: For a balanced approach with good placements and moderate fees, VIT Vellore’s Health Sciences and Technology is a strong choice. For specialized biotech research and higher biotech industry exposure, Thapar University Biotechnology is preferable if budget permits. All the best for your son's admissions and a bright future!

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Ans: Understanding Your Current Financial Position

You both earn Rs. 1.80 lakh monthly. This is a good income.

You live in a leased house in Bangalore. So, you save on rent payments.

You currently have no savings. That is risky and must be addressed first.

You had credit card settlements earlier. This has lowered your CIBIL score.

Your loan was rejected due to poor credit history. This is expected after settlements.

Your wife has lower income. So, combined loan eligibility is affected.

You want to buy a property in Bangalore. But don’t know what to buy yet.

Issues with Current Financial Health

Low or zero savings is risky. No buffer for job loss or emergency.

Poor credit score affects loan approvals. Also increases interest rates when approved.

Planning a property purchase without savings is not safe.

Property cost in Bangalore is high. You will need good credit and savings.

Unclear property choice shows lack of clarity in goal.

Let’s Fix the Basics First

Forget property buying for now. It’s not a priority today.

Build a strong financial base first.

First step is to build an emergency fund. Minimum 6 months expenses.

Try to save Rs. 50,000 monthly. This is around 28% of your income.

Out of that, keep Rs. 25,000 aside as emergency savings.

Put emergency fund in liquid mutual fund or short-term FD.

Use balance Rs. 25,000 to start investing for long term goals.

This way you start wealth creation and stay safe from sudden shocks.

Steps to Improve Your CIBIL Score

Check your current CIBIL report. Spot all negative remarks.

Start using one small credit card. Repay full amount every month.

Don’t delay even by one day. It will hurt your score again.

Don’t apply for any loan for 12-18 months.

Credit score improves only with time and discipline.

Pay mobile, electricity, rent and other bills on time.

Avoid financial shortcuts like new settlements or informal loans.

Make your bank accounts active with consistent transactions.

Keep credit utilisation ratio below 30%.

Why Property Buying Now is Not Wise

Real estate has high entry cost and exit cost.

Down payment will need minimum 15%-20%. That is at least Rs. 15-20 lakh.

Home loan needs high credit score. Else interest rate will be very high.

Property is not liquid. You can’t sell quickly when needed.

Property maintenance and tax cost is extra burden.

You don’t own a house yet. But that doesn’t mean you must rush.

Many people regret hasty property purchases later.

Renting is not bad. It gives flexibility and no long-term burden.

Invest first. Build credit and corpus. Buy property only after 5 years.

How to Prioritise Financial Goals

Step 1: Emergency Fund – Minimum Rs. 5 to 6 lakh in liquid investments.

Step 2: Credit Repair – Maintain discipline and no new settlements.

Step 3: Wealth Creation – Start SIPs in mutual funds.

Step 4: Term Insurance – Buy pure term cover for both of you.

Step 5: Health Insurance – Take separate health policy if only employer cover exists.

Step 6: Review After 3 Years – Only then think of home purchase.

How to Start Investments Now

Start mutual fund SIPs for long term goals like retirement and child’s education.

Begin with Rs. 20,000 per month SIP. Increase by 10% yearly.

Always invest in regular mutual funds through a certified financial planner.

Regular funds give guidance, reviews and behavioural support.

Direct funds give no advice. Many investors take wrong decisions due to that.

Certified Financial Planner will help in selecting right funds.

Also helps in goal tracking, tax planning and risk assessment.

Avoid index funds. They blindly copy markets and don’t protect during falls.

Actively managed funds adapt to changes and protect capital better.

Create Goal-wise Investment Buckets

Goal 1: Emergency Fund – Rs. 6 lakh in 12 months. Use liquid funds.

Goal 2: Short-Term – Next 3 years, invest in hybrid or conservative funds.

Goal 3: Long-Term – SIP in equity mutual funds for retirement and future goals.

Goal 4: Property – Start separate SIP for this, after 3 years only.

Wife’s Role in Financial Planning

Include her in all planning steps. Take decisions jointly.

If she is not financially aware, help her understand the basics.

Make her take a small SIP in her name. This builds interest and ownership.

Encourage her to open her own credit card. Use it responsibly to build her score.

Her credit score and income will help in future joint loans.

Her health and life cover are also important. Don’t ignore.

Mistakes to Avoid from Now

Don’t rush into property buying because others are doing it.

Don’t take help from informal lenders or brokers.

Don’t co-sign for any relative’s loans.

Don’t buy real estate as an investment.

