is Zomato good share to keep or to sell. My average purchase amount is Rs. 61

Ans: Thoroughly prepare and perform effectively in the CUET Exam to secure admission into a prestigious Central or State University for your undergraduate studies in Psychology. Upon completing your undergraduate studies, strategize for your subsequent education, whether in India or abroad. All the Best for Your Prosperous Future.

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on ‘Jobs | Education | Careers’.

Ans: Your portfolio value is Rs. 42.02 lakh, which is impressive.

You are investing Rs. 85,000 monthly, which is a significant commitment.

Your SIPs are diversified across categories, including large-cap, mid-cap, and flexi-cap funds.

You have exposure to momentum, thematic, and international funds.

Your plan to increase SIPs by 10% yearly is a positive step.

Assessing Your Corpus Target
Your goal is to accumulate Rs. 5 crores in 7 years.

Equity investments over 7 years may yield good returns due to compounding.

However, achieving Rs. 5 crores depends on consistent returns and SIP increases.

Market fluctuations can impact growth, requiring regular monitoring.

Insights on Fund Allocation
Your portfolio has multiple schemes, which might cause over-diversification.

Too many funds may reduce focus and overlap stock holdings.

Avoid index funds for higher returns. Actively managed funds often outperform.

Direct funds lack personalized advice. Regular plans with Certified Financial Planners add value.

Ensure all funds align with your risk profile and long-term goals.

Suggested Portfolio Changes
Reduce overlapping categories. Focus on fewer, well-performing funds.

Replace underperforming funds with actively managed funds.

Avoid investing in too many thematic or sector-specific funds.

Increase allocation to mid-cap and flexi-cap funds for higher growth potential.

Review international exposure. It should be limited to 10-15% of your portfolio.

Enhancing Investment Strategy
Stick to equity funds for long-term wealth creation.

Avoid debt funds unless needed for short-term goals or stability.

Rebalance your portfolio yearly to align with your goals.

Include funds with consistent performance across market cycles.

Monitor taxation. Plan redemptions to optimise tax impact.

The Disadvantages of Index Funds
Index funds track the market passively.

They cannot outperform the market or take advantage of opportunities.

Actively managed funds are better for high returns over the long term.

Index funds lack professional intervention during volatile phases.

Importance of Regular Plans
Regular plans provide expert guidance from Certified Financial Planners.

Direct funds may seem cost-effective but lack personalised insights.

Regular plans ensure disciplined investing and strategic reviews.

Setting Up a Review Plan
Review your portfolio performance annually.

Assess returns, diversification, and risk-adjusted performance.

Make adjustments based on market conditions and personal financial changes.

Tax Considerations for Mutual Funds
Equity mutual funds have new tax rules.

LTCG above Rs. 1.25 lakh is taxed at 12.5%.

STCG is taxed at 20%.

Plan withdrawals to minimise tax impact.

Final Insights
Your goal is achievable with disciplined investing and portfolio optimisation.

Avoid over-diversification and focus on fewer, high-performing funds.

Stay committed to SIP increases to accelerate corpus growth.

Consult a Certified Financial Planner for annual reviews and strategic adjustments.

A focused and well-managed portfolio will help you achieve your financial goals.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

Ans: You are 55 years old and single. You have no savings yet for retirement. You also have no property or existing financial backup. Planning for retirement is crucial and requires immediate action. Let us explore a step-by-step approach to building a secure financial future.

Assessing Your Current Situation
At 55, you have limited time to accumulate a large corpus.

Your private sector job may not provide retirement benefits.

You need to estimate your retirement age. Delaying retirement slightly could help.

Assess your current income and expenses to determine how much you can save monthly.

Setting a Retirement Goal
Define your monthly living expenses during retirement. Consider inflation.

Account for medical expenses and any potential health-related emergencies.

Aim for a retirement corpus that can generate enough monthly income to meet your needs.

Immediate Steps to Take
Start Saving Aggressively: Allocate a significant portion of your income for savings.

