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Sunil

Sunil Lala  | Answer  |Ask -

Financial Planner - Answered on Jan 19, 2024

Sunil Lala founded SL Wealth, a company that offers life and non-life insurance, mutual fund and asset allocation advice, in 2005. A certified financial planner, he has three decades of domain experience. His expertise includes designing goal-specific financial plans and creating investment awareness. He has been a registered member of the Financial Planning Standards Board since 2009.... more
ARUN Question by ARUN on Oct 12, 2023Hindi
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I am retired from my service on 31.01.2023, how to invest my retirement corpus/money in my next period of life journey.My son is now in the 4th yr of Btech Computer Science & IT

Ans: What is the amount and what's your goal
DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.
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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 30, 2024

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I am going to retire on Feb, 2024 with Retirement Benefit 1.2Cr. My liabilities is Engineering Education of my son health of me and spouse. How I will invest this amount in different sector with monthly income near about 50K?
Ans: Congratulations on your upcoming retirement! With a retirement benefit of 1.2 Cr, it's essential to allocate your funds wisely to meet your financial goals. Here's a suggested investment strategy:

Emergency Fund: Set aside a portion of your retirement benefit as an emergency fund, typically equivalent to 6-12 months of living expenses.
Debt Repayment: Prioritize paying off any outstanding liabilities, such as loans or debts, to reduce financial burden.
Investment Allocation:
Equity: Allocate a portion of your corpus to equity investments for long-term growth potential. Consider diversified equity mutual funds or index funds for exposure to the stock market.
Debt: Allocate another portion to debt instruments like fixed deposits, bonds, or debt mutual funds for stability and income generation.
Real Estate: Consider investing a small portion in real estate if suitable opportunities arise, but be mindful of liquidity and maintenance costs.
Health Insurance: Ensure adequate health insurance coverage for yourself and your spouse to mitigate any potential healthcare expenses.
Monthly Income: Invest a portion of your corpus in income-generating assets like dividend-paying stocks, rental properties, or systematic withdrawal plans (SWP) from mutual funds to generate a steady monthly income of around 50K.
Consulting a Certified Financial Planner can provide personalized guidance based on your specific financial situation and goals. They can help optimize your investment strategy to ensure financial security and peace of mind during your retirement years.

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Moneywize

Moneywize   | Answer  |Ask -

Financial Planner - Answered on Feb 25, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Feb 24, 2024Hindi
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I will be retiring in October 2024 and expecting a retirement corpus of Rs 80 lakh. I would be spending 60 per cent of this amount on my son’s medical admission and studies. How should I invest the rest in different sectors to earn monthly income of nearly about 40,000?
Ans: Given your retirement corpus of Rs 80 lakh and your plan to allocate 60% of it towards your son's medical admission and studies, which amounts to Rs 48 lakh, you'll have Rs 32 lakh remaining for investment. To generate a monthly income of approximately Rs 40,000, you'll need to carefully plan your investment strategy. Here's a suggested approach:

1. Assess Your Risk Tolerance: Before investing, consider your risk tolerance, investment horizon, and financial goals. Since you're retiring soon and seeking a regular monthly income, it's advisable to focus on relatively stable and income-generating investment options.

2. Allocate Funds: With Rs 32 lakh available for investment, you can allocate the amount across different investment instruments to achieve diversification and manage risk.

3 Income-Generating Investments: To generate a monthly income of Rs 40,000, you'll need investments that offer regular payouts. Here are some options to consider:

a. Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS): This government-backed savings scheme offers quarterly interest payouts. You can invest up to Rs 15 lakh individually and earn regular income at a fixed interest rate, currently around 7.4% per annum.

b. Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS): Another government-backed scheme that provides monthly income. The maximum investment limit is Rs 4.5 lakh for an individual account and Rs 9 lakh for a joint account. The current interest rate is around 6.6% per annum.

c. Fixed Deposits (FDs): Consider investing a portion of your corpus in fixed deposits offered by banks or financial institutions. Opt for monthly interest payout FDs to generate regular income.

d. Debt Mutual Funds: Invest a portion in debt mutual funds that focus on generating steady income with relatively lower risk compared to equity funds. Choose funds with a track record of consistent returns and low expense ratios.

4. Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP): For investments in mutual funds or other growth-oriented instruments, consider setting up a systematic withdrawal plan. SWP allows you to withdraw a fixed amount regularly, which can serve as your monthly income.