Don’t invest in traditional LIC or ULIP plans.

Don’t mix insurance and investment.

Don’t blindly trust online credit repair companies.

Don’t invest without written goal plan.

Timeline to Prepare for Property

Year 1: Create emergency fund. Improve credit score. Avoid any new debt.

Year 2: Continue SIPs. Track expenses. Maintain discipline.

Year 3: Take CIBIL report again. Score should be 750+.

Year 4: Assess financial readiness. Check if property goal is now practical.

Year 5: If all is good, shortlist location. Start planning down payment.

If You Still Want to Buy Early

Then take 2 years to build Rs. 10-15 lakh corpus.

Buy a small plot or property without loan. Only if budget allows.

Avoid joint loans if wife’s income is too low.

Don’t stretch EMI above 30% of your income.

But again, only do this if you have emergency fund and stable credit.

Finally

Your income is good. But financial base is weak today.

First focus must be on savings and discipline.

Property will always be available. But your credit and savings need time.

Use this time to grow slowly and wisely.

A certified financial planner can help you set up proper goal-based plans.

Your past does not stop you. But only discipline will build your future.

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

Ans: Choose VIT Vellore IT if your priority is top-tier placements and IT industry exposure. If you prefer core engineering with excellent placements, consider Thapar Electronics & Computer or Manipal Communication & Computer. For a focused, smaller campus experience, LNMIIT ECE is good. Choose BITS Hyderabad MSc Bio only if you want a research-oriented career in biology/biotech. All the best for your admissions and a bright future!

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Ans: You have made a disciplined start towards financial planning. Your family responsibilities are being handled well, especially your daughter’s SSY and the insurance covers.

Let us now assess your current financial picture, and explore suitable action points.

Income, Expenses and Loan Burden
Your monthly income is Rs. 1.25 lakh.

Plot loan EMI is Rs. 23,000. Personal loan EMI is Rs. 28,000.

Total EMI is Rs. 51,000 per month. That is 40% of your income.

This is a high EMI-to-income ratio. It limits your flexibility.

Your monthly SIP is Rs. 10,000. SSY is Rs. 12,000 per month.

You save Rs. 10,000 monthly after all these.

Your committed outflow is around Rs. 83,000 monthly. This needs careful planning.

Assessment of Your Loans
Personal loan is expensive. Tenure is short. EMI is high.

Plot loan is long-term. EMI is moderate. But interest rate is also high.

Personal loan is not asset-backed. Interest is high without tax benefit.

Plot loan is secured. Interest is also high but offers tax benefit.

Total outstanding loan is Rs. 34 lakh. That is 27 times your monthly income.

This is a financial stress point. Needs correction step-by-step.

Investments and Insurance Review
Mutual fund + stocks total is Rs. 6 lakh.

Emergency fund is Rs. 3 lakh. You are well-covered for 3 months' expenses.

SSY corpus is Rs. 3 lakh. A good start for your daughter.

Term insurance of Rs. 1.5 crore is ideal. You are rightly covered.

Health insurance of Rs. 15 lakh is sufficient for now. Good family protection.

LIC policy of Rs. 8 lakh sum assured, with Rs. 36,000 premium yearly.

LIC plans are low-yield. You may evaluate this further.

Your Financial Strengths
You are consistently saving. That is a great habit.

You have SSY for your daughter. A strong step as a father.

You have term and health covers. Risk management is in place.

You have SIP in mutual funds. You are investing for the future.

Emergency fund of Rs. 3 lakh gives you safety.

Your Financial Pressure Points
Two large loans are a burden. EMI eats away 40% income.

Personal loan interest is costly. It slows down wealth growth.

LIC policy is eating Rs. 3,000 monthly. Returns are not linked to inflation.

Limited surplus for investments due to EMI load.

Equity investments are just Rs. 6 lakh. Needs increase over time.

Ideal Action Plan — Step-by-Step
1. Personal Loan Repayment First

This loan is costlier than plot loan.

It has short tenure. Paying extra saves more.

Use monthly savings of Rs. 10,000 to prepay personal loan.

Do not increase SIP now. Prioritise debt clearance.

Even a partial prepayment every 6 months will help.

2. Stop LIC Policy After Evaluation

LIC gives low returns. Around 4–5% annually.

You are already insured through term policy.

If this LIC is not a pension or ULIP, consider surrender.

Use surrender value to prepay personal loan or invest in mutual funds.

Reinvesting this Rs. 36,000 annual premium in mutual funds is better.

3. Hold SIP Steady, Don’t Increase Yet

You are investing Rs. 10,000 per month in SIP. Keep it unchanged.