Emergency Fund: Create a small emergency fund equal to 3-6 months’ expenses.

Avoid Unnecessary Expenses: Reduce discretionary spending to save more.

Investment Options for Retirement
To maximize your savings potential, invest wisely. Diversify your investments across asset classes.

Mutual Funds: Invest in equity-oriented funds for higher returns over the next 5-10 years.

Choose actively managed funds.

Use a Certified Financial Planner for fund selection and monitoring.

PPF (Public Provident Fund): PPF offers safety and decent tax-free returns.

Consider contributing the maximum permissible amount yearly (Rs. 1.5 lakh).
Debt Mutual Funds: Use these for a portion of your savings for stability and predictable returns.

However, note that gains are taxed as per your tax slab.
National Pension Scheme (NPS): A good option for long-term retirement savings.

It provides market-linked returns and tax benefits under Section 80CCD(1B).
Planning Monthly Retirement Income
Use the accumulated corpus to generate regular income.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP): In mutual funds, SWP provides steady income post-retirement.

Fixed Deposits: Allocate a portion to bank FDs for secure and predictable income.

Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS): Invest in SCSS post-retirement for assured returns.

Health and Risk Management
Buy a comprehensive health insurance policy immediately.

It will reduce the risk of high medical expenses.
Consider term insurance for the next 10 years to secure your family in case of emergencies.

Stay Disciplined with Your Plan
Stick to your monthly savings and investment plan.

Avoid impulsive withdrawals or unnecessary investments.

Evaluate Your Progress Annually
Review your portfolio every year with a Certified Financial Planner.

Rebalance your portfolio based on performance and market conditions.

Make necessary adjustments if there are changes in your financial situation.

Income Generation Ideas Post-Retirement
Look for part-time or consultancy opportunities to supplement your income.

Consider teaching, freelancing, or advisory roles in your area of expertise.

Focus on Long-Term Sustainability
Do not rely solely on fixed returns. Ensure part of your portfolio is inflation-adjusted.

Monitor your expenses to avoid overspending.

Avoid Common Pitfalls
Avoid locking funds in low-return investments like traditional savings plans.

Stay clear of speculative investments that promise high returns but carry high risks.

Finally
Starting late may seem challenging, but focused action can help build a secure future. Time is limited, so act now. Begin saving, investing, and planning wisely to ensure financial stability in retirement. A disciplined approach, coupled with expert guidance, will help you achieve your retirement goals.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

Ans: Hi Satish,

Retirement Corpus needs safety and liquidity along with growth as it has to last a long time.

As your complete requirement is not very clear I will mention some numbers to give you an idea and you can plan based on your actual requirement.
Lets say your monthly expense requirement in 50000 per month i.e. 6 lacs per year. This is an amount for the first year, but with Inflation, it will increase each year.
Depending on your risk profile, the Retirement Corpus needs to be invested after prioritizing the 3 parameters - safety, liquidity and growth.

If you have a low risk profile then invest in safe investments - either Debt funds or Fixed deposits - Risk is Inflation will eventually start reducing your corpus.

If you can handle moderate risk then divide the corpus e.g. Keep 75% in growth (with some safety) funds like the Balanced Advantage/Hybrid funds and rest 25% in safe investment such as Debt funds or Fixed deposits from which you can withdraw for monthly expenses.
In your case 25 lacs in safe investment will help manage approximately 4 years of expenses.
The remaining 75 lacs invested in Balanced Advantage funds will continue to provide growth. So if we assume it grows at 8% every year, plan to withdraw 5~8% of your fund and move it into safe investments.

This way you can plan to have approximately 4 years of expenses in safe investments and give the remaining corpus an opportunity to grow to management and stay ahead of inflation.

The above is just a simple view of looking at the Retirement corpus and managing your expenses, but beyond this there are many other aspects that needs to be considered also, such as your health related requirements, your lifestyle requirements, additional goals/responsibilities towards family and life expectancy as you plan for retirement. This will provide you a more accurate and realistic insight into the retirement plan.