5. Emergency Fund: Set aside a portion of your corpus as an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses or contingencies. This fund should be easily accessible and parked in liquid or low-risk instruments like savings accounts or liquid funds.

6. Review and Adjust: Regularly review your investment portfolio to ensure it remains aligned with your financial goals and income requirements. Adjust your asset allocation and investment strategy as needed based on changing market conditions and personal circumstances.

It's crucial to consult with a financial advisor or planner who can provide personalised advice based on your specific situation and goals. They can help you create a comprehensive retirement plan and investment strategy tailored to your needs, risk tolerance, and income requirements. Additionally, consider tax implications on your investment income and consult with a tax advisor to optimise your tax efficiency.

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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10881 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Feb 27, 2025

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I have retirement corpus of 2.25 cr and being a central govt employee would receive pension of Rs 1.25 lakh monthly. I have a home loan of 35 lakh. My son is studying in govt institutions. What should be my investment strategy
Ans: Assessing Your Financial Position
You have Rs 2.25 crore as a retirement corpus.

Your government pension of Rs 1.25 lakh per month provides stable income.

Your home loan of Rs 35 lakh needs strategic repayment planning.

Your son studies in government institutions, reducing education-related financial pressure.

Your focus should be on optimising investments, reducing liabilities, and ensuring long-term financial security.

Managing Your Home Loan
Repaying the home loan early reduces interest burden.

If loan interest is high, partial prepayment is beneficial.

If the interest is low, maintaining liquidity and investing may be better.

Ensure EMI payments do not impact lifestyle or emergency reserves.

Structuring Your Investments
Diversified asset allocation ensures stability and growth.

A mix of equity and debt mutual funds provides balance.

Equity funds offer inflation-beating growth.

Debt funds provide stability and regular income.

Fixed-income instruments add safety and liquidity.

Avoid real estate for investment, as it locks capital and reduces liquidity.

Generating Passive Income
Your pension covers regular expenses, reducing the need for immediate withdrawals.

Investments should focus on future income stability.

Systematic withdrawal plans (SWP) from debt funds offer tax-efficient regular income.

Interest from fixed deposits and bonds can supplement income.

Keeping part of the corpus in growth-oriented funds ensures future appreciation.

Tax Planning for Investments
Long-term capital gains (LTCG) above Rs 1.25 lakh in equity funds taxed at 12.5%.

Short-term capital gains (STCG) taxed at 20%.

Debt fund gains taxed as per income slab.

Proper withdrawal planning minimises tax outgo.

Emergency Fund and Medical Security
Maintain at least 12 months’ expenses in liquid assets.

Ensure health insurance covers medical needs.

Keep a separate reserve for unexpected medical or family emergencies.

Estate Planning for Family Security
Update nominations and will for smooth wealth transfer.

Consider a trust or joint accounts for easy asset management.

Ensure spouse and son are financially literate for future management.

Final Insights
Balance investments between safety, liquidity, and growth.

Plan home loan repayment based on financial comfort.

Use pension for regular expenses and investments for future income.

Review portfolio periodically to adjust for market and economic changes.

Focus on wealth preservation and tax efficiency for long-term financial health.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