Do not stop or reduce SIP unless emergency arises.

Use only savings and LIC money for loan prepayment, not SIP money.

Your SIP should continue to compound long-term.

4. SSY Contribution is Mandatory

Rs. 12,000 monthly SSY for daughter is locked-in. That’s fine.

This is a social commitment. Let it continue.

It will create a corpus at her age 21. Don’t disturb this.

5. Keep Emergency Fund Intact

You have Rs. 3 lakh emergency fund.

That covers 3 months' expenses. Good decision.

Do not use this for loan prepayment or investment.

Keep it in a liquid fund or sweep-in FD for access.

6. Avoid Direct Stocks or High-Risk Assets Now

You already hold Rs. 6 lakh in MF and stocks.

Stocks are volatile. You are in a debt-heavy phase.

Avoid buying more stocks till loans are reduced.

Focus on debt reduction, not aggressive returns.

7. No New Loans or Commitments

No gold loan, credit card EMI, or gadgets on EMI.

No car loan or new real estate plan.

Avoid real estate as investment. It's illiquid and costly.

Your plot is for long term. Keep it that way.

8. Regular Fund Investments Preferred

You may have SIPs in direct plans. These look cheaper.

But direct funds do not offer advice or personal review.

Wrong fund choice in direct plan can lower returns.

Regular plans via CFP-backed MFD ensure guidance and tracking.

Long-term returns improve with portfolio review and timely changes.

9. Stay with Actively Managed Mutual Funds

Index funds may look simple and low-cost.

But index funds lack flexibility. They mimic the market.

In falling markets, index funds fall fully. No downside protection.

Actively managed funds give better defence and opportunity.

Let fund managers make dynamic decisions for better outcomes.

10. Monitor and Review Every 6 Months

Keep track of loan balances and interest saved.

Review SIPs and funds with CFP every 6 months.

Check if additional surplus can be used to prepay loans.

Once personal loan is cleared, divert that EMI into SIP.

Over time, increase SIP to Rs. 20,000 monthly.

11. Children’s Education Plan Later

Your daughter’s SSY is a good start.

After clearing personal loan, build an education fund.

Begin with Rs. 5,000 monthly SIP when surplus increases.

Use child-specific mutual funds with 10–12 year horizon.

12. Retirement Planning from Age 40

You are 36 now. Clear loans in 3–4 years.

From age 40, begin long-term retirement SIPs.

SIP of Rs. 20,000 monthly for 20 years builds good retirement wealth.

Delay in retirement planning can lead to pressure later.

13. Avoid Frequent Changes or Panic

Stick to your strategy. Be consistent.

Don’t stop SIP during market fall.

Don’t switch funds without reason or advice.

Avoid short-term goals with equity mutual funds.

14. Use Surplus Cash or Bonus Wisely

Use any annual bonus to prepay loans.

Avoid spending bonus on lifestyle upgrades.

Any maturity from LIC or FD should go to loan or SIP.

15. Tax Planning Must be Optimised

You are investing in SSY, ELSS may be part of SIP.

Avoid traditional plans for tax benefit alone.

Use term plan and ELSS for tax and growth.

Finally
You are already making smart money choices. That’s encouraging.

Clear personal loan first. It frees up cash and mind.

LIC surrender and reinvestment improves returns.

Keep SIPs running. Keep SSY untouched.

Increase SIP later with surplus from EMI reduction.

Build a child education fund post-loan closure.

Retirement savings can start at age 40 with higher SIP.

Don’t invest in real estate now. Avoid gold loans and credit EMIs.

Review your financial plan with a Certified Financial Planner every 6 months.

Your journey is strong. With right steps, you will create lasting wealth.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

Ans: Anant Sir, If your daughter prefers a strong technical and research-oriented program in core ECE with exposure to emerging technologies and can invest in a premium experience, Shiv Nadar University is the better choice. It offers a modern campus, personalized learning, and excellent placements in core and interdisciplinary tech fields.

If she is interested in a blend of technology and business with broader career options in IT and management domains, along with a reputed brand and strong placement network, VIT Vellore’s Computer Science and Business Systems is a great option. It is also more budget-friendly and has a larger peer group. All the best for your daughter's admissions and a bright future!

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Ans: Hello dear.
You mentioned three branches namely CSE, Mech, and Civil. All are different branches. With the mentioned score and category chances are there to get seat either in NITs or IIITs. You have to compromise with the branch in NITs or IIITs. From the Civil & Mech, go with Civil. Best of luck to your son.
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Radheshyam