Hi, I am 41, divorced and single. I am not looking for marriage, but I need a companion. Until a few weeks ago, I was talking to someone almost every day for two weeks. She was a banker, same age as mine. We connected so well, shared our stories, even made plans to meet... and then she just disappeared. No text, nothing. Her number is not reachable. It left me confused and kind of questioning myself. Is this normal? I don't know how to deal with this.

Ans: Hello, i understand your point of view but this is as per the marketing budgets of the companies.
Also you have to understand that market does not perform in linear manner, it has multiple cycles like Up cycle, Down cycle and Consolidation phase. So when someone invests in Mutual funds or equities, they need to have a long term investment horizon and by long term i mean 5-7 years plus.
Hence, please do not blame it on media as they just advertise and not provide you with the solution you need as the solution you need is very customized and the advertisements they run is for the entire population of India.
Get yourself an advisor who can make you understand these concepts before you invest your hard earned money, and not randomly on the basis of any advertisements.

Ans: Hi Mithun
If you’re seriously inclined towards Mathematics + research, and you’re looking for a strong alternative to the usual BTech/BE route after JEE, then IISER Pune is actually one of the BEST options in India.

IISER Pune (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research) is not an engineering college.
It’s a pure research-oriented institute, closer in spirit to IISc Bangalore.

Ans: Hi
For core ECE placements average is around 8L

Ans: Hi
Traditionally 50% seats were filled via JEE Main and 50% via NFAT.
Gandhinagar Campus: ~ 95–97+ percentile
for other campuses is bit low than gandhi nagar. And i am stating this in context to Open Category.

Ans: You did not mention the engineering branch.
If your daughter gets a seat in Govt College, prefer Dental. But be prepared to pay a heavy fee for PG in Dental.
I recommend preferring Dental on my side.

Good luck.
Follow me if you receive this reply.
Radheshyam

Ans: Tax liability for FY 2026-27 at current rates shall be Rs.75660 in new regime

Ans: Your planning for your son’s marriage well in advance is thoughtful and practical. It shows responsibility and care for family traditions. Planning 8 years ahead gives you good flexibility and control.

» Purpose clarity and time horizon
– The objective is very clear: buying around 100 grams of gold jewellery for marriage after 8 years
– This is not a short-term need, so timing and structure matter more than current gold price
– Gold here is a requirement asset, not just an investment, so risk control is important

» Buying gold at current price – assessment
– Buying all 100 grams today at around Rs.14000 per gram locks your price, but also locks your capital
– Gold prices move in cycles; they do not rise in a straight line
– Over 8 years, gold can give protection against inflation, but short- to medium-term corrections are common
– Putting a large amount at one price level reduces flexibility and increases timing risk

» Jeweller gold deposit / gold savings plan – evaluation
– Monthly deposit plans with jewellers are mainly designed for jewellery purchase, not pure wealth creation
– Benefits you rightly noticed:

No wastage charges

No making charges

No GST on jewellery value
– Key risks and limitations to be aware of:

You are fully dependent on the jeweller’s business stability for 11 months

Your money is not regulated like financial products

You cannot easily exit or switch if your plan changes
– These plans work well for near-term purchases, but for an 8-year goal, repeating such plans many times increases counterparty risk

» Price risk vs goal certainty
– Your real risk is not price volatility alone, but availability of gold at the time of marriage
– The goal needs certainty of value and timely availability
– A staggered and disciplined approach reduces regret from buying at market highs

» Smarter way to structure the 8-year plan
– Avoid buying the full 100 grams immediately
– Spread accumulation over time to reduce price risk
– Use a mix of:

Financial gold-linked options for long-term accumulation

Physical jewellery purchase only closer to the marriage date
– This keeps liquidity, improves transparency, and avoids storage and purity worries

» Jewellery purchase timing insight
– Jewellery designs, preferences of the bride, and family choices can change over 8 years
– Buying finished jewellery too early limits flexibility
– It is usually better to convert accumulated value into jewellery in the last 12–18 months

» Risk management and safety points
– Avoid keeping large sums with a single jeweller repeatedly over many years
– Avoid emotional decisions driven by headlines about gold prices
– Keep documentation, purity standards, and exit options clear

» Tax and cost perspective
– When gold is used as jewellery for marriage, taxation is not the primary concern
– Hidden costs like storage, insurance, and loss risk matter more than headline price

» Finally
– Your intention is correct, and starting early gives you strength
– Buying some gold gradually is sensible, but avoid locking the entire requirement at one price today
– Jeweller deposit schemes can be used selectively, closer to purchase time, not as a long-term parking option
– A phased, balanced approach gives cost control, safety, and peace of mind for a very important family milestone

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

Ans: BITSAT, VIEEE, and your state-level engineering examination.

Good luck.
Follow me if you receive this reply.
Radheshyam

Ans: To become expert in DATA SCIENCE and artificial intelligence you have to give a lot of effort. The world is very competitive. Chances of getting a better job in a new field at the age of 53 without any experience in that field is very less.