Advice you to approach a Certified Financial Planner to provide a comprehensive and customized guidance/plan to you.

Thanks & Regards
Janak Patel
Certified Financial Planner.

Ans: Job in industry mostly depends on the skill but if he wants to build career in academics or research then he should do masters.

Ans: Dear Shree!

Commerce graduates have many career options, I am listing some of them for you-
1.Company Secretary (CS)
A program that teaches corporate governance, company law, compliance, and secretarial practices
2.Chartered Accountant (CA)
A career that involves auditing, taxation, accounting, financial planning, and consulting
2.Investment banker
A career that involves developing financial assets for customers or organizations, and obtaining finance for corporate operations, acquisitions, and mergers
3.Cost Management Accountant (CMA)
A prestigious professional credential that is considered one of the highest-paying career options for commerce students
4.Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
A career that involves financial analysis, variant bonds and derivatives, types of portfolios, and investment management
5.Cost accountant
A career that involves assessing cost information, making and maintaining an expenses database, managing cost information, and preparing budget reports
6.Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
A career that involves managing the accounting, reporting, taxation, and auditing processes for businesses, clients, and the government

Some more options for you..
Financial Analyst, HR Manager, Economist, Financial Planner, Actuary, Market Research Analysts, Bank PO (Probationary Officer), Tax Consultant, Teaching students

Can you see the options and the opportunities that are available for you??
You can also focus on further studies too… amassing knowledge and skills can also be your goal.Focus on acquiring wisdom, spend time and energy on worthy tasks, become mentally and physically strong!


Hope this helps… all the very best!

Ans: Dear Erich,
Why are you getting in the middle of two grown-ups? Their relationship dynamic is theirs to take care of and if you interfere, it will invariably become a struggle for you as it will invariably become a game where you will want to see their relationship in a particular way.
If things have been okay for 26 years between them, what's with the open communication? Let them decide if and when they want it...

All the best!
Anu Krishna
Mind Coach|NLP Trainer|Author
Drop in: www.unfear.io
Reach me: Facebook: anukrish07/ AND LinkedIn: anukrishna-joyofserving/

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
And by being fair, there's some great advantage that they all have, is it?
I know that it has been pretty unfair on you that you are not 'fair' and the obsession that some families have over skin color is pretty sickening.
Now, this part of your life is under your control. Either ruin it by bringing the past and 'color' it bad or make it 'colorful' by actually challenging what had happened to you. And how do you do that? By actually not reacting to the past labels; they were in your past. If you accept the way you look and flaunt it, then all these comparisons do not matter. But if you keep replaying the saem music from your past, this is going to continue and make it only worse.
So, accept yourself and every time you feel bad, make sure you tell yourself that your past does not define how your present is...again like any mindset change, this will take time to take effect BUT keep powering on...
Only you can be your best friend and hero, that's it...

All the best!
Anu Krishna
Mind Coach|NLP Trainer|Author
Drop in: www.unfear.io
Reach me: Facebook: anukrish07/ AND LinkedIn: anukrishna-joyofserving/

Ans: Hello Ronold.
Yes! Studying Psychology is a good career option and the demand is increasing day by day due to the problems created by excessive internet surfing, excessive use of social media platforms, and many more problems. Pursuing Psychology will be a great choice for your daughter if she is interested in it. Mental health awareness is increasing globally, leading to more opportunities in counseling, therapy, and organizational roles. Companies, schools, and hospitals increasingly value psychologists for their insights into behavior and mental well-being. Psychology involves understanding human behavior, data analysis (statistics), and ethical decision-making. She should genuinely enjoy subjects like understanding emotions, motivations, and cognitive processes.
If she remains dedicated, Psychology can open doors to fulfilling, diverse, and meaningful careers. Let her explore her interests through readings, internships, and career counseling to make the most informed decision.
Best of luck to your daughter for her bright future.

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