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Latest Questions
Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |10854 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Dec 14, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025Hindi
Career
Hello, I am currently in Class 12 and preparing for JEE. I have not yet completed even 50% of the syllabus properly, but I aim to score around '110' marks. Could you suggest an effective strategy to achieve this? I know the target is relatively low, but I have category reservation, so it should be sufficient.
Ans: With category reservation (SC/ST/OBC), a score of 110 marks is absolutely achievable and realistic. Based on 2025 data, SC candidates qualified with approximately 60-65 percentile, and ST candidates with 45-55 percentile. Your target requires scoring just 37-40% marks, which is significantly lower than general category standards. This gives you a genuine advantage. Immediate Action Plan (December 2025 - January 2026): 4-5 Weeks. Week 1-2: High-Weightage Chapter Focus. Stop trying to complete the entire syllabus. Instead, focus exclusively on high-scoring chapters that carry maximum weightage: Physics (Modern Physics, Current Electricity, Work-Power-Energy, Rotation, Magnetism), Chemistry (Chemical Bonding, Thermodynamics, Coordination Compounds, Electrochemistry), and Maths (Integration, Differentiation, Vectors, 3D Geometry, Probability). These chapters alone can yield 80-100+ marks if practiced properly. Ignore topics you haven't studied yet. Week 2-3: Previous Year Questions (PYQs). Solve JEE Main PYQs from the last 10 years (2015-2025) for chapters you're studying. PYQs reveal question patterns and difficulty levels. Focus on understanding why answers are correct, not memorizing solutions. Week 3-4: Mock Tests & Error Analysis. Take 2-3 full-length mock tests weekly under timed conditions. This is crucial because mock tests build exam confidence, reveal time management weaknesses, and error analysis prevents repeated mistakes. Maintain an error notebook documenting every mistake—this becomes your revision guide. Week 4-5: Revision & Formula Consolidation. Create concise formula sheets for each subject. Spend 30 minutes daily reviewing formulas and key concepts. Avoid learning new topics entirely at this stage. Study Schedule (Daily): 7-8 Hours. Morning (5:00-7:30 AM): Physics concepts + 30 PYQs. Break (7:30-8:30 AM): Breakfast & rest. Mid-morning (8:30-11:00): Chemistry concepts + 20 PYQs. Lunch (11:00-1:00 PM): Full break. Afternoon (1:00-3:30 PM): Maths concepts + 30 PYQs. Evening (3:30-5:00 PM): Mock test or error review. Night (7:00-9:00 PM): Formula revision & weak area focus. Strategic Approach for 110 Marks: Attempt only confident questions and avoid negative marking by skipping difficult questions. Do easy questions first—in the exam, attempt all basic-level questions before attempting medium or hard ones. Focus on quality over quantity as 30 well-practiced questions beat 100 random questions. Master NCERT concepts as most JEE questions test NCERT concepts applied smartly. April 2026 Session Advantage. If January doesn't deliver desired results, April gives you a second chance with 3+ months to prepare. Use January as a practice attempt to identify weak areas, then focus intensively on those in February-March. Realistic Timeline: January 2026 target is 95-110 marks (achievable with focused 50% syllabus), while April 2026 target is 120-130 marks (with complete syllabus + experience). Your reservation benefit means you need only approximately 90-105 marks to qualify and secure admission to quality engineering colleges. Stop comparing yourself to general category cutoffs. Most Importantly: Consistency beats perfection. Study 6 focused hours daily rather than 12 distracted hours. Your 110-mark target is realistic—execute this plan with discipline. All the BEST for Your JEE 2026!

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Dr Dipankar

Dr Dipankar Dutta  |1841 Answers  |Ask -

Tech Careers and Skill Development Expert - Answered on Dec 13, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Dec 12, 2025
Career
Dear Sir/Madam, I am currently a 1st year UG student studying engineering in Sairam Engineering College, But there the lack of exposure and strict academics feels so rigid and I don't like it that. It's like they don't gaf about skills but just wants us to memorize things and score a good CGPA, the only skill they want is you to memorize things and pass, there's even special class for students who don't perform well in academics and it is compulsory for them to attend or else the student and his/her parents needs to face authorities who lashes out. My question is when did engineering became something that requires good academics instead of actual learning and skill set. In sairam they provides us a coding platform in which we need to gain the required points for each semester which is ridiculous cuz most of the students here just look at the solution to code instead of actual debugging. I am passionate about engineering so I want to learn and experiment things instead of just memorizing, so I actually consider dropping out and I want to give jee a try and maybe viteee , srmjeee But i heard some people say SRM may provide exposure but not that good in placements. I may not be excellent at studies but my marks are decent. So gimme some insights about SRM and recommend me other colleges/universities which are good at exposure
Ans: First — your frustration is valid

What you are experiencing at Sairam is not engineering, it is rote-based credential production.

“When did engineering become memorizing instead of learning?”

Sadly, this shift happened decades ago in most Tier-3 private colleges in India.

About “coding platforms & points” – your observation is sharp

You are absolutely right:

Mandatory coding points → students copy solutions

Copying ≠ learning

Debugging & thinking are missing

This is pseudo-skill education — it looks modern but produces shallow engineers.

The fact that you noticed this in 1st year already puts you ahead of 80% students.

Should you DROP OUT and prepare for JEE / VITEEE / SRMJEEE?

Although VIT/SRM is better than Sairam Engineering College, but you may face the same problem. You will not face this type of problem only in some top IITs, but getting seat in those IITs will be difficult.
Instead of dropping immediately, consider:

???? Strategy:

Stay enrolled (degree security)

Reduce emotional investment in college rules

Use:

GitHub

Open-source projects

Hackathons

Internships (remote)

Hardware / software self-projects

This way:

College = formality

Learning = self-driven

Risk = minimal

...